ways that thou maist be found in thy Lords ways walking in his holy commandments blessed is the man whom his Master when he cometh sindeth so doing as thou watchest over thy own heart and ways so watch and long after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and this longing for death out of a love to be with him is a sure evidence of a soul well prepared for death 2 Tim. 4.8 The Lord will give a Crown of righteousness not to me only but to them also who love his appearing To him with the Father and holy Ghost be all praise Amen Having spoken of the sting of death we proceed to speak the cure and of our deliverance from it Of the cure of death The Author of our deliverance and victory is the Lord Iesus Christ the Captain of our salvation The Apostle compareth death to a conquering and prevailing enemy which by its sting and weapon woundeth many with a mortal and incurable wound because such men as live to sin and die in their guiltiness go down by the first death to the second into that bottomless pit out of which there is no redemption Jesus Christ our Lord by the merit of his death alone hath overcome death Doct. Christ only hath overcome death for all that believe in him and of a bitter enemy hath made death a comfortable friend to all who believe in him for by him alone we get victory over death That we may understand this point the better we should consider in what respect Christ hath delivered us from death he hath not delivered us from our obligation and subjection to the necessity of dying for we see believers dye as well as unbelievers Neither hath he delivered us from being subject to sicknesses and alterations going before death David complains the pains of hell got hold upon him Psal 116.3 that is extream pains in his body and anxiety in his spirit Neither hath our Lord delivered from pain at the hour of death nor from the separation of soul and body by death But our Lord hath overcome death in these respects 1. In respect of 1. The sting of death In respect of the sting of death he hath taken away our sins and as an enemy is overcome when his deadly weapon is taken out of his hand so our Lord overcame death by taking away sin on his cross for sin is the sting of death Hos 13.14 O Death I will be thy plagues This the Apostle cites 1 Cor. 15.54 The Captain of our salvation upon the cross as in an open and pitched battel did spoyl principalities and powers Col. 2.15 One of these powers armed against us was death he took away our sins on the cross and so spoyled death of his weapon as a valiant Conquerour takes away the weapons from a subdued enemy 2. 2. The fear of death Jesus Christ our Lord hath freed us from the fear of death Heb. 2.15 he was partaker of flesh and blood he took upon him our nature that he might deliver them who through the fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Our Lord by taking away our sins the sting and weapon of death doth deliver us from the fear of death for that which maketh an enemy fearful is his deadly weapon It is true sometimes men may fear even a naked enemy but they have no cause seeing he cannot harm them so some of Gods dear children at a time may exceed in the fear of death but they have no such cause of fear neither would they be so afraid 3. The curse of death if they were strong in the faith of Jesus Christ who hath disarmed death 3. Our Lord hath delivered us from the curse of death that to us the first death is not a dreadful passage to the second Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Rev. 14.13 Blessed are they that die in the Lord that henceforth they may rest from their labours As for weakness sickness pain and alterations in the body though our Lord hath not delivered us from them yet by the merit of his death and the grace of his Spirit he sanctifieth them to us and in a gracious providence turneth them to a good and spiritual use Our Lords death is like to that salt that purged and sweetned the naughty waters of Jericho 2 Kings 2.21 and like the meal cast into the pot wherein was the bitter herb 2 Kings 4.41 The death of our Lord hath taken wrath and the curse from out of all our afflictions and maketh them useful and profitable unto us Our Lord in a gracious dispensation turneth the bodily sickness of his own children into a spiritual medicine for purging an humorous and distempered soul for bringing down the tympany and swelling pride of the heart such as glory and boast in the beauty or strength of the body do see in time of sickness the weakness and vileness of the body and so being humbled learn to glory onely in the Lord and in the beauty of his grace in the inward man A sanctified sickness purgeth out of the heart covetousness the hearts Dropsie thirsting for more of this present world when the sick man seeth the emptiness of things worldly which cannot give him any ease in the time of his greatest need A sanctified sickness purgeth out unruly lusts which are as a burning feaver to the soul sickness takes down the body and grace sanctifying it turns it into a temple to the holy Ghost The wise Master-builder useth sickness as a sharp edged tool for polishing the body for the inhabitation of the Spirit that it may be a temple prepared In like manner our wise and merciful Lord though he deliver not his own children from death yet he maketh their death to be of singular good use to them It is a putting off of corruption that they may be clothed upon with incorruption The death of wicked men dying in their guiltiness is like unto a thiefs putting off his cloaths to the end he may be scourged but the death of the godly is like unto a childs putting off the old garment that he may put on the new that is incorruptible and will not fade but ever have a beautiful lustre It is for this their soul doth groan and long 2 Cor. 5.2 In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven 4. The dominon of death As for deaths dominion and power over our bodies in the grave our Lord did take it also away by the merit of his death and declared his victory over and our deliverance from it by raising his own body and by loosing the bonds of death when our Lord awoke from death and stretched out the strength of his Godhead like Sampson he broke asunder those bonds as cords of flax Our deliverance from the grave will
