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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B03501	The mystery of faith opened up: or Some sermons concerning faith (two where of were not formerly printed.) Wherein the nature, excellency, and usefulness of that noble grace is much cleared, and the practice thereof most powerfully pressed. Whereunto are added other three sermons, two concerning the great salvation, one of these not formerly printed, and a third concerning death. / By that pious and worthy servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Andrew Gray, late minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. All these sermons being now carefully revised, and much corrected.	Gray, Andrew, 1633-1656.; Traill, Robert, 1642-1716.; Stirling, John, b. 1621?	1668 (1668)	Wing G1616; ESTC R177630	121,416	225

there are these seven advantages which attend those who live within the continual sight of this truth that they must dye First the faith of approaching death will make a soul exceeding diligent in duty This was our blessed Lords Divinity John 9.4 I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day the night ●meth when no man can work That i● death is approaching therefore I must work It is clear also 2 Pet. 1.12 compared with verse 14. In the 12. verse Peter is exceeding diligent in his duty and the ground of his diligence is in the 14. verse Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle c. Yea it is even the Epicures argument Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shal dye And should not the Christian much more cry out Let me watch and pray for to morrow I may dye I say if the Epicures did make use of that notion to make them vigorous in the pursuit of their pleasures O how much more should a Christian improve it for making him vigorous in the pursuit of his duty Therefore I say unto you all O! be diligent for your night is drawing near O Christians and expectants of heaven are you not afraid lest you be nighted before you have walked the half of your journey For if you be nighted on your journey to Heaven before you come to the end of your race there is no retiring place whereunto you may turn aside to lodge therefore O work work work while it is day for behold death is approaching and then shal we all be called to an account 2. The faith of approaching death will make a Christian exceeding active in his duty he will not only be diligent but also exceeding serious and zealous in the exercise of his duty This is clear from that notable exhortation Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might and the reason is for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Wherefore O be active while you are alive for you shal never work any more after you are dead and if ye leave but one work undone there is no doing of it after death There is no work saith Solomon in the grave therefore O be active 3. The faith of this truth that we must all dye will help a Christian to be exceeding mortified to the things of a present World Oh covetous men and women would you shake hands with cold Death but once every morning I should defie you to pursue the World so much as you do Paul was much in the meditation of his change which made him 2 Cor. 4.18 to overlook those things that are temporary VVhile we look not saith he to the things that are seen which are temporal but to the things which are not seen which are eternal Therefore chap. 5.1 Knowing that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens therefore in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven What aileth you Paul might one have laid may you not take a look of the World No saith he for I know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved I have a house with God not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens That is I know that ere long the pins of my Tabernacle will be loosed and it will fall down about my ears therefore I must look for another dwelling house And 1 Cor. 7.24 The fashion of this world passeth away therefore saith he verse 32. I would have you without carefulness caring to please the Lord. And Phil. 4.2 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand As if he had said death is approaching and at hand therefore I intreat you be sober But I think many of us will be found like Saul hid amongst the stuff that is we will be lying amongst the midst of the pleasures of this passing World But I say to thee who art such an one that death will break the strings of thy harp and thy musick will quickly cease O! but death will make thee have a low esteem of the World O! blessed is the person who hath those thoughts of the World all along his way which he shal have of it at his death Have not the most cursed wretches been forced to cry out Oh! I would give ten thousand worlds for Christ Have not some persons who have had the Moon upon their head and that have made their belly their God being forced to cry forth at death O cursed person that I am that ever I made the world my God! Alace that I contented my self with the World Therefore I say unto thee who art such an one O! stay thy pursuit after the World for death is approaching that will cause all thy worldly comforts to evanish 4. When a Christian believeth this truth that he must dye it will be an exceeding great restraint to keep him from sinning as is clear Job 31.13 