the folly of men thus to fear a temporal death and not to matter death eternal to fear the wrath of man and not the anger of Almighty God to fear the death of the Body and despise the death of the Soul to fear the creature more than the Creator that feareth the rage of man and not the wrath of Almighty God Gregory In hell there is death without death and end without end because death ever liveth and the end ever beginneth for death will never dye Oh how sweet would death be there accounted if it would take away life and not compell those to live that would fain dye Oh the stupidity of men when a small loss will wring tears from their eyes and an infinite and irrecoverable loss is not regarded yea the speech of it they can digest with laughter Many quake and tremble to come before an earthly Judge and when they are going before the eternal Judge can sport themselves in the way they fear to lanch forth into the Sea and not to lanch forth into this infinite Ocean of Eternity for hell torments are not only easeless but endless and remediless While there is life there is hope but where the breath is gone the hope is past while the door is open there is entrance but when 't is once shut though thou knock it will not be opened When the soul is separated from the body of a wicked man God will be separated from the soul and an uniting time will never come Christ stands now to receive repenting Sinners but his Spirit will not alwayes strive with them the door will be shut and only those that are ready will go in to the marriage This is the time when the Father will receive a repenting returning prodigal but it will not last long God will put an end to the day of grace the night comes when no man can work the Sun will set that shall never rise and the day end that shall never dawn again and then all hopes of wicked men will be dasht for as the tree falleth whether to the north or south east or west there it shall lye That tree that falls hellward there it will lye for ever For after this life is no redemption for ever let the Pope say what he will to the contrary their feigned Purgatory will prove a delusion the fire thereof was only kindled to make the Popes Kitchin warm but hell fire is of another nature for all their Masses Dirges and Prayers cannot deliver one soul from thence But if the sentence of condemnation be once past and damned souls delivered up to their tormentors there is no help all conclude this decree is irrevocable and hell torments remediless Here the worm saith Christ dyeth not Mark 9.44 and the fire never goeth out Mat. 25.41 46. Rev. 20.10 15. and Christ calls hell torments everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels yea he calls it everlasting punishment the Devil that deceived the world shall then be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever into which lake of fire whosoever is not found written in the book of life shall be cast and many the like expressions we may find in Scripture which plainly tells us the perpetuity of hell torments where 't is called Everlasting darkness Jude 13. 2 Thes 1.7.8 eternal fire everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power How little foundation is there then for Origens opinion that after a time the Devils and the damned should be refined by this fire and should be delivered but what Scripture speaks thus and if the Scripture be silent nay speak point blank contrary where is the foundation of this fancy Micah 6.7 it is not with thousand of rams nor with ten thousand rivers of oyl that they can be redeemed the first born of their bodies will not be taken as satisfaction for the sin of their souls Mat. 16.26 and what saith Christ shall a man give in exchange for his soul The rich glutton with all his wealth Luk. 16. with all his prayers and intreaties could not purchase one dram of water to cool his tongue and this was far short of ransoming his soul Prayers and tears then will not serve turn they are good preventing physick Though as one saith we should wear our tongues to the stump Shepard Sincere convert and weep more tears than there is water in the sea it will do no good It was not with corruptible things as silver and gold thou wast redeemed from thy vain conversation received by tradition from thy Fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot but if we now neglect this great Salvation and despise the offers of mercy in the daies of our life what remains for us but a fearful looking for of judgment and if the earth were turned into a globe of Gold or an heap of Diamonds and all offered for the redemption of a lost soul it would be rejected for this is not the blood of Christ nay this blood it self though more precious than the world would not serve in this case neither for it was never shed to this end to redeem souls out of hell though it was shed to keep them from hell and is of infinite value to this end nay if damned souls should obtain the prayers of all the Saints yea Angels in heaven it would do them no good Prayer here if pointed by faith may pierce heaven and prevail for a blessing Jam. 5.15 The Prayer of faith may save the sick and if he have committed sins they may be forgiven but prayers for the damned are out of season there is a time when God will be found and a time when he will not be found When the door is once shut it is not knocking then will open it yea the Angels and glorified Saints will then rejoyce in