his oppressed servants out of the hands of oppressors Isa 54.4 5. Fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed for thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his Name Qu. Means by which the Spirit strengthens It is true the Spirit of Christ is the worker of our strength both for doing and also in doing but by what means doth the Spirit strengthen us to withstand outward and inward temptations Ans 1. By strengthening our faith in the Promises the stronger our faith is we have the more strength and courage to stand against temptations It was a great trial for Abraham to forsake his own Countrey and kinsfolks and to go he knew not whither yet being strong in the faith he overcame the temptations of many difficulties and discouragements faith to the promise of a better inheritance strengthened his heart against all difficulties Heb. 11.8 The offering up of his sonne Isaac was a great trial many temptations had he from flesh and blood to the contrary yet his faith to the promise strengthened him against them for he beleeved that God was able to raise up his sonne Isaac from the dead Heb. 11.17.19 As in the natural body strength is conveyed from the head to the several members by the nerves so strength is derived from Christ our head to all his members by faith 2. The Lord strengthens us against temptations by putting his fear in our hearts It is said 2 Chron 23.19 Jehojadah set porters at the gates of the house of the Lord that none who was unclean should enter so the fear of God is a strong porter to hold out temptations from forcing our will It restrains from secret sinnes How can I do this said Joseph and sinne against God from wronging our neigbour though no creature should know it Lev. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear thy God It strengthens to resist temptations though no creature would or durst controll us Nohemiah was a governour of great power and authority and might without controlment have been chargeable to the people as the former governours had been but so did not he because of the fear of God Neh. 5.15 Ob. But fear weakens the heart and how can the heart be strengthened by it Ans It is true a faithlesse fear weakens the heart in an hour of temptation so that it yeelds Pilat's fear to displease Caesar made him a weak Judge in yeelding to the importunate cries of a misled multitude and for fear of man to condemn the innocent Sonne of God but the godly and awfull fear of God strengthens the spirit of a man that he stands out against the temptation of humane and worldly fear Exod. 1.17 The midwives feared God and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them 3. The Lord strengthens us by the sense of his love in our hearts and by our love to himself 2 Tim. 1.7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear but the spirit of power of love and of a sound minde The spirit of power and of love stablisheth the heart against temptations The sense of the love of Christ in carrying our sorrowes on the Crosse is a cordial to strengthen our hearts against the bitternesse of the cup of affliction Shall not we taste of the cup whereof our Lord drank the drugg to the bottom the sense of his love in suffering for us strengthens our hearts cheerfully to suffer what is his good will the Lord strengthens us against temptations and difficulties by kindling in our hearts love to himself Jacob's love to Rachel strengthened and encouraged him against the heat of the day and cold of the night so our love to Christ will strengthen us against all temptations and discouragements his love covereth the multitude of our infirmities and therefore many waters should not quench our love to him 4. The Lord strengthens the members of his mystical body by a lively hope and assurance of victory in and over all temptations and enemies Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the Serpent as our Lord did this in his own person so by his Spirit he doth it in his members Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Assured hope of victory is a powerfull mean to strengthen the heart in the day of conflict hope is the Anchor that stablisheth our hearts amidst all the waves of afflictions against outward temptations in the world from cruel oppressors Jer. 31.16 17. Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded saith the Lord and they shall come again from the land of the enemies and there is hope in thine end saith the Lord that thy children shall come again to their own border hope strengthens the heart in time of fainting under present great troubles 2 Cor. 4.17 18. and it strengthens the heart against the inward disquietnesse of spirit Psal 43.5 Why art thou disquieted within me O my soul hope in God for I shall yet praise him This Doctrine serveth for Admonition to the children of God Vse 1 Depend not on thine own strengtht in the prrformance of any duty Seeing all our strength for doing and suffering cometh from Jesus Christ our head Go never to any commanded duty or against any temptation in the confidence of thy own strength It is not enough thou hast an ability given thee of God for acting but thou must also have actuall strength in the acting Though the seeds of grace be sown in the heart at our regeneration yet the fruits are not brought forth for Gods glory and our comfort until the Lord blow upon the seed-bed planted by his own hand Can. 4.16 Blow upon my Garden saith the Spouse that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat of his pleasant fruits as fire under the ashes giveth out no light until it be blown upon so grace received doth not exert it self in any gracious act except the Lord blow on it In all thy encounters with temptations do as David did in his going out against Goliah 1 Sam. 17.45 I come against thee in the Name of the Lord It was Peters fault that he was confident in his own strength that though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended said he Mat. 26.33 but in the hour of temptation his own strength failed him Mat. 26.74 Obj. Three causes why the children of God succumb in one temptation and stand in another What maketh the strength of Gods children to abate in the hour of temptation that at one time they resist great temptations and at another time they succumb to lesser temptations Peter at the voice of a silly Damosell denieth his Lord but at another time before the Councill of Priests and Rulers confesseth him notwithstanding all their threatnings Act. 4. Answ
be not reconciled to him Answ The Lord grants unto them a general protection in a time of outward troubles as a Judge guarding and protecting a condemned malefactor from the violence of private avengers of blood until the day he be brought forth to publick execution but he protects those with whom he is reconciled by a special protection of grace as a father doth his weak and sick children until they be confirmed in health and strength The Lord protects them sometimes from falling under the power of a temptation and at other times if they fall he restores them by repentance that they lye not and live not under the bondage of temptation 2. As thou wouldst have strength to sustain thee when ever God calls thee to a duty though hard to flesh and blood Go about it with all diligence decline it not out of fear of personal weaknesse if thou meet thy God in the way of obedience to his call thy God shall meet thee with strength at the time of thy greatest need Moses out of fear of weaknesse at first declined that charge to speak unto Pharaoh yet he no sooner went about it actively but God furnished him with strength in the discharge of it Stephen did not decline a dispute with men of contentious and violent spirits when God called him to it and the Lord filled him with such a strong measure of wisedom that they were not able to answer him Acts 6. according to that promise of our Lord Luke 12.11 12. When they bring you into Synagogues unto Magistrates and Princes take ye no thought how or what ye shall answer or what ye shall say Our Lord doth not prohibit all premeditation of what we should speak but only an anxious solicitude that perturbs the judgment and disables men in a day