compared with verse 14. where Job reckoning over many good deeds done by himself saith What then shal I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shal I answer him As if he had said Sirs mistake me not I am not boasting much of my self for I could not have done otherwise else what should I do when God riseth up How could I answer to God if I had done otherwise I think it were a notable practise for each of you when temptations begin to assault you to say O temptation what shal I answer to God when he riseth up to reprove me if I should yeeld unto thee Likewise Eccles 11.9 where Solomon disswading young men to pursue after vanity bringeth this as a reason Know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement Therefore I say unto thee who art often tempted to sin let death and reckoning with God be still in thy sight and I defie thee then to embrace half so many temptations as now thou dost I intreat you to answer all your temptations with that one word What shal I do when he riseth up And what shal I answer when he visiteth me 5. When a Christian liveth within the sight of this truth that he shal once see death it shal make him exceeding patient under every cross wherewith he meets Such a Christian will hardly meet with a cross but he will quiet himself with this Death will put me beyond this cross This is but a cloud that will quickly pass away And for this cause did David so composedly put up that desire Psalm 39.4 Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my days He was sure that the knowledge of his end would put him in a sober and patient frame The sixth advantage is this The faith of approaching death will teach the person that hath

Christ should tell this in Heaven of you to night I was preached to a pack of stones that none of them would love me Will ye not be feared that this report shall be carried back to Heaven of you For what report can Christ carry back but this Now is the cord of this great salvation let down unto you is there none of you that will take a grip of it Will ye flighter after it Will ye make this a rejoycing day in Heaven that is a fasting day unto you and the way to make it so is to embrace the great salvation Now what say ye to it old men Let me speak to you and ask your thoughts of the great salvation Gray hairs should be a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness Old men speak your minds that young men may not have your bad examples What say ye of this salvation Is it not a most glorious salvation Is it not a most excellent salvation that is in your offer I intreat you speak your minds tell Christ ye are content to take the great salvation otherwise whoever he be that will not partake of this Gospel-Salvation I in the Name and authority of Christ our Master denounce eternal and irrevocable war against him Put on your harness ye shal not boast when ye put it off again The wrath and fury of God shal come upon you to the uttermost if ye embrace not this great salvation Other wars are but for a time the greatest Captains that ever the earth did carry are now laid down in the sides of the pit and their swords broken under their head Armies of ten hundred thousand an hundred years time have laid them all in their graves and ended all their contests but there is no discharge of this war that shal be concluded betwixt Christ and you It shal become an eternal and most terrible war which shal be but beginning when time is ended Now peace or war which of them will ye choose Dare ye send a charge to Christ and say Ye will defie him I am afraid there will be two things that many of us will report to day First I am afraid there be many that will give Pharaohs report to the offer of the great salvation and say Who is the Lord that I should obey him I tell you who he is He is glorious in holiness fearfull in praises doing wonders O embrace him before he go hence and give not Pharaohs report lest ye be drowned in the sea of his wrath whence there shall be no recovery Secondly I fear there will be many here to day that will give Demas report to his precious offer I will go and forsake Christ and embrace this present World O bad exchange Cursed be he that shall make it will ye be of Demas humor I fear there hath been many of that humor of a long time but I intreat you once be wise before you dye I confess that Proverb Old fools are twice fools I think old men that will not embrace the great salvation I think ye are triple fools What wait ye for Is there any thing can afford you any satisfaction but this great salvation Now are ye convinced old men that Christ is waiting for your answer I intreat you before ye go hence speak your minds what ye think of the great Salvation Is it not a lovely Salvation Is it not lovely now What say ye to it I am to go away and the offer is to be taken up at this time and it is hard to say if ever ye shal have an offer again I would only say this to you and be sure of it though I should never be a partaker of this great salvation yet I shal be a witness against you that are not partakers of it I tell and declare unto you I shal be a witness against 〈◊〉 if ye embrace not the great Salvation Now old men are ye perswaded to embrace it Let me obtest you by the beauty of Christ come and partake of the great salvation ye that are travalling upon the borders of eternity Now if ye will give no more give this will ye go