VERA EFFIGIES EDVARDI BURII EVANGELII MINISTRI AN. AETAT SUAE 66 ANo. DOM. 1682 Inventiue art dame-natures curious ape You see can counterfeit the bodyes snape Yet can noe more describe the mind then we Heavens glory by the spangled Canopy This shaddows out the house who there doth dwell Aske in the booke the picture cannot tell DEATH IMPROV'D AND Immoderate Sorrow FOR Deceased Friends and Relations REPROV'D WHEREIN You have many Arguments against Immoderate Sorrow and many Profitable Lessons which we may Learn from such Providences 1 Thess 4.13 14. But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For if we believe that Christ died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him By EDWARD BVRY formerly Minister of Great Belas in Shropshire LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside 1693. TO THE Vertuous and truly Religious The Lady Wilbraham the Pious Consort of the Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Wilbraham of Weston under Lizard Barronet one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Stafford E. B. wisheth all Happiness External Internal and Eternal MADAM IT fares with me as 't is fabled of Pan that pretended Rural God who being admitted into Apollo's Presence to shew his skill upon his Oaten Pipe at the first he was bashful and timerous but being uncontrouled he grew bolder and Pip't louder This was my Case when I wrote the ensuing Letter which was in a dark and gloomy Day my Bashfulness and Sense of Vnworthiness when it was finish'd had like to have strangled it in the Womb and to have kept it from your sight fearing what Reception it might meet with but knowing what ever was wanting a good Meaning and an Intention to do good was not wanting and after some conflict in my self I resolved to put it to the venture and send it I did but your â—ind Acceptance beyond my Expectation made me Pipe louder and without your privity I sent it to the Press thinking that having past this Test and you approving of it others also might possibly do the same but had you past it by with a Check or Disrespect you had spoiled my Musick yet durst I not prefix your Name to it as thinking it unworthy of you But your kind Acceptance of it when it was Printed and Approbation doth make me yet bolder to prefix your Name and tell the World to whom it doth of right belong and this will be some excuse for me that you did not manifest your dislike nor forbid me to do it the Reasons why I did this and do now again Publish it were given you then there were many worthy Friends then and since that time that lay under the like Dispensation of Providence that you did viz. That had parted with their near Relations to whom I was willing to give a Word of Advice and Comfort but my Occasions would not permit me to Speak or Write to all neither was I able to do it to all that needed my Advice I therefore imagining what doth one good may benefit another also I made it publick this Letter may speak my Mind when I am absent even to those to whom I cannot come for I see Grace itself will not wipe off immoderate Tears but they sometimes flow like a mighty Torrent without Bank or Bottom and tho' here be some things peculiar to your Condition in the Letter yet in the general 't is of publick concern the Disease is common and the Receipt I hope will not be useless Most People first or last are concerned in parting with Relations here are Considerations to quiet them at least they see the Death of others as well as of their Relations and here are profitable Instructions to improve that for their own good and Direction how to prepare for their own Death These Considerations made me make that publick which at first was intended for private use and I hope this second Edition will give your Ladiship no Offence nor to read your Name in the Front when I sent the Letter to you I did foresee that I must shortly come into the Furnace again and so I did the very Week I received the printed Book I Bâ—ried my eldest Son as you had done your eldest Daughter and how soon I may have another Trial I know not The Lord grant I may learn the Lesson my self I am teaching others some Additions I have made at the Request of several which may be more needful to others then to you I hope they tend towards the perfection not imperfection of the Book But I forget my self the whole being but a Letter and that to your Ladiship I must not make the Gate too wide for the Building I shall cease further to trouble you when I have committed you and your dear Relations into the Hands of him that never leaveth his and subscribed my self MADAM Your much Obliged Servant EDWARD BVRY THE CONTENTS THE Introduction Five Arguments to quiet the Heart at the Death of Relations 1. Consider who did it that great God whose they are 2. Consider Who we are that are discontented Dust and Ashes 3. What wrong is done to us or our Relations 4. What Benefit are we like to have by mourning 5. Our own Condition is mortal and shall suddenly follow Seven Lessons To be learnt by the Death of Friends if all must die 1. Lesson How little we are beholding to Sin 1. It brought Death into the World 2. It is the cause of all the Misseries we suffer in the World 3. 'T is the cause of all Spiritual Judgment we meet with 4. It lays us under the Wrath of God and makes him our Enemy 5. T is the cause of eternal Death and eternal Damnation Second Lesson How little Good the world can do us in our greatest need 1. It cannot prevent Death tho' we had never so much of it 2. It cannot procure us a happy Life or give Content 3. The things of the World are uncertain and momentary 4. It can do us little good in our great Concerns here or hereafter 5. It exposeth us to a great deal of danger Third Lesson Of how great concern Grace and a good Conscience is 1. It helps exceedingly to bring us through the World with Comfort 2. It fits us to leave the World and takes away the Fear of Death 3. Without it we can neither please God nor enjoy him 4. It will procure us a good Name to succeeding Generations 5. It will bear up the Heart at Judgment and usher us into Heaven Fourth Lesson If all must dye then the Godly have nothing to Suffer 1. The Saints at Death shall be freed from all their Sins 2. From all the Causes of Sin Temptations of Satan and the World 3. From all the Devil's Instruments Persecutions and Tryal 4. From all the Effects of Sin Losses
terrible he may hum but not hurt strike but not sting kill a Believer yet not hurt him the worst is to send him to his Father's House the sooner But what is this to those in whom sin not only lives but raigns It will bring sad tidings to such 't is indeed the cause of all the Crosses and cross Providences they meet with here in this World but brings forth far bitterer Fruit which will not be ripe in this World which Reprobate Wretches must feed upon to Eternity Whatever we suffer here we may thank Sin for it haply we have laid some Creature-Comforts too near our hearts Well the Achan must be removed or God will not be pacified But if we dye while â—in is alive our present Suffering though to the â—oss of our Relations Wealth Honours Pleaâ—ures yea and Life it self is but a Flea-biting â—o our future Torments Then sin how pleaâ—ant soever it look now will be found our greatest Enemy All Men in the World and the Devil â—o help them can but kill the Body 't is Sin onâ—y that kills the Soul and God casts both Soul â—nd Body into Hell for sin the loss of which is more than the loss of the World Matth. 16.26 The loss of it is incomparable and irreparable â—he Rich Glutton could not with all his Wealth Purchase one drop of Water to cool his tongue Luke â—6 24 c. The Soul it self is a Precious Piece next the Angels the most precious that ever God made being made in his own Image and the greatest and richest Purchase that ever was made â—nd cost the greatest Price the Precious Blood of the Son of God 'T is that which is most like â—nto God himself and fitted for Communion with him and of Enjoying him for ever 'T is â—ndued with excellent Faculties the Understandâ—ng Will Affections Conscience Memory and many more which make a Man differ from a Beast and resemble an Angel And for duraâ—ion it runs parallel with the days of Heaven with the longest times of Eternity neither is â—here any thing in the World to be compared to 〈◊〉 and there is nothing but sin can hurt or wound it and this alone makes it subject to Eternal Torments and rents it out of the hands of God and the arms of Christ when nothing else can do it Sin makes Men in a worse condition than the Beasts that perish which were in the Creation little lower than the Angels the one is thrown into the Ditch and so ends their Misery the other into Hell with the Devil and his Angels where they are ever dying and never able to dye ever suffering those insufferable Pains out of which is no hope of Redemption for when they have been there as many thousands of Years as there are Grass-piles upon the Earth Stars in Heaven Sands upon the Sea-shore and Hairs upon their Heads they are never the nearer going forth than they were the first day they were cast into it for a thousand thousand Millions substracted from Eternity doth not lessen the Account Oh the horrible Nature of Sin which plucks the Soul from the Eternal Embraces of her dear Redeemer and from those Rivers of pleasures at God's right hand for evermore and lodges it among the Devils and the Damned in those Eternal Flames to all Eternity in those Rivers of Brimstone kindled by the Wrath of God Isa 30.33 Here we may behold the deadly Fruits of Sin and shall we bewail the Death of Relations which indeed is the Fruit of Sin and shall we not bewail and prevent its more deadly and dangerous Effects when without Repentance our Souls as well as our Bodies are like Eternally to perish Lesson 2. From this Lecture of Mortality before us is this It may plainly shew us how little good the World will do us when we have most need and by this we may take a true estimate of its Worth or rather of its Vanity We use to say that is good that will do us good and 't is a Friend that will help in time of need I am sure the World will not cannot do it 't is true if we look upon it through the Devil's Spectacles it will look fair and so will an Old Hag in her Paint and Plaister but this is the way to be egregiously deceived but that there is really little worth in it observe with me these following Considerations 1. Consid Riches Honours Pleasures or whatever else the World can brag of cannot prevent Death though sometimes it doth hasten it The truth of this is evidently seen in this Providence for had it been a vast Estate sumptuous Buildings costly Apparel Men or Means Food or Physick that could have preserved her Life doubtless she had not dyed but this could neither prevent the Disease remove it or take away the Malignity of it For when Death comes and come it will it will neither be bribed nor baffled Diseases are God's Servants when he bids them go they go and when he bids them come they come and what he bids them do they do it like the Centurion's Servant Mat. 8.9 Contra vim mortis non est medicamen in hortis If God strike the Creature cannot heal God hath the Keys of Life and Death at his Girdle and our way is to go to him and neither trust to Physicians as Asa or to Witches as Saul 'T is he that kills and makes alive and brings to the gates of death and back again Deut. 32.39 'T is he that passed that Decree more firm than the Laws of the Medes and Persians That all men should once dye and after death come to Judgment Heb. 9.27 By force of this your Daughter dyed and so will you ere long All that the Rich Man had Luke 12.19 20. could not bribe Death one Night neither can any Man Ransom his Brother from Death The Rich Cardinal Beuford found it true to his sorrow Though Money be the greatest Commander in the World it will be out of Commission in the World to come Death is a perfect Leveller it will Lodge the Poor and the Rich the Fair and the Foul the Young and the Old the King and the Beggar in the same Bed without Respect of Persons let the World say what it will to the contrary and Happy be those that are prepared or otherwise it will prove but a Trap-door to Hell Death regards not any however dignified or distinguished the King then must leave his Robes and the Beggar his Rags behind him the Scull of the one retains no impression of a Crown nor of the other of his Slavery Now great Men are like Capital Letters they take up more room and be more gorgeously adorned and clad commonly go before others but signifie the same thing So the greatest signifies no more than a Man and the meanest signifies no less Or like unto Counters some in the Account signifie Pounds some Shillings some Pence and some less but when they are in the Box they
Barrel as one saith or as Lime-stones or Tiles in a Kiln to be burnt The greatest Men are but as Passengers in an Inn the Goods they enjoy are but lent them for a Night and they may say of them as the Prophet of his Ax Alas Master for it is borrowed We should use these things as a Traveller doth his Staff which he keeps or throws away as it proves a help or an hindrance to him When we go to Bed we know not but we may wake in Eternity next Morning and then whose are these We should think never the better of our selves neither think we are the safer for them for they cannot better or secure us for what World we shall be in to Morrow we know not and then it will not be much to us whether we leave Poverty or Riches behind us Riches may make us more unwilling often more unfit to dye They are like to Winter Weather variable and uncertain or like the Sea ebbing and flowing a double uncertainty always accompanies them they may be taken from us or we from them sometimes our hopes are great and then soon dash'd Yet how soon can the Devil blow up the bubble of Pride with the wind of Vain-glory 'T is observed that a Covetous Man a Sick Man and a Discontented Man though they possess much yet can enjoy nothing when a Believer though he possess little yet he enjoys all things 2 Cor. 6.10 A Covetous Man cannot be Rich nor a contented Man Poor those that have God for their Portion want nothing and those that have not have nothing that is truly necessary If we search the World from end to end we cannot find Happiness in it and therefore in the loss of all Job was content as knowing his Redeemer lived and then his Happiness was not lost In the World we find a little Honey and many Stings a little bitter-sweet Pleasure and much Pain but in Heaven there is Treasure worth the enjoying And rivers of pleasures at God's right hand for evermore And a Heart in Heaven would be a good Evidence for Heaven if we love Pleasure we shall enter into our Master's Joy here Pleasure will be without mixture measure or end if Riches be desirable here are true Treasures if we sell all to buy this Pearl we make a good Bargain here we may have Wine and Milk without money and without price here is no danger of coveting too much the more we covet the more we shall have a true desire is the required condition of Enjoyment the better we love Heaven the better God loves us We are in continual danger of losing the the things of the World but Heaven cannot be lost if once made sure In a word the World daily exposeth us to the wrath of God and the pains of Hell and the loss of Heaven See then all these things considered whether the World be of so much worth as 't is usually taken to be and whether it be worth the Care Industry Pains and Diligence we usually bestow upon it Lesson 3. The shortness of your Daughter's Life the suddenness and unexpectedness of her Death teach us also the worth of Grace and the necessity of a good Conscience for these are the necessary Qualifications to fit us for Death and to give us an Interest in Glory We know neither the day nor the hour when our Lord and Master cometh and woe to us if we are found unprepared This Oyl must not be wanting when the Bridegroom comes nor the Wedding-Garment at the Marriage-Supper If a bare Profession of Religion would serve turn for Salvation then Christ's Flock would not be a little one but many are called but few are chosen There are many in the World that like Uriah carry Letters with them of their own Condemnation For if Religion be not good why do they Profess it If it be why do they not Practice it The Lamps of Profession without the Oyl of Grace will not serve turn 't is but sparks of their own kindling and notwithstanding these they will lye down in sorrow Isa 50.11 Christ must be apprehended by Faith and honoured by a Holy Life by all those that shall enjoy him He came to save us from sin as well as from Hell and never changeth the Relation but he changeth the Nature and Disposition also and is the Author of Sanctification as well as of Justification Rom. 8.30 For this Golden Chain cannot be broken There is nothing but the Life of Grace and the Death of Sin can make us fit for the Life of Glory for if Sin dye not before us we must dye eternally Now we know not whether we have a day to live or what may be in the Womb of the next Morning and is it not then time to look about us whether we are prepared to dye or no We usually prepare for a Journey before hand especially if it be long and for a Fair or Market before it comes The Souldier will not Encounter his Enemy without his Armour and dare we grapple with Death unprepared who is the King of Terrors and a Terror to Kings We have not Flesh and Blood to wrastle with but Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places Ephes 6.11 12. And 't is a thousand times better to meet an Enemy without Armour than Death without Grace Now this is our time to get Grace and we know not how soon the Market will be over and Night come when no man can work Upon this little Inch of Time depends Eternity our Everlasting well as ill Being The greatest Weights hang upon the smallest Wyers Grace though it cannot pâ—event Death yet it sweetens it and steels the Heart against the dint of it this made Old Simeon sing that Swan-like Song Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace c. And Paul desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And though Grace now be disrespected it will prove the best Flower in the Garland and the most Orient Pearl in the Crown This is the Key that must let us into Heaven when the World will prove a Bar to keep us out it will prove a Comfort at Death when the World will prove but Vexation Grace and Peace were the choicest Jewels the Apostle could wish to those he loved Heb. 3.25 1 Pet. 1.2 Riches Honours and Pleasures are not of so great a value but others are not of this mind The pleased Face of God cannot be seen but in this Mirrour when all other things vanish into smoak this will endure this fetches Water from the Fountain Light and Heat from the Sun and all that good is comes in at this Door Sin is the only Make-bate between God and the Soul and Grace the Reconciler Now that I may shew you something of the worth of Grace and the Necessity of it I beseech you observe well these following Considerations 1. Consid Grace and a good Conscience are abundantly useful and
Crosses Pains Sickness c. 5. They shall enjâ—y God Heaven and Happiness for ever Fifth Lesson If all must dye how little Certainty wicked men have of their Happiness 1. At Death they must leâ—ve behiâ—d all their Riches 2. They must bid 〈…〉 to all their Pleasures 3. They must lose all their Pomp Glory and Honour 4. After Death they â—hall lose their God their Soules their Heaven and Happiness 5. They shalâ— be thrown into endless â—aseless Torments Sixth Lesson If all must dye then we should prepare for our own Death 1. Consider seriously we muâ—t die 2 â—e have a great deal of Work to do ere we die 3. Many men as worldly-wise as we do miscarry 4. The dangâ—rous condition we are in while unprepared 5. Preparation for Death and our Evidences for Heaven can do us no harm Directions to Die well 1. Get an Interest in Christ and a title to Glory 2. Be sure to see Sin dead before you or your Souls will die 3. Mortifie and Crucifie the World and subdue it 4. Be sure to live well if you would die well 5. Learn to die daily have death always before your Eyes Seventh Lesson If all must die bring your minds to be willing to die 1. Consider Our Life is not at your own dispose but God's 2. The many miseries Death frees us from 3. 'T is unbeseeming a Christian to be unwilling to die when God calls 4. If we resign our selves to God we shall die to the best Advantage 5. The Joys of Heaven may sweeten Death itself The Conclusion DEATH Improved AND Immoderate Sorrow for Deceased RELATIONS And FRIENDS Reproved In a LETTER Consolatory to the Vertuous and truly Religious Lady Wilbraham of Weston in the County of Stafford at the Death of her Daughter the Lady Middleton of Chirk Castle MADAM LET it not be thought Presumption in me though the meanest of a Thousand if I make bold to give my Advice in the midst of so many much abler Counsellors and to prescribe you Physick when you have so many Learned Physicians at hand for haply I have more experienced that Distemper under which you labour than many of them and can write a Probatum est upon my Receipts Others may speak more of the Disease than I can yet few have felt the working of it in their own Bowels more than I even from my Youth up and I am at present making up a Dose for my self who am in daily expectation of paâ—ting with my Eldest Son as you have done with your Eldest Daughter he being one in whom I took no small content and from whom I expected much Comfort in my Age the Lord grant I may take the same Counsel I give to others When first I heard of your great and as I think unexpected Loss and how soon your Joy that a Man-Child was born into the World was turned into Sorrow that a Woman was taken out of the World I confess I was suddenly surprized with Amazement and cryed out How vain a thing is Man whose breath is in his Nostrils and how vain are all these transitory things we so much dote upon And how little can they do for us when we have most need And how foolish are we to spend our time and money for that which is not bread and our labour for that which satisfieth not When I saw so fair a Flower so lately budded and not fully blown so soon withered and dead and what need we had especially that were much older to stand upon our Guard not knowing the day nor hour wherein our Lord and Master comes When I had spent some time in these Considerations and bewailed the Publick Loss I began to consider your Condition who by reason of your tender and haply too tender Love and Care of your Children especially as I imagined of her who was your First-born and the beginning of your Strength and one who by reason of her Age and Maturity more fit for your more intimate Society I was afraid your Burden would not be easily born for I conceive you are better qualified to bear a heavy Burden of another Nature than this strong Affections many times breed strong Afflictions but God will have us hate Father and Mother Wife and Children and our own Lives for his sake These things considered I could not but sympathize with you in your Suffering and put my Soul as it were in your Soul's stead and so bewailed and condoled your Condition having many times my self felt the weight of your Burden I thought then with Job That to those that are afflicted pity is to be shewn by his friend Job 6.14 But barely to pity and not to endeavour to help is but a poor kind of Charity but it was out of my reach any other way to help than by Counsel and Advice and this I knew you needed not yet not willing to be altogether silent I resolved to communicate to you my own Experience and what it was that hath once and again calmed those tumultuous Thoughts that raged in my Breast But could I but imagine that your Sorrows were over your Griefs supprest your Trouble buried and your Burden eased I should not be so uncharitable as to take them again out of the Ashes or blow the fire that is too apt of it self to kindle but I fear the Flame is too great to be so soon extinguished and your Distemper too deeply rooted to be so easily removed and the Wound too great to be so easily healed Or that I could but imagine your Sorrows were moderate and no more than your Duty I should not put you to the trouble of Reading nor my self of Writing these following lines But I not only fear but also hear that you are a Woman of a sorrowful Spirit drench'd in Sorrow over-power'd with Grief and like Rachel weeping for your Daughter and will not be comforted because she is not And fearing as others of your Friends do what the event will be in parting with this dear Pledge or rather Piece of your self especially when I read Godly Persons have sometimes been strangely transported with Passion upon such Occasions as Jacob at the supposed Death of Joseph Gen. 37.33 when he refused Comfort and resolâ—â—d to go down to the Grave with him but he should have learned to bury his Children and Friends when alive by acting their Death to himself afore-hand He shewed his Fatherly Love to his Son but not his own Obedience to his Father The next that offers himself to our consideration is David a man after God's own heart yet not without his Faults and Failings we find him excessively mourning for the Death of rebellious Absalom that had kill'd his Brother Amnon forc'd his Concubines rebell'd against him and sought his Life yet when he was cut off by a deserved Death partly by the hand of God he mourns and over-mourns till he was soundly chidden and threatned by Joab and wish'd he had dyed for him 2 Sam. 18.33