of trial when men will trust nothing to a divine assistance unlesse they be very strong in their studied preparations and defences It is our best course to wait on the Lord who in his own due time will give strength and comfort when our extremity is greatest some Martyrs have complained heavily to God against themselves for want of courage in the time of their imprisonment yet in the day they were taken out to the place of execution they no sooner saw the fire but incontinent they cried out with joy venit venit the spirit is come he is come Lastly Vse 5 It serveth for Direction how to carry thy self after that in the Lords strength thou hast stood and withstood a temptation Directions to conquerors in any temptations or after thou hast done any service acceptable to the Lord First Give all praise to the Lord and say with the Church Psal 44.3 They got not their land in possession by their own sword neither did their own arm save them but thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour unto them Hast thou at any time resisted a strong and violent temptation blesse God who girdeth thee with strength it may be in these sad times thou maist say of thy self as Jacob said of his sonne Joseph Gen. 48.23 The archers have sorely grieved thee and shot at thee and hated thee yet praise thy Lord who gave strength and courage to thy spirit that thou maist say also from the experience of Gods assisting and strengthening presence Thy bow abode in strength and the arms of thine hand were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob It may be thou hast stood when others by all appearance stronger then thou have fallen blesse thy God who by his strength only made thee to differ from others in an hour of temptation The weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 Gods strength in his weaknesse is farre above the strength of moral abilities in men that are counted the able men in this world It may be at one time thou hast resisted a mighty temptation when at another time thou hast fallen fouly under the power of a lesser blesse God in his strength who makes thee to differ from thy self who art by nature weak and ready at all times to be carried about with every wind of temptation 2. After God hath given thee some victory over any temptation be not secure but watch and pray that thou be not led into a new temptation Satan watches for a new opportunity from thy security or pride of thy former victory he departed from the Captain of our salvation but for a season Luk. 4. though he had no hope to prevail by his temptations thou maist be sure though he be repulsed by thee at one time and put from possession yet thou canst never put him from obsession and molesting thee with assaults for he thinks so long as his correspondent thy corruption is within thee possibly he may get entrance and prevail It was a good and seasonable counsel of the Prophet to the King of Israel after his late victory over the Assyrians 1 Kings 20.21 22. The Prophet came to the King of Israel and said unto him Go strengthen thy self and mark and see what thou dost for at the return of the year the King of Syria will come up against thee So say I Still strengthen thy self in the Lord mark and observe the approaches of temptation thy enemy will rally his forces again and come not only at the return of a new year but at the return of a day or a night yea of an hour Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and for ever Amen Perseverance in GRACE through CHRIST PHIL. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ AS regeneration and the beginning of sanctifying grace so perseverance in grace received Perseverance a peculiar priviledge procured by the death of Christ to the Elect. and the continuance of a renewed and gratious disposition in believers is a special priviledge of the Covenant of grace procured to the Elect by the death of the mediatour Jesus Christ Luke 1.73 74. In which words the grace of Justification in our delivery from all our spiritual enemies The grace of new obedience to serve the Lord and the grace of perseverance to serve him all the days of our life are reckoned up together as priviledges and benefits promised in the Covenant of grace and confirmed by an oath of God to Abraham and to all believers his children according to the promise In the words we have two main points considerable 1. The Author of Perseverance In the words two points he which hath begun the good work in you will perform it 2. The certaintie of Perseverance in the grace received in these words being confident of this very thing The
dying man with an incurable wound unto eternal death As the sting of of the Scorpion inflameth and tormenteth the whole man that is stung so known sins unrepented of put soul and body in a flame of unquenchable fire thus it was with that miserable rich man Luke 16.24 Delay not thy repentance and the seeking of thy remission till thou art on thy death bed would ye not think that malefactor a careless fool and unnatural to himself who should delay to seek his remission unto the very day he were taken out of prison to the place of execution though God hath promised mercy to him that repenteth yet hath he not promised repentance to him that delayeth The sluggard foldeth his hands and saith yet a little sleep a little slumber and his poverty cometh as an armed man he cannot resist it Prov. 24.34 so it is with a careless Professor who sleepeth over his days and hath not a thought of death till it be at door then doth it surprize him as an enemy armed with the dart and sting of sin unrepented of and such a man not guarded by the shield of faith into the righteousness of Jesus Christ is confounded and overcome as a naked souldier with fear at the very sight of death Such debtors who delay to think on their debts and in time to speak for favour with their creditors when the term of reckoning and payment comes they are confounded with shame and fear therefore delay not but in time confess thy debts unto God seek thy discharge and acquittance in the blood of Christ who is the surety of the new Covenant Labour by faith in the charter and Covenant of grace for a sight of that great salvation purchased by the death of Jesus that at thy death with old Simeon thou mayst say and sing that Swan-like song Mine eyes have seen thy salvation now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Luke 2.29 2. As thou wouldst be well prepared for death Labour to keep a good conscience in thy life-time This is the chest wherein thy remission and peace is kept a man of good conscience in all things willing to live honestly as the Apostle describes Heb. 13.18 he liveth aad dieth in peace It was Hezekiah his great comfort in his sickness and apprehension of death 2 Kings 20 3. I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart It was Pauls comfort 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness A good conscience is a continual feast it hath the sweetest relish at death when a man at that time is become like old Barzillai through age and debility 2 Sam. 19.35 his senses of seeing tasting and hearing fail him yet even at that time the relish of a good conscience will most refresh him 3. Be thou prepared as the wise virgins