home and think upon it I shall not be uncharitable nor enter to judge your thoughts I fear there shal be many declared and found guilty amongst us t●… we have declared unto Heaven we will not c●…brace the great Salvation but have troden t● blood of the Son of God under foot Now I i● treat you every one of you ask of your selves ye be the persons that will presume in your hea●… to do so Now I shal leave it with you let it b● witness against you I shal leave it with this 〈◊〉 come away old men young men old women a●… maids come and embrace this precious Gospe● Salvation Ye may say ye bid us come but w● cannot come I desire no more of you but w● come with this Lord I am content to come but cannot come Come once to that for if once 〈◊〉 be content to receive it it will not be long before ye be able to receive it Now shal Christ d● part and will none of you say ye are content 〈◊〉 take him Will ye charge your own conscienc● with this am I content to take Christ and th● great Salvation O blest blest blest be he that 〈◊〉 the Author of this great Salvation and blest b● he that gets any of the ends of the cord of th● great Salvation that we sink not under the wra●… and fury of the Lord Come and embrace th● great Salvation and again I say come and 〈◊〉 brace it for what can ye have if ye want it And what can you want if you have it I sh●… say no more but close with that word Isai 6● verse 21. Behold the Lord hath proclaimed to 〈◊〉 ends of the World to those that are far off W●… hath he proclaimed Say ye to the daughter Sion Behold thy salvation cometh behold it com●… I say to you that are the ends of the World Salva●ion is brought near to you Stout-hearted and ●ar from righteousness the great Salvation is ●rought near unto you and will ye send it away Oh! consider what ye are doing And to him ●hat can perswade you to embrace the great Salvation we desire to give praise A SERMON Concerning DEATH Psal 86.48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death c. IT is very hard to determine where all that are here shall be within thirty years for even ●ere that time come many if not all of us who are here shal have taken up our eternal ●odging And whether we shall take it up in the ●eternity of joy or the eternity of pain is also ●hard to determine Only this one thing I am sure of that all of us shal shortly be gone And ●ere long the shadows of death shall be fitting upon ●ur eye-lids and our eye strings shal begin to ●reak Therefore I would the more seriously

it to study saving wisdom this is clear Psalm 90.12 where David putteth up this request So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom As if he had said I will never think my self wise till I know that blessed piece of A●ithmetick How to number my days I would desire every one of you all to think with your selves every morning when you arise Now we are an hour nearer unto eternity then we were before and at the end of every hour Now we are a day nearer unto eternity then we were before I say think often yea always thus We were never so near death as we are now for oh are we not all nearer to eternity to day then we were ye sterday The seventh advantage attending the faith of approaching death is this That it will make a Christian very careful in preparing for death it is impossible for one to believe really that death is approaching and not prepare for it Say what you will if you be not careful in preparing for death you have not the solide faith of this truth that you shal dye Believe me it is not every one that thinketh he believeth this truth that believeth it indeed And O how dreadful is it for an unprepared man to meet with death He desireth not to dye yea he would give a World for his life but dye he must whether he will or not for death will not be requested to spare a little when he cometh and therefore I say unto you Set your house in order for you shal surely dye Old men and women Set your house in order for surely ye must dye Young men and women Set your house in order for to morrow ye may dye and be cut off in the flower of your age Think not that there are any who can sell time for I say you shal never get time sold unto you Alace I feat the most part of persons that dye now death findeth them at unawares for indeed the persons that dye amongst us when we come to visite them we may give you a full account of them for we think they are all comprehended under these four sorts First when we go to visite some persons on their death bed they are like unto Nabal their heart is dying and sinking like unto a stone within them they are no more affected with death then if it were a fancy Alace for the great stupidity that hath overtaken many Therefore I intreat you delay not your repentance till death lest the Lord take away your wit so that you cannot then repent for your senslesness and stupide frame of spirit A second sort we find in a presumptuous frame saying They have had a good hope all their days and they will not quite it now they will go down to the grave with their hope in their right hand or rather they will go down to the grave with a lye in their right hand they live in a persumptuous frame and they dye in the same delusion for when we tell them that by all probability they are going down to hell they answer God forbid I was all my time a very honest man or woman But I love not that confession for there are many such honest