their damnation that God is glorified by it and those Ministers that now weep over their people and pity them will then pity them no more for ever yea to speak with reverence God himself cannot then help them not that he wants power for he could turn Heaven and Hell and all into nothing but he is infinite in justice and truth as well as power and this would intrench upon his Justice and Truth his word is out to the contrary and he may as well deny himself as his word yea he will be so far from an inclination this way Pro. 1.24 that he will laugh at their destruction and mock when their fear cometh in a word there is no ransome for a miserable soul the blood of Christ was of sufficient price to have saved the world had it been applyed for the end it was shed for but lost souls and damned Spirits have no interest in
in our eye Death looks more lovely If ever therefore you would dye Happily and Comfortably beware of letting out your affections upon the World for you will never be willing to leave what you love nor to pay so dear for Christ and Heaven till you affect them better 3 Direct If you would dye happily then redeeem your Time carefully make preparation for a dying time and take heed of losing time and spending it in vain he that would win the Race will set out with the first and hold on to the last and take all the advantages that are offered in the way he that hath much work to do and that of great concern must not lose the Morning or if he do must ply it hard the rest of the day You will find all your time that is allotted you little enough for the work you have to do and not an hour to spare to spend in idleness for delays and Idleness are the two Gulphs wherein many Souls are drown'd Many when they are young depending upon and trusting to their Youth their health and strength send Repentance thirty years before and 't is odds they never overtake it many young men go to Hell that thought to repent when they were old and many old men that thought they might have lived a little longer Many are resolved to spend their youthful dayes in the Devils service and then stop Gods mouth with the Blind and the Lame but he seldom takes up with a death-bed Repentance from those that purposely put him off to the last he usually reckons with such mispenders of time for the Talents he hath lent them and payes them off not with a Penny but a Prison for he expects what he hath given us to glorifie him should be that way improved upon this little inch of time Eternity doth depend our Everlasting well or ill being and therefore 't is too precious to be spent in vanity and folly and how then dare you spend a day an hour vainly in an Ale-house or other Vanity and not know whether you have another hour or day to live I have read of a Gentlewoman that usually spent her time in Cards and Dice and other unnecessary Recreations and coming from her Sport late in the night found her Maid reading for she was godly and casting her eye upon the Book reproved her thus Thou poor melancholy Soul what alwayes reading and spending thy time thus wilt thou take no comfort in thy life And so passing into her Chamber went to bed but could not sleep but sigh and groan her Maid lying in the room with her demanded the reason of it and whether she was well Fox Time and the End of Time p. 70. She replyed She had read the word Eternity in her Book which had so pierced her heart that she believed she should never sleep more till she had some better assurance of her Eternal condition And if this word Eternity were but well considered it might send our time-wasting Gallants trembling home from their Sports but God hath hid these things from their eyes There are more than those guilty though few more guilty there is many a man that is a good Husband for the World and careless in nothing but in matters relating to his Soul he can observe Times and Seasons for Plowing and Manuring of his ground Seed-time and Harvest shall not be neglected not the meanest Beast but shall be heeded his Garden Orchard c. shall be fenced pruned manured weeded and preserved his House well furnished and Provision prepared and yet his Soul altogether neglected and neither Food nor Raiment prepared for it for this life he is carefull that neither he nor his Posterity shall want and yet hath no care for the Life to come he can go from Fair to Market to prepare for the Body and matters not the Harvest Season or Market-day for the Soul The Mariners that observe the Wind and Tide yet neglect the sweet gales of the Spirit of God when they blow upon the Soul and would waft them Heavenward and help them forward to their Journeys end to the desired Port. The Devil by his diligence condemns us for where his work is Latimer 1 Pet. 5.8 there is he he is no Non-resident but alwayes in his Diocess He goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour And shall we not be as vigilant to save our Souls as he to destroy them if he find us idle he will soon imploy us The heart of man is a Mill that will be alwayes grinding if not Gods Wheat then the Devils Tares If the Devil spend all his time to deceive us we should spend all our time to prevent him All the time we have is little enough and there is none to spare and what is past is irrecoverably gone though we could give a world of Treasure for an inch of time Now if you would redeem time beware of those great devourers of Time which usually steal away a great part