my design and desire is to prevent immoderation which will hinder and not further you in the Work and unfit you for your Duty you may you ought do mourn but not as those without hope for those that sleep in the Lord 1 Thess 4.13 Ingenious Children when one is beaten the other will cry but they must take heed of murmuring and repining against their Father Lute-strings when one is touched the other sound and 't is one of those Dues which we owe to our deceased Friends to lament at their Funeral 't is those usually that live undesired that dye unlamented It was a Judgment threatned against Jehoiakim that when he died he should not be lamented Jer. 22.18 But we must not Water our Plants so as to drown them and that Sorrow that disables us for our present Duty in our general or particular Calling is doubtless our sin Our chiefest care for our Relations should be while they are living and that is to make provision to our power for Soul and Body but for the Soul especially for alas what is a moment of time to Eternity But when God manifests by his Providence that 't is his Will to transport and transplant these Flowers into a better Soil though we should not be insensible of the stroak we should not murmure or repine under it or accuse the Hand that gave it but submissively resign them up to him who gave them or rather lent them to us David did what he could for his Son while he was living but ceased mourning for him when he was dead Our Tears though they may be shed upon other accounts yet 't is pity they should run profusedly in any other Channel but for sin It being the true penitential Tears that are the Holy Water that God affects and the Devil hates for if any â—oss or Cross that befalls us deserve one Tear our Sins deserve a thousand for sin is the cause of all our Losses and Crosses that befal us and without Repentance will be the destruction of Soul and Body and when we see such direful Effects and tast such bitter Fruits we should bewail the Cause and root up the Tree If our Sin lay heavy our Crosses would seem light if we bathed our Sins in our Tears we should not have so many left to pour out upon these Occasions Sin is the occasion of the Death of your dear Daughter and will be of your own Death for had it not been for sin she had not dyed By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed ever all for as much as all have sinned the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life Nay sin it was that put our sweet Saviour to death these were the Nails that pierced his Hands and his Feet the Spear that pierced his Side his Betrayer Accusers Judge and Executioners and can your Daughter be more dear to you than God's only and beloved Son was to him He laid down his Life for her and her Life is not too good to lay down for him he laid down his Life to purchase for her a Mansion of Glory and she laid down her Life to go to take Possession for there is no other way to enjoy it Madam In my present Address to you there are two things designed by me The first is to abate the swelling Tide of your Sorrow and to bring those Waters within their proper Bounds and Banks which I shall endeavour to do by giving you some few Considerations to Meditate upon that so when the violent Storm of Passion shall be allayed Reason may be spoke with which cannot many times be heard when Passion is raging and after that my intention is to point you out some of those many profitable Lessons which this Providence seems to hand out to us which if we can learn doubtless we shall gain by this loss or our gains will be greater than our loss for God's Rod hath a Voice and 't is our Duty to hear it Micah 6.9 Nay 't is like Jonathan's Rod 1 Sam. 14.27 it hath Honey at the end and if we taste of it it will open and enlighten our Eyes If God with Correction give Instruction we may well say as David It was good for me that I was afflicted before I was afflicted I went astray but now I learn to keep thy commandments Psal 119.67 Quae nocent docent is a Proverb and that Lesson is best learnt that is set on with whipping and best remembred Correction is seldom a sign of God's hatred many times of his love For whom he loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son that he receiveth If we endure chastening God dealeth with us as with sons for what son is he that his father chasteneth not And if we be without chastening then are we bastards and not sons Heb. 12.6 7 8. Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for your iniquities God will be sure to plow his own Ground whatsoever becomes of the wast and to weed his own Garden though others are let alone to grow wild the punishing Angel must begin at God's Sanctuary Ezek 9. And it was no sign of Love when God said Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone Hosea 4.17 Since he hath made a match with Mischief let him have his belly full of it When Ignatius was thrown to the Wild Beasts to be devoured Now saith he I begin to be a Christian for Afflictions are the Gemms and Jewels with which God doth adorn his best Friends they are Pledges of our Adoption and Badges of our Sonship so that they are no signs of his disinheriting us and though he may seem to hide his Face yet 't is no sign of his forsaking us But now for the quieting your Spirit under your present Suffering and this dark Providence I beseech you ponder well these few following Considerations which well weighed may through God's Blessing quell those tumultuous Thoughts that swell in your Breast and I desire the Lord to bless them to this end 1. Consider who it is that hath done you this supposed Injury to take away your Daughter without your consent And here you may consider not only who it is but also what Interest he claims in her and then consider whether your Plea will hold good against him Is it not the great God of Heaven and Earth whose Power no Creature is able to resist whose Will is his Law and whose Glory is his End Is it not he that is called Omnipotent that doth what pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth and none can resist him And is he a fit Match for you to grapple with Is it not he that measureth the water in the hollow of his hand and meteth out Heaven with his span and comprehendeth the dust of the earth in a measure that weigheth the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance To whom all
Dust by our Defection and to Dust we shall return at our Dissolution Our father was an Amorite and our mother an Hittite This may make us sprinkle the Dust of Humility upon our Heads 'T is said some Creatures are bred in Sugar we cannot boast of so sweet an Original but may look back to the slimy Clay and may say to corruption thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister The greatest Persons are but a little Air and Dust tempered together but Soul and Soil Breach and Body a Pile of Dust and a puff of Wind. God need not to Muster an Army against us if he tread upon us we are left dead behind him if he with-hold our breath we dye and our thoughts perish he can with a frown turn us into Hell yea turn Heaven and Hell and all into nothing And are we able to grapple with him Nay this is not all we have not this our poor Being of our selves he it was that made the Clay of nothing and he it was that gave us our Shape and Being he was the Potter and we were the Clay in his hands he gave us a Being and 't is he that gives us a comfortable Being We are his Creatures and he made us the works of his hands and fashioned us And shall we thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is not be our father that bought us Hath not be made us and establish'd us Deut. 32.6 Shall the pot say to him that made it Why hast thou made me thus Shall the ax exalt it self against him that heweth with it God hath more Propriety in us than we have in our selves or in any thing we enjoy yea in our Children these were given or rather lent us for a time and the Soul is but a Tenant at will in the Body Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirits which are God's 1 Cor. 6.19.20 He gave us our Being and can if he please quickly render us a non entity for when he lost his Property in us we find not nay yet more had we continued in our Integrity in which we were created we might have had more to say for our selves than now we have God made us in his own Image Holy and Happy but by our sin we brought not only Death but all Miseries attending it The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6.23 As by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 We are the sinful Off-spring of Adam and we have inherited our Fathers Corruptions Infants are no Innocents the first sheet wherewith they are covered is woven of sin and shame blood and filth Ezek. 16.46 The Image of God is lost and the Image of Satan set in the room Original Righteousness gone and Original Sin in the stead and by this means we have debased our selves below other Creatures and next to the faln Angels are become the most vile we became indebted unto God Ten Thousand Talents and cannot pay a Farthing and therefore we were sold Bond-slaves to Satan under the wrath of God the curse of the Law and liable to eternal Damnation and may justly expect every day to be cast into Prison till we have paid the utmost farthing And yet shall we contend with our Maker and complain of wrong when all that we have on this side Hell is free Mercy and Hell it self is no wrong Nay let us further consider that we our selves are guilty of this we accuse God for our Posterity received their contamination from us which occasioneth Death and other Miseries for had your Daughter not had sin she had not dyed and this God which we now quarrel is our greatest Benefactor and freely gives us all that we do enjoy We live and move and have our being from him we receive every good and perfect gift from him We cannot live a moment without him and yet shall we quarrel him He gives us our Being yea a comfortable Being and maintains us at his own Cost and Charges ever since we had a Being We have Meat nor Drink nor Cloathes to cover us neither Corn nor Wine Wool nor Flax Silver nor Gold but what is his Hos 2.8 9. Neither Wit nor Reason Limbs nor Senses Peace nor Plenty Health nor Strength Life nor Liberty but by his Gift and when he pleaseth can call for all or any of these from us for we have not a breath to breath but what he puts into us and are we fit to Challenge this great God to a single Duel when we cannot move a Tongue or Finger without his immediate Assistance for we are so far below him that if we do well we cannot benefit him if ill we cannot hurt him Job 35.7 The Sun would shine in its own brightness though all the World were blind so God will not cease to be Glorious though all the World were wicked What can we give him that is not his own And our offered Incense would have a bad savour if it did not smell strong of the hand that offereth it The Sun runs his course though the Atlanters curse him at his rising being scorched with his heat and also the Moon notwithstanding the barking of snarling Curs So God disposeth the Affairs of the World He ruleth let the earth be never so unquiet But to our business The Contention lies between God and us the Maker and Governour of all the World and poor Dust and Ashes Who shall have his Will and dispose of God's own Creatures the work of his own hands and you see on what disadvantageous ground we stand and may easily judge of the issue The Question in Controversie is Whether God can Lawfully and Justly take away any of those which we call our Relations though they are his Creatures and bring them out of this Vale of Misery unto these Mansions of Glory which he hath provided for those that love him without our leave and liberty and free consent without doing us wrong This we seem to deny when we mourn and over-mourn and grudge and repine when God makes his Will known in such Dispensations of Providence for if this be not it what is it He gave you your Daughter or rather lent her to you for a time and now requires but his own and that to consummate the Marriage between Christ and her Soul and you seem to forbid the Banes and deny your Consent to the Marriage Abraham was of another mind when he was commanded to Sacrifice his only Son which was a far greater Tryal this was his only Child but yours is not he must be the Instrument to take away his Life this is not required at your hands he did actively submit you only passively when you cannot resist what in this case we should do were we able
She is dead also And would there not be another separation if she survived We are in this Life like Men in a croud almost thronged to Death and he that first gets out is best at ease and would you wish her again in the midst of the throng Now if you say as I believe you will these are not your desires to have her back Why then all these Tears these Sighs these Sobs if you imagine she is better than you This looks as if you envied her Happiness and would have her bear part of your Burden Nay immoderate Sorrow signifies that you have hard thoughts of her condition for who can mourn for those he thinks happier than himself Who mourns for his Childrens Advancement especially if he knew they were out of Danger this would look more like Envy than Love to mourn for another's Welfare If Galeacius that Italian Marquess when he was offered great Riches if he would renounce his Religion cryed out Let their Money perish with them that hold all the Wealth in the World worth one day's Communion with Christ How much more may a glorified Saint say so if he were tempted by the World's Splendour to leave his Coelestial Enjoyment that City of Pearl that Mansion of Glory the Beatifical Vision the Enjoyment of Christ those Rivers of Pleasures to come and make his abode in the World for any earthly Greatness how scornfully would a glorified Saint entertain such a Motion And how little would these Promises affect him The Martyrs that had comparatively but a little taste of Christ yet disrelished all things else in comparison of him and forsook all for him Yea loved not their lives to the death but laid them down at the Stake for his sake and in his cause But now they enjoy him in Glory what value think you they put upon him The greatest cause of sorrow for a dead Child is when we fear their miscarrying and are conscious of the neglect of our Duty to them in reference to their Salvation This we may mourn for and it may be a corrosive to our hearts and it should make us careful for the time to come But to mourn for those immoderately that we believe are translated into Glory and have the highest pitch of Happiness we could wish for them is our weakness or our sin or both Such Tears will neither glorifie God nor benefit us or our Relations living or dead but are spent in vain And seeing weeping cannot prevail with God nor with our departed Friends to return let us dry up those Tears and make no more such wast but turn them into a right Channel and mourn for sin which is the cause of their Death and of our Trouble 5. The last Consideration I shall commend unto you is to consider your own Condition the uncertainty of your Life and the hast that Death makes to post you after her yea you are following your lamented Daughter at the very heels For when your Part is play'd you will march off the Stage How soon a parting blow will be given to divide you from your other Relations you know not how soon Death will enter into your Lodgings had your Daughter lived 't is not likely you would have continued long together You have lived a considerable time the most People in the World die younger why then take it you so ill that your Daughter is stept over the Stile before you when you your self are ready to tread upon her heels and to tread out her foot-steps Yet a few years and then I shall go whence I shall not return Job 16.22 And your place will know you no more Job 7.10 The thread of your Life will soon be cut which can never be pieced and your Glass run out which will never be turned and the Day be over which will never dawn again Such Meditations of Death did always run in Job's mind he is much upon this Subject and had Death always in his Eye And the like would do you no hurt but much good O remember that my life is wind mine eye shall no more see good The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more Thine eyes are upon me and I am not As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more He shall return no more to his house neither shall his place know him any more Job 7.7 c. Let me alone that I may take comfort a little before I go hence whence I shall not return even to the land of darkness and the shâ—dow of death Job 10.20 21. He knew that he had not long to trouble the World and therefore desired he might not meet with much Trouble in the World Death whether it strikes you or your Relations gives a parting blow and which ever goes first the other will not stay long behind Now is it worth the while to spend your days in sorrowing for your dead Daughter when she hath drunk that Health that you your self must so quickly Pledge Or to wish her again for so short an Enjoyment when one of these days you will enjoy her to Eternity when she shall be much more lovely than here she was If you place your Happiness in the Enjoyment of your Relations in this Life 't is a short-liv'd Happiness and you will shortly have occasion to say as one about to leave the World Spes fortuna vale te Farewel Hope and Comfort for ever But sure while God is present a Christian need not care much who is absent If we could be as sensible of the with-drawings of God from the Soul as of the departure of Friends and Relations it would prove our greater trouble If our hopes were only in this life we should of all men be most miserable Indeed there is cause of sorrow if they die unconverted and breath out their Happiness with their Lives But for the Godly they cannot only say Dum spiro spero While there is Life there is Hope but also Dum expiro spero I have Hope in Death it self Prov. 14.32 Death it self is a Door of Hope to give them entrance into the Paradice of God but to the Wicked a Trap-door to let them into Hell Both Godly and Wicked shall change their Place but not their Company for they shall have such Company they delighted in here Those that must leave all their Comforts behind no wonder if they are unwilling to depart Never had Adam more cause to be unwilling to leave Paradice or the Jebusites the strong Holds in Sion or the unjust Steward to leave his Office or the Devils to go out of the Demoniack when they knew they should never enter there again than a wicked Man hath to leave the World Solomon calls the Grave our long Home Man goeth to his long home Eccles 12.5 And well he may some haply may sleep there Six Thousand Years before the Resurrection but Heaven and Hell may be
called so much better for what is that space of time to Eternity 'T is called also The house of all the living because all that ever did or shall live shall there dwell together God hath provided all Men one House in the Womb and another in the Tomb one when they enter into the World and another when they go out and the Wise Man tells us The day of death is better than the dayâ— of ones birth Eccles 7.1 For man that is born of a woman is born to sorrow Job 14.1 therefore the Coffin is to be preferred before the Cradle An Ancient Father calls the days wherein the Martyrs suffered their Birth-days because then they began to live indeed their Marriage-day because then the Marriage was consummate between Christ and their Souls It was an Epicure that said Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas But 't is better saith Solomon to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting Eccles 7.2 Now through this Gate your dear Daughter is gone and you are stepping after her you are treading out her steps and others ere long will do as much for you you are but a Vessel of Clay and begin to crack your Pains and Aches and Decays in Nature may mind you that you are declining that you have one foot in the Grave and are you troubled that another hath stept in before you Yet a little while and you will enjoy her to Eternity when both of you will be stript of all Infirmities and Corruption which here renders Communion less delightful Where you shall be ever with the Lord and with the spirits of just men made perfect 1 Thess 4.17 Heb. 12.23 Blessed is that Day and happy will that Union be between Christ and the Soul and happy is that Man whether he die old or young that shall come to Mount Sion unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant c. Heb. 12.22 23 24. Oh what a Glorious Meeting will here be in Heaven how Happy and Glorious will that day be when we leave this wretched World and wicked Company to enjoy the Assembly of holy and happy Saints and Angels yea of God himself blessed for ever Now she that formerly was in her blood and no eye pityed her Ezek. 16.3 4 5 6. doth now shine by the Beauty her Husband hath put upon her as the stars for ever and ever and ere long you will meet where you shall never part Then will you solace your selves in each others Love and both in the love of your dear Redeemer When she will never repent that she died so young nor you that she lived no longer She is not lost but found she is but gone a days Journey before you and at Night you will Lodge together you will over-take her and find her in her Father's Cabinet among his Jewels She hath gotten the start and is at the Race end before you she hath won the Prize and is this matter of Grief or Rejoycing She hath cast her Ground and recovered the Hill and is at the Race end before you You came not together into the World and it was unlikely you should leave it together There was a probability you think she might have survived you but God determined otherwise Some Roses are taken in the bud some are full blown when others wither and fall but those that grow longest prove but fading Flowers and are of short continuance sic transit gloria mundi God is not engaged to shew us the Reason of his Actings his Will is his Law and 't is our Duty to acquiesce in it We cannot resist his Power and we pray his Will may be done let us not contradict our own Petition God knows best what is best and he tells us All shall work for the best to those that love God Rom. 8.28 and this may suffice us If you prefer your own Will before his or loved your Daughter better than your God you cannot be his Disciple If you had rather enjoy her Company than submit to God God will take it ill from you he took her hence when he saw her Work was done and left you as yet to moil and toil and sweat in the Vineyard Submission under his strokes is your best and wisest course contending against his Will is foolish and sinful foolish because you cannot resist it sinful because you ought not to resist love to God and the Creature cannot be both in the same Party in the prevailing degree we cannot serve God and Mammon 'T is your Wisdom rather to mind your own end than to lament hers The Scripture frequently minds us and not in vain for we are apt to forget it of our latter end and the brevity of our Lives And this if well minded would imbitter all Earthly Enjoyments and make us set a low value upon all Creature-Comforts Man that is born of a woman saith Job is of few days and full of trouble he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Job 14.1 2. And what more fading than a Flower What more fleeting than a Shadow And sometimes 't is compared to a Weaver's Shuttle yea to a Post that hasteth away Your Glass is also running and the last Sand is ready to drop 'T is the Complaint of Old Themistocles that a Man must die even when he begins to live when he begins to be Wise Death calls him hence we usually spend the flower of our Age the strength of our Bodies and the vigour of our Spirits in sinful Vanities before we know why we live or what Errand we came into the World upon little considering that upon a little Inch of Time depends Eternity our everlasting well or ill Being many had their time before they begin their Work not considering that whether they sleep or wake work or play their Glass is running and their Time wasting Few and evil saith old Jacob are the days of the years of my Pilgrimage and yet few attain to the number of Years which he then had attained There is but a little time between our Spring and Fall and therefore our Lives may fitly he compared to Jonah's Gourd that sprung up in one Night and perished in another Death is stealing upon us tacito pede with a silent foot and 't is an absurd thing saith one to ask when we shall die but rather when we shall make an end of dying for every day Death seizes upon some of our Lives and gains ground upon us and steals upon us insensibly as the shadow doth upon the Dial till our Sun be set and whether sleeping or waking we are in continual motion we are like Men