men and women in hell this day The third sort we find have some convictions that they have been playing the fool all their days but we can get them no further I shal only say to such To go down to the Grave with convictions in their breast not making use of Christ is to go down to hell with a candle in their hand to let them see the way and truly the greater part that dye dye in this manner Fourthly there are some whom we find in a self-righteous frame trusting upon the covenant of works and their own merits and trusting by these to go to heaven yet neglecting the offer of Christs righteousness But alace we find not one of a thousand in this frame I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ that is best of all And scarcely do we find any in such a frame O wretched man that I am who shal deliver me from the body of this death Therefore I say unto you who are all here O will you mind death before it take hold on you Oh mind your work now for you will find that death shal be work enough for it self though you leave no work till then The eighth advantage that attendeth the Christian believing this truth that once he must dye is this Death will not be so terrible to him as it is to many when it cometh What think you maketh death a King of terrors What maketh many to shake like the leaf of a tree when they are summoned to appear before Gods Tribunal It is even because of this they have not been thinking on death before it came so as to prepare for it and I fear many in this place may be feared for death and that when it cometh to them they will say unto death as Achab said to Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy Surely death will take you and bring you to the Judgement-seat of Christ therefore study by all means to think ofren upon it and make ready for it for believe me death is a very big word for it will once make you stand with horror in your souls if your peace be not made up with God I know not a more dreadful dispensation then death and a guilty conscience meeting together The second thing that I shal speak unto from the first observation viz. That it is a most certain and infallible truth that all persons shal once see death shal be to give some good considerations for pressing you to prepare for death The first consideration is this that to dye well and in the Lord is a most difficult work therefore I intreat you prepare for death It is a difficult work to communicate aright it is a difficult work to pray aright and it is a difficult work to confer aright But I must tell you it is a more difficult work to dye aright then any of these it is true it is more difficult to communicate aright then to pray aright yet it is much more difficult to dye aright then to communicate aright for it is a most difficult work to dye in the Lord. Death will put the most accurate Christian that is here to a wonderful search and therefore I will tell you nine things that death will try in thee 1. Death will try both the reality and strength of thy faith it may be easy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties but death shal put thy faith to the greatest stress that ever it did meet with Yea know this that the faith of the strongest believer may get and ordinarily doth get a set at death the like whereof it never got before therefore prepare for death 2. Death will try thy love to God some persons pretend much love to

him but death will propose this question to such a person Lovest thou him more then these Lovest thou him more then thy wife More then thy house More then thy friends But your unwillingness to dye giveth us much ground to fear that many have little love to Christ but much to the World and so dare not answer the question Lord thou knowest that I love thee 3. Death will try thy enjoyments some of you may be ready to think that you meet with many enjoyments so that you might reckon as you think to fourty enjoyments and sweet out-lettings but beware that death bring them not down to twenty I have known some who thought they had met fourty times with God but when death came it made them take down the count to the half therefore seeing death will try the reality of thine enjoyments O prepare for it 4. Death will try thy patience thou mayest seem to have much patience now but when death cometh thou art put to dye it will put thy patience to a great tryal therefore prepare for it 5. Death will try the reality of thy duties yea even those duties wherein thou hadst most satisfaction as thy communicating aright in such a place thou hopest that is sure thy reading the Scripture at such a time aright thou hopest that is sure thou prayedst at such a time aright and hopest that is sure thou meditatest in such a place aright and thou hopest that is sure But believe me death may make thee change thy thoughts for there are some persons who have communicated and prayed c. as right as any in this generation who for all that will not find six duties wherein they can find satisfaction at death 6. Death will exceedingly try thy sincerity when it cometh An hypocrite may go all along his whole way undiscovered yet death may bring him to light and make it appear what a man he is 7. Death will discover unto thee hid and secret sins of which thou never had a thought before yea albeit thou thoughtest these had been forgotten death will let thee see them standing between thee and the