such as vain and idle Thoughts how much of our time is this way consumed many an hour which might have been better spent viz. in the Contemplation of God of Christ of Heaven of Glory is spent in roving vain imaginations which bring no profit do no good and tend to no benefit Yea worldly thoughts and cares take up also a great part of our time 't is true the World must have some of our thoughts and time but most men make a bad division between God and it they let the World run away with his part as well as their own yea much of that Sacred time set a part for a better use yea many times amidst our Religious duties the heart is stole away by the World Idleness also consumes much many enter not into the Vineyard till the eleventh hour and then mind not their work but their Wages vain and unprofitable Discourse also is a Thief and steals away much of our time and many idle and unnecessary Visits also and when all this is deducted 't is no wonder there is but little left for our grand business to these may be added immoderate lying in Bed vain and time spending Dressings and Attirings the whole Mornings work to our Female Gallants immoderate and unnecessary Recreations which some make all the Calling they follow Drinking Tipling and what not but if these in this their idle expence of time should ask themselves this question Which of the Eternities lye before them and to which of them they are going it might spoil their sport for when Death hath struck his stroak the Soul is in a stated condition which Eternity it self cannot alter and seriously 't is one of the saddest sights in the World to a man apprehensive of the danger to see an unconverted man fetch his last breath and lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of boiling Lead and burning Brimstone for the avoiding of that take time while time serves and lose not that Prodigally
Moses shall come and bring it into the Heavenly Canaan and though Death in it self be a Punishment yea a curse threatned upon the fall and remains so still to wicked men to whom it is an inlet into eternal misery yet to the godly the curse is taken away by the death of Christ who for us was made a Curse and dyed that cursed death upon the Cross to take away the Malignity of it who by his death disarmed Death and took away his weapons wherein he trusted yea took away his sting that now thou maist put the Serpent into thy bosom and now Death is so far from putting an end to Believers happiness that it puts an end to their sorrows and is the very Gate to eternal Life and at the very stroak of Death in that moment of time their Joyes commence and their sorrows end death to the Wicked is a Pursivant sent from Hell to fetch them thither to the Godly a Messenger sent from their Father to bring them home 't is to the body but a quiet sleep free from hurtful dreams or fearful Visions The Grave is but a Bed of Roses perfumed by the Body of Christ a resting Chamber a Repository where God lays up his Jewels wherein thy dust will be kept as in a Cabinet and not one grain of it shall be lost Rev. 20.13 but the Earth the Sea the Grave and Hell shall then give up their dead and then both Body and Soul shall be received into the City of Pearl where no dirty Dog shall trample upon the Pavement when that Death hath done his Office the Angels shall do theirs and carry the Soul into Abrahams bosom and lodge it for ever in the arms of Christ and at the Resurrection when the Soul and Body shall be reunited they shall both be glorified for ever and freed from all mutation and change and all things else that may be called Evil when Death hath broken the Cage the Bird will be at liberty and sing sweetly when the prison Walls are pull'd down the prisoner will be free and is this that which thou fearest how many thousand deaths would a miscarrying Soul endure for Heaven at last yea if Eternity were spent in the continual feeling the very pangs of Death it would be much easier for a damned Soul if it felt no more than now it is and art thou so nice that thou canst not endure it for one Hour for one moment upon the promise of Eternal life Death brings in the Harvest of thy hopes the fruit of thy Prayers the reward of thy pains and of all the losses and sufferings thou hast had for Christ God is now sending for thee to make thee a King and wilt thou now withdraw thy self like Saul and hide thy self as he did when they sought him to make him King here lyes the perfection and end of thy Faith and of thy Hope the Salvation of thy Soul for these Graces as well as others are imperfect here here is the only place where happiness is to be had the only soil where hearts-ease grows and yet must God needs whip thee home or thou wilt not matter it well if now thou refuse to come at his call when thou call'st he may give thee no answer and when thou knockest he may not open but sure some root of bitterness lyes at the bottom either thou dost not believe there is such a happiness or that it is not thine or hast placed thine affections elsewhere and canst not remove them and made some other choice which thou wilt not leave Didst thou stedfastly believe that there was a reward for the Righteous and that thou art one of those that shall receive it how can this be reconciled with thy fears would any wise man take a great deal of pains for an Inheritance and then lose it all for want of taking possession thou hast in thy life-time 't is very like