Grapes may be gathered from these Thorns and some Figs from these Thistles some Honey may be lick'd off these Briars for God's Rod like Jonathan's hath Honey at the end Sensible we must be of this Providence as doubtless Aaron was at his two Sons deaths but discontent we must not be God complains that Righteous persons perish and no man lays it to heart and merciful men were taken away and no man considers it Isa 57.1 Some use of such Providences we should make and get some benefits by these Tryals Now among the many Lessons this Providence holds out to us I shall only point out these seven following which if you and I can learn by it it will be happy for us Lesson 1. From this Lecture of Mortality your dead Daughter we may learn the cursed Nature of sin which was the cause of her Death and how little beholding we are to it that thus rends one Friend out of the Arms of another for whatever Distemper our deceased Friends dye of sin lies at the bottom and sets the Disease on work but for sin 't is probable we had never dyed For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life By one man's offence sin came into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all for as much as all have sinned Now shall we love the Tree and hate the Fruit Love the Cause and hate the Effect Shall we be like foolish Children that hate the smarting Plaister and consider not the Ulcerous Sore that makes it necessary We would have the Wound cured and yet not have the Weapon drawn out for fear of a little smart Had not Sin gone before Death had not followed many Men love the Drunkenness and hate the Surfeit But did we see sin in its own Colours it would be worse than the Effects for 't is the only Object of God's infinite hatred for he hates nothing but sin or for sins sake and yet sin seems lovely when we behold it in the Devil's Glass or through his Spectacles If we could strip the Devil himself of his vicious Qualities he would return to his former Angelical Glory yea into God's Favour for he hates nothing he hath made Man in his first Creation was made Holy and Happy and had Power given him so to continue and though by his Constitution he was Mortal yet by God's Blessing he had been Immortal for ought we know â—s the Soul is But by eating the Forbidden Fruit Gen. 2.17 in all probability he had suddenly dyed had not Christ interposed and become a Surety to his Father and so gained a longer Lease and paid the Fine however Man became obnoxious to Death and dye he must See how dangerous it is to play at the hole of the Asp and to ask Counsel at the Devil's Mouth for so Eve did and for that Offence all her Posterity must eat bread in the sweat of their brows till they return to the dust out of which they were taken No Greatness can excuse us no Wisdom can prevent it but the most dangerous Death is to dye in our sins Sin it is that makes us uncurable otherwise we had been so armed Death could never have entred or pierced the heart Rom. 5.12 And shall we hug this Viper in our Bosom that will sting us to Eternal Death For sin is the very sting of death without which Death were not so formidable Adam's Offence diffuseth it self to all his Posterity as Poison doth to every part of the Body and shall we love the Work and hate the Wages Actual Sin is the Fruit of Original Corruption and springs from this bitter Root and 't is the cause of all our Misery and shall we like the foolish Dog bite the stone and let the Passenger that threw it go free Let us turn therefore all our sorrow into sorrow for sin for all is little enough to run in this Channâ—l And let this be your Motive though not one of the greatest sin was the cause of your dâ—ar Daughter's Death and will ere long be the cause of yours also and happy will it be for you if this bitter Pill have this Operation upon you to make you hate sin with a perfect hatred 2. Nay 't is not only Death but also all the Miseries that accompany Life and are the fore-runners of Death which are the direful Fruits and Effects of Sin Could we see Sin in its own proper shape it would appear most hateful and detestable but the Devil hides its Deformity from us what he can and to this end lends us his Spectacles in which it appears lovely and amiable but we may best see it in the Effects It was this that turned Angels out of Heaven Adam out of Paradice and many thousands into Hell and can the Tree be good that brings forth such unsavoury Fruit This raced out the Image of God and engraved upon the Soul the very Image of Satan The Devil knows well enough that if we saw Sin in its own Colours we must needs hate it for who can fall in Love with Deformity it self And therefore misrepresents it as a deformed Hag paints her Face and covers her Deformity thereby to take her Prey and allure unwary Youth So the Devil deals by Sin and represents it in Vertue 's Colours but the Glass of the Word would shew it in its own shape Indeed there is nothing in the World that can fully resemble it yet in the Scripture 't is represented by the foulest things imaginable to filthy Ulcerous Sores James 1.21 To the Mire that Swine wallows in the Vomit of a Dog to filthy Rags Menstruous Cloathes deadly Poison a fretting Cancer or Gangreen 't is so infectious none can escape the Infection it infects the whole Man like the Leprosie in the Head the Thoughts Words Desires Affections and Actions are all polluted and unclean and smell of the Cask and stink in the Nostrils of God our Eating Drinking Buying Selling Trading yea Plowing is sin Prov. 21.4 And all our Religious Duties if not performed with the Incense of Christ's Righteousness are defiled Isa 1.11 c. and 66.3 Why Those Duties though commanded by God yet proceeding not from a right Principle directed to a right End and done in a right manner must needs be faulty Now sin though looked upon as a harmless innocent thing and when Men have put a fair Mask upon its soul Face looks lovely and the Devil hides its soul Visage as 't is said the Panther doth his deformed Head purposely to take his Prey yet still it remains ugly Pride covers it self with the name of Cleanliness Drunkenness is taken for Good-fellowship and Covetousness for Good Husbandry c. But the Effects are not so lovely let the Devil and his Instruments say what they will to the contrary for 't is the occasion of all the Miseries that ever befel Mortal Man We had never had aking Head or aking Heart or Loss or
Heaven and Glory and of the Beatifical Vision for withouâ— holiness we shall never see God Let us therefore leave off sorrowing for petty Losses and Crosses and turn the whole Torrent of our Sorrow into this Channel even against our sins 4. Nay the mischief of Sin ends not here it also exposeth us to the wrath of God and makes him our Enemy that otherwise would be our closest surest and fastest Friend and did we â—now what it is to have God for our Enemy it â—ould send us trembling to our Grave for when â—is Fury is kindled it sets on fire the foundation of â—he mountains Deut. 32.22 'T is better have all â—he World to grapple with than with God if â—e frown upon us no Creature dare smile If â—e be for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 â—f God have a Controversie with us who dare â—ake our part or move a Hand or Tongue in our Defence We cannot grapple with him he is â—oo strong for us we cannot flye from him as â—onah thought to do he will over-take us neiâ—her can we hide our selves from him Psal 136 â— c. We cannot struggle out of his hand â—or he is the Almighty and we but despicable Worms if he tread upon us he leaves us dead â—ehind him Before him the Holy Angels cover â—heir faces and all the Infernal Spirits tremble â—n his hand is the soul of every living thing and the â—reath of all mankind Job 12.10 If he with-hold â—ur breath we return to our Dust for we have â—o more than what he puts into us how then â—hall we contend with our Maker Can Chaff â—nd Stubble grapple with a devouring Flame One blast of his Displeasure can blow us into Hell yea Heaven and Hell and All into nothing â—nd how are we like to make our Party good â—gainst him when we cannot move a Finger â—wag a Tongue or fetch a Breath without his â—ssistance Well but let us well consider whether our Cause be good What cause hath God given us to take up Arms against him Hath he â—een a hard Master to us Or with-held our Wages Jonah thought he did well to be angry but was soon convinc'd Job had a mind to quarrel him and seems of any other to have the best Cause but when the Contest began hâ— soon threw down the Cudgels and lays his hand upon his Mouth Hath not God been our greateâ—â— Benefactor and done more for us than all the World ever did or can do Is not he our beâ—â— Friend and shall we become his profest Enemies Many good works have I done among you saith Christ for which of those do you stone me John 10.32 God gave us our Being when we had none and shall we hate him for it We were tâ—â— Clay and he was the Potter and might have dash'd us into pieces with his foot He gave us Reason when he might have made us bruit Beasts as Dogs or Swine or more contemptible Creatures He hath given us Limbs and Senses when otherâ— want them Peace and Plenty yea Life and Liberty and hath made our Lives comfortable to us when we deserve not the Ground we tread upon or the Air we breath in and shall we flye at the Face of God and thus requite the Lord our Maker Nay hath not Christ suffered more for us than any other hath or can do We had sold our selves Bond-slaves to Satan and neither Man nor Angel could have redeemed us out of our Slavery or have paid a Ransom sufficient for us but Christ laid down his Life to free us from the guilt of sin from the filth of sin from the Punishment due for sin from the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God the Slavery of Satan and from Everlasting Damnation And hath he for all this deserved our Malice and Hatred He hath bestowed more upon us than the World hath to bestow 't is he that sends us so many Ambassages for Peace and rains Heavenly Manna so plentifully about our Tents he gives us Promises such as the greatest Kings upon Earth cannot make and make good to their greatest Favourites as of his Spirit his Graces his Son and his Glory And is all this nothing Shall we foster sin in our Bosom that hinders us in the Enjoyment of those promised Blessings and expose us to the wrath of God and the everlasting Destruction of Soul and Body and expose us also to all Miserie 's Temporal Spiritual and Eternal God forbid Well we cannot make our Peace with God till we break our League with Sin and if God be our Enemy and our Enemy he will be if we are at Peace with Sin then we may expect he will treat us as Enemies Well may we fear that every bit of Bread we eat will choak us and every drop of Drink we drink may be our bane and that every Creature may wait for a Commission to end our days that the Floods may drown us as they did the Old World or the Fire consume us as Sodom or the Earth swallow us up as Korah and his Complices or the greatest Judgments that ever we read fell upon Mortal Man may be our Portion Oh what need had we then to leave sorrowing for other things and turn all our Tears into the right Channel that it may drown our sins that expose us to these Miseries and Mischiefs 5. Nay but this is not all for Eternal Death as well as Spiritual and Temporal is the Reward of Sin the everlasting separation of Soul and Body from God which is called The second Death and this is far greater than all the Miseries before mentioned for if the sinner be not reconciled to God which cannot be before sin be mortified he shall be cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 This is the Natural Fruit and Effect of every beloved sin even the everlasting Damnation of Body and Soul a thousand thousand rentings of the Soul from the Body is not comparable to one renting of the Soul from Christ Sin doth that for us that all the Men on Earth and Devils in Hell could never do even pull us out of the Arms of God This threw Angels out of Heaven Adam out of Paradice and Millions of Souls into Hell This brought Death into the World and is the very Sting of Death and if this Sting be not taken out it will sting the Soul to Eternity This imbitters our Lives as you have heard while we are in the World and opens the Door to let us out of the World and will open Hell it self to let us in and is the only bar to keep us from coming out But if Sin were mortified we might with Old Simeon depart in Peace and with Ambrose say I am not ashamed to live nor afraid to dye And with Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Death without his Sting is like Samson without his Hair or like the Drone-Bee without a Sting not
are all of a value So here some pass for Kings and some for Peasants but when Death hath gotten them into his Box the Grave they are all alike Yet how much need have great Men of Philip's Monitor for they are apt to forget their Mortality See Job 3.17 c. Some of the wiser Heathens have accounted Mortality a great Mercy that poor Creatures may be freed from their Misery And so doubtless 't is for those that are prepared for Death for they rest from their Labours The Hebrew Proverb is That in Calvary there are Sculls of all sorts and sizes Kings and Captains Lords and Lozels one takes no more out of the World than the other Naked they come and naked they shall go Great Saladine had but his Shirt Now though Riches cannot prevent Death yet it may hasten it Rich Men many times are as Oxen in a fat Pasture fitted for the Slaughter sometimes they are butcher'd by others for their Wealth and many times they prove their own Butchers and kill themselves by Intemperance The Sun-shine of Prosperity quickly ripens the Fruit of Sin and when Sin is ripe Ruine is ready Bachus or Venus opens the Door for Death to enter Now what good will it do to have a fair Suit of Cloathes and a Plague-sore under it Or a dainty Dinner with a Surfeit How often is Intemperance which ends in Gouts Surfeits Dropsies and such-like Diseases the Fruits of a Plentiful Table These open the Door of Eternity and light them a Candle to find the way to Death Now these are Diseases Riches cannot cure Seeing therefore the World is of so little use when we have most need why should we so greedily grasp after and spend so much time about it as to neglect our greater Concerns and despond so much when we meet with disappointments And why should we suffer those Vultures carking Cares to breed in and feed upon our Hearts and eat out all the Comfort of our Lives What Recompence can the World make us for all our pains and broken sleeps we have had upon its Account It cannot warrant us a Comfortable Life nor a Happy Death nay not one day free from pain Let such as over-greedily grasp after it remember Solomon's words H◠〈◊〉 maketh hast to be rich cannot be innocent And at leisure read James 5.1 2 c. Luke 6.24 Yet consider 't is not the having Riches â—ut the over-loving of them that is dangerous for they are not evil of themselves but great Blessings if not abused and some of those Talents put into our hands to be improved by us but prove dangerous when abused over-loved or over-trusted in But seeing they can neither prevent Death nor Diseases the cause of Death we should not put too high a value upon them nor take them for our Portion 2. As the World cannot prevent Death no more can it procure a happy Life And why Because it cannot give Content and Satisfaction to the Enjoyer of it and how then can our Lives be Happy when we are not content with our Condition and satisfied with our present Enjoyments Content never did nor never will grow in the World's Garden neither can Satisfaction be found in any thing under the Sun If we seek it here Riches will say 't is not in me Honours 't is not in me Pleasure 't is not in me c. Can we expect the Sun in a Pail of Water Indeed if the Sun shine upon the Water we may see the reflexion of it but if the Sun be clouded all the Water in the World cannot shew it When God shines upon us he may be seen in every Creature if not the World cannot shew him Our Earthly Enjoyments caâ— do us no good bring us no Comfort without a Commission from God and could they satisfie us for the present it would be but a miserable Portion yea a great Judgment for what should we do at Death when they leave us God did never give us these for our Portion but only aâ— a Viaticum in our Journey Our deceitful Hearts haply may promise Content had we an Hundred Pounds per Annum but they will deceive us for our desires would be enlarged from an Hundred to a Thousand and so in infinitum till Kingdoms yea the World would be too little for us as it was to Alexander Covetous Men have a dry Dropsie the more they have the more they thirst Theocritus brings in the Cove-Man wishing he had a Thousand Sheep when this wish was obtained he cries out Pauperis est numerare pecus 'T is but a Poor Man that is able to number his Cattel And 't is no wonder He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver The World is of too base a Birth and Breeding to give the Soul content for two things are requisite to Satisfaction and both of those are wanting there must be Proportion and Propriety but what proportion is there between a Piece of Gold and an Immortal Soul It can neither feed it nor cloath it nor make it better And for Propriety this also is lost by the Fall that which we call our own is but lent us and we must be Accountable for it And 't is vain also for what Satisfaction can an Hungry Man take in a Pebble or a Thirsty Man in a dry Pumice-stone What Satisfaction had Haman in his Riches Honours or Preferments without Mordecai's bow or Ahab's Kingdom without Nabath's Vineyard Something is still out of Order some string or other out of Tune that marâ—s the Musick And no wonder Content is not to be found here for God himself could not find Adam a help meet for him If we could turn a heap of Diamonds into a Spiritual substance then it might bear some proportion to the Soul which is a Spirit but except we could change it into God the work would not be done for none but God can make the Soul happy These Earthly things are far worse than the Body how then can they be a fit Match for the Soul Gold and Silver Gemms and Jewels are but the Garbadge of the Earth they seldom make bad Men good or good Men better but oft-times they make both worse they seldom procure Content for the desire enlarges with the Estate as the Israelites Shooes did in the Wilderness with their Feet Solomon could had nothing in them but Vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 1.14 They are like Smoak they wring Tears from the Eyes but draw not Sorrow from the Heart or like Thorns the faster they are grasped the deeper they wound If God smile upon us they may bring us some Comfort if not all the Gold in the Indies will do us no good for this Coin is not currant in another World we may as well satisfie an empty Stomack with Air as a Covetous Man with Gold for the more Wood we lay upon the Fire the more furiously it burns a Ship may sink under its Burden before it be half full
and many Men have enough to sink them that have not half to satisfie them Content is one main Ingredient of Happiness but till we have God we cannot have it Croesus's Wealth Alexander's Crowns Heliogabalus his Pleasures fall short of Happiness or Satisfaction yet many are filling bottomless-tubs and rolling Sysiphus his Stone and have Tityus his Vulture gnawing in their Breast those that have much of the World have usually much trouble with it and sometimes God spoils all the Sport by throwing some handfuls of Hell-fire into the Conscience Reader wast thou ever upon thy sick Bed and received the Sentence of Death within thee What warming Comforts did the World then afford thee Nay hath not sometimes a pinching Pang of the Cholick Gout Strangury or the raging pain of an aking Tooth put thee by all the Comforts the World can afford And why then shall we so much doat upon it that can do us so little good when we have most need Till we can fill our Barns with Grace and our Bags with Glory and extract Heaven out of the Earth and God out of the Creature we must never expect Satisfaction in any Earthly Enjoyment I know Riches of themselves are the good Gifts of God but become Snares when they are over-loved and trusted in 't is not the having them but the over-loving them is dangerous they often prove the occasion of Pride Luxury Tyranny Oppression c. The World must have the Head and the Hand but God must have the Heart Set the World in its own place and there is no danger send it before us to Heaven and it will be made up into a Crown for us Cornelius's Prayers and Alms came up for a Memorial before God Acts 10.4 This is the way to make Friends with the Mammon of unrighteousness and at the last day Sentence will pass upon us accordingly Yet are there too many Professors that doat upon the World as much as ever Jonah did upon his Gourd or the Athenians on Diana's Temple But these things are nec vera nec vestra they are worth little and if they were they have another Master But there are Riches of another Nature which nec prodi nec perdi nec surrepi possunt none can deprive us of them Bags that wax not old a Treasure in the Heavens that fadeth not away A Beggar is an unsuitable Match for a Prince much more a bruit Beast but 't is a far more unsuitable Match for an Immortal Soul to be espoused to a Wedge of Gold When the Moon is at the Full 't is farthest from the Sun and nearest to an Eclipse If the Heart be full of the World there is no room for Christ every Good is not suitable for every Nature 't is not Natural to a Man to live under Water nor for a Fish to live on the dry Ground Kingdoms may promise Content to carnal Hearts but a Gracious Man cannot take up with such poor things One Dram of Grace will prove a better Portion than the World affords 3. As these Earthly things are unsatisfying so they are uncertain and this is a certain demonstration of their Vanity For had we never so much of them what avails it when we know not whether we shall enjoy them one day to an end A Kingdom would give us little content did we certainly know we should lose it at the Month's end and our Lives with it yea Heaven it self would yield us little content did we know we should enjoy it only a Thousand Years and then be cast into Eternal Torments the thoughts of leaving it would take away all Pleasure of Enjoying it and would be a Hell in the midst of Heaven Now all these Earthly Enjoyments will be stript from us at Death haply sooner and our Death cannot be far off and why should we doat so much upon them Many Thousands in our Age have been Rich o're Night and Poor ere Morning Witness France Ireland Germany Savoy and many others Thus it was with Job one day for ought we know saw him the greatest Man in all the East and Poor even to a Proverb The uncertainty of these Earthly Enjoyments is one of the greatest Vanities that is writ upon them how then can they be a suitable Portion for the Soul which runs parallel with the longest line of Eternity What will become of the Immortal Soul when the Portion is spent Why do Men make so much hast to climb the Ladder of Promotion seeing so many break their Necks ere they get to the top Haman may witness this for King's Favourites stand but in slippery places one day he glories in his Enjoyments and the next day is hanging on the Gallows he made for another Esther 5.11 c. and 7.10 Ahithophel one day his words were esteemed as Oracles and presently after falling into Disgrace he hanged himself This Age may produce many Examples to this purpose Sometimes the great Ones of the World hardly obtain a decent Funeral and what a condition is the Soul in that took the World for a Portion when the Body is neglected judge you Angels cannot help them nor the Saints in Heaven if they were willing and then sure nothing upon the Earth can do it The thoughts of fore-past Pleasures Honours or Treasures will give little ease to present Dolours and the Wrath of God It was small comfort that Abraham gave to the Rich Glutton Son remember in thy life-time thou hadst pleasure and Lazarus pain now he is comforted and thou art tormented When pale-fac'd Death like Belshazzar's Hand-writing shall enter our Lodging to Arrest us to appear before God in Judgment before we have evened our Accounts it will make our Joints to tremble and our Knees smite one against another What will the World do for us then at Judgment They will prove miserable Comforters when the Earth and all the works therein shall be burnt up where then is your confidence Now many love Gold more than God and Money is preferred before Mercy Now Paul calls this Idolatry Col. 3.5 And James calls iâ— Adultery James 4.4 But this will prove like Achan's Wedge to cleave the Soul asunder or like his Babylonish Garment serve for a Winding-sheet Riches at the best are deceitful like Winter-brooks dry in Summer or like Job's Friends miserable Comforters I have read of Fish in the River Araris which change colour with the Moon when 't is at the Full they are white when in the Wane black Thus the World doth by us when we want not it smiles upon us but when need is it looks of another colour There is no more proportion between this imaginary Felicity that the World doats upâ—n and true Happiness than between painted Fire on the Wall and true Fire or between a King upon the Stage and a King upon the Throne or between a liveless Carkass and a living Man In the midst of all our Enjoyments one hour's tormenting pain spoils all the Sport At Death Riches
take themselves wings and flye away and on whose Tree they will roost we know not We usually call Riches Substance when 't is but really a Shadow an empty Nothing if we look upon it through the Devil's bewitching Spectacles it seems gilded 't is like the Serpent Scytale of whom 't is said she allureth Beasts to her by her beautiful Colours and stings them to death This made Paul be crucified to the world and David as a weaned child The World is but a blaze at best but many times proves an Ignis Fatuus which leads most Men out of the way the best Account Solomon could give of it was 'T is vanity and vexation of spirit Yet many load themselves with thick Clay but Death will unload them and cover them with common Earth Great Men a while disturb the World and grasp at Crowns and Kingdoms but now Alexander's Ashes are contained in a little Urn they are in the World as a Guest in an Inn for a Night they sit at the upper end of the Table fare of the best lye in the best Bed but in the Morning they have most to pay We are in a Journey to Heaven let us not fall in Love with what we see in our way or sit down at the Stile or Bridge Let us use the world as a Traveller doth his Staff keep it or throw it away as it helps or hinders us If Riches increase let us not set our hearts upon them neither think our selves much the better or safer for them for we know not what World we may Lodge in the next Night or whether our Money there will be currant Coin 'T is all one at Death whether we have little or much the Poor are as nigh to Heaven then as the Rich and sometimes better prepared Riches are uncertain at the best to the Possessors like the Sea sometimes there is a Storm sometimes a Calm sometimes it ebbs and sometimes flows They are like Winter Weather very variable we see sometimes in the Clouds like Towers and Castles in the Air but a blast of Wind comes and they are dasht into another form for they wanted a Foundation and so do many Men for their great Hopes The Devil easily blows up such blubs in proud Men's hearts yea such Tumours are apt to rise of themselves 'T is observed that a Sick Man a Covetous Man and a Discontented Man cannot take Pleasure in their Enjoyments still there is something wanting to give content Job was a Rich Man but his Heart did not cling to his Riches we see how patiently he suffered the loss of all He made not gold his hope neither said unto the fine gold Thou art my confidence c. Job 31.24 c. Riches make no great difference among Men the Wether that bears the Bell haply may be a little better cloathed and fatter than the rest but is a Sheep still and little the better for the Bell. Should the Devil not only shew us but also give us all the Glory of the World 't is not much worth these are but Thorns that choak the Word and make it unfruitful the harder we grasp them the deeper they wound us and ere long will be wrung out of our Arms we can find little Honey but many Stings But in Heaven there is Pleasure without Pain and Treasure which cannot be exhausted A Heart in Heaven is one of our surest Evidences for Heaven and a Heart set upon the Earth the saddest Symptom of a Wicked Man For where your treasure is there will your hearts be also Those that are Friends to the World are Enemies to God James 4.4 And though we expect a Paradice it will prove but a Bochim a place of Lamentation 4. As the World can give little Content and Satisfaction to a Man so it can do us little or no good in our great concerns here or hereafter it can do little for the Body and less for the Soul I know the former especially will seem a Paradox to many who look upon Riches as the only Happiness and hate Poverty more than the Devil and fear it more than Hell But consider Gold cannot nourish us nor keep us warm both which are necessary to our well-being we have read of some that have been famished to Death amidst infinite Treasures But it will be objected it will buy us Food and Raiment 't is true but Food cannot nourish nor Cloathes keep warm without a Commission from God and he can do it without them as in Moses Elijah and our Saviour Christ neither can they prevent Pain nor support us under it If they could so many Rich Men would not labour under such Tormenting Distempers as the Gout Cholick Stone Strangury c. as they do and usually Rich Men groan under such Distempers most and Riches causes them more than cures them Yea the raging pain of an aking Tooth puts Rich Men as well as the Poor out of Humour and all their Riches cannot ease them the Oyl of Angels can do them no good against the Plague or Pestilence or Pestilentious Diseases Fevers Small-Pox Consumptions Surfeits and such like Riches are neither preventing removing or supporting Physick Yea Death enters into the Courts of Kings as well as the Cottages of Peasants or the Beggar 's Cell The Poor Man's Diet feeds him as well as the Rich Man's Dainties as Daniel's Pulse and Water did him and his Fellows as well as Court-Junkets did the other yea they are as warm in their Rags as others are in their Robes Yea we oft-times find that Surfeits and nauceating Stomacks are the Fruits and Effects of Plentiful Tables As to the true and Primitive use of Cloathes viz. to cover our Nakedness and to distinguish the Sex a Russet Coat may serve as well as a Velvet Gown or Sattin Suit The Poor Man sleeps as soundly upon his hard Bed as the Rich upon his Bed of Down The sleep of a labouring man is sweet whether he eat little or much Eccles 5.12 'T is true his Fare is not so costly neither are his Cares so great but he can take his Rest without Distemper or Distraction while his Rich Neighbour his restless Spirit and carking Cares read him nightly Lectures upon his Bed I have read of Anacron who when he was Poor was Merry and Jocund which was observed by a Rich Neighbour who sent him two Talents which when he had his care to keep it and his fears of losing it so distracted his Mind that he could not sleep which after a while he observed sent back the Money and was as Merry as before Solomon tells us He that maketh hast to be rich shall not be innocent And no wonder if with Gold Men get Guilt if God throws sometimes some handfuls of Hell-fire into their Consciences and spoils all the Sport In a word many that eat their Bread in the sweat of their brows and are clad in their comely Russet have their Health as well many times better