light of his countenance 8. Death will accurately try thy mortification Some think they have come a great length in mortification but believe me death will try it and put it to the touch-stone 9. Death will try thy hope whether it be real or not I shal only say this that all the other graces must low their sails to faith and so it is faith must carry us thorow being that last triumphing grace which must fit the field for us when all the other graces will faint and ly by It is faith that must enter us fairly within the borders of eternity It is faith must gainstand all the temptations of death yea all the other graces as it were stand by and see faith strike the last stroke in this war The second consideration to press you to mind death is this That ye are to dye but once O! labor to do that well which you are to do but once and the wrong doing of which can never be helped If ye pray not aright ye may get that mended and if ye communicate not aright ye may get that also mended but alace if ye dye not aright there is no mending of that Therefore O prepare for death that ye may dye well seeing ye are to dye but once The third consideration to press you to mind death is this That ye are pronounced blessed who dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. O let that provoke you to prepare for death that so ye may dye in the Lord that is the only way to make you eternally happy I confess it is a question difficult to determine whether it be more difficult to dye well or to live well I shal not answer it but rather desire you to study both The fourth consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That though thou put all thy work by thy hand before death ye shalt thou find that death shal have work enough for it self yea as much as thou shalt get done It will then be much for thee to win to patience it will be much for thee to win to the sight of thy justification and it will then be much for thee to win to assurance O then is it not needful for thee to put all thy work by thy hand before thy latter end come Wherefore I may say to you as Moses said in his Song Deuter. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end O that ye had this piece of divine wisdom I pray you consider that sad word Lam 1.19 She remembered not her last end and what of it Therefore she came down wonderfully So will the down-coming of many in this generation be wonderful who consider not their last end The fifth consideration for pressing you to prepare for death is this viz. That their labor shal end but their works shal not be forgotten as is clear from that fore-cited place Rev. 14.13 They rest from their labors and their works follow them and is not that a glorious advantage The sixth consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That death may come upon you ere ye be aware ye know not but death may surprise you this night before ye go home to your houses and therefore let that press you to study a constant preparation for death The seventh consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That as death leaveth you so will Judgement find you If death shal leave you strangers to Christ ye shal appear before his Judgement-seat strangers unto him therefore I intreat you all to prepare for it I think that noble practise of Paul exceeding worthy of imitation 1 Cor. 15.31 I dye daily which I think doth comprehend these three things 1. That Paul had death always in his sight 2. It comprehendeth this that he labored to keep such a frame as that every moment he should be ready to dye so that whensoever death should put the summonds in his hand he should be content to answer 3. It comprehendeth this that he labored to lay aside and remove all things out of the way that might detain him from laying down his tabernacle O saith Paul I labor so to clear my self of all hinderances as that when ever I shal be summoned to remove out of time I may willingly lay down my life Therefore I would ask you this question viz. When did you make your last testament I think it were suitable for us to be renewing our latter-will every day for in so doing Paul made an excellent testament the better of which none that died since have made 2 Tim. 4.7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith these are very sweet articles and then he addeth Henceforth there is

laid up for me a crown of righteousness that the Lord the righteous Judge shal give me at that day And think ye not that very sweet that he would leave something unto you in Christs Name viz. And not for me only but for all them that wait for his appearance Now I come to the third thing proposed viz. To give some directions for helping you to prepare for death Direct 1. I intreat you be much in preparation for death every day for it is even a preparation for heaven to be taking a fight of your grave and latter end every day Direct 2. I intreat you be much in these duties First in self-examination that your comp●… may be clear with God for many a ragged compt shal we have when death and we shal meet Secondly be much in the exercise of repentance that so ye may have every fault and corruption in you mourned for before death and you meet Thirdly be much in the exercise of faith making your calling and election sure Fourthly be much in the exercise of mortification and that will help you to keep a loose grip not only of the World but also of your other