suffered a hundred times as much pain as thou art like to do at thy death and shall this dismay thee more than all the rest the day of Death is not so gloomy as 't is thought to be Solomon when he was upon his Throne in the midst of his Jollity commends his Cosfin Better saith he is the day of Death than the day wherein a man is born Eccles 7.1 Many of the wiser Heathens were of the same mind they wept and mourned at the birth of their Children to consider the troubles they were like to meet with in this troublesome World when they feasted and rejoyced at the death of their friends because their troubles were over and their rest was come and surely Believers have better ground of rejoycing than they had a more sure foundation for Faith and Hope to build upon Oh Death how pleasant is thy face to those acquainted with thee thou art black but comely to those that know thee thou art indeed attended with a little pain but with endless bliss the one makes makes thee feared the other beloved Oh my Soul let us draw a little nearer and take a more exact view of Death and see what is the worst hurt he can do us the best good he will bring us and compare the one with the other and compute the odds and see whether we can make a savers bargain of it and if so how little cause of fear we have It may be thou thinkest thou must part with all thy carnal Joys and worldly delights thy sensual pleasures thy merry Company and bid farewell to all thy merry meetings and pleasant Jokes with all thy Recreations Pastimes and pleasant Sports and be Buried in silence and laid in the dust and must bid thy pleasures adieu and poor Soul is this thy trouble and the cause of thy fear hast thou not better in exchange for them are there not more and more lasting Joyes in the presence of God Psal 16.11 Rivers of pleasures without bank or bottom at the right hand of God for evermore unknown Pleasures unseen Delights which no eye hath seen nor ear hath heard of neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive of such as no stranger shall ever meddle with Pro. 5.14 and will not those make thee amends Let the Epicures of the Age that choose pleasures for their portion plead this argument let the Drunkard howl when the new Wine faileth Joel 1.5 or when the Cup is snatched from his mouth Alas thou hast met with little Joyes and those mixed and the greatest part Wormwood and Gall a litttle Honey and many Stings a little bitter-sweet pleasure that ends in pain yea short and transitory in the midst of laughter the heart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is Heaviness but what are those to the Joyes unspeakable and full of Glory that is in Heaven 'T is true there are some that are the Sons and Daughters of pleasure Psal 73.5 That are not in trouble as other men neither are
spots the Sun the Moon and the Stars for 't is by visible things we must reach after those that are invisible and see whether this beauty do not something thing allure us David upon consideration thereof was amazed Psal 8.4 and cryes out Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou regardest him When he beheld those vast bodies at such an incredible distance and all made for mans sake and considering what a poor worm man was wondered that God should have any respect for him and haply he might raise his thoughts higher which might increase his admiration Now these visible Orbs which are the Canopy over our heads shall then be but the Pavement under our feet yea the pavement shall be doubtless much more glorious and if the porch be so glorious what is the palace what is the throne and what is the Presence Chamber these visible things though gorious are made for the use of man while he is upon the earth and when he is gone hence for ought we know there will be no use of them in heaven there needs no Sun the glory of the Lord is the light thereof in Hell they shall not enjoy it which is a place of horrid darkness even blackness of darkness for ever but concerning those celestial bodies which we see by day or by night the greatest wits in the world have been imployed yea puzled in the search of the mysteries in them contained their matter distance magnitude vertues and influences and those that cast the most rational conjecture concerning those things must needs say if they will speak their consciences much of it lyes in the dark and those that have searched natures garden from end to end must say many things are unsearchable and past finding out and if we understand not earthly things which we dayly see how shall we understand heavenly things which we never saw neither can we describe them if we did see them If the footmen have wearyed us Jer. 12.5 how shall we contend with horses The Philosophers have found out many heavens and yet 't is to be feared fall short of this we now discourse of the several Orbs in which the Planets move they reckon as distinct heavens because they move in a different Sphere some higher some lower the eighth Sphere being the Orb of the fixed Stars and above that they have their primum mobile or first mover I shall not quarrel with their division only being to discourse of Divinity not Philosophy which yet is useful in its place I shall take the Scripture distinction and so we find mention made of three heavens the first is the Sphere below the Moon the region of the air here the fowls of heaven fly sometimes called the fowls of the air and here the clouds