than our Idle Gallants that fare deliciously every day and are cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen in whom the Effects of Drinking and Drabbing do daily appear and if such like Debaucheries set an end to their Happiness and to their Lives also what wonder now if the World can do so little for the Body then much less can it do for the Soul for few bad Men are made good by it and few good Men better Men are never the better for Riches or Honour in God's Esteem many times the worse if they abuse their Talents Indeed the Papists Doctrine of Purgatory Pardons and Indulgences if true which they can never prove give the Rich a very great advantage over the Poor for though they dance with the Devil all Day yet for a little Money they may sup with Christ at Night or do the Devil's Work and receive Christ's Wages but a wonder then that so many Woes are denounced against the Rich and so many Blessings to the Poor And sure the Rich Glutton did not understand this Doctrine nay not in Hell for then he would have sent Lazarus to have told his Brethren which way to have prevented Hell and Purgatory also by Pardons Indulgences Masses c. But this Doctrine was brewed and broached long after this or else Christ would not have let his Apostles want Money to bring them out of Purgatory for doubtless they had some Venial Sins as well as others Besides this Men want many things to make them happy which are not sold in the World's Shop Gold tryed in the fire white Rayment spiritual Eye-salve Rev. 3.18 The World deals not in such Merchandize they must be bought of Christ for whoever thinks they are to be had elsewhere will find his mistake The Image of God we have lost in the Fall the World cannot restore it we are by Nature Enemies to God the World cannot reconcile us 't is not thousands of Rams nor ten thousand rivers of Oyl will do it Micah 6.7 The World is too thin a Garment to keep off the showers of Divine Vengeance we have sins to Pardon and none can forgive sins but God let the Pope say what he will to the contrary The Question at last will not be What Gold we have but what Grace we have 'T is not a Purple Robe but the Robes of Christ's Righteousness 't is not every Spot but the Spot of God's People not a spotted Face but Christ's Sheep-mark will procure us a station on the right hand of Christ We have many Spiritual Maladies and Christ alone must be our Physician and his Blood the only Potion none but he can bind up the broken Heart and speak Peace to the troubled Conscience We are by Nature Slaves to Satan and the World were it sold to the worth of it cannot Redeem one Soul out of his Bondage the World indeed are the Fetters that fasten us to him but cannot loose us and these are the Toys he allures us with as Children are with Rattles to be content in our Slavery We are by Nature strangers to God and 't is by the Blood of Christ not the World's Wealth we are brought home Ephes 2.13 We want Comfort and 't is the Spirit that is the Comforter In our Spiritual wants we can have no supply in our Distempers of Soul no help at our Death no comfort from the World it never did us much good but at Death and Judgment can do us none as many have too sadly experienced When we are lanching forth into the infinite Ocean of Eternity and look back upon the World which we have loved and trusted in for help we shall find our selves miserably cheated the thoughts then of former Enjoyments will bring us little Delight especially if we think of the after-reckoning and that our eaten Bread is not forgotten and our Silks and Sattins unpaid for When the Bridegroom comes the World cannot supply us with Oyl 't is not to be Sold in this Market neither with a Wedding-garment It must be the Oyl of Grace and the Robes of Christ's Righteousness and the Jewels of his Graces must do our work and this is our Misery all our Riches then will not pay the Debts it hath contracted nor undo the Bonds it hath tyed The World always shews most love where there is least need and yields us no help at the greatest necessity This may suppress our over-eager desire after it for if we would moil and toil let it be in a more Fruitful Soil Do not the Poor pass through this Life as comfortably as the Rich and sometimes with more content And think with Galeacius All the Wealth in the World is not worth one day's Communion with God and that may be had in the Cottage as well as in the Court Many Treasure up Riches and it proves like Snow-drifts the Sun shines upon it and it melts away and reaches not to Eternity But there are durable Riches other Riches before the cold Grave have their Bodies hot Tophet hath their Souls and their Wealth cannot save them and those that could never have enough have there Fire enough 'T is a sad mistake to think Riches Honours and Carnal Delights are the only Happiness for then Christ and his Apostles and followers had been most unhappy for Silver and Gold they had none no not to pay Tribute The Scripture measures not a Man's Happiness by the multitude of his Riches for such may be destitute of Grace and so is still Poor in the midst of Plenty Who is it that would have a filthy Itch upon him for the pleasure he takes in scratching Such is an immoderate desire after the World Yet consider 't is not the having an Estate but the over-greedy desire of it and the over-loving it makes it dangerous for a Man may make friends with the Mammon of unrighteousness for his own advantage if he improve it well and lay it not too near his Heart 'T is bad putting the Poor's part into a Child's Portion 't is better leave a Child a Bag to beg with than ill-gotten Goods to make up his Portion 5. As the Benefit the World affords here or hereafter is not great so the Danger it exposeth us to here and hereafter is not small which did our greedy Misers well consider they would not so greedily grasp after it For Riches are like Thorns the faster they are hug'd the deeper they wound yea many times pierce to the very Heart Of these Worldly things the Devil makes his choicest Baits when he fishes for Souls and most Men will be nibling at them He is like a cunning Fowler he stands behind the Bush when he exposeth his Baits to our view but 't is hard sometimes to see the Hand that holds it he suits his Baits to the inclination of every Person he hath a Companion for the Drunkard a Delilah for Samson a wedge of Gold for Achan Honour for Haman the World for Demas and Money for Judas yea so
is the Key of God's Treasury those that have it and know how to use it may fetch out what they please Job will trust God though he kill him though by Affliction he crush â—he very breath out of his Body yet will he not â—oose his hold he shall not be so short of him Dum spiro spero saith a Believer nay Dum exâ—iro spero The Righteous Man hath hope in his Death The Woman of Canaan would not be beaten off with two or three repulses like Jacob she wrastled with God till she got the Blessing Grace â—s to the Soul as Ballast is to the Ship it makes â—t more steady when otherwise it would be â—luctuating and wavering A Gracious Man like Caleb follows God fully and keeps himself unspotted in the World Grace keeps the Heart from desponding under the darkest Dispensations of Providence though Trouble hang long on â—et he that believeth will not make hast This â—â—ke a Skilful Physician will extract Soveraign Antidotes out of the rankest Poison David got good by Affliction If there be no help in the World Faith will make a Journey to Heaven and fetch help thence and engage God himself in the Quarrel or sue him on his own Bond. Thou hast said saith Jacob thou wilt do me good deny it if thou canst therefore I expect thou shouldst make good thy Promise Grace is the whole Armour of God wherewith we grapple with Sin the World and the Devil Ephes 6.13 The Shield that beats back the fiery darts of Satan A Catholicon an Universal Medicine against all Maladies of Soul or Body And as it helps us to bear all Burdens so 't is a qualification without which we are fit for no Relations no Offices or Places in Church or Common-wealth nor to perform any Duty to God or Man Though Grace cannot fit every Man for every Office Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius yet 't is such an Ingredient without which a Man is fit for no Place neither can he perform the Relative Duties of any such an Oâ—ye cannot Preach nor Pray Read nor Meditate as he ought or perform any Ministerial Function he is neither fit to be Magistrate Minister Husband Wife Parent or Child Master or Servant for without Grace he can never do the Duties of these Relations for all these Relations require Grace Now Grace being so necessary in the whole course of our Lives let us above all gettings get Grace 2. Consider if Grace be so necessary in the Affairs of this Life then doubtless 't is much more useful in the concerns of another when nothing else can stand us in stead If it will fit us to live it will much more fit us to dye and to leave the World it will bear up the heart under the direful Apprehensions of Death it self it will defend the heart against the venemous Darts thereof and keep the heart from desponding under the apprehensions of it When Gold and Silver Gemms and Jewels will do little good a Man armed and fortified with Grace will dare to meet this Enemy in the Field and treat him as the Apostle doth 1 Cor. 15.55 O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory c. The bravest Challenge saith one that ever rang in Death's Ear for when the Heart is defended with this Shield of Grace no venemous Dart can ever pierce it the sting is to such taken out and they may put the Serpent into their Bosom 't is a conquered Enemy lying prostrate at their Feet or rather an Enemy to Nature but a Friend to Grace the same blow that kills the Body sets the Soul at Liberty Now he that hath his Soul garnished with Grace and his Conscience purged from dead works He that hath assurance of the Pardon of his Sin and an Interest in Christ in Heaven and Glory he will not be dash'd out of Countenance with the rugged looks of Death He that hath on the Wedding-Garment needs not fear when he is called to the Supper He that hath Oyl in his Vessel as well as a Lamp in his Hand needs not fear the coming of the Bridegroom nor the Servant that is watching when his Lord comes home Death may kill a Godly Man but cannot hurt him the worst it can do is but to send him to his Father's House the sooner Then Baca shall be turned to Baracha Sighs into Songs and Misery into Majesty then shall the singing of Birds be come then shall they take Possession of their Purchased Inheritance and those Mansions of Glory prepared for them John 14.2 Then they come to Age and shall receive their Kingdom the thoughts of this will comfort the heart of a dying Man and make him say with Old Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace c. Luke 2.29 And with Paul Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ He that had been in the third Heaven no wonder if nothing would content him on Earth Some clusters of Canaan's Grapes we meet with in the Wilderness which makes us long to go over Jordan 'T is true no Man loves Death for its own sake neither can he it is an Enemy to Nature but when a Believer knows the only way to Paradice is under Death's Flaming Sword and the only way to be freed from all Sorrow is to suffer a little Pain that one blow will free him from Sin and Sorrow the Devil's Temptations and the World's Allurements and set him out of the reach of all his Enemies even in the Bosom of Christ himself Who would be afraid of such a blow Or who would fear the time when his loving Father should send a Messenger for him out of a troublesome World into Eternal Happiness to wipe all Tears from his Eyes and drive all Sorrow from his Heart Can those that really believe there is a reward for the righteous and that they are of that number fear the time when they shall enjoy it Can the Mariner after a dangerous Storm fear to enter into the desired Port or a Prisoner to enjoy his Liberty or a Sick Man his Health or a Weary Man his Rest Let those that enjoy their Pleasures Treasure and Promotions only for term of Life fear the Expiration of their Lease whose Lives do only defer their Torments Let those I say fear Death and well they may and did they but know the sequel it would send them trembling to their Graves But I fear many that yet have honest Hearts yet live at such uncertainty that they would willingly spin out the thread of their lives to a great length before they were willing to dye though it were accompanied with many Troubles many of them under pretence they are not yet prepared the more shame for them is not their main Work done Why then do they not set about it What have they done all this while If God should add Twenty Years more yet to their days will not this be their
done it So in Abraham's Offering his Son the Widow's two Mites were accepted as if it had been an Hundred Pounds But if Grace be wanting though a man give all his goods to the poor and his body to be burned it is not accepted 1 Cor. 13.3 Hypocrites blow their Gifts as Butchers do their Meat yea they are Fly-blown till they stink again but Grace is the Salt that makes it savoury Grace is the best Evidence we have for Heaven and a sure sign of God's Favour for he will know them well he bestows it upon He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that believes not shall be condemned Mark 16.16 God gives Crowns and Kingdoms sometimes to the worst of Men but the Childrens Bread they shall not have the rest is but Crumbs to feed the Dogs or rather the Cattel for the Slaughter No man knows Love or Hatred by these things The Sun shines as hot upon the Bramble in the Desart as on the Cedar in Libanus the Snow falls as well on the choicest Garden as on the Wilderness yea the lofty Pine meets with more Storms than the Shrub the Sun riseth upon the Good and the Bad and the Rain falls on the Just and on the Unjust Wealth and Honour are handed out to the one and to the other and the worst have of the best share and no wonder 't is their All Sometimes the Bramble is preferred before the Vine the Olive and the Fig-tree but Grace is the distinguishing Badge Christ's Sheep-mark which never any but his own Sheep did ever wear This makes a Man better when the World makes him worse this makes the heart chearful when other things make it sad or sordid yet the World contemns it as Aesop's Cock did the Precious Stone But at Death if this be wanting the Door will be shut against us and when we are lanching out into the infinite Ocean of Eternity we shall be glad of such a Pilot. This Garb I know is out of Fashion with our Gallants but 't is more durable than their Silks and Sattins and will better keep out a shower of Divine Vengeance than those it will prove the best Flower in the Garland and the richest Jewel in the Crown The Rich Glutton would have changed his Garb with Poor Lazarus and been contented with his Bill of Fare Were the Mountains Pearls and the Rocks Rubies and the whole Globe of the Earth were a shining Chrysolite yet Grace excels it all Crowns and Kingdoms stately Buildings Thousands of Rams and Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl will not reach the worth of Grace this it is that opens the Door to the Pearl of great Price Matth. 13.45 To the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3.8 It supports the Heart better than the choicest Cordials and those that now most despise it will ere long most earnestly desire it When Death like Belshazzar's Hand-writing enters their Lodgings and Summons them to Judgment when they shall wish the mountains to fall on them and the hills to cover them then Grace would be the best Security This is the only Ticket will open Heaven-gate the Evidence for our Title there To a Gracious Man though the way be rough the Journey 's end will be easie though the Battle be sore the Conquest will be certain and the Spoils great if they have a bad Dinner they will have a joyful Supper if they lose their Estate they are going to better Riches they cannot want that have God for their Father Jerusalem which is above for their Mother Christ for their Head and Husband the holy Angels and glorified Saints for their Brethren and Companions and Heaven for their Inheritance God hath set his Seal his Sheep-mark upon them Holiness to the Lord Zech. 14.20 Where God changeth the Relation he changeth the Nature and Disposition a heart in Heaven is one of the surest Evidences for Heaven For where the treasure is there will the heart be also The best Treasure the World affords what is it but the Guts and Garbage of the Earth the greater load of it we carry the greater clog it oft-times proves in our Journey to Heaven we cannot pass the strait Gate till we unload it Many make Gold their God and their Wedge their Confidence but it failed Achan his Wedge of Gold did serve to cleave his Soul asunder and his Babylonish Garment proved his Winding-sheet Covetousness is called Idolatry because Men Idolize their Wealth and Adultery because they Prostitute themselves to it and lodge it in the room of God Oh how good is that Counsel that bids us provide bags that wax not old a treasure in the heavens that fadeth not away Luke 12.33 Other things we cannot keep and if we could they would not avail us But the true Treasure we cannot lose 't is durable as the days of Heaven and will run parallel with the longest line of Eternity When others therefore grasp for Gold let us grasp for Grace for Godliness will be found great gain 1 Tim. 6.6 But those that make hast to be rich shall not be innocent Prov. 28.20 'T is not Gold but Grace not Money but Righteousness makes the Soul Rich. A Gracious Man thoughâ— his Habitation be below his Conversation is above and when Heaven is his Object Earth will be his Abject But if many Men's Hearts were anatomized we might find the World there fairly Engraven and nothing of Heaven would there be found The Devil holds his black Hand over most Men's Eyes that they cannot see the way to Heaven and when they are blind-folded he leads them as the Prophet Elisha did the Syrians to Samaria when they think they are going to Dothan they come to Hell with hopes of Heaven in their mouths They are like soft Wax he can turn them into any shape But Grace is the Soul's Ballast that keeps it steady and elevates it above the World and gives it a Pisgah-sight of Glory it mounts it upon Mount Tabor where 't is transfigured with Christ and its Garments made white and shining It gives the Soul those true Beauty-Spots which makes her lovely in the Eyes of her Husband But these differ from the Devil's Patches whose spot is not the spot of God's people Deut. 32.5 Grace is the Oyl that makes her Chariot-wheels move swiftly and keeps her Lamp of Profession burning Many are the Promises God hath made to Grace in general and to the several Graces in particular both of things concerning this Life and that to come and many are the Priviledges gracious Souls have in possession and much more shall have in reversion and many are the Love-Tokens her Husband sends her and many a gracious Visit he affords her 'T is true sometimes to try her Love he hides himself behind the Wall but then every sigh and groan and sorrowful complaint goes to his Heart and when he hath tryed her Affection discovers himself again he promises and will make it good he will never leave
her nor forsake her that she shall want nothing that is good and all things shall work together for her good Sometimes indeed Physick is as necessary as Food and Affliction is the best Tutor David found it so if they bear scars for his sake he will change them into Beauty-spots if he frown upon them 't is but for a moment but with everlasting kindness will he remember them weeping may continue for a night but joy cometh in the morning Grace makes both the Person and Performances pleasing to God 't is the Incense he loves 'T is only the Gracious Soul that hath Adoption Justification Sanctification Pardon of Sin Communion with God and that shall enjoy him for ever This is such a Chain of Pearl that the World were it sold at the worth cannot Purchase Afflictions cause us to seek Promises they send us to seek Faith it sends us to Prayer Prayer goes to God for help Grace it is that differences between God's Children and the Devil's Brats and will difference between the Sheep and the Goats and makes a man more excellent than his neighbour and therefore we cannot buy this Gold too dear 4. Consider Grace will not only bring us to Death but will do us good after Death and here nothing else can do it among other things it will qualifie us to leave a Good Name behind us which will yield a sweet-smelling savour in the succeeding Generation When the Name of the Wicked shall stink the memory of the Just shall be blessed Prov. 10.7 If we be good and do good we need not fear but our Name will survive us Now A good Name is better than precious Oyntment Eccles 7.1 The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance when the Name of the Wicked shall rot his Lamp shall be put out in obscurity and shall leave a stinking Snuff behind The Names of Abraham Isaac Jacob David Daniel and Job and such like how sweet do they smell in the Church of God When Cain and Judas Nero Caligula Domitian and other such Persecuting Tyrants are mentioned with detestation as the Burden of the Earth and the Plague-sore of the World but with what Reverence do we mention the Martyrs that suffered under them The Scribes and Pharisees which were bad enough themselves yet adorned the Sepulchers of the Prophets and Righteous Men and however the Godly are slighted at present in the Generation to come they will be honoured when the Name of all their bloody Persecutors shall stink But this is not all that Grace will do for us after Death for it will accompany us to Judgment also which the World will not cannot do for it shall be burnt up and if it could would do us little good 't is Grace alone that can make the Judge our Friend When Death hath left us and we are rushing into the infinite Ocean of Eternity Grace is our Pilot to steer our Course and land us in the Haven of Bliss and when we appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ this is his Sheep-mark whoever bears it shall stand upon his right hand when all other wears the Devil's Brand his Image and Portraiture unmortified Sin and there shall be thrust and croâ—ded together with the Devil and his Angels upon the left Grace is the Image of God renewed in the Soul which he will own where-ever he sees it and he that confesseth Christ before Men him will he confess before his Father and he that suffers with him shall also raign with him There is a difference in this Life between the Righteous and the Wicked the one are called the Seed of the Woman the other the Seed of the Serpent the Just and the Unjust Believers and Unbelievers Righteous and Wicked the Children of God and the Children of the Devil the Wheat and the Tares the good Fish and the bad the foolish Virgins and the wise c. Now 't is Grace that maketh this difference for by Nature we are all the children of wrath digged out of the same hole of the Pit and hewen out of the same Rock God differenceth Men by these gracious Qualifications and would have Ministers difference them also in their Doctrine and not give Holy things to dogs And as they are distinguished by God's Electing Love and by the Operation of his Spirit so have they a different Portion both in this World and that to come The one feeds upon Heavenly Allowance upon the sincere milk of the Word and the bread which came down from Heaven the other finds no relish in it and in the World to come the one will have a Portion in Heaven the other in Hell but there are many will not believe there is a Heaven or a Hell but ere long Experience will convince them Now the difference that there is is God's own work for there was nothing in us or that could be done by us that could deserve any thing at the hands of God his Electing Love is the Spring and Foundation of it He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hâ—rdeneth He sent his Son to Redeem them out of the World to pay their Debts to qualifie their Souls with Grace and after to bring them to Glory when others remain still under the Devil's Bondage When Faith hath knit that Gordion-knot between Christ and the Soul and she can say My beloved is mine and I am his when the Marriage is consummate between them all that the Husband hath is hers and what she hath is his then may she lay claim to his Merits his Righteousness his Graces and his Glory and he partakes with her in her Sins and in her Sorrows all her Debts are made over to him and he helps to bear her Sorrows and upon this the Soul though not Legally yet is Angelically Righteous God changeth both the Relation and also the Disposition By Grace Persecuting Saul becomes a Preaching Paul and of Lions Men are made Lambs Now God Adopts such for his Sons and for his Daughters and gives them the Priviledge of Children calls them by his own Name sets them about his own Work lists them under his own Banner maintains them at his own Charges and at last will lodge them in his own Bosom when all the rest of the World fight under the Devil's Banner and do his Drudgery God hath a Reward for the Righteous though haply they have little in hand they have the more in Reversion they shall have Eternal Life when the other shall have Everlasting Torments Hypocrites haply may counterfeit Christ's Sheep-mark as some have done the Broad Seal but though they may deceive others haply themselves yet can they not deceive God the Lord knoweth who are his The Inscription of his Seal is Holiness to the Lord and they cannot put off their Bristow Stone for a true Diamond But as I told you Grace will not leave a Man till it bring him to Judgment and speak for him to the Judge who shall
the world they 〈◊〉 meet with tribulation 't is in Christ they shall 〈◊〉 Peace John 16.33 The World to Believ◠like the Streights of Megallan to the Passenger which way soever they bend their Course the Wind is always against them Though Wicked Men like Dogs worry one another yet like Herod and Pilate joyn both against Christ and his Church which ever is uppermost they are sure to be under for while there is a Devil in Hell or a Wicked Man upon Earth they can expect no Peace Blessed are the dead therefore that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14.3 Here they are with the Apostle in Prisons often but a Goal-delivery will come when they shall be freed and their Enemies be sent to a worse Prison then shall all tears be wip'd away from their eyes and sin and sorrow shall be no more 'T is here they have a Principle of Grace in them to direct their Course aright but Corruption like a Byas to the Bowl draws them aside they are like the Stars whose Natural Course is from the West to the East but by force of the Primum Mobile they are hurried from East to West Regenerate Mens Course is Heaven-ward but they are many times like the Stars Stationary and too often Retrograde They are like the Bird of Paradice with a Clog upon her heels her Nature is to mount up but the Clog plucks her down again when they mount up in their Contemplations to get a view of Christ they are like a Man that looks at a Star through an Optick-Glass held with a Palsie Hand sometimes but 't is seldom they get a sight of him but they shall have a clearer Vision ere long They cannot deal with their Corruptions as Abraham did with his Servants leave them behind when they go to Sacrifice no they say as Ruth did to Naomi Whither thou goest we will go and where thou lodgest we will lodge and where thou art buried we will be buried and nothing but Death shall part us Ruth 1.16 But 't is but a while and a Believer shall be everlastingly separated from his sin and will triumph over all his Enemies Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy victory c. 'T is true here the best have no pure Beauty they have their form freckles yet their spot is the spot of God's people which will wash out and not like the Leopard not only in the Skin but in the Flesh also but then they shall appear without spot or wrinkle Here all their Comforts are mixt and there is no fire but there is some smoak 't is not so there Here they lye among the Pots but there they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever Then shall they exchange Earth for Heaven Misery for Majesty and a Crown of Thorns for a Crown of Glory but what this Glory is we know not but shall then have occasion to say of it as the Queen of Sheba did of Solomon's Wisdom Much I have heard of it but the one half was not told me Paul that had a Glimpse of it saw more than he was able to utter for no word in Humane Language could express it We can no more set out Heaven's Happiness than we can take the Dimensions of it with our Span or empty the Sea with a Spoon All we can do to get out of this Labyrinth is by a clue of Scripture-thread and here 't is but shadowed out to us according to our Capacity so much as may set us a longing after the enjoyment of that which eye never saw ear never heard neither can the heart of man conceive what it is Now the Eye hath seen much the Ear heard of more but the Heart can conceive of more than that as that the Earth is a Globe of beaten Gold the Sea of liquid Pearl every Grass to be a Diamond and every Sand a Ruby the Air to be Crystal and every Star to be ten thousand times bigger and brighter than the Sun c. for what can bound our Fancy Now if all these were realities alas it falls short of Heaven's Glory these things fall under our Senses but Heaven's Glory cannot here is Joy without Sorrow Light without Darkness and Grace is here without Corruption Here is a mixture of the one with the other and many times an Ounce of Joy hath a Pound of Sorrow we get sometimes a Pisgah-sight of Canaan and suddenly are hurried back into the Wilderness if not into Aegypt now Health then Sickness now Ease then Pain now Poverty then Plenty But in Heaven it will not be so our Wine there shall not be mixt with Water the Storm there will be over and the Weather always calm and serene But to come nearer to our business our Happiness there will be partly privative partly positive I shall speak to those apart and shew you first what we leave behind us and then what our Enjoyment shall be and all but as in a Glass darkly 1. At Death and not before we shall be freed from all our Sin and Corruption which is the greatest trouble a Believer hath in this World and indeed the cause of all other troubles but at Death it shall never trouble them more they may say of it as Moses of the Egyptians in the Red Sea Those you see to day you shall see no more for ever And is not this cause of Rejoycing Sorrow follows Sin as the Shadow follows the Substance but the Cause being removed the Effect will cease This it is that spoils all our Duties and makes them unsavoury unto our God for the Fountain being defiled the Streams cannot be pure this is the Make-bate between God and the Soul and this hides his face from us We can never have Peace with God or any assured Peace with our selves or the Creatures till we break our Peace with Sin for when God is offended our own Consciences and all the Creatures wait but for a Commission to molest us or destroy us The Waters of the Flood drown'd the whole World the Red-Sea Pharaoh and his Host the Fire burnt up Sodom and Gomorrha and the Cities adjacent the Earth swallowed up Korah and his Complices the Walls of Aphek slew twenty seven thousand of God's Enemies 1 Kings 20.30 The Stars fought in their Courses against Sisera the very inanimate Creatures take God's Part so do the poor Insects the Flies the Lice the Caterpillars what Plagues were they to Egypt As also the Frogs the Hail c. And would have destroyed him and all his Army had not Moses interceded And Histories tell us that sometimes a Fly an Hair a kernel of a Grape a prick with a Pin have brought Great Men to their end Hence it was that Augustine saith he would not be in an unregenerate Man's condition for one hour for all the World lest God in that time should take him hence by some Judgment and send
Altar will be heard for Vengeance against those that shed their Blood Rev. 6.9 and those that shed it will have their bellies full of Blood their Tyranny will be over and their Place shall no more be found in Heaven Rev. 18.8 It was a mistake of the poor Indians that refused to go to Heaven lest the Spaniards should torment them there Wicked Men may here take away their Lives but not their Graces their Heads but not their Crowns Christianity is pretended by many practised by few when serious Holiness is loaded with many reproachful Titles when their Innocency triumphs in their Enemies Consciences those that cast them out say Let the Lord be glorified Isa 66.5 They deal by them as Naboth was dealt with at Jezabels Fast God's Glory pretended Naboth's Death intended for his Vineyard but God that searcheth the Heart knows the bottom of the business But those that really suffer for Christ are truly blessed and have cause to rejoyce Mat. 5.11 for they serve the best Master who will not suffer them that either do or suffer for him to go without a Reward what is wanting in Possession shall be made up in Reversion an hundred fold They have something in hand some of Canaan's Grapes to bear up their Heads and Hearts but the best is behind The Primitive Christians were reproached that in their Meetings they used promiscuous Copulation a Slander not yet forgotten which did the Reporters really believe it would be the strongest Argument to make them turn Phanaticks as they stile them but their Innocency triumphs in their Enemies Consciences they are not able to prove against one single Person what they charge upon the whole Society many are the Reproachful Names they are loaded with like the Primitive Christians that were put into Beast skins and then thrown to wild Beasts to be baited and devoured but God knows his own though in a Disguise the best of Saints have been accounted the worst of Sinners but wronged Saints shall to Heaven when railing Rabshakehs come not there the vilest Sinners are sometimes drest up in the Garb of Saints but these Garments fit them not but God will undress them ere long and strip them of their borrowed Robes then their Paint and Plaister will not abide the fire and the dirt they threw into other mens faces will appear in their own In this Life the Godly may have unlawful Edicts made to force them to sin and to drive them from their Duties as Daniel and his fellows had and then they cry out If thou let this man live thou art not Caesar 's friend then those that dare not run with them into the same excess of riot are with Peter cast into Prison or with Jeremy into the Dungeon or with John banished into some remote Country or corner of the World or by Torments end their Lives whose Blood like the Blood of Abel will cry aloud to Heaven for Vengeance for precious in his sight is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 What the Wit of Man or the Policy of Hell could invent hath been poured out upon the best of Men as in the Primitive Times and in succeeding Ages to this very day none out of Hell have suffered more than they but in Heaven they have a resting place when their Enemies shall be in endless easeless and remediless Torments then shall the Saints be set out of the reach of danger and all their Sufferings will be made up into a Crown of Glory for them for though they may nay 't is odds they will lose something for Christ they shall never lose any thing by him hence the Apostle adviseth us to rejoyce when we fall into divers temptations James 1.2 c. As their Sufferings abound so will their Comforts also for God hath Cordials against fainting Fits Now the Enemies Triumph when the Witnesses are slain but when they shall rise again their Mirth will be over they are now but carrying Faggots for their own burning or like Haman making Gallowses for their own Execution Now their Hands are full of Blood and their Hearts of Cruelty but then they shall have Blood enough even their own blood to drink for they are worthy Now God's People cannot Pray in their Families or sing forth God's Praises but one or other is offended but then they shall Trumpet out his Praise without controul when their Enemies shall wring their hands in the dolour of their hearts The thoughts of this Glorious Liberty made the Martyrs suffer joyfully the spoiling of their Goods yea to kiss the Stake and embrace the Flames and welcome Death as a Messenger of good News then all the Floods of Persecution will be dryed up and the Church call'd out of the Wilderness and the New Jerusalem shall come down from Heaven then there shall be no more Tortures or Torments for them to suffer no Schismatick wounded and a Saint found bleeding there will then be no more Divisions but perpetual Peace Love Unity and Concord Eternal Enjoyment of God in Glory Oh what a happy Change will this be who would not rejoyce in the fore-sight of this and welcome Death it self that must put us in the Possession of it 4. At Death a Believer is not only freed from the Devil the World and Sin and all his other Enemies but also from all the direful Fruits and Effects of Sin which he cannot be till Death sets him free and this will be to no small Advantage for though Sin in a Believer hath its Deaths-wound yet so long as it hath a Being and that will be while he hath a Being in the Flesh it will have its Fruits and Effects such as these Losses Crosses Sickness Sorrows and Death it self for these or some of these we shall be sure to have a share in while we live but at Death when Sin shall cease the Effects will cease also Sin and Sorrow always attend one the other as the Shadow doth the Substance but neither Sin nor Sorrow shall have any Being in Heaven all Bodily Griefs and Spiritual Maladies shall be removed and Death must be the Physician Our Bodies here are subject to many Distempers and each one will have a snatch at us as so many Angry Curs at a Passenger but some bite harder than others do and by reason of these Maladies we spend our days inter suspiria lachrymas between sighs and sobs no day nor hour passeth but something or other either doth or well may disturb our Peace or spoil our Sport No perfect Consolation is here to be expected in this Bochim or place of Lamentation for there should be some proportion between our Sin and our Sorrow some storms of Sighs if not a shower of Tears for all Constitutions are not prone to weep one hour's sin may disturb many a night's sleep as doubtless it did in David when he watered his couch with his tears yea made his bed to swim Psal 6.6 His Bed that was Witness of his
That seeing all must dye the Righteous have not long to suffer for Death will set an end to all their Miseries and enter them into their Eternal Enjoyments of God and Glory and put them into the possession of those Mansions of Glory prepared for them by God before the foundations of the world And then any Man may judge whether there be any great cause why they should fear Death which is the only Cure of all their Miseries and the only Porter to open Heaven-gates to them It remains that we speak something of those whose Happiness expires with their Life and their Miseries commence at their Death Lesson 5. The Fifth Lesson this Providence teacheth is That seeing Men and Women may be taken away in the Flower of their Age and Death can put a period to their Lives then what a miserable condition are Wicked Men in when one day may put an end to all their Happiness and all their Hopes for both their Happiness and their Hopes is only in this Life and shall expire at their Death for whether they are Noble or Base Rich or Poor Young or Old by what Names or Titles soever they are dignified or distinguished if they have no better a Portion than the World can bestow upon them 't is at the longest for term of Life and at Death their lease expires Their Glory then will not follow them and their Pomp will take her leave Oh what a change Death will make among many of our greatest Gallants their Happiness depends upon a ticklish point and hangs but by the thread of their Lives and there are a thousand Diseases Distempers Casualties and Accidents ready to cut the thread and every Creature waits but for a Divine Commission to stop their breath and they are not sure of one day to an end The Experience of this very Age proves this point fully how many hundred thousands were in Ireland stript of all in a moment and left as poor as Job and many lost their Lives with their Estates The like may we hear of in other Countries in London an hundred thousand dyed in one Year and what a change did Death make to them that have their Portion only in this Life What the Wise Man saith Prov. 23.5 Rich's take wings and fly away We see by Experience many rich at Night and poor ere Morning bâ—t we also see many Rich Men snatch'd away from their Riches who are well o're Night and deâ—d in the Morning yet many Men hunt and havk after Riches and never overtake them and if they do cannot hold them many purchase them too dear even with the loss of their Souls and the shipwrack of a good Conscience and these make a hard bargain for the Soul is more worth than all the World Mat. 16.26 That a Wicked Man is not long to enjoy his Happiness is made out in the following Considerations 1. Consider at Death all Men of what Degree soever from the least to the greatest will leave behind them all these outward Enjoyments viz. Riches that very many so much glory in and trust to and cannot take with them the worth of a shoe-latchet Woe then to them that have no other Portion what will their poor Souls do to Eternity though now their Riches be their strong hold Prov. 18.11 yet can they not help in the evil day Zeph. 1.18 Yet here they are honoured as Gods but they are but Dung-hill Deities most Men dote upon them as much as the Athenians did upon Diana's Temple and Offer not only their Children but their Souls unto them But let their Attainments or Enjoyments be what they will at Death they must leave all behind them Kings and Emperours must leave their Crowns behind them and the Bishop his Mitre the Pope himself not excepted then those that have made a great hurly-burly in the World could not satisfie their Dust will be contained in a little Urn. At Death the Emperour must lay by his Robes and the Beggar his Rags for Death will lodge them in the same Bed and set them upon even ground The griping Usurer must leave his Gold and cease to fill his Bags with Silver when his own Mouth shall be fill'd with Earth Kings then must bid farewel to their Crowns and Kingdoms as Solomon to his Ivory Throne and our great Gallants their well-contrived Houses though they call them after their own names Psal 49.11 c. Haply they may leave them to Fools haply to Strangers haply to Enemies to enjoy It was the Speech of a good Man to a great Lord when he shewed him his sumptuous Buildings pleasant Gardens Walks Orchards and other Rarities Sir saith he you must make sure of Heaven or you will never be recompenced in the Earth for all the Pains and Cost you have bestowed here Yet many like the Rich Man in the Gospel Luke 12. sing a Requiem to their Souls and promise themselves long Life when haply they have not a day to live They put the evil day far from them and because they see not Death think Death heeds not them when he is even staring them in the Face They lodge Riches nearest their Heart and from it they expect their greatest Security but the Mortal Sithe is too hard for the Royal Scepter yet many consider it not but buy Faggots for their own burning for the rust of their Gold will eat their flesh as fire James 5.3 Here they have their Summer and their Winter Houses curious Parlours Banqueting-Houses Rooms richly adorned soft Beds and easie Couches but if they have no better Portion Death will strip them of this and lodge them in a stinking Dungeon and darksom Cell full of deadly Horror void of Light or Comfort a noisom sulphurous stinking Prison here are no curious Gardens or pleasant Walks for Recreation neither is there any thing to recreate the Eyes the Ears the Smell the Tast or the Touch the Object of Sight will be Infernal Devils and Damned despairing Wretches the Melody the groans and sighs the roaring yelling scrietching of damned Souls for the Taste pinching Hunger and parching Thirst or something that is worse their Smell is burning Brimstone and their Touch the scorching Flames Oh the Pains the Time the Cost and Charges many Men are at in adorning their Habitations Gardens Walks Orchards c. when all this while the poor Soul lyes neglected and slighted no Tree in the Orchard must grow disordered but must be pruned muck'd and manured when in the Soul nothing is in order no Weed must grow in the Garden when no Vice must be weeded out of the Soul Here they have pleasant Walks and Summer-shady Bowers their Rich Pastures Pleasant Meadows their Flocks and Herds their numerous Cattle both small and great and whatever their hearts can desire that can be purchased for Love or Money but Death will strip them to the skin and they shall carry nothing hence neither can they call ought their own but Tortures and
Torments Sighs and Groans Anguish and Sorrows Tears and Plaints Here they solace themselves and like the Rich Glutton go bravely clad and fare deliciously every day but there they cannot command a Cup of cold Water nay nor get it with begging to cool their Tongue Now they indulge their Flesh and please their Fancy and like Solomon Eccles 2.4 deny nothing to themselves that can be attained but ere long they will be forc'd as he was to say All is vanity and vexation of spirit ver 17. All these things must be left behind and were this the worst it were well but their eaten Bread will not be forgotten well had it been for many of them had they begged their Bread from Door to Door or earned it in the sweat of their brows for then so many abused Talents had not been charged upon them and so many abused Mercies to be answered for Here they have their Tables richly furnished with what the Earth the Sea the Air can afford and many new-invented Dishes to allure the Stomack and provoke the Appetite when their poor Brethren have not Bread to eat They have their great Attendants Musick of all sorts their wanton Songs their Plays and Interludes but Sighs and Groans will then be their chiefest Musick and finest Melody their Mirth will then be changed into Mourning and their Joy into Heaviness Oh Death what a change wilt thou make among our Lustful Gallants Here they burn in Lust one to another but there though they lye together in the same Bed of Horror their Lusting will be over Those that now think the Ground not good enough to tread upon and will not suffer the Sun to shine upon them nor the Wind to blow upon them for spoiling their Beauty shall then be heated more rudely in the Flames Those that think no Meat or Drink good enough nor any Attire fine enough will then be put into a courser Dress Hell Fire will spoil their Paint and Plaister and Beauty-spots their curled Locks and powder'd crisped Hair then one drop of Water will be better than all these here are no Masks nor Fans to shelter them from the scorching Flames their Bags of Gold and Precious Jewels must then be left behind Hâ—râ— the Maid will not forget her Ornaments nor thâ— Bride her Attire but those things there are out of Fashion Gold then is no currant Coin I am sure it cannot bribe Death 'T is said of Pope John XXI that he left above 200 Tun of Gold behind him and that another Pope when he was plunder'd by the French lost more Treasure than all the Kings in the World could raise in one Year in all their Revenues We see Riches are uncertain here and will certainly fail when we have most need of them Did griping Landlords that drink the Sweat the Tears if not the Blood of their Oppressed Tenants and make Musick of their Groans think of these Times and of these Things those Morsels they now swallow so greedily will have a poisonful Operation Many there are that instead of feeding the Hungry and cloathing the Naked pluck the Meat from their mouths and the Cloaths from their backs to maintain their own Pride and Luxury they put the Poor's Part into a Child's Portion haply into a Whore's Lap but the Lord of such Servants will come at an hour they are not aware of and give them their Portion with Hypocrites Mat. 24 last Now they have their Stage-Plays Morrice-Dances Wakes May-games and such Revels to drive Time away which alas flies too fast of it self but what Recreation have they invented to make Eternity seem short Death will dash all these Vanities out of Countenance Here sometimes a little of Hell-fire flash'd into the Conscience spoils the Sport but there will be not only flashes but flames Here they endeavour to drink away these Heart-qualms and allay these Dumps but in Hell they cannot do it The griping Usurer here hath a dry Dropsie the more Riches he drinks in the more he thirsts but there the Thirst will be allayed with Fire and Brimstone Here our Female Gallants spend their Time in their Glasses they must not have a Pin awry or an Hair amiss their naked Breasts and painted spotted Faces Oh what a change will Death make in their Garb and Ornaments And indeed could we but see the Deformity of the Soul through the garish Habit of the Body how leprous and deformed would many appear They would be ashamed to walk the streets Here they are set out like Puppets for to shew to allure unwary Youth for if there be no Wine in the Cellar why hangs the Bush But these gaudy Robes are too thin to keep off a shower of Divine Vengeance We may see how God approves of such Isa 3.18 c. Now Ten Thousand Pounds per Annum is thought too little but ere long a poor Urn will hold their Ashes and a dark Dungeon their Souls then they must be forced to say of all these things as the Prophet of his Ax Alas Master for it was borrowed God hath entrusted them with other mens Portions as well as their own but they have thought themselves sole Proprietors and abused the Talents given to another end but they must pay back every Farthing 'T is said of the Turk's Seraglio that 't is two Miles in compass and his Territories are wide and large and his Incomes great but Death can Scale these Walls as well as those of a poor Cottage Could Great Men renew the Lease of their Lives as Men do of their Estates doubtless there would be great Fines given but it will not be they make a great bustle in the World and seek to turn all topsy-turvy for a while and all to set themselves on high till Death the Leveller comes and equals them with their poor Neighbours for what is the difference now between Alexander and his meanest Slave And sometimes a Fool sometimes a Stranger sometimes an Enemy enjoyeth the Estate that they leave behind and they take nothing with them but Guilt upon the Conscience and Sin upon the Soul and the Rust of their Riches will eat their flesh like fire James 5.1 2 c. But mistake not 't is not all Rich Men that I speak of but those that abuse their Riches by loving them trusting in them employing them to maintain Pride Luxury or some other filthy Lust or with-hold good from the owners thereof those that mispend the Talents lent them for a better use for if the Servant that only hid his Talent was cast into outer Darkness what will become of them that wilfully waste it Pride is a Worm that often breeds in Riches and the never-dying Worm breeds in Pride Riches in themselves are great Blessings and if not abused will prove helps in Heavens-way Make friends saith Christ with the Mammon of unrighteousness But to many they are the greatest blocks in Heavens-way and this makes it so difficult a thing for Rich Men to
enter into Heaven Mat. 19.24 Heaven is a spacious Palace but 't is a narrow Way and strait Gate that leads to it and Men cannot enter with the World upon their backs there must be stooping and stripping to get in Hence the Apostle charges rich men not to be high minded nor trust in uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6.17 'T is much ado to look and not to lust to have Riches and not fall in love with them When Pride breeds in Riches as Worms do in Apples they suddenly corrupt and will do the Owners no good to use the world and not abuse it is a Lesson not easily learned and having only food and raiment therewith to be content In Christ's time the poor received the Gospel when few of the Great Ones were called 1 Cor. 12.20 Were there but half so much spoken against Poverty and half so many cautions given as against Riches there would be some Plea for the Covetous but few see the danger of a great Estate but Death will equal the Poor with the Rich the Emperour must leave his Robes behind and the Beggar his Rags and great Saladine shall carry nothing with him but his Shirt nor that neither into the other World Haud ullas portabis opes Acherontis ad undas Naked we came into the world and naked shall we return out of it Job 1.21 1 Tim. 6.7 The Jews were permitted when they came into their Neighbour's Field Orchard or Vineyard to pluck and eat but must carry none away and so we may do in the World Riches at last will do us no more good than they did the great Chaliph that the Great Cham of Tartary caused to be famished amidst his Treasures then will their Sun set under a Cloud and no difference between them and their poor Neighbour those that have carried the greatest Burden have the sorest Back and those that have received the most Talents are to make the greatest Account Oh that this were well considered in time then should we lay up our treasure where neither moth nor rust corrupteth nor where thieves break not through nor steal Mat. 6.20 For all other Treasure will deceive them that put their trust in it Thus you see at Death Wicked Men whatever their Enjoyments now be will be stript of all 2. And as Wicked Men must leave their Riches behind â—hâ—n at Death so likewise their Pleasures will bid them â—dieu for ever Now Pleasure is one of the â—hree Deities most Men adore for Riches Honours and Pleasures share the World between them but at Death these Idols will disappear many spend their days in pleasure and suddenly go down to Hell Job 21.13 Many spend their Time in Recreation and follow no other Calling and some cannot give a good Account of one hour's Work in a whole Week spent in any Lawful Labour they think 't is a greater shame to be seen working than to be seen drunken or debauch'd such as these the Apostle calls lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God 2 Tim. 3.4 and well he may for they spend more Time in and are at more Cost about their Pleasures than in God's Service and thirst as greedily after them as ever Covetous Man did for Gold or Ambitious Man for Honour There aâ—e many in our common Dialect are called Ladies of Pleasure and the Name pleaseth them that both God and former Ages call'd common Whores and 't is like they will be owned for such at the day of Judgment and then woe be to them for they are of the Society that are appointed for Destruction 1 Cor. 6.9 c. Solomon tells us Prov. 21.17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man and we see many times Luxury and Beggery succeed each other and unlawful Lusts have ruined many Ancient Families and made them leave Marcus Livius his Portions to their Children Nihil praeter Coelum Caenum Air and Water But if it go ill with the Body it will go much worse with the Soul for those that can take no Pleasure in God God will take no Pleasure in them these Men seem to think they were sent into the World as Leviathan into the Sea to sport therein and that their Talents were given to no other end than to be consumed this way and then when God said to Man after the Fall In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread that he spake only to the Poor and not to them but they will at Death find their mistake and see it was a bad Bargain to sell their part in Paradise for a part in Paris to sell their Souls to satisfie their Lusts to part with Eternal Joy for momentany Delights they will find they parted with a great deal in Reversion for a little in Possession they will then have time enough if Eternity may be called Time to repent the Bargain they will see it had been better to have been preserved in Brine than to have rotted in Honey Now they can take the Timbrel and the Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ and spend their days in mirth as the Holy Ghost saith and suddenly go down to the pit Job 21.12 13. I will not say as Tully Nemo Sobrius saltat nor as Diogenes The better Dancer the worse Man or that these Recreations are absolutely unlawful yet I think Christians have not much time to spend this way from their more serious Business and greater Concerns and truly if we consider the state of the Protestant Churches throughout the World it might take off much of the edge of our Affections from these Vanities But at present I am speaking of those to whom the satisfying of their Lusts is the main design they aim at and the Affliction of the Church is not so much as the loosing one spot off their Faces one Feather out of their Fan or one Ribon out of their Head-tire let such read well Isa 3.11 12 c. and see if God delight as much in their Ornaments as they do and what he saith to such Amos 6.3 c. They put far from them the evil day and cause the seat of violence to draw near They lye upon their beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches they eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the stall They chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David They drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with chief Oyntment but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph c. And is not this an exact Description of many in our times Read further the Destruction that God threatens to such and they will find he spake in earnest what they took in jeast Those that God curseth will be cursed however they bless themselves in their heart those that are no mourners in Sion shall not be marked and those that are not marked shall be slain Ezek. 9.1 2 c. Those that Sympathize not with
had not begg'd so earnestly for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue Here are no Ladies of Pleasure for they will be found with another Name Here are no wanton Delilahs to sport with upon the Bed of Lust no changeable Suits of Apparel no new Fashions for our mincing Minions no Recreations to drive away the weary hours then they will have time enough if we may call Eternity Time to think upon their past Folly and Repent though too late to think of the bad Bargain they made when they sold their Souls their Heaven and their Happiness for a little Temporary Pleasure which perish ere they were budded which bear no more proportion to true Pleasure than painted Fire upon the Wall to true Fire that hath neither Light nor Heat then will their Garb be changed and their Diet and Attendants they will be stript of all their Costly Robes and Ornaments which will be forgotten or remembred with sorrow there will be neither Mirth nor Musick Singing nor Dancing but Weeping Wailing and wringing of Hands no Curious Sights to please the Eye no Melody for the Ear no delicious Taste for the Palate or any thing else to please the other Senses those curious Bodies to the pampering of whom the Soul is neglected will be exposed to Torture and Torments were a man condemned to lye one Year upon a red-hot Gridiron upon a raging Fire and his Life could so long be continued we should think him to be a miserable Creature But what is this to Hell-Torments Or what is a Year to Eternity where they shall never dye yet alwaies endure the Pangs of Death At Death they will find an end of all their Pleasures but Eternity will not end their Miseries Their Laughter here is not Mirth but Madness like a frantick man that is going to Execution and shrieks and bawls for others to bear him company yet these are the good things the rich Glutton had in this Life and for which he must pay so great a Reckoning at his Death This was his Heaven his Hell came after O Death how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that lives at ease in his possessions and hath prosperity in all things Ecclus. 41.1 Now these delicate Bodies are so nice that they cannot endure the Summers heat nor Winters cold but the Flames will not regard their Beauty nor the Tormenter their Niceness Then farewel all their Merry-meetings and drunken Matches their Feasts their Plays their wanton Dalliance all those Toys will be laid aside Now Pleasure is the God they worship and sacrifice their Souls unto but the Name of it then will never more sound in their Ears nor any thing that bears the least resemblance of it be presented to them their witty Jests and merry Jokes will then be left and well it were for them if they could forget them and it will be their Trouble to think how this way they drive away their Time that was too swift of it self The Thought of Death is troublesome to them and they think 't is unseasonable for a 〈◊〉 but Poor Folks Old People or Ministers but for the Young the Rich the Strong it will but indispose them and dispirit them and put them out of Humour they will not see Death and then they think Death will forget them but it steals upon them tacito pede with a silent Foot and enters their Lodging before they are aware and however they now esteem highly of their Carnal Delights ere long they will find that one grain of Godly Sorrow is worth a pound of Frantick Mirth for the one ends in Eternal Pleasure the other in endless Misery when their Sport will be spoiled Oh what alteration will Death make when it comes no time will then be spent in Wanton Embraces Amorous Songs or Lascivious Discourse the Adulterer and Adulteress will take no delight in each others Company nay they will curse the time they ever saw the Face each of other When Fire from Heaven fell upon Sodom it quench'd their heat of Lust O that these Sons and Daughters of Pleasure would think of the time when their Pleasures will vanish but the Sting remain for certainly this will be the case of every one that dyes in an unregenerate condition let them be High or Low Rich or Poor Noble or Base for God is no excepter of Persons 3. The Third thing that Wicked Men must leave at their Death is all their Honour and their Glory for this will not follow them then though they greedily hunt after it now Psal 49.12.16 17. For though the Memory of the godly i◠blessed the name of the wicked shall rot Prov. 10.7 How Odoriferous do the Names of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and other Saints smell in all Ages And how fulsomly do the Names of Wicked Debauch'd and Bloody Persecutors stink Such as Cain Pharaoh Haman Jeroboam Judas Herod and such-like Those whose Names have survived them have such a blot upon them that will never be wiped off But what they now Glory so much in must ere long be left behind those proud aspiring Nimrods those Babel-builders their Dust ere long will be mingled with the Dust of their meanest Slaves and Servants for those who are hewen out of the same Rock why should they not be buried in the same hole of the Pit These External Advantages make no real difference in the Eyes of God or Wise Men for who values a Horse for his Trappings But however these will be taken away and then they will stand upon even ground and although many Men now do Worship a Golden Calf they will then perceive it was but a dumb Idol All those lofty Titles which now they load themselves with as Worshipful Right Worshipful Honourable Right Honourable Reverend Right Reverend Majesty Holiness c. must then descend with them into the Dust for great Saladine can carry nothing with him but his Shirt Indeed Holiness will go with us into another World as it is an inherent Quality not as 't is a Title unjustly attributed to some Men in that Kings and Emperours nay the Pope himself will speed never the better for their Crowns nor the Beggar the worse for his Rags for as Death so God accepteth of no Man's Person for outward Advantages 't is Internal Qualifications he regards Acts 10.35 External Splendour dazles not his Eyes Titles of Honour signifie nought these of themselves neither please nor displease neither help nor hinder though the abuse may hinder these are given to good and bad and no man knows love or hatred by them The Rich Glutton had Plenty when Poor Lazarus was in want Crowns and Kingdoms are but the Crumbs which the great Housholder throws to the Dogs that shall not taste of the Childrens Bread But now Dives hath none to wait at his Table or any to receive his Scraps none new to bow the knee before him or to be uncovered these days are over Now many Mens greatest design
of Peace called home Hearing Reading Praying Meditating which were of use and now our Duty can then do us no good no Petition now can be accepted the Spirit hath now done striving here the worst of Sinners call God Father and would fain adopt the Devil's Brats to be God's Children but it will then appear these profligate Wretches are none of the Off-spring of Heaven for God will own no such Children here they are not perswadable but then their Consciences will inform them and their Torments instruct them that their courses were not good now Heavens Glory though never so lively set forth doth not much affect them their Eyes are not opened to behold it but had they but a glimpse of it as the Apostles had in the Transfiguration or such a sight as Paul had in the third Heaven it would convince them 'T is storied of Nicostratus that cunning Artist That seeing an admirable Piece of Work looked at it with admiration being observed he was asked by one why he looked so intent upon it replied Oh Sir had you my Eyes you would wonder as well as I at this inimitable Piece of Work And had the men of the World their Eyes open or had they ever tasted one dram of the Rivers of Pleasure which are at the right hand of God for evermore they would be of another mind they would see the Riches Honour Carnal Delights Friends and Favourites yea whatever the World affords we can spare but God we cannot spare And to miscarrying Souls the consideration that the Time was the enjoyment of these coelestial things was possible for us as well as for others we were set upon the Stage of the World to play our part we had the same Means Ministers Ordinances Helps and Furtherances as others had the motions of the Spirit and the Checks of our own Consciences as they but the Devil blinded our Eyes and hardened our Hearts and the World bewitched us but all these Means and Helps are gone and 't is too late alas too late to repent we indulged our Flesh we satisfied our Lusts we contented our carnal Companions and we deluded one another Nay we had not only a possibility of Glory but a fair probability We had many Convictions upon our Spirits that our way was not good and that the way of Holiness was to be chosen hence we had many Resolutions to alter our Courses yea especially in our Sickness and Distress we made many Promises yea Vows and Covenants to amend yea set upon the performances of some Duties and refrained from some Sins and made some Profession of Religion and were almost Christians and yet suffered the Temptations of Satan the Alurements of the World and the Enticements of our own Corruptions and the Perswasions of our wicked Companions to stifle these hopeful Beginnings these perswaded us there was time enough for Repentance and that we had many a fair day yet to live and now Death hath taken us away in our Sins cursed be the time that ever we listened to these Syren Songs which lull'd us asleep in the Cradle of Security we were not far from the Kingdom of Heaven but for want of a little more we shall never come there and now our Sun is set and will never rise again our day is over that will never dawn and the night is come that no man can work our golden hours are over and our Opportunities are lost and that sweet Gale of Mercy that once we had will never blow upon us more Oh that we were intrusted with one Year more the World should see what Reformed persons we would be we would live as mortified a Life as ever Saint did upon the Earth and scorn with the highest Disdain the Pleasures Profit and Honours of the World how exactly would we live how painfully would we work out our Salvation how would we watch our Hearts and our Tongues and order our Actions but alas these are vain Wishes our Time is gone our Glass is run out our Opportunity lost and our Hopes are perished God hath forsaken us and become our Enemy a Crown of Glory was once offered upon easie Terms but the Market-day is over and will never come again it was under our Feet and we would not stoop for it Life and Death were set before us and we had our Choice Heaven was offered and we refused it and chose the World before it and lodged it in the best Room of our Hearts and now it hath deceived us we should have forsaken all for Christ but we forsake Christ and all for a Lust we indulged the Flesh yielded to the Temptation and made a woful Choice for a few vanishing Pleasures we parted with Heavenly Joys and in the room had endless easeless and remediless Torments it had been better for us that we had been torn in pieces with wild Horses than to have yielded to the Temptations of Sin as we have done Now we find our Minister's Words true which warned us of the bitter Fruits of Sin but alas too late our time is gone and will not be recalled cursed be the time we fell into such lewd Company How did we delude each other to Destruction now I see the Fruits the Effects and Ends of all our merry Meetings drunken Matches of our merry Songs and wanton Catches and all our effeminate Dalliance how much better might the time have been spent in Prayer Hearing and Meditation Taverns Ale-houses and Whore-houses have been our Ruine These or such-like will be the sad Complaints of miscarrying Souls for when God forsakes them all that Good is will leave them then must they bid farewel to the Saints and Angels for ever for they will be in the presence of God to Eternity and had they but enjoyed them one day in Heaven now all their Corruptions are done away they would better know their worth and their own loss but Heaven and Hell as they are out of sight so they are out of mind but those that mind them of it are like Elijah accounted the Troublers of Israel and like Paul Pestilent Fellows for they at present scorn the Society of the Godly and then the Godly will scorn them they shall then reap the Fruit of their own Folly which will be a large Harvest But among all their Losses they shall lose their Souls also which Loss is considerable the Soul being of more value than the World Mat. 16.26 and this will be an aggravation to them they sold them for nothing Yet this Loss signifies not the annihilation of the Soul or that it shall be made nothing this would be joyful News to them for upon that Condition they would be willing the Devil should tear it into a thousand pieces supposing it divisible so he would tear it into nothing But this cannot be the Soul will run parallel with the longest Line of Eternity neither can the Faculties thereof be lost the Understanding Memory Conscience will remain and be much
heighten'd the Understanding should better know the Vanity of Earthly Enjoyments and the Worth of Heavenly the Memory shall never forget one Sin nor any one Circumstance of it and the Conscience shall torment them for it and will prove a never-dying Worm to torment but the Soul is said to be lost when God which is the Life of the Soul is lost and when made a Bond-slave to Satan and under God's Wrath and Curse and sentenc'd to everlasting Torments when all her Hopes are extinct and nothing but Desperation is left her all their misgrounded misguided Hope will then fail and prove but like a Spider's Web and at Death all possibility will be taken away Salvation and Hopes will vanish together The foolish Virgins Hope as it was groundless so was it fruitless such Hope may light a man to Death never to the Grave In a word whatever they account good or that tends to their Happiness in this World or that to come Death will strip them of it Oh that Sinners in the fear of God would think of these things e're it be too late then would they not for a little Pleasure vain Honour or deceitful Riches run thus upon the Pikes of Danger and lose God Blessed for ever and those coelestial Enjoyments at his right hand for evermore and incur those Hellish Flames which can never be quenched Oh that men with a full Resolution would set themselves against the Temptations of Satan the Alurements of the World and the Enticements of their own Corruptions and would give up not only their Names but their Hearts to Christ then would they never feel what now they have just cause to fear 5. These are the Losses that wicked men will sustain at Death even all that good is but this will not be all their Misery but there will be added to it the Pain of Sence which is no inconsiâ—erable part of Hell for they will be cast into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death they shall not only have the Talents which were lent them taken from them but they shall be cast into Prison for not improving them yea into endless easeless and remediless Torments Mat. 25.46 Now this place of Torment whereinto miscarrying Souls shall be cast hath various Appellations in Scripture sometimes 't is called a Prison Mat. 5.25 Agree with thine Adversary quickly c. lest thou be cast into Prison This denotes the want of Liberty and other comfortable Enjoyments Sometimes 't is called the bottomless Pit Rev. 9.1 where the Dragon the old Serpent was cast Rev. 20.3 'T is also called Everlasting Punishment where all ungodly Sinners must go Mat. 25.46 this also shews the duration 'T is called also Unquenchable Fire which must consume the Chaff which are the Wicked Luke 3.17 this shews the extremity of Torments 'T is called also a Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the Beast and the false Prophet shall be cast Rev. 19.20 'T is also called a Furnace of Fire where the Tares must be burnt Mat. 13.41 c. 'T is also called Outer Darkness where those that want their Wedding-Garment when they are bound Hand and Foot must be cast Mat. 22.13 'T is called sometimes the blackness of Darkness which is reserved for the Devil and his Angels Jude 6.13 'T is called also the Place of Torment in which the rich Glutton was when he saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom Luk. 16.28 'T is called the Wrath to come from which Believers are delivered by Christ 1 Thess 1.10 As also the Damnation of Hell and many other Epithets Mat. 23.33 and all to express the extremity of the Torment and the duration thereof and in some measure to set forth that which the Heart of Man cannot fully conceive of nor his Tongue express By this we may see 't is a place of Torment a place of Horror and Darkness a place provided on purpose for the manifestation of God's vindictive Justice and just Judgment This is that Tophet provided of old the pile thereof is Fire and much Wood and the breath of the Lord as a River of Brimstone doth kindle it Isa 30. last When a few drops of this Wrath of God fell upon the old World it drowned it upon Sodom it burnt it upon Aegypt it destroy'd it upon Sennacherib it flew 185000 of his Army in one night But if a few drops make such a devastation what will a Torrent do What will they do in the overflowing of Jordan And what will those poor Creatures do that must be the Butt for all the Arrows of the Almighty to be levell'd at We read that Nebuchadnezzar's Furnace was heat seven times hotter than usually for Bread but Hell is seventy times hotter than that yet God will not think the heat too great or the duration too long for Wicked men to suffer for a thousand millions of Ages He will not repent of the Severity He is not as man that he should lye nor as the sons of men that he should repent Those that now at his Command will not leave one sup then shall not have one drop then will they have no Beds of Donne to lye upon no soft Couches to stretch their wearied Limbs upon nor curious Hangings nor costly Furniture to adorn their Rooms only a Lake burning with Fire and Brimstone to bath them in no rich Wines strong Drinks or cordial Waters to comfort them to quench their Thirst or cool their parched Throats no cold Water would be held a Cordial Their Society also would breed Horror the Devil and his instruments these will continually haunt them Here if one should appear at least in an ugly shape they are frighted sometimes out of their Wits but there they are their daily Companions and they will be troubled not with Sight only but with Feeling also As for the rest of their Companions they are not much better for what Comfort can it be to live among wounded sick diseased or frantick persons yelling swearing roaring ranting and blasphemous men But this falls short of the communion in Hell for amidst all their hellish Dialect they must beaâ— a part in this hellish Harmony the thought of it may send them trembling to their Graves were the Tormenters like themselves it were not so much and yet we have read of those that have been cruel enough but to be under the Lashes and Whips of Infernal Spirits and these our Blood-thirsty Enemies and set on work by an Omnipotent God as the Executioners of his Infinite Wrath and Fiery Indignation is terrible to think of Those that in their life-time were drawn into the Devil's Snares must now reap the Fruit of their Folly for whatever his Promises were eternal Destruction of Soul and Body is his Wages But he is not the only Tormenter but miscarrying Souls carry about them the never-dying Worm which like Prometheus's Vulture is alwaies gnawing And this will prove no inconsiderate part of Hell here Conscience is God's
a Prisoner that begs for his Life and is not the life of the Soul of greater value 'T is the Immortal Soul that lyes at the stake while we are playing a Game at Folly God is in earnest his Messengers are in earnest and shall we who are most concerned and who are like to be the greatest losers be in jest Were it our Riches Honours Pleasures or such like that were in danger the matter were not much but 't is the Soul and need not we be in earnest But seeing 't is for Souls I shall back this Exhortation with these following Considerations 1. Consider seriously that we must dye but when we know not 't is our Wisdom to have Death always in our Eye and with the Apostle to dye daily 1 Cor. 15.31 Death comes never the sooner for our Preparation for it neither stays the longer if we expect it not the frequent thoughts of it will put us on to our Duty when the putting far from us the evil day Amos 6.3 will make us neglect it This cursed Security and hope of Impunity is the source of all the Wickedness in the World Because Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the sons of men is wholly set in them to do wickedly Eccles 8.11 But this is not preservation but a reservation to a greater Evil this Forbearance is no Acquittance whatever we think of it Death is stealing upon us tacito pede with a silent foot and how soon he will enter our Lodgings we know not and then the Play is ended and we must march off the Stage This Motive haply may seem needless to mind Men of what they all know already but I think 't is not useless for though all Men will easily confess they must dye yet 't is not easie to make them consider of it or believe their Death is near nay if we look upon most mens Actions and manner of Living 't is easie to conclude that neither God nor Death are in their thoughts Were we but sure that Christ would come to Judgment within a Month whâ—t a Reformation should we see in the World Our Time-wasting Gallants would not then spend so much time in Hawking Hunting Drinking Whoring as now they do Holiness would not then be their scorn nor Religion their reproach and yet who knows whether it may not be within a Week Or could we be assured that Death would then Summon us to render an account of our Steward-ship in so short a time it would make the proudest of us to vail our Peacocks Plumes and entertain other thoughts of Death and Judgment and of Eternity than at present we have and we should not be so prodigal of our time as now we are but spend more of our time in hearing reading meditating and other Religious Exercises than now we do So that 't is the vain hopes of long Life which God never promised to any that encourages many in their wickedness and makes the Godly themselves the more secure 't is good therefore to view our Charter and see what time is granted us and not like the unfaithful Servant say My Lord deferreth his coming c. lest he come unawares and give us a Reward of our Folly the Poet shews these mens Folly that future their Repentance upon hopes of long life Fleres si scires unum tua tempora mensem Rides cum non sit forsitan una dies Many would weep and lament did they know they had but a Month to live that now laugh and rejoyce not having a day to live of this sort was the Rich Man mentioned Luke 12.16 c. O vain World how dost thou cheat us O cunning Devil how dost thou delude us and hide from our Eyes our latter end How dare any Poor Man that hath not made his Peace with his God neither hath any assurance of his Love spend an hour in an Ale-house or a day in Vanity and not know but it is his last We have many Spectacles of Mortality daily before us younger and stronger than we go to the Grave before us and many Monitors of Mortality within us Pains and Aches Griefs and Troubles even gray Hairs to mind us of our Winding-sheets The Lord grant we may know the voice of the rod and of him that sends it The Rich Man Luke 12.16 promises himself a lasting Happiness in the World when he had not a day to live and no doubt we have many such in our Times But alas one Month or one Year for ought we know may make a great and considerable alteration in our Families and haply those may be taken away that thought they had many a fair Year to live and much Worldly Happiness to enjoy Sometimes Death strikes the Child in the Womb when he spares them that stoop for Age there is no Degree Age or Sex that is secure neither Rich nor Poor Noble nor Base Young nor Old Fair nor Foul Religious nor Profane can plead an Exemption from the Arrest of Death for all of us are dust and unto dust we must return Gen. 3.19 Eccles 12.7 Those Houses of Clay wherein we live will ere long moulder into dust about our Ears 2 Cor. 5.1 'T is our Wisdom therefore to look out for another Habitation a building an house not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens whose foundation and builder is God This Life of ours for the shortness and uncertainty of it is compared unto the most fleeting fading perishing things we can name as to Grass to the Flower of the Field a Bubble a Post a Weaver's Shuttle a Thought a Shadow the dream of a Shadow or if any thing be more vain and what manner of men then ought we to be 1 Pet. 3.11 The dimness of our Eyes the deafness of our Ears the rottenness of our Teeth the wrinkles in our Cheeks the feebleness of our Limbs and every decay in Nature warns us of our approaching ends Death shoots many Darts at us and at length will hit us to the heart It was Jerusalem's fault and folly and I wish it be not ours to forget our latter end Lam. 1.9 2. Consid Let us further consider that we have a great deal of Work to do before we can be fit to dye and but a little short uncertain time to do it in and therefore more Diligence is required and 't is work of the greatest Concernment if our time were in our own power and at our own dispose sure and certain or were our Work but a little or of little concern whether it were or no it might be some excuse to us for our Idleness and Time-wasting but this is not our case Were Pleasures the end why we were sent into the World as many of our Gallants of both Sexes seem to suppose then many in our times take an effectual course but endless Pleasures they mind not the way to Heaven will prove a little rougher God sent us into the World
the Thief did do the Devil's Work all day and receive Wages of Christ at night but this is a desperate Venture the Judge haply saves one Malefactor of an hundred and every man thinks it will be he Legi perlegi scripturam c. saith Austin I have read the Scripture over and over yet did I never read but of one that was saved upon late Repentance when an Hundred thousand hare miscarried And saith another We may as rationally expect our Ass to speak because Balaam's Ass did once speak as to imagine to follow this singular Example To put off Repeneance upon such an account is saith a third as bold a Venture as for a man to go a great Journey without Money because another did so and found a Purse of Money in his way If a way be difficult and scarce one of an hundred find it is it not presumption for us if we travail that Road without Enquiry The greatest Politicians and those that have been able to deceive and put a Cheat upon others have in this business been deceived as Haman Achitophel and many others The most learned and profound Scholars have here been mistaken as the Scribes and Pharisees the greatest Philosophers Jesuites and many learned Doctors in our Age And shall we think our selves secure Yea those that have directed others in the way and put them on to prepare yea to make haste in their Journey have for want of Preparation and Haste fallen short of their desired Journeys end Thus the Scribes and Pharisees and Doctors of the Law that bound heavy burdens and grievous to be born and laid them on mens shoulders yet would not touch them with one of their fingers Many of those that have lived under the searching means of Grace and have had many a rouzing Sermon many a Direction Exhortation and Reproof have yet miscarried Thus Judas Ananias and Saphira Demas and others that fell short yea those that had Christ himself and his Disciples for their Teachers as Capernaum Chorasin and Bethsaida Many Ministers are like the Signs at the Ale-house-door they shew others where they may have shelter but they themselves abide in the Rain or like the Builders of Noah's Ark make a Ship to save others when they themselves perish in the Flood 'T is good therefore to look about us lest this be our condition 4 Cons Let us farther consider the daily danger we are in while we remain in an unprepared condition to dye for if Death find us thus unprepared we are undone for ever past hopes of help or means of recovery for we shall inevitably lose the Soul which is the most precious Jewel we have which in Christ's Account is more worth than the World it self Mat. 16 26. What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lest his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Intimating that the loss is both irrecoverable and irreparable And is it nothing to lose an immortal Soul and to purchase an ever-living Death Those that are sensible of Losses and Crosses in the World shall they be insensible of the great Loss A thousand thousand rendings of the Soul from the Body is not equivalent to one rending of the Soul and Body from God other Losses may be supplied or at least suffer'd but this Loss is insupportable and unsufferable Riches Honours Friends and other Earthly Enjoyments may be lost and yet recover'd or at least the Loss more easily born but the Loss of the Soul is incomparable Oh what dreadful Thoughts and Apprehensions will surprize a miscarrying Soul when she apprehends her self lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of Eternity yea an infinite Ocean of boiling Lead and burning Brimstone or what is far more formidable there to swim to all Eternity in endless easeless and remediless Torments then farewel all Earthly Delights all comfortable Relations all true Friends all Recreations and Pleasures all Friends and Favourites yea God himself the Chief of all which will then prove an invincible irreconcileable Enemy then the Devil who hath long look'd for his Prey shall have it and here that dreadful Sentence Take him Jaylor the poor Soul must receive then her due deserved Wages for her faithful Service to her Infernal Master even everlasting Torments World without end Oh what amazing thoughts will then meet the Soul in Hell to think that God and Heaven and Happiness are irrecoverably lost and all her other Hopes Comforts and Support gone and her self undone for ever and that she must everlastingly lye in those eternal Flames without hope of Redemption This word Ever will be a Hell in the midst of Hell to think that Pain and Anguish Weeping and Wailing will be her Portion as long as God is God even for ever and for ever and that Weeping it self will now be in vain Now this is the present condition of an unprepared Soul and the Lord knows this is most mens case however the Devil and their own Hearts perswade them to the contrary If we are in this condition there is but a Thread between us and infernal Flames even the Thread of our Lives and how soon Death may cut it we know not a thousand Darts Death throws at us even every Disease Pain Ach Grief and Trouble and when he will hit us to the Heart the Lord only knows and then the Soul will be in a stated condition which Eternity it self cannot alter Our Glass is alwaies running and when the last Sand drops we know not the Ephah of our Sins is alwaies filling and when it will be full and our Iniquities ripe we know not if it be before our Repentance prevent it we are in a worse case than the Beasts that perish whose Miseries end with their Lives when ours begin at out Death they only pay that Debt of Nature but we must pay the utmost farthing they go to their Grave but we to Prison then shall we also lose our God with our Souls or at least all comfortable relation to him for we shall still have him as an irreconcileable Enemy all our Earthly Enjoyments all which now we take for our Happiness will then be gone and the Portion which we chose will be snatch'd from us and in room of this a Portion in Hell will be assigned us where fiery whips of fiercest Fiends will eternally torment us who being tormented themselves have no other Pleasure but in tormenting others and if all the Torments that ever were invented by Man or Devil were compared with this it would fall far short But the Duration of these Torments is that which makes them compleat for if a Thousand thousand millions of Years were substracted the Sum is ne'er the less Oh how much then doth it behove us to look about us lest that day come upon us at unawares 5 Cons Let us further consider that Preparation for Death that is getting those Qualifications necessary for dying persons An Interest in Christ and
a Title to Glory cleared up to us can do us no hurt but will do us good and is worth all the Pains and Cost we can be at about it but the neglect of it is as you have heard dangerous and deadly Our Pains and Cost which we are at about it will not be lost but well recompensed and never any one was made miserable by it when Ten thousand times ten thousand have been undone by the neglect Death comes never the sooner when 't is expected or to those that with the Apostle dye daily 1 Cor. 15 31. neither will it spare men the more because they put it out of their sight And they put far off the evil day Amos 6.3 no no the Lord of such servants shall come in a day they know not of and in an hour they are not aware of Death is not blind though we wink he that is fit to dye is fit to live and truly no other for the same Qualifications serve for the one and for the other He that is prepared for Death needs not to fear it and he that fears not Death needs fear no Enemy no though the whole Creation were turned into Lyons and Bears yea incarnate Devils about him kill him they may hurt him they cannot the worst they can do is to send him to his Father's House the sooner If we are prepared Death may strike us but cannot sting us for the sting is taken out 1 Cor. 15.55 and if it take us away by the Hand of Violence Twenty years in Heaven will make amends for Twenty years upon Earth which we might possibly have lived and if we receive as much Wages for half a day as other for the whole what cause is there of Complaint When our Debt to Nature is paid our Work is done and our Rest follows when we have been threshed fifted and winnowed and the Chaff blown away we shall be laid up as good Corn in our Father's Grainary when the Tares shall be bundl'd up Swearers with Swearers Drunkards with Drunkards and one Adulterer with another and cast into unquenchable fire when we have Oyl in our Vessels as well as Lamps in our Hands then we shall enter in with the Bridegroom when the rest shall be shut out Mat. 25.10 c. but he that comes in without a Wedding-Garment on his Back shall not go out without Bolts on his Heels Mat. 22.12 Take him bind him hand and foot and cast him into outward darkness He must go from the Table to the Tormentor But many other are the Benefits that flow from a right Preparation for Death yea more than can be numbred for our Evidences cleared up will be a Heaven upon Earth and will sweeten every Condition how bitter soever in it self and hold up the Head above Water and the Heart from fainting under the saddest Providences that can befal us and makes a Christian see Light in the darkest Cloud and read Love in God's Face in his saddest Frowns for Grace in the Heart and unblurred Evidences thereof without which we cannot be prepared to dye will be such an Antidote to keep the Heart from sinking that the World it self cannot make up such a Cordial nothing can come amiss to such a Soul for he knows the same Love that elected him and sent Christ into the World to redeem him is now on work for his good If he meet with Afflictions he can suck Sweetness thence and gather Arguments of God's Love from it and conclude thence that he is not a Bastard but a Son for God correcteth those he loves and scourgeth every son that he receiveth and those that are without correction are bastards and not sons Heb. 12.7 8. Afflictions are the Gemms and Jewels that God adorneth his best Friends with He had one Son without Sin but none without Sorrow and it be those that suffer with him that must reign with him If a prepared Christian meet with Prosperity he can read Love in this also and take every Mercy as a Love-token and admire the Goodness of God to such a poor Wretch If he read or hear the Word of God he can suck Sweetness from every Passage whether Precepts Promises or Threats his Meditation of God of Christ of Heaven of Glory will be sweet his Morning Thoughts and Evening Meditations also many a Cordial can he fetch from the meditation of those invisible things which others have no Converse with no Desire after and this bears up the Heart from sinking in the worst of Times as it did the Martyrs Hearts in Prisons Losses yea at the Stake it self for how can it be but a serious thought of God and Christ and Heaven and Glory and a firm believing that he hath an Interest in them but it must cheer up the Heart And will not the reading the precious Promises of God and knowing also that they are their Father's Legacy to them chose but warm the Heart Yea the thoughts of Death as 't is a Messenger sent from God to bring us to Glory and set an end to all our Miseries will hardly be much sweetned for many dismal Apprehensions may an unprepared Soul well have of Death but to the other the Sting is taken out 1 Cor. 15.55 In a word happy is the condition of a prepared Soul and therefore 't is our Interest to prepare for it Thus Madam having shewn what improvement we may and ought to make of such sad Providences as are now under our consideration the last I mention'd was preparing for our own Death And oh that my self were effectually perswaded so to do by the convincing Motive I have laid down I shall add some Directions in reference to Preparation 1 Direct If we design and desire to dye happily and comfortably let us get an Interest in Christ and a Title to Glory clear'd up to the Soul for those that must cheerfully and willingly leave all their Earthly Enjoyments Comforts and Relations had need of assurance of something better than the World is for who would leave a certain Good for an uncertainty one Bird in the Hand they say is worth two in the Bush 'T is true a man may have a Title to Glory when Assurance is wanting and this man may dye happily though not comfortably for Death to him must needs look ghastly Till a man can look upon Christ the Rich Pearl as his own how can he part with all for him But when he hath Christ and Heaven and Glory in his Eyes he matters not what he parts with for them he knows 't is a good Bargain who will not part with Pebbles for Pearls with Earth for Heaven and the Creature for God such and such alone can look Death undauntedly in the Face Till a man find the Condition of the Covenant within him what Comfort can he have in the Covenant it self Though the King grant Pardon to a thousand Malefactors if I be a Malefactor and cannot prove that I am of this number what
Comfort can I take from the Grant But when the Qualifications are found in the Soul which God hath made necessary to Salvation and to which Heaven and Happiness is promised when the sanctifying regenerating and adopting Works of the Spirit appears there and the Graces of it are found when God's Sheep-mark of Holiness is there impressed this must needs be refreshing to the Soul I know that full Assurance so as to set a man above all doubting the highest Pinacle of Assurance that maximum quod sic beyond which nothing but coelestial Enjoyment can be expected is so rare a Jewel that it adorns the Head or Heart of few Many in the World David himself was sometimes to seek and God's best Servants at a loss but yet through Mercy a comfortable Assurance to keep the Heart from despairing or desponding hath been and is given unto many of the Godly yet not without great Pains and Diligence much Examination and fervent Prayer We are not in this case to look into God's secret Cabinet of his Decrees and Councils to know whether we are elected or no for if we can find the effects of Electing Love and the Graces of the Spirit of God which none wear but the Spouse of Christ we may conclude the Marriage is consummate and we may say My beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 6.3 I am sure he is mine and I can boldly speak it her Faith is unfeigned and her Love unfailable she had got a full gripe of of Christ and is sure nothing can separate them Christ lays hold upon her by his Spirit and she lays hold of Christ by Faith she hath made a total resignation of her self to him and I accept of him in all his Offices and Efficacies saith she he hath given me that which he bestows upon no other and theâ—efore I am sure he loves me The like may we say when we find the like Tokens of his Love and when we find the first Steps of the Spirit in the Soul we may conclude he hath been there Now this Assurance however some men value it not is more comfortable both in Life and Death than the World can procure 't is Heaven upon Earth and a Cordial against the Fear of Death 'T is an Encouragement to work when we know we shall have good Wages and to suffer Loss when we know we shall gain by our Losses but without some comfortable Assurance we cannot look upon Death without Horror and may say of it as Ahab of Elijah Hast thou found me O my Enemy When a man apprehends himself lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of Eternity and knows not but it may be endless who in his right Wits would not tremble Though Grace be present Comfort will be absent if Assurance be wanting What good did Hagar's Well of Water do her when she saw it not or Marys Discourse with Christ when she knew him not What Comfort will a Pardon give to a Malefactor at the place of Execution if it be concealed In Worldly Business we are not so careless to leave all at Uncertainty and must the Soul only be neglected Shall we lye in Debt and not know of any Surety to discharge it and have Souls and not know what will come of them to Eternity 2 Dir. If ever we intend to dye happily we must see Sin dead before us for the Soul and Sin cannot live together but they will be the death of the one or of the other Now Sin is never kill'd till it be hated and looked upon as the most deadly Enemy for who will kill one that he loves 'T is Sin that is the Sting of Death which otherwise would be hurtless and harmless 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law c. Here is the boldest and bravest Challenge that ever rung in Death's Ear wherein the Apostle bids him do his worst for when Sin is dead his Poyson is gone he may buz about our Ears as a drove Bee and haply fright us but cannot hurt us he may strike us but cannot sting us he may like Sampson when his Locks were shorn go forth as at other times and shake himself but his strength is gone the worst he can do is but to send us to our Father's House the sooner Sin in stinging Christ lost his Sting Christ overcame him and took from him the Weapons he trusted in and now we may hug the Serpent in our Bosom Sin when 't is alive sets a Bar in Heaven-gate against us and makes it impossible for us to enter for no unrighteous person nor unclean thing nothing that defileth or worketh abomination shall ever enter Rev. 21.27 no dirty Dog shall ever tread upon the Pavement And as it shuts Heaven-gates so it opens Hell-gates for us and Death as a Porter will let us in Sin is the only Weapon with which the Devil can hurt us and this Weapon we our selves put into his Hands they are Snares of our own making with which he entangles us Cords of our own twisting he leads us Captive in for there is nothing else in the World that can make the Soul miscarry and this is our Misery we naturally delight in those Fetters in which he holds us and glory in our own Slavery The Devil shews us Sin thro' his own Spectacles and by his Paint and Plaster that seems amiable which really is the most loathsome and deformed thing which really makes the Soul the most ugly deformed leprous thing in the World but did we see our selves in this Dress we should come trembling into the Presence of God with Tears in our Eyes Shame in our Faces Sorrow in our Hearts and Confession in our Mouths and if Sin look not with such an Aspect upon us 't is a sign 't is living and not dead in us for a dead Carcass cannot be lovely When a Believer's Sin is mortified he behaves himself to it as Ahasuerus the King towards Haman who had been his greatest Favourite and whom he had advanc'd next to himself in the Kingdom he hates the sight of him and cannot endure him in his presence Esth 7.7 it troubled him that he had lost his Love upon so unworthy a Wretch Even so a Believer mourns that ever he entertain'd such a treacherous Companion as Sin in his Bosom he deals by Sin as the Father of a rebellious Son was commanded to do Dan. 21.18 lays the first Hand upon it and throws the first Stone at it he bears so an irreconcilable a Hatred to it that nothing will satisfie him but its Hearts Blood he is not satisfied as too many are to lay it asleep but dye it must he doth not lop off here a Bough and there a Branch but stocks up the very Root he is not raking at the Channel but cleansing the very Fountain he knows Sin is his greatest Enemy and therefore he