were to meet the bridegroom not only with light in their lamps as the foolish virgins were also but with oyl in their vessels Not only must thou have the light of a fair profession before the world but also thou must have in thy heart the oyl of charity toward God and man If thou have love toward God and his holy commandments and love unfained toward thy neighbour but specially toward those in whom thou seest most of the image of God then art thou prepared for death and life eternal is prepared for thee 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him And 1 Joh. 3.14 By this we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren but thou who hatest thy neighbour art filled with bitterness and desire of revenge and wilt not commit thy cause to him who judgeth righteously thou art not yet prepared for death so long as thou art in the gall of bitterness for he that loveth not his brother abideth in death 1 Joh. 3.15 That rigid and merciless servant who had no pity on his fellow servant was cast into prison So saith our Lord our heavenly father will do unto us if we from our hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Mat. 18.33.4 We should be prepared as good and faithful servants waiting for the return of their absent Lord. Luke 12.36 Having their loyns girded and watching In those Eastern countreys the servants for their better expediting business at home or their Journeys abroad did gird up their long cloaths that they should not entangle their feet and retard them in their course The Apostle Eph. 6. speaketh of the girdle of truth and sincerity when our affections are taken off from things earthly trussed up united together and set on God when our heart is in heaven where our treasure is Then and not till then is a man prepared for death When his minde is heavenly and his affections are not trailing on the things of the earth like long garments licking up the dust for a worldly minded man is not yet prepared for death A man that spendeth all his time and care upon repairing the house where he dwelleth for the present but speaketh not for another house nor sendeth away any of his furniture to it will ye say such a man hath any mind to remove so a worldly-minded man that spendeth his time and strength of spirit upon this present world who speaketh not to God in time by prayer for that eternal house in heaven that sendeth not his heart before him as a part of his heavenly furniture such a man is not prepared for removal out of this world Therefore let us obey our Lords warning Luke 21.34 Let not your hearts be oppressed with surfeiting or drunkenness and with the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares A heart fixed on the world is taken away unwillingly at death the worldly man who had his full heaven in a full barn his soul was taken from him Luke 12.20 The worldly-minded man unless he repent and become heavenly-minded doth in some respect die a violent death he doth not as our Lord did commit his spirit into the hands of his Father but his soul is taken from him against his will he is drawn forth as a Malefactor from the prison of his earthly house to the place of execution But the spiritual man that hath his heart drawn off the world and set on God he hath his soul ready in his hand to put it over into Gods hand he knoweth whom he hath believed and that his faithful creator will keep the good thing committed to him against that day As thou must gird up thy loyns so thou must watch for thou knowest not how soon thy Lord may send his messenger for thee Watch over thy heart that it depart not from the living God by unbelief nor be drawn away by thy inordinate concupiscence and unruly affections watch over thy
Vse 1 Be thankful for victory over death Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ How should we bless our God for sending his wel-beloved son into the world to deliver us from all our enemies and from this awful enemy death that assaileth us in our lowest condition The damosels of Jerusalem praised David who had slain his ten thousands how then is Davids Lord and ours to be praised who hath overcome innumerable thousands at death in the behalf of his elect and redeemed ones As Sampson killed many at his death so the Captain of our salvation in his lowest condition subdued our enemies in their greatest strength for the weakness of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 Then was our Lord strongest in the might of his power when he appeared weakest in his outward condition by his cross he triumphed by the shame he endured he overcame that perpetual shame and confusion we had deserved by his pains he saved us from eternal pains and by his death he was the death and plague of our death how then should we love this Lord who hath delivered our souls from the sting and curse of death our eyes from perpetual tears and our feet from falling into that bottomless gulph out of which there is no returning Amongst the Heathen in whose hearts were engraven by the finger of nature some dim lines of the law of gratitude If any man in time of battel had rescued and saved a Roman Citizen he was adorned with a new oaken crown or garland and highly praised how then should we for whom and before whom Christ was and is crucified praise him who rescueth us from the power of death and prevents us with mercy that we are not sent from death into hell The people of Israel did sing the high praises of the Lord for dividing the red sea for bringing them through it and for his mighty power and mercy in bringing them through Jordan to their promised rest how then should we praise our Lord who in his infinite power unsearchable wisdom and rich mercy hath made a way for us through the deep of his sufferings into that heavenly rest as at the Priests entering the river Jordan Iosh 4. it divided and gave way to the people of God to pass over so our great high Priest by going down to death hath made a way for us through it unto eternal life therefore from a deep sense of that which our Lord hath done already for us and in hope of that happiness before us hid with Christ in God Let us bear a part in that new song Rev. 5.13 Blessing glory honor and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever It serveth for admonition Vse 2 Submit to the disposals of God in sickness death seeing our Lord Jesus Christ by his death sanctifieth our death and all our bodily indispositions by making them work for our good and this also is a part of his victory it is our duty in weakness and sickness to submit unto the wise gracious dispensation of God for doing whereof I propose these ensuing motives 1. Motives 1. Because in the sickness of the children of God his wisdom is made manifest ordering the sickness of their bodies for the healing of their souls Rom 8.28 All things work together for good to them that love him their sickness is Gods medicine and hath an operation on their souls for their good what ever be the end of it if the child of God recover his sickness bringeth forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12.11 that is to say a near and closer conformity to the will of God the supreme Law of all righteousness which righteousness and endeavour of conformity to the will of God bringeth forth peace of conscience as a sweet and pleasant fruit But if the sickness be unto death it bringeth forth the incorruptible fruits of eternal life Therefore in time of sickness submit wholly to his most wise and holy will Our Lord said to Peter Joh. 13. What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know so in the time of thy sickness wherein the Lord purgeth thy soul thou knowest not what thy Lord is doing but afterward thou shalt know Though the manner of his operation be a great mysterie and secret yet the work brought forth in thy soul and conversation shall be manifest Though sickness be like a medicine sharp and bitter in the operation yet it proveth very profitable in the souls health that followeth upon it shall we take bitter potions upon the word of a man a skilful Physitian for the healing of our bodies and shall we not accept sickness as a Medicine out of the hands of our wise God and loving Father for healing our souls he is faithful and hath promised that our afflictions though grievous for the present shall bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12.11 If we endure trials we shall receive the Crown of life Iam. 1.12 Some in Gods preventing mercy have been drawn to God by their sickness as that Palsie-man Mar. 2. and that haemorish woman The great Physitian at one time healed both their souls and their bodies according to that of Isa 48.10 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction he refines his own children as Gold maketh them vessels of honour and setteth his Image and superscription upon them in the legible characters of true holiness and righteousness 2. Because he maketh his loving kindness and indulgency manifest to his own children in time of their sickness do they not under long and lingering diseases now and then feel some sparks of his love warming and cherishing their hearts and his sensible strength in the inward man upholding them under the burthen of a sick body These glances of his countenance and favour are as cordials to keep their hearts from fainting Thus did the Lord visit his servant David Psa 31.7 Thou hast considered my trouble thou hast visited my soul in adversities and Paul 2 Cor. 1.4 He comforteth us in all our tribulation 3. Submit to his will in sickness and consider with thy self the Lords preventing mercy in preserving thee at such a time from many sins whereinto thou mightest have fallen if thou hadst enioyed health and liberty to go up and down a world full of snares Therefore if thou be yong and under weakness and a daily decay of bodily strength adore the deep wisdom and rich love of thy Lord who keepeth thee in durance as a prisoner of hope A father that keepeth within doors his distempered and distracted child without liberty to go abroad doth it not as an act of rigor and unkindness but out of much wisdom and love fearing he should abuse his liberty and throw himself away into dangers so thy heavenly father by sickness puts a restraint upon thee not out of hatred but out of much love It is
far better to suffer affliction in a weak and sickly body then to act sin in a strong and healthful body It is much better to have the strength of grace made manifest in thy weak body then to have a weak and unruly spirit in a strong body It is much better to be under a sickly and suffering condition then to be like those yong widows rambling up and down in their licentious health such are not only soul-sick but dead while they live in that base element of noysome lusts 1 Tim. 5.6 but the children of God living to him in their sickness have healthful souls in sick bodyes they have freedom of spirit under bodily restraint It serveth for a ground of comfort and encouragement to the children of God against the fear of death Vse 3 Comforts against the fear of death and for the better establishing of our hearts I propound these consideraons 1 Consider Death is a naked and spoyled enemy Our Lord hath taken the sting from it so that it cannot harm thee It is true the dear children of God have their own fits of natural fear when they look to deaths pale and gastly face but when in their second and better thoughts they consider death hath no power nor weapon wherewith to hurt them this doth raise and comfort their drooping spirits and upon this account I may say to the child of God as the two faithful spies said to the Children of Israel affrighted with apprehensions of strong and mighty enemies in the way unto their promised rest Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not 2. Consider Thy Lord and Captain of salvation is with thee at thy death and will lead thee through that dark trance This was Davids comfort Psal 23 4. I will not fear although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death because the Lord is with me This valley is like that of Achor to the child of God a door of hope Hos 2.15 As the children of Israel were much encouraged and comforted by the first tasts of plenty in Achor at their entrance into the promised land so the children of God at their entring into the valley of death and border of eternity receive of the first fruits of eternal life peace in their consciences and joy of the holy Ghost in their hearts by faith and hope they see some light before them at the further end of this dark valley like a light on the shoar towards which their will doth steer the course of their affections Psal 48.14 He will be our guide even unto death Think not thy God who hath been thy guide through the wilderness will leave thee when thou comest to Jordan and to the border Thou art both unthankful and unbelieving to entertain such unkind thoughts of thy kinde God upon whom thou hast been cast from the womb make better use of tried love then to distrust him in the end of the day who hath been with thee since the morning of thy life but rather learn as David to make good use of former kindness first to praise him Psal 71.6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb my praise shall be continually of thee Next to hope and confide in him vers 14.16 I will hope continually I will go in the strength of the Lord God And last to pray to him for continuing his loving kindness ver 17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my youth Now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not 3. Consider thy union with Christ This is a main ground of comfort at death he is the saviour of his body all his members will be brought where himself their head is he will be compleat in his body he will not want the weakest or poorest believer that did on earth cleave to him with purpose of heart 4. Consider he prayed for thee that thou mightest be where he is Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me and he prayed also that the father would keep them in his name and power by the way until they came unto the end of their faith the salvation of their souls Thou who in thy sick bed prayest for the same thing our Lord sought in prayer for thee and before thee thou mayst be assured to be heard when thy prayer is founded on his merit and on the efficacy and example of his prayer 5. Consider the godly man is a great gainer by death It is best to be with Christ Phil. 3.23 The man who liveth to Christ and dieth in