of heaven are scattered about by the winds these are Gods Chambers out of which he waters the earth these are the bottles of heaven when they are poured out the earth is refreshed and â—hen they are restrained it languisheth 〈…〉 are Gods treasure houses out of which â—â—â—ends plenty and when he withholds his â—and want and penury follow The next above this is the Starry region which the Scripture calls the Firmament of the heaven here the Stars keep their courses according to divine appointment below the fixed Stars are the several Orbs of the Planets which the Philosophers call so many Heavens and above it is the primum mobile which sets the rest on work unto whom God himself gives the first push and is the spring that makes all the wheels move but above this is the third heaven we are now describing but there is no instrument made or devised to be made that can make any observation of it all their Perspectives Tubes and Telescopes will not reach it neither can we see it with our bodily eyes but by the eye of Faith and by Scripture-light this is the place where the blessed Angels and glorified Saints are blessed with Gods immediate presence and enjoy that beatifical vision in the enjoyment whereof true happiness doth consist not that God is included in Heaven For the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him 1 King 8.17 2 Chro. 2.6 He is present in all places but circumscribed in none but as on Earth he was specially present in the Temple so is he much more in Heaven here he most eminently discovers himself to the best of his Creatures Angels and Saints and manifests himself to be Love it self for never frown was there seen in his face or wrinkle upon his brow hither it was that Christ ascended after the Resurrection and here it is that he sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us and from hence it is he will come to Judgment It was from hence that Lucifer that Sun of the morning fell that the Devil and his Angels were cast out and their place was found no more there hither it was that Paul was carried whether in the body or out of the body 2 Cor. 12.2 he knew not and heard unspeakable words such as are not lawful or possible to be uttered This Heaven it was that Stephen saw opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God hither it was that Enoch and Elijah were translated and from hence it was that Moses and Elijah appeared in the transfiguratiof Christ and hither it was that the Angels carried the Soul of Lazarus into Ahrabams bosom and here it was that the believing Thief was to be with Christ that day in Paradice and hither it is that the souls of believers pass when death hath separated them from their bodies Now thou seest there is such a place but it being out of the reach of sence it cannot be seen but by faith and lies out of the Philosophers reach the ablest of them cannot by any instrument they can make make any observation thereof though they seem by these helps even to command the Stars themselves yet cannot reach this Heaven of Heavens no one can see it but by Scripture light nor enter into or view those Mansions of glory but by a clue of thred thence borrowed Now as those things visible excell in glory I mean those celestial bodies all other visible beautyes that ever God created so the Scripture holds out that the Heaven of Heavens or the third Heaven excells these in beauty and splendor for it is both a vast and a beautiful place far exceeding in both our apprehensions these outward things were made for mans sake while he was in house of clay but those in Heaven were made for his sake when he shall be refined from the dregs of corruption and made 〈◊〉 to enjoy them and 't is no doubt repleat with all manner of felicity where God himself vouchsafes to communicate himself to Angels and men here the body of Christ shines forth in a most resplendent manner here the holy Angels and glorified Saints enjoy
for him shall receive the greatest share though those that have the least measure shal have Joy unspeakable and full of glory yea as much as they can hold and who but a mad man notwithstanding this will look upon Religion as a Frenzy and the professors thereof little better than frantick because they run themselves upon the pikes of danger and expose themselves to losses and crosses to troubles and trials yea to death it self and that for conscience sake but did these men see the prize they run for the Crown they fight for they would run the same race and fight the same fight if any of them were but offered an handful of Gold for a handful of Silver they would not refuse it much less if they might have an handful of Angels for a handful of Muck but believers make a better exchange for they receive Heaven for the Earth and God for the Creatures yea eternal Life for that which is temporal did others know the reward they would do the work did they see the joy that is set before them they would endure the cross and despise the shame as well as they but how can those see that are spiritually blind or know whose foolish hearts are darkned they are at least sand blind and cannot see at a distance nor discern what it is that stands beyond death and seeing no other pleasure but what only reaches the senses take up with that and think there is no better did they see better they would desire better those that know no better than Hell never look after Heaven were they nearer to God that Spiritual