Mercy and like Solomon praised the day of Death before the Birth-day Eccles 4.2 Optimum non nasci proximum mori saith the Heathen but little knew what the result would be But a Christian doubtless call'd out by God should not go unwillingly Philpot the Martyr returns thanks to God he was so near the Gate of Eternal Life and who is it that being tossed with the Waves of Trouble would not land in a Haven of Rest 'T is a shame for a Christian when God gives a clear Call to linger with Lot in Sodom much more to look back with Lot's Wife till the Lord pluck them away by force and deliver them whether they will or no. Those that are weary of Sin or Suffering should say as Samuel Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Mistake not I say not that Death is eligible or any should desire it for its own sake no we should use all Lawful means to preserve Life but I reprove those that when the Will of God is manifest that they should dye submit so unwillingly Hath the World been so kind to us that now we cannot part Or is our Portion here so good that Heaven it self cannot make us satisfaction If we part with it doubtless we have then had better dealing than our dear Redeemer met with Are our Temptations so strong that we are ready with the Young Man Demas Judas and many others to break with Christ upon that account 'T is best to consider well before hand lest we Repent too late Hath God been training us up so long and have we not yet learnt this â—esson to be willing to dye Are we content to take this for our Portion And will we rather stay in the Wilderness than venture over this Jordan Will the Flesh-pots of Egypt give satisfaction as well as the Land of Canaan If God were not more willing of us than many of us are to go to him we might be long absent we should live long on this side Jordan if he did not force us over But though Death be not desirable is not the Presence of God desirable Is not Heaven worth having And is there any other way to it We profess we believe there is a reward for the righteous and a God that judgeth the earth but do we not in our works deny it The fear of Death discovers our Infidelity and as our little Faith so our little Love either we proclaim that we question whether there be a Reward or whether we have any Interest in it or it shews we have little love to it If we believe it and our Interest in it is it not a wonder we are not impatient of enjoying it and rather seek to shorten our Lives than prolong them by unlawful means Did we love our Husband as we should we should long for the time when he would fetch us He may well say as Delilah did to Samson How can you say you love me when your hearts are not with me 4. Consider If we chearfully submit our Wills to the Will of God and let him dispose of us as he pleaseth for Life or Death and make a resignation of our selves to God and be willing to part with Life it self if he and his Cause require it whether by a Natural or violent Death we shall then part with it to the most Advantage imaginable nay 't is the only way to save it and to deny it unto God is the way to lose it Mark 8.35 Whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel shall save it For what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul We may read of many that refusing to lay down their Lives for Christ have had their Lives taken from them but lost their Reward We read in the Book of Martyrs of one Denton a Smith that had made profession of Religion but being call'd to suffer cried The Fire is hot I cannot burn but within a short time he was burnt in his own House and lost both his Life and his Reward And so shall those that deny their Lives to God when he requires them We may resign our Lives into the hands of God and so engage him to look to them and take care of them but we cannot rescue them out of his Hands or live longer than he determines for we cannot breathe without him and then what madness is it to stand in contention with him If we lose our Souls to save our Lives we shall make a bad Bargain for a Life saved by unlawful means will do us little good for a Life in God's displeasure is worse than Death it self and a Death in his favor is the beginning of Eternal Life and ushers us into Eternal Happiness The Martyrs in the flames were aware of this they cried out None but Christ none but Christ 'T is a dear Life that is bought with the loss of Christ he that exchanges his Soul for the World will with the Rich man Luk. 16. dye a Beggar but will not be able to purchase one drop of Water he that loseth an immortal Soul purchaseth an everliving Death and is it not our Interest to look to the main Jewel Where Self is renounced the Cross is easily born for 't is Self-love that makes it pinch us When God bids us Yoke 't is our best way to submit our Necks for there is no struggling out of his hands God will not require our Lives to our hurt or damage neither will it prove any Advantage to us if we deny them for if we lose them for his sake we shall find them and if we would hide them from him we shall lose them and Heaven to boot He that lays down his Life when God requires it will gain by the bargain when Death strips him of his Rags 't is to cloath him with Robes and pulls down his Cottage to bring him to a Palace 2 Pet. 1.14 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens This saith Latimer is the Sweet-meats of the Feast of a good Conscience there are other dainty Dishes but this is the Banquet The Soul wears the Body as a Garment which when 't is worn out shall be clothed with a better Suit There is no passing into Paradise but under Death's flaming Sword no coming to the City of God but through his dark Vault and strait Gate no wiping all Tears from our Eyes but with our Winding-sheet Our life is hid saith the Apostle with Christ in God Col. 3.3 and therefore not lost And again he tells us 2 Tim. 1 2. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Let him that died for my Soul
saith Luther look to the Salvation of it A Child that hath a precious Jewel cannot put it safer than in his Father's hands the like we may say of our Lives and Souls if we 'l have the keeping and disposing of them our selves the Devil will rook us out of them but what is committed to God cannot be lost our Lives though laid down for Christ cannot be lost in him 't is but as the Seed sown Life eternal will spring up in the turn when temporal Life expires eternal Life begins My Father saith Christ is greater than all and none can pluck them out of my Fathers hands Joh. 10.29 There is nothing we can expend in God's Service but he can make satisfaction we may lose all we have for him but shall lose nothing by him if we deny to honour God in letting God dispose of our Lives as to the time and manner of our Death we shall lose them for nothing To live saith Paul is Christ and to die is gain he was in a strait whether to chuse life or death yet he knew to die was best for him Phil. 1.21 c. Janua vitae est porta coeli saith Bernard Christians should be so indifferent whether they lived or died as to submit their wills wholly to God's will to die for Christ is the way to a Crown of Martyrdom and the way to reign with Christ is to suffer with him a Self-resignation can do us no hurt but much good for if we are never call'd to suffer we shall not lose our Reward God takes the will for the deed as in Abraham's case And if we do suffer for him we shall reign with him and have white robes with palms in our hands and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes Rev. 12.11 7.9 And shall not we suffer something for this Honour or shall we after all this Profession of Religion declare to the World that all was but Hypocrisie and that we have more love to Sin and the World than we have to God Is not this the way to dishonour God discredit Religion harden Wicked men in Sin and endanger our own Souls 5 Cons In the last place to make us more willing to dye or to submit to God's Will whether for Life or Death are the Joys and Delights and Pleasures which believing Souls shall have in the Presence of God for ever and for ever and that immediately after Death for as then all tears shall be wiped away and sin and sorrow shall be no more so our Joys and Pleasures shall then commence 1 Joh. 3.2 Now we are the sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Great things we have in Hand but greater in Hope much in Possession more in Reversion our Happiness then will be in seeing and enjoying him which we cannot do on this side Death but what our Enjoyments shall be there no mortal man can come to know not the Apostle who was caught up into the third Heaven and heard unspeakable words that it was not lawful for a man to utter 2 Cor. 12.4 Yet he tells us 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for those that love him Yet he reserves not all for the Life to come some clusters of Canaans Grapes are bestowed in the Wilderness some Pisgah-sights of Glory on this side Jordan But 't is no wonder we cannot describe the Joys of Heaven when we are such strangers to many Secrets in Nature In the World Believers have such joy as no stranger shall meddle with Prov. 14.10 The Cock on the Dunghil knows not the Worth of these Jewels they are unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 they are a Harâ—â—el of Heaven and a Fore-taste of Eternal Life yea such as passeth all Understanding fitter to be believed than to be exprest to which all the Comforts which the World affords signifie nothing for what shall we compare with the Peace of a good Conscience and Joy in the Holy Ghost And yet this is but a small tast a branch of Canaans Grapes and nothing compared with what is behind to be eternally enjoyed But if the Saints Enjoyments so darkly resemble Heavens Glory what will the Epicure's Delights do which they chose for their Portion Not so much resemble it as a Muckhil doth the Sun in his Splendor The Drunkard delights in his Cups the Adulterer in his Queans and this they look upon to be the chiefest Happiness the covetous man makes Gold his God the ambitious man makes choice of that empty Bubble Honour and the voluptuous man contents himself with Pleasure these are the Syren Songs the Devil lulls them asleep with while he ruines their Souls these are the Circe's Charms which transforms them into Swine and makes them take up with Husks and Swill and to neglect that Nectar and Ambrosia which the Saints feed upon Have I need to shew that Happinese consists not in these things Is any so blind upon consideration as to affirm it Where is their Happiness then when their Cups and Queans are snatch'd and all other their Enjoyment leave them 'T is true Meat is delightful to the Hungry and Drink to the Thirsty Health to the Sick and Strength to the Weak but what is this to an hungring thirsting panting weary Soul Christ is better to it than all the World Stately Buildings curious Gardens pleasant Walks and the rest of the Delights of the Sons of Men mentioned by Solomon Eccl. 2.8 c. how little satisfaction can they yield they will prove but empty Husks if we feed upon them what are those to those Mansions of Glory provided for the Saints and the Rivers of Pleasures which are at the right hand of God for evermore Yea I dare say many a poor Believer hath more solid Joy more Hearts Content more true Satisfaction in his poor Cell than many of those in the midst of all their Enjoyments What then will their Enjoyments be in Heaven when they shall receive their Portion Human Learning also is desirable and more beautiful saith Aeneas Sylvius than the Morning or the Evening-Star What hard Labour and Pains have many a man taken to find out Nature's Secret and at best have but groaped in the dark And many all 〈…〉 Mystery there is in the Book of God which no man living understands the Scripture being like the Waters of the Sanctuary Ezek. 47.2 c. where a Lamb might wade and an Elephant might swim but there our Ignorance shall vanish and all those difficulties disappear and we shall know as much of God himself as finite Capacities can comprehend Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now we know but in part but then shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 2 Cor. 3.18 Here we can see but by reflection for how can our Eyes behold God that cannot view the Sun in its splendor Moses himself could but view his Back-side and Paul was blinded with the Sight but the Beatifical Vision will not disturb us Now we behold the Works of God with admiration the Sun Moon and Stars and all the Host of Heaven the Earth also hanged upon nothing beautified with all Varieties the Sea bounden and barr'd by him and generally the whole Creation these are beautiful Objects and many inscrurable Mysteries we understand not but there we shall see and know far greater Mysteries in the Fabrick of Heaven it self His Works of Providence many times puts us to a puzzle how he governs all the World and preserves Peace among so many disagreeing Creatures especially how he preserves his own Church amidst their numerous Enemies and makes Provision for all the works of his Hands but when we are better acquainted with his Wisdom and Power these Wonders will cease The Work of Redemption and the manner of contriving it that he let fall the Angels irrecoverably without hope of Redemption the reason of his Electing Love and why he made a difference the Price that was paid the Blood of his only Son may cause admiration but when we know the whole Contrivance we shall admire his Wisdom Oh who would not long to be in that estate of Blessedness where these and all things else shall be made known to us which cannot be till Death Thus Madam I have made bold haply too bold to communicate to you my own Experiences and with what Arguments I have quieted my self under such sad Dispensations of Providence as at present you lye under and to shew you what improvement I have made or at leastwise desire to make of them and I hope I may truly say it was good for me that I was afflicted and I wish you may experimentally say the same I think I have learned more in the School of Affl ction of the sinfulness of Sin of the Vanity of the Creature of Worth of Grace the Miseries of the Wicked and the Happiness of the Godly than ever I did in any other School whatsoever And I wish you and all your Relations that are concerned in this Providence may gain as much as I yea terque quaterque manifold more I do not write these things to you as if you were ignorant of them no I am too well acquainted with you to be guilty of this Error but the best of us especially when under a Cloud and overpower'd with Grief have need of a Remembrancer to put 〈◊〉 in mind of what before we knew My humble Desire is and my Prayer shall be that you and your Relations by this Providence and these Oâ—servations upon it may be brought nearer to GOD weaned more from the World and your selves fitter to live and fitter to dye that when you come to dye you may have nothing to do but to dye and resign up your Souls into the Hands of God These are the unfeigned Desires of Madam your humble Servant Edward Bury Eaton Apr. 16. 16â—5
will make no Peace or Truce with it 't is his greatest Trouble he meets with in the World that he cannot be quite rid of it that he cannot give it a Bill of Divorce and put it away he deals with it as Amnon did by Tamar whom before he so lustfully loved yet after hated her much more So deals he by Sin what he had lustfully wickedly loved now he unfeignedly hates he hates Sin in all but especially in himself and flees the very appearance of Evil and resists it in the first motion and as the Babylon Children while they are young and the Cockatrice Egg e're it be hatched resists the Temptation and first Notion of Sin and if the Devil foist in a Temptation he like the ravished Virgin cries out for Help suppresseth Sin in the Thoughts before ever it appear in the Word or Action as Joseph that would not hearken to his Mistriss nor he in the House with her Now this is the course that we must take if we would kill Sin and we must be sure to begin Reformation at the right end purge the Fountain that the Streams may be clear stock up the Root of Sin that the Tree may dye Make clean the inside that the outside may be clean also Mat. 15.19 12.34 The Heart is the Source of Sin and the Fountain of Folly and swarms with Lusts as a Carrion with Vermine inward Bleeding will kill as well as outward and from within Wickedness proceeds but a man is never fit to dye till Sin be kill'd and the Heart cleansed 3 Dir. The World also is an Enemy that must be subdued if we would dye well or willingly for the love of the World breaks many a Match between Christ and the Soul and 't is the usual Bait the Devil lays to keep us in his Snares All this I will give thee and 't is a rare man that is not hereby alured And therefore it was not in vain that the Apostle gives us this Caution 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the world nor the things of the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him And another Apostle tells us That the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God Can a Woman love two Husbands or a Man serve two Masters God and Mammon And Paul tells us The world is crucified to him and he to the world It cares not a Pin for me and I care not a Rush for it there is no more delight in it in my account than there is in a dead Carcass have it we may use it we must but love it we may not It hangs out her two Breasts Strumpet like of Profit and Pleasure but the Apostle had no mind to suck at these Botches and if we would dye well let us imitate him that had learnt to dye daily and get our Affections as much weaned from the World as possibly may be and set upon Heavenly things or 't is ten to one it will speak to us in the Words of Peter to Christ Save thy self Whenever we should come to suffer any thing for Christ we may find what a snare it will be to us as to the young man Mat. 19.22 that bid fair for Christ till the World came and broke the Bargain he came to Christ hastily and departs heavily when he must part with his Riches he chuses rather to part with Christ and if Heaven will be had upon no cheaper terms let him keep it to himself Those that have the God of this World lively poâ—trayed upon the Soul are not fit for another World such as these will say with Cardinal Bembus they will not leave their part in Paris for their part in Paradâ—ce Judas and Demas may witness this Truth When the Affections are forestalled and set upon other Lovers 't is hard rending them off or making them willing to pâ—rt with what they love what a man loves best he would keep longest Where the treasure is there will the heart be also Mat. 6.20 21. If they are set upon this white and yellow Earth upon Pearls and precious Stones which are but the Guts and Garbage of the Earth and load themselves with thick Clay 't is as hard for them to enter in at the streight Gate as for a Camel 〈◊〉 go through the eye of a Needle Paul câ—lls such a one an Idolater Ephes 5.5 and St. James an Adulterer Jam. 4.4 Such as these are not ready for Death though Death may haply be ready for them but he that hath laid up his Treasure in Heaven and is at a point with all things under the Sun and wears the World about him as a loose Garment ready to cast off upon all occasions he that hath made ready pack'd up all and sent before him to his desired Port needs wait but for a Wind to waft him over Where the treasure is there will the heart be also When a man imagines he must leave better behind than he is like to find there 't is no wonder if he dye unwillingly and depart with a reluctancy but when better things are in view 't is no hard matter to dye The Devil puts a Cheat upon us when he shews us the World through his Spectacles and the Glory of it through his Magnifying-glasses there every Little seems Great and every Mole-hill a Mountain but when we view it in the clear Crystal of God's Word it appears in its Colours 'T is an easie thing to make a man exchange Rags for Robes and a Cottage for a Castle and is it not as easie to perswade a wise man to exchange Pebbles for Pearls Earth for Heaven and the Creature for God When a Man is satisfied that there is enough in Christ in Heaven and Glory to give the Soul Content yea to make up all the Losses sustained upon the account what should make him afraid to venture upon it But while the World seems a Pearl in our Eyes the Pearl of great price is not heeded The Splendor of the World seems greater than it is when the Devil hath adorned it in his Paint and Colours but when 't is stripp'd of that Varnish it appears an old withered and deformed Strumpet and 't is wonder that any fall in love with her Till we can look upon the World with Contempt we are neither fit to live nor fit to dye not to live for we shall place the love upon her that is only due to God not to dye for we shall then lose all our Portion and what a condition will such a departing Soul then be in Till we can see with Moses the Vanity of Kings Courts we shall never make his choice as the Afflictions of the people of God rather than these Vanities Heb. 11.25 Till we can with Galeacius see more Worth in one days Communion with God than all the Wealth in the World we shall not leave all as he
did for Christ's sake till Christ be better to us than our Company and Relations as it was to Abraham we shall never leave all these for him the Martyrs loved not their Lives to the Death Rev. 12.11 and till we can look upon all these things with a self-denying Eye and hang loose to Creature-comsorts and can say of God as the Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee Then and not till then we are in a fit posture to live and to dye 4 Dir. If we desire to dye well we must be sure to live well for a good Life alwaies ends in a happy Death and a wicked Life presages an ill End Those that dance with the Devil all day seldom come to sup with Christ at night The Example of the penitent Thief I have already spoke to one Swallow proves not a Summer he that sails in the Road to Hell and changes not his Course is never like to land in the Port of Heaven he that runs down the Hill is not like to come to the top and he that swims down the Stream will not come to the Fountain Head By Nature we are born with our Backs upon Heaven and our Face towards Hell and till we repent we never change our Course A sinful Life will have a Tâ—agical End for he that walks in the broad way is not like to find the narrow Gate and that alone leads to Eternal Life Mat. 7.13 14. Strive to enter in at the streight gate for many shall seek to enter and shall not be able Wide is the gate broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat streight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it Yea the Wicked let them be never so many go down to Hell and all the nations that forget God Psal 9.17 'T is our Duty whatever others do to be holy and like the Moon hold on our Course though Dogs bark at us and run our Race like the Sun though the Planters curse him at his rising for scorching them with his Beams Let us not swim down the Stream of the Sinner like dead Fish nor follow a multitude to do Evil The worse the Places are we live in the better let us be the more outragious they are in Wickedness the more couragious in Good let us be It matters not how small our Company is if good nor how great if bad 'T is better be with Noah in the Ark than with the whole World in the Flood The Way to Heaven no doubt will be rough and craggy like that of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer 1 Sam. 14.4 13. Sic petitur coelum Pains and Patience are necessary to those that travel this Road those that will to Heaven must sail by the Gates of Hell Strive saith Christ to enter yea strive to an Agony as the word imports The way to Heaven is up Hill to Hell down the Bank we may easily go down facilis descensus averin the other will cost much Pains and Sweat and when we come to the streight Gate there must be stooping and stripping He that walks the broad way will readily find the wide Gate he may go Hood-winckt to Hell and need not lose his way Now that the Life be good 't is necessary that the Heart be good for from this Fountain good or bad Water flows but naturally this is corrupt 't is not a few good Words or Wishes will serve the turn without Heart-reformation all other Reformation begins at the wrong end Where the Heart is neglected a corrupt Fountain cannot send forth sweet Water the Tree must be good or the Fruit will be bad Men gather not grapes off thorns nor fig off thistles Mat. 7.16 By Nature we are dead in trespasses and sins and we cannot act from a Principle of Life if we have it not till the Heart be seasoned with Grace all we do will savour of the Cask and till it be purged by Faith no good thing can thence proceed for without Faith 't is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And when the Heart is reformed the Work is not done Heaven will not be had without Paines and Patience but Hell may be had with a wet â—inger 't is much ado to find Heaven-gate 〈◊〉 a man may find the way to Hell blindfold By Nature we bring forth soure grapes even grapes of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah Dan. 32.32 We hatch cockatrice eggs and weave spiders webs but we must be engrafted into that Noble Vine Christ before our Fruit will be good There must be Knowledge in the Soul before there can be Obedience to the Will of God for without knowledge the mind cannot be good but ignorant persons do the Devil the best service but neither the Blind nor the Lame must be offered in Sacrifice to God ignorant persons spoil all they take in hand we must know the Rule before we can work by it and when we know it we must not go aside to the right hand nor to the left and have respect to all God's Commands no Sin though never so dear to us must be forborn no Duty though never so difficult must be neglected all our Actions as to the Matter of them must be agreeable to God's word and to the Manner of them they must be performed as he requires sincerely and without Hypocrisie universally and constantly our Ends also must be Gods Glory the good of our own Souls and the Souls of others In short all our time must be spent in our general and particular Callings or some way or other in reference to it to fit us for the one or for the other and there must be a wise division of it between them neither must run away with the others share our relative Duties must be minded and we must live and act like Christians in such and such Relations the Trade of Holiness must go on we must treasure up Grace against a dying time when some treasure up Wealth and many wrath against the day of wrath This course may seem harsh to some but 't is the only safe way to Glory and the only way to a happy Death 5. Direct If we would dye well 't is our Wisdom with the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.31 to learn to dye daily to have Death always in our Eye and always be in a dying posture that Death may not sind us unprepared that we may not look upon Death as a stranger when he comes but as an expected Guest The frequent Meditations of Death will put us on to put our House or rather our Hearts in order with Hezekiah Isa 38.1 Death gives us many warnings to provide a new Habitation and we are unwise if we take it not for warning he is always eying us and 't is our Wisdom to be eying him that we be not surprized ere we are aware