idols and if ye be much in these ye shall undoubtedly be prepared for death Direct 3. Be much in minding the excellent things of heaven a Christian that would be prepared for death should have all his thoughts and conversation there I think it would be an excellent help in preparation for death to take a sight of the crown every day Direct 4. Labor always to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and man I say labor to keep thy conscience clear and that shal be a continual feast unto thee Direct 5. Slight not any known duty do not crucify any conviction neither break any resolution put these three together and that will exceedingly help you to prepare for death I say see that ye adventure not to slight any known duty see that ye adventure not to crucify any conviction and see that ye adventure not to break your resolutions Now we come to the second thing which we observed from the words viz. That this truth that we shal once see death is not much believed by many of us and to make this appear we shal only give some evidences unto you to prove that we are not as yet prepared for death 1. Evidence Doth not the unspeakable stupidity that hath overtaken many say that we are not people prepared for death Alace many of us would find our selves in a most stupid temper if we were presently to dye for many of us are no more moved with the threatnings and terrors of God then if they did not belong unto us and this saith We are not as yet prepared for death 2. Evid That we are not prepared for death in our pursuing so much after the vain and passing delights of a present World Many of us rise up early and go to bed late at night and eat the bread of sorrow all the day and load themselves with thick clay And I am sure that such a person being night and day taken up with the World is not prepared for death I remember a word recorded of such a wretched one who was exceeding rich said he I would give so many thousands of money if death would but give m● one day yet he got it not And O how suddenly will death surprise many of you as it did him 3. Evid Which speaketh forth our unpreparedness for death is our impatience under every petty cross that we meet with for the prepared Christian will be patient under very sharp crosses 4. Evid That we are not prepared is our not endeavouring to live within sight of our interest in God Oh if we were prepared for death durst we live in so much incertainty of our interest in God and of our assurance of heaven 5. Evid Some of us can let our idols lye in our breast six years without repentance and will never study to mortify them nor repent for them and surely such are not prepared for death Now I intreat you seriously to mind what hath been said and that ye may the more seriously think upon it I will tell you some material challenges that your conscience at death will present unto you therefore take heed that ye may know how ye will answer 1. Challenge Is the slighting of much precious time and sinning away the precious offers of grace O what will ye answer to that challenge when death shal present it to you Death will say or rather thine own conscience at death what ailed thee to sin so many hours without either praying reading or meditating Now have ye any thing to answer when death shal present this challenge to you I intreat you premeditate what ye will say I intreat you prevent death by presenting it first seriously to your selves 2. Challenge That death will present unto you will be for the killing of many precious convictions which ye have had What will each of you answer at death when your conscience proposeth this challenge unto you Thou metst with such a challenge at such a time and went home and crucified it And at another time thou metst with another challenge and went home and crucified it These challenges will be laid home to thy door therefore think on them 3. Challenge Death will charge you for a formal hypocritical way of going about duties I say your conscience will then tell you that ye went to such a communion with a selfish end and ● another time ye prayed hypocritically and formally And what will ye have to answer when ye meet with these challenges I confess I know not what ye can answer to these But I charge you be thinking what ye will answer for it may be that these convictions shall ly on your consciences that even this day you have heard two searching Sermons and did meet with some convictions but made no good use of them yea ●nd it may be ye did sleep all that time O! ●hat will ye answer when it will be said to you 〈◊〉 went to such a Sermon and sleeped all the one and ye went to such a Communion but had no other end before your eyes but to be see● of men I intreat you consider presently wh●… you will answer to these 4. Challenge Will be for your breaking many precious resolutions It will be said to some of you that at the Communion in this place ye took on vows and did break them I am sure y● connot question the Justice of this challenge therefore see what ye will answer 5. Challenge Ye slighted many precious offers of the Gospel O men and women in this City what will ye answer to this I was often exhorted to take Christ and yet would never take him What will conscience say to that when death shal table it before you I tell you what you must then answer O cursed I that ever refused Christ in the Gospel