Loadstone they would be drawn to him they would then contemn these fading delights and lay hold upon everlasting happiness they would contemn this unrighteous Mammon and seek after True Treasure they see indeed both wayes but cannot see to the end the one they see broad and easie green and pleasant but they see not the dangerous Precipice it leads to and the fiery Gulph it ends in they see the other also which is rough and craggy steep and hilly which few men walk in but they see not the Pleasures it ends in and therefore they choose the other and think they do wisely and think they are Fools that do otherwise but had they the Saints spectacles they would change their minds but this their way is their folly and nothing but ignorance can make them walk in it the time will come they would change their course but cannot as the foolish Virgins would have had Oyl when it was too late corrupted Reason being inchanted by sense proves a Caterer for the flesh but were it rectifyed by faith it would look for happiness elsewhere There are too many like a Cardinal I have read of that usually said I will not leave my part in Paris for a part in Paradise they are wedded to the world and are loth to be divorced 'T is true believers know little of the nature of Heavens joyes these know nothing of it the former have some glimpses of the glory some foretastes of the sweetness of Canaans fruits this sets them a longing the other are strangers to it ignotus nulla cupido The godly know not the quantity of it for how can that be discovered that is unspeakable or conceived of that is inconceivable or how can that be measured that is infinite this we may build upon 't is our masters Joy and therefore great it cannot enter into us but we must enter into it methinks when we speak or hear of Joy unspeakable of Light inaccessible and of Glory immortal our hearts may burn within us like the Disciples which were going to Emaus when Christ spake to them it should make us cast a despising eye upon all the worlds glory and make us think no pains too much nor cost too dear to come to the enjoyment of it it might make us run that we may obtain fight that we might conquer and travel hard to come to our journeys end for then all our work will be done all our pains over and we shall have nothing to do but to praise the Lord which will be our wages as well as our work for when we are spiritualized and the dross of corruption left behind it will be as natural to us as to live and as now it is to breathe for there is nothing but our corruption now that makes this Angelical duty troublesome And is there enough in Heaven to make amends for all our losses and crosses upon earth let us then never stick at the price for whatsoever we expend for Christ or Heaven it shall be paid back with advantage If Solomons Servants were so happy in seeing his glory and hearing his wisdom Oh what a happiness will it be to see his glory in Heaven when it will be increased and hear his wisdom when 't is perfected nay in enjoying Solomons God and partaking both of his glory and wisdom and Oh the Honour that believers will have in such a Relation where they will have God for their Father Christ for their Husband the Angels and Saints for their Brethren and companions and not only seed upon Angels food but be set upon an Angelical Employment and have the Angel reward And if this be not enough to satisfie for all the pains troubles losses and crosses thou sustain upon this account never take upon thee the profession of Religion but I am sure there is punishment enough in hell for all those that make light of Christ and slight the offers of the Gospel Oh the purblind world that can see nothing but what is under their feet had they but such a sight of God and Glory as some others have had they would desire with Paul to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 Rev. 22.20 and with the Church Come Lord Jesus come quickly Here thou complainest of vain thoughts and roving imaginations and well thou maist but thou wilt never be cured of them but by death and after death thou shalt never be troubled with them more but shalt serve God without distraction In the world thou couldst never meet with content in Heaven thou shall never meet with discontent and art thou yet content to be in the world here thou meetest with no satisfaction and art thou satisfied without satisfaction well whatever thoughts thou hast of Christ now the time is coming thou wilt have use of him and need of him for at death one glimpse of his favour one smile of his countenance will do thee more good than all the Cordials thy Doctors can give thee Moses saw but his back-parts and his face did shine how doth he shine now in beholding his glory the fruition of God in glory is the souls happiness and happy are they that do enjoy him but what this fruition is we neither know nor can know in this world no word in humane language can express it for how can a Cockle-shell comprehend all the water in the Ocean we can