Christ doth not loose the good things of this world but exchangeth them for far better A man returning from a strange and poor countrey to his own home and in place of base mettal which he leaves behind him receiving a bill of exchange to be answered in gold and ten thousand for one that man looseth nothing by leaving that poor countrey and base coyn but gaineth much so the believer at death upon the account of Gods true and faithful promise made to him in place of empty and perishing riches receiveth in heaven solid and durable riches in place of honour worldly that is like the inconstant wind he gets his adoption manifested to him when he is put in possession of eternal glory when he is made a sure pillar in that new Jerusalem whereupon holiness and glory is engraven with indeleble characters The new Jerusalem is wholly founded upon Jasper stones Rev. 21.19 All such precious things so much esteemed in this world are far below our contentment and happiness in heaven as the foundation of a house is far below the plenishing and precious furniture of it God himself infinite in greatness goodness beauty and all perfection will replenish our house there with his own presence wherein is fulness of joy and pleasures for ever Psal 16.11 Compare I pray you our happy being with Christ after death and our being in the miseries of this life Then canst thou not but assent to that of Paul It is best to be dissolved and to be with Christ at the best here we are but Pilgrims and is it not best for a Pilgrim to be at home in his fathers house we may and should as Pilgrims resolve for hard and unkindly entertainment in this strange world yea entertain a pilgrim never so well yet his heart is homeward so though the child of God were every way in a prosperous condition here on earth yet his heavenly mind is far above those empty husks his heart is in heaven here not only are we in a course of pilgrimage being absent in the body from the Lord but also in a daily warfare not only against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against Satan the world our own rebellious corruption by which as a domestick traitor Satan and the world do deceive assail and overcome us now and then
As in thy mourning thou makest conscience of natural affection to thy dear friend so at the same time make conscience also of thy supernatural affection and submission to the will of thy heavenly Father this consideration will regulate thy sorrow 2. Consider It is best for thy dear Christian friend to be with Christ and thou hast great cause to bless God that thou knowest where he is he is now at his rest from all his labours Rev. 14.13 A loving wife parting from her husband on the shore when he is going to another Country though her heart be sad at parting yet doth she rejoyce to hear of his safe and happy arrival at his wished Port bless God and rejoyce in this thou knowest from the good Word of God thy friend is come safe to his Port where the salvation of God will be a perpetual Bulwark against all troubles and storms 3. Consider The Lord our God keepeth the very dust and rude materials of their bodies Rizpah watched over the bodies of the Sons of Saul and guarded them against the ravenous fouls of the ayr 2 Sam. 21. And shall not the Lord who is love it self preserve the bodies of his own dear children against that day the Lord had a care of the Prophets dead body 1 King 13.24 when a ruinous house is taken down by the owner he carefully layeth aside the stones and timber and keepeth them till afterward out of them he raiseth it up in a new frame So the Lord doth keep the materials of the body until he raise it up in a new frame of beauty 4. Consider as the body of thy deceased friend is carefully kept so will it be powerfully raised and we shall all meet together in that assembly of the first born Peter James and Iohn met with Moses and Elias at the transfiguration of our Lord which was a prelude of his second coming in visible glory so in that day thou shalt see and know thy dear friends but all in Christ That superlative relation of being glorified fellow Members of his Mystical body will swallow up all relations according to the flesh As a woman marrying one that is her neer kinsman though she know such a relation yet her love to him as her husband surpasseth far her former respects she carried to him only as her kinsman The second point considerable 2 Point The universality is the universality of the resurrection All that are in the Graves The word rendred graves signifieth monuments or remembrances because graves are memorials of the dead and should be of good use for the living to be Monitors and remembrancers of their mortalitie by Graves we understand not only the lower places of the earth wherein the bodies have been interred for the bodies of many will be raised that were never buried but by graves we understand the receptacles of the dead such as the Ayr Water and Earth they must and will render up their dead Revel 20.13 As for the bodies of those who will be living upon the earth at our Lords second coming though their bodies will not be in graves and therefore cannot be said properly to be raised out of their graves yet they will be changed from an estate of corruption unto incorruption There will be a raising and elevating of the condition of their body from mortality unto immortality This change will be in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15.51 as some falling asleep do sleep for a long time whereas others no sooner have their eyes shut but incontinent they awake so the change of such as are living at our Lords coming will be in a very short and insensible time As Adam in an instant after he had sinned became mortal so all who are sound living at Christs second coming in an instant will become immortal and incorruptible in the body There will be an universal resurrection of all the dead Doctrine 2 Cor. 5.10 There shall be an universal resurrection of the dead We must all appear before the Iudgement seat of Christ Therefore all must be raised that all may appear Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God as in a seed-plot though the seeds be mixed there together in one place yet the Sun in Spring time maketh several herbs to rise from thence distinct one from another in stalk flower and fruits So though many dead bodies be sown in one common burial place as a seminary of the resurrection yet the Lord will raise from thence the several bodies every one distinct from another in number and individual qualities No new Creation The same individual bodies that died will be raised for it is said All in the graves at that time there will not be any Creation of a new body 1. Because it is called a resurrection and a resurrection is the rising of the same thing that had fallen 2. Death is called a sleep and burial places are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sleeping places Such are raised which sometime slept but bodies created anew on that day cannot be said to have slept 3. The Sea is said to render up the dead Revel 20.13 but if the bodies were anew created there would be no rendering of the old 4. It is spoken in an Emphatick and Demonstrative manner 1 Cor. 15.53 This corruptible this mortal and therefore it must be the same body that sometime was subject to death and corruption Obj. Objection Will the ungodly be raised by vertue of Christs resurrection Answ No Answer because believers that are Members of his Mystical body are only said to rise with him Eph 2.6 and they are called the Children of the resurrection Luc. 20.36 but he will raise the wicked by force as their Judge by vertue of that â—enâ—ence Gen. 2.17 what day thou eatest of the forbidden fruit thou sh lt certainly dye and that the sentence of the second death may be executed on them they must be raised So that their resurrection is a curse and not a blessing to them But the Godly will be raised by Christ as their head drawing all his Members unto himself by a full redemption from all their enemies that he may be compleat in his body and they may be compleat in their head in whom and with whom both the soul and the body is fully glorified This Doctrine serveth for a seasonable wakening and warning unto secure sinners Vse 1 An awakening to secure sinners who dishonor God here in the condition of their mortality by many vile sins committed in and by the body Remember thou wilt be raised in the self same body and brought before him who is Judge of quick and dead It will be with thee that livest and dyest in thy impenitency as it was with the Baker in the prison Gen. 40. he was much disquieted in the morning with the remembrance of his sad dream in the night time his trouble was great in the night time greater in the morning when by
Iron yield to him as soon as Doors of wood This Doctrine serveth for admonition Vse 1 as thou wouldest have thy awaking be joyful in that day of resurrection look well in this thy working day what is thy disposition when thou goest to thy bed of rest and layest down thy Tabernacle of clay for as a man lyeth down to rest so ordinarily doth he rise If he go sober to bed he riseth fresh and cheerful so 1. Thou must in this life have a sober minde emptied of the immoderate love of this present world because a man dying with his heart fixed on this world cannot awake with joy in the day of resurrection as a man going to bed in his surfeit is distempered in his body when he awaketh in the morning so will it be with such as dye in their surfeit with the love and care of this world 2 As thou wouldst awake and rise in peace and joy thou shouldest dye in a good conscience hating every known sin It is true many of the dear children of God may dye without repenting particularly of some sins which they know not to be sins as it was with the believing Patriarchs in the case of their Polygamie But if thou dye without repenting of thy known sins objected against thee by thy own conscience this will make a fearful wakening in that day of thy resurrection as a man eating at evening that which doth not agree with his stomach it troubleth him in the morning when he awakes so those who have swallowed down all sin with a wide conscience inlarged like hell and did not cast it up again by true repentance in that gloomie morning of that eternal dark day their awaking will be heavy and fearful Then shall they have a desperate repentance like unto that of Iudas and shall find that true to the utmost which is spoken Iob 20.12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth yet shall it be the gall of Aspes within him 3. As thou wouldest awake with joy and be found in Christ in that day thou shouldest dye laying thy self on Christ and fastening thy soul by Faith into him because the man who dyeth in Christ is found in Christ in that day as a man carried down with a torrent of water is found after his death with such a thing in his hand as he griped in the way while he was alive so a man dying and in his way toward the grave embracing and clasping Christ in that day will be found in the arms of Christ for he is a faithful Redeemer keeping that which is committed to him and will present thee in that day to the father faultless with exceeding joy It serveth for comfort to the godly man Vse 2 his happy and best condition though it be delayed for a time yet is abiding him Happiness though delayed waits for a Godly man The wicked with that rich wretch Luc. 16. receive their good things here but the Godly with Lazarus receive their evil things It is far better for a poor afflicted Christian at death to go to his bed of rest without their surfeit then together with it to have their fearful wakening The Pharisees and all such vain-glorious hypocrites have all their reward in this life they get applause here from men but they shall be disallowed of God in that day whereas the Godly man looketh before him to this compleat happiness when the Lord will come with a rich recompence of reward in his hand Rev. 22.12 I come quickly and my reward is with me To this Moses looked Heb. 11.26 and Paul 2 Cor. 4.16 the Godly man measureth not his happiness by any present difference in respect of his outward condition betwixt him and sensual worldlings but by that which is to come he knoweth well this is the time of his non-age and the heir while he is young differeth not from a servant Gal. 4.1 it may be he is beaten oftner with the rod of his Father then a servant because the Father loveth him better and will not suffer him to perish for want of correction but when the day for dividing the inheritance is come at the resurrection then shall it be known who are sons Therefore thou who art the child of God endure hardship for a time yea but a moment of time in comparison of that eternity before thee And I think from undenyable grounds of natural reason there is less proportion betwixt an hundred thousand of years and eternity then betwixt a moment and an hundred thousand years It is no small comfort to have our best before us from this our Lord comforted his Apostles and us in them Ioh. 16.20 Ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Now thou sowest in tears but thou shalt reap in joy the hope of a plentiful harvest is matter of comfort in a painful and laborious seed-time Now thou art betwixt wind and wave in this raging sea of an evil world but there is thy comfort thy body tossed here like a brittle bark shall in that day be brought to a condition of eternal rest Abrahams bosom is a bay without winds of temptations or afflictions there is perpetual tranquility Now is the time of thy fighting against the Devil who is the Tempter against the world which is the Magazine of his temptations and fiery darts and against the flesh and treacherous enticer and wilful consenter to temptations but be thou still wrestling in the strength of thy Lord and in the end thou shalt be more then a Conqueror through him and get a crown of immortal glory look to thy enemies and be watchful but look also to the promised victory and Crown and be of good courage for if God be with us in his strength who can be against us The second point considerable Second Point The matter and manner of our happiness is the matter of our eternal happiness the face and likeness of God And the manner of our enjoying it I will behold thy face Divines call the former our objective and the latter our formal happiness for understanding whereof it is necessary that we clear 1. What is meant by the face of God What is meant by the face or likeness of God 2. How we are said to behold the face of God As to the first by the face of God in holy Scripture is signified 1. His gracious presence and good Will Psal 51.11 Cast me not away from thy presence or from thy face as it is in the first language Psal 105.4 Seek his face evermore that is his gracious presence and favour Thus Gen. 4.15 It is said Cain went out from the face or presence of the Lord as men withdraw their countenance from those who have grievously offended them 2. An extraordinary manifestation and representation of the Majesty of God Deut. 5.4 the Lord talked with you face to face in the Mount out of the midst of the fire 3. It signifieth an extraordinary yet
28.8 in our regenerate estate though we have joy from Christ that is formed in us yet the impression of the terrours of God before the time of our new birth remain in us as in a commotion of the Sea by a great tempest after the stormy wind hath ceased yet the impression of the storm remains and makes an Agitation The tender mother recovering her young child from danger of a fall hath joy from the recovery but with much fear with the impression of the danger so after we are recovered here from our dangerous falls by the rich and tender mercies of our God sometime prevening us sometime restoring us though we rejoyce in his mercy and in our own recovery out of the snares of Sathan yet in the midst of our joy the remembrance of former guiltiness and danger do humble our our hearts with much sorrow and some trepidation of heart As our joy here is mixed with fear so with sorrow also The sound believer doth look up to Christ crucified and doth rejoyce in his incomparable love that such a person should have dyed such a death for such as were enemies to God by sinful inclinations and wicked works They look down also upon their own sins that have wonnded and crucified the Lord of Glory and this breaketh the heart as a widdow should mourn who by her froward and lewd behaviour hath burst the heart of a kind and loving husband The sound Believers look to their small beginnings of Grace and they rejoyce in the Work of Gods hands but when they compare it with that original and primitive righteousness they mourn bitterly as the Elders of Israel did at the rebuilding of the Temple Ezra 3.12 Those who had seen the first house weeped But in heaven our joy will be full without mixture of sorrow Ioh. 16.20 Your sorrow saith our Lord shall be turned into joy Then will there be no sorrow for a present trouble nor present fear of future troubles Then their eye will deeply affect their heart The sight and knowledge of God the supreme and infinite good will ravish and take up all their heart with joy and delight Peter in the Mount Math. 17. was so affected with that glorious sight that he forgot both the delights and troubles that were below It is good to be here said he How much more will all worldly troubles and delights be forgot at that soul-satisfying sight in heaven which is as far above that of Peter in the Mount as the third heaven is above that Mount and as the increated is above the created glory Obj. But will not the Saints in heaven remember the evils on earth from which they were delivered and if so be they remember them will it be with any sorrow or fear Answ The knowledge and remembrance of miseries which the Saints in Heaven have is with our anguish No doubt they will remember great deliverances Revel 5.9 Thou wast slain and thou hast redeemed us say the four and twenty Elders yea the Saints in heaven have some knowledge of the great misery of the damned Not only from the remembrance of the Word of God foretelling it but also from their own great happiness as knowing one contrary by another they know well the misery of such men is extream who are deprived of the great happiness themselves do enjoy But all their knowledge of the misery of the damned and the remembrance of troubles in this life will be without all anguish or sense of pain Augustine of the City of God lib. 22. ch 30. compareth the knowledge that the Saints in heaven have of the misery of the damned unto that knowledge Physitians have of painful diseases from their reading but not from sense and experience of the pain in their own person The Saints in heaven will remember the troubles of this life as Souldiers after the victory remember the fight and as passengers safely arrived remember a dangerous voiage This remembrance will encrease their joy and praise to God The knowledge of the misery of the damned though of their dearest friends and acquaintance on earth will be matter of praising Gods Justice declared on them and of his eternal mercy manifested on themselves the glory of Gods Justice will so affect them that they neither can nor will be sorry for the misery of any person This joy of the Saints in heaven will be full in the measure of it for if the measure of our joy here from faith into the gracious promises and from some sense of love be above expression what will be the joy in that facial vision If such be the joy of faith in hearing of our Lord and husband by his sacred letter and secret tokens of love what will be our joy in seeing him and dwelling with him for ever if the passengers at Sea have such joy in seeing the desired Land a far of through the prospect of faith what will be the measure of their joy when they come within that part of eternal salvation where they shal have perpetual tranquillity and perfect delight in the fruition of God in whom as the center do meet all the lines of created comforts and delights that have been drawn forth at any time to any part of the circumference of this world yea much more then eye hath seen ear heard or heart can conceive As our joy in heaven will be intensively full in the degrees and measure so will it be extensively full to the whole person both to the soul and to the body Ioseph at his inlargement out of prison got a new garment a ring and honourable preferment so in the day of the inlargement of our bodies out of the grave there will be given to the Saints a long and large white robe of innocency both to soul and body Then heavenly comliness and brightness shall as a ring adorn the body and the whole person in soul and body will be preferred to sit at the right hand of God in glory the soul being but a part of the person and whole suppos it hath a natural desire and longeth for the re-union of the body therefore in the day of resurrection when the body will be reunited the desire of the soul will be fully satisfied That joy of soul and body at meeting will be mutual like the joy of two dear friends meeting together after some separation for a time then will the soul be affected with joy from the body when it looketh out by the eye and beholdeth the glorious body of Christ the glorified bodies of the Saints and the brightness of that body wherein it self lodged the soul will have great joy in perceiving this glorious change in the body like a noble guest sometime straitned and molested in a nastie house doth afterward much rejoyce in a clean large and quiet habitation As the soul will have accession of joy from the reinvestiture of the body So the body over and besides its own proper outward glory