And ye shal then b● confounded because this is your sin Believe me there was never an offer of this everlasting Gospel and of Christ in it made unto you that shal not at death before or after it be brought to your remembrance And O how sad and doleful will it be to you when Christ shal open the Book where your sins are written and begin with the sin of slighting the great Salvation Thus I invited you when you were twelve years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were thirty years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were sixty years old and ye would not come What will ye answer to this Have ye any thing to say Or must ye not stand speechless before your Judge when he shall put home this challenge unto you Therefore think seriously upon it how ye will answer to it 6. Challenge Will be for your sinning oftentimes against light And O how painful and sad a challenge will that be at the day of death when it will be said Thou sinned with a witness in thy bosom that thou wast doing wrong Thy conscience will say Oftentimes I did tell thee this is sinful yet wouldest thou not abstain from it And what will ye answer to this 7. Challenge Oftentimes ye sinned upon very small temptations and what will ye answer to that Must ye not then confess it and say Oh how often have I deserted Christ and embraced my idols upon a small temptation Now I intreat you be thinking what ye will answer to these seven most material challenges which certainly shal be presented to you at death I assure you ye must either answer all your challenges in Christ else ye will not get them well answered Therefore I would exhort you to embrace the Gospel and Christ in it that so let death propose never so many challenges unto you ye may answer them all as David did viz. God hath made with me an everlasting covenant And that will answer all your challenges Though my house be not so with God yet I have the everlasting covenant to ●il● my salvation upon Now to press you to make use of Christ I shal give you these four considerations Consideration 1. If ye embrace not Christ now death will be very unpleasant to you O what else can comfort thee when going through the region of death but this I am Christs I am Christs Is there any other thing can comfort● thee in that day but only this I am Christs and he is mine Consideration 2. If ye embrace not Christ and the great Salvation now it will be an hundred to one if ever ye get time or liberty to do it when ye are going to dye For although many delay their closing with Christ till death yet scarcely one of a hundred getteth favor to grip Christ at death Therefore think on it for you will not get your mind so composed at death as ye imagine nor all things done as ye suppose therefore now embrace the great Salvation Consideration 3. If ye delay your closing with Christ till death seize upon you ye shal never be able to make up that loss For will the dead rise and praise God Or shal any one come from the Land of forgetfulness to take hold upon a crucified Savior Therefore O will ye take him for your Salvation Consideration 4. If ye will take Christ now he shal be your guide when ye are going thorow the valley and shadow of death And O how blessed is the person that can sing that word Psalm 48.14 This is my God he will be my guide even unto death If ye can sing that pleasant song O how may ye be comforted when your eye-strings shal begin to break O how happy is he who can say Though I walk thorow the shadow of death yet will I fear no ill for I know that the Lord is with me Now this is the acceptable day and the year of Salvation therefore do not delay but embrace Christ lest death surprise you ere ye be aware and so the acceptable day be lost But unto these who think they may delay till death I say surely there are many damned Atheists in hell that sometimes did think as ye think I will make all wrongs right when death and I shal meet I hope that three days repentance will satisfy for all my wrongs for I am sure there are many in hell who did never get three days to think upon their former wayes Therefore O come come and embrace Christ presently Now are ye all perswaded of this truth that ye shal once see death Then study a tender walking for believe me there are many of us that shal go thorow death with many bruised bones because of untender walking before God We know it is not the multitude of words can perswade you to embrace Christ for many of you never minded the thing but believe me death will preach these things unto you in a more terrible manner then we can do at this time Therefore I say to each of you O prepare to meet thy God for if death find you in an estranged estate from God I defie the Angels in Heaven to free you out of that estate and the day is coming wherein thou shalt cry out O slighter of the great Salvation that I am I would give ten thousand worlds for one Sermon again that I once he●… wherein Christ was freely offered to me when th● shalt be tormented without hope of remedy therefore while it is to day harden not your heart● for your late wishes shal not be granted when are gone if ye make not haste O therefore has● haste in time and come out from the land of your c●ptivity and from the house of your bondage a● take Christ for your Redeemer the guide of yo● youth and old age Now unto him who can le●… you thorow all these steps betwixt you and Heven be eternal praise Amen FINIS