full of trouble Yet many wish their dayes were three times double The Captive Slaves that in the Gallies lye To end their Bondage yet are loth to dye They flee from death although he be their friend For when he stops their Breath their Sorrows end Life is a warfare Death doth stint the strife We leave not fighting till we leave our life We fight against our sins the world and Devils At death we fully Vanquish all those evils To heavenly Joyes Death opens us the door Where sin and sorrow they shall be no more There 's no Corruption shall molest us there There 's no Temptation that we need to fear Why fear we Death then he this Boon will give Our Enemies shall dye but we shall live Life is the day wherein we labour hard Death is the night and then comes our reward Now we with Tempests on the Seas are driven Death is the Wind that blows us to our Haven Is he less happy that a brisker Gale Drives to the Shore or he that 's under Sail Whom fierce tempestuous winds as yet are driving Who with a thousand dangers yet are striving In life we in the raging Surges be Death comes and lands us in Eternity In life the Saints are Heirs but under age When death comes they receive their Heritage Heaven is our Kingdom but to come thereat There is no other way but through this Gate Life is our Journey Death our Journeys end Life is our Enemy and Death our Friend Death like a Pilot guides us to the Shoar He is the Porter that must ope ' the door We cannot serve our God or Christ enjoy Without distraction till our dying day Death 's but a quiet sleep when wearied 'T is but put off our Cloaths and go to bed Death is Gods pursivant and will compell Gods Friends to go to Heaven his Foes to Hell He is his Messenger none can prevent him None can resist him or the Lord that sent him Both Prince and Peasant drink of the same cup When he invites them home with him to Sup. All men must pledge the health Abel began There 's none exempt the Master nor the man The greatest Potentate cannot escape The way to Heaven and Hell lye through this Gate The high the low the rich and eke the poor When he doth knock must open him the door Nor fear nor favour makes him turn aside He will not be perverted with a Bribe What though some have their lives drawn out at length And we cut down by Death in our full strength What Hurt to us if we receive our pay For one Hours work as much as for a day What dammage to us if Commandment come When others work till night to leave at Noon The weary labourer pants and longs for rest And when he 's in his bed he thinks he 's best The Bed of Death to th' weary will give ease Our sleep's not broken there by worms nor fleas No fearfull Dreams nor Visions of the night Disturb our Fancies there or minds affright Within Death's Sheets the Grave we rest secure Free from oppression and tyrannick Power Our Souls like Captive Birds in Cages sing Death breaks the Cage and then the Birds take wing The world 's a Pest-house sin doth us infect Death 's our Physitian shall we him reject The Soul 's infected with sins foul disease And naught but Death can give us our release The world 's a Prison and we Captives be And only Death our Champion sets us free We mortal are when Death of life bereaves us We dye no more Death doth immortal leave us A thousand Maladies do each day attend us We 're sick to Death and none but Death can mend us In life we languish Death can make us well He 's like Achilles Spear can wound and heal Poor and in want we up and down do wander Death makes us all as rich as Alexander Death levels all both rich and poor do stand On equal ground none serve nor none command When Death hath done his work there 's no man can Discern between the Master and the man The Princes Skull no more than other men Bears the impression of a Diadem 'T is true of terrors Death is call'd the King And well he may while he retains his Sting But to Believers he no hurt can do For he hath lost his Sting and Poyson too In Stinging Christ this Serpent lost his Sting He that brought terror then doth comfort bring Christ conquer'd him and shall we fear to meet A Vanquisht Foe lying prostrate at our Feet For since that he was overcome and foil'd He is no Enemy but reconcil'd To good and bad he shews not the same face He 's Foe to Nature but a Friend to Grace We are poor mortals life is our disease Death our Physitian that can give us ease We groan for pain yet would not be set free We love our Bondage hate our Liberty Rather than over Jordans streams we 'l venture We 'l dye i' th' Wilderness or Egypt enter This Son of Anak Death more terror brings Than all the fiery Serpents with their Stings And though Egyptian Bondage doth torment us Flesh Pots and Leeks and Onions here content us At Death 't is true we must to Ashes turn But God will keep those Ashes in his Urn. And when the all-awakening trump shall sound The smallest Atoms of it shall be found And then by vertue of a new Indenture The Soul into her new-built house shall enter God shall with robes of honour then invest her And sin and sorrow shall no more molest her She shall by Christ her Judge be then acquitted And all her sins and trespasses remitted She shall in glory Halelujah's sing Unto the mighty God the worlds great King And wedded be to Christ in endless Joy And in her Husbands Bosom lye for aye Sorrow and Sighing then shall fly away And Tears shall swallowed be in endless Joy Then set thy House in order for thou must Within a little time return to Dust Lord make me then to know my later end How long the number of my dayes extend That I may know how frail I am before I go from hence and shall be seen no more When will this Joyfull Marriage be oh when Oh come Lord Jesus quickly come Amen Edward Bury FINIS The Author hath in the Press a. Book on the Subject these Poems are of Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside