Interest to make preparation for death yea for the worst of deaths and therefore I did often ask my self this question What if Death should come What if I should be brought to the Stake for Christ what comfort could I find And considering my memory was treacherous being much disabled by my distemper lying much in my head I wrote down the Answer as my mind dictated and when God gave me any lucida intervalla any breathing times I lost few of them but can say with the Philosopher Nulla dies sine linia no day pass'd but I did something and thus in a little time the materials for this Structure were gathered together yet in a rude confused and disorderly Chaos suitable to my distracted Thoughts and disturbed Fancy suited also to my end to have recourse thereto in my necessity But when through Gods blessing upon my endeavour those fogs were a little blown over and my bodily strength a little restored I began to think that the fear of Death was not my distemper alone but an Epidemical disease yea that some and those not of the worser sort through the fear of death are all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2.15 and considering also the present at state of the Nation which in the eyes 〈◊〉 prudent persons is not free from danger 〈◊〉 Foreign Invasion or Domestick Insurâ—ction I began to think an undertaking of â—is nature might not be unsuitable and to â—any not unwelcome and hereupon I reviewâ—â— my scattered Papers set them in order â—â—d polished them if not as I should yet as â— could presuming a good Stomack and for â—â—ch I write will digest wholsome meat â—â—ough not modishly drest Those that are wilâ—â—ng to live holily as well as dye happily to â—â—ve to the Lord and if cal'd to it to die â—â—r the Lord yet are not without their â—ears and doubts these be they that I would â—nimate but those that esteem the appearance of Vertue better than the Vertue it self I have here nothing to say to them let them also think the appearance of Happiness better than Happiness and Heaven it â—â—lf However my end drawing near as I â—ay without the Spirit of Prophesie foresee I was willing to leave upon record what my present thoughts of death are what I found benefit by when in mine own apprehension I lay upon my death-bed and what I hope may comfort others in the like condition If it be objected that many learned Treatises â—are written by able Divines upon this Subject 't is granted and yet notwithstanding all those great Lamps many are in thâ— dark and who knows but my small Taper may be useful to light some one or other in some dark corner of the house the Lesson is not sufficiently taught that is not sufficiently learnt Those that have no better may make use of this those that have may bestow this upon some one that wants it But you may demand why I prefix your Name to these unpolisht lines Truly those that know you and your worth and know me and my Engagements to you need not wonder that I dedicate a Book to you but rather that I did it no sooner That the present is so mean the reason is I had no better at hand and I hope you will accept the will for the deed and herein imitate God himself Exod. 35.5 6. who accepted of a little Goats hair where there was neither Gold nor Silver to be had 〈◊〉 I was also encouraged hereunto by your ready and thankeful acceptance of some former discourses from me and therefore have imitated herein that which is fabled of Pan the Rural God who coming before Apollo to shew his Art played upon his Oaten Reed and being at first uncontrolled he took courage and plaid louder and louder so it fares with me when one check from you would have spoil'd my Musick But that I present you with a Book of this nature my Answer is ready Discourses of this nature are never â—ut of season Solomon tells us Eccl. 7.2 'T is better go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting for this is the end of all flesh and the living will lay it to heart 'T is true you are in the flower of your age and your bones are full of marrow Job 21.24 yet may you be cut off in your full strength and Solomon adviseth such to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth Eccles 12.1 11.8 before the evil days come before the dayes of darkness come for they are many My design in this Dedication is not that you should protect it if it be Truth God will protect it if not man cannot do it let it therefore stand or fall accordingly neither desire I hereby to escape the just reproach due to me for the ill handling hereof yet would I desire that those that have death in their eyes as I had and not those upon the Ale-bench that put far from them the evil day may be my Judges Neither is it because I think you have more need of such a discourse than others have that I send it to you I know you too well to have such a conceit but it is to testifie the great respect I have for you and hereby to acknowledge those debts that I cannot pay when I am not able to give you any thing worthy your self I would willingly further you in your great design and put a weapon into your hand against you come to fight against your last enemy Death and yet I send you this as a Tenant doth a present to his Landlord not to relieve his wants but to testifie his dependance and as an earnest of his future service I know you need not with Philip King of Macedonia to have a Monitor to mind you of your Mortality I send it as a bad Debtor when he cannot pay the Stock he payes the Interest or at least acknowledges the debt and begs a longer time of payment so 't is with me Fain would I avoid the title of Ingratefull which sounded so harshly in the ears of the Heathen that they thought it to be the worst of sins Ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris I look upon you to be well skill'd in those mortifying Meditations and as deeply learned in self-resignation of your will to Gods as most are The ground of my confidence is this when God in a little time had made you both Fatherless a loss which Thousands in England have cause to bewail and as if this cup had not been bitter enough took away about the same time your only Son which might have been the staff of your age the stay of your Family and the preserver of your Name though you were deeply sensible of this great breach God had made upon you yet carried your selves with so much moderation Christian Fortitude Discretion and Patience without the least murmuring repining or shew of discontent but with chearful submission to the â—ill of
Recreation but this is no fault of mine 't is doubt they will want time for other things also but those that will not give themselves the trouble 't is doubt will ere long meet with trouble of another nature Others may think the Book useless because many have treated upon this Subject To these I answer The more shame they are practised no better It was indeed Solons complaint That there were many good Laws made but one was wanting to put all the rest in execution So many good Rules for Life and Death are published but could a Book be published to perswade men to live by these Rules it would be a happy work I am not so vain or simple to think this may prove such a piece yet I know not what better Subject to treat of that is more likely to prevail than a Treatise of Death to perswade men to practise the Rules of Life for those that put far from them the evil day are most like to neglect their daily Duty and what hitherto is written seems too little to effect the work and therefore I have added my Testimony to the rest I know 't is easie for Momus to quarrel and find fault with another mans Tale when perhaps he may tell it worse himself 't is easier to find fault with another than to be free from faults himself Those that have done better or will do better I shall give them their due respect for others I shall not value their censure what I have done hath pleased my self and the work was undertaken for my self and I hope I shall not displease any sober or discreet person but for those that God his Word his Works or his Providences cannot please I neither hope nor desire to please what I have done is intended for a Cordial for those that have Death in their eyes and the Fear of God in their hearts and these usually have better Stomachs than to nauseate their meat because not modishly drest those I mean that have Gods beauty-spots not the Worlds upon them I mean Grace in the heart not Spots on the face to adorn them and make them lovely in the eyes of God and good men 't is these I speak to As for those that take the World for their Portion and therefore are loth to leave it I shall not envy them but pity them their Portion is little worth for Nobleness of Blood Greatness of Birth Crowns and Kingdoms shine not so bright as the Image of God in poor Lazarus at the Gate or Job upon the Dunghil for Grace is better than a thousand Escutcheons for these are but empty badges of Honour I have only two sorts of persons here to speak to The first are poor Desponding Christians that though they have right to and Interest in Christ and Glory yet are under some black and direful apprehensions of Death and though they would willingly live to God and if required dye for God yet are not out of fear of Death To these I have spoke unto most in the Book and and therefore shall say little to them in the Epistle The other sort are such that though they would dye the Death of the Righteous and have the righteous mans reward yet are they loth to live their-lives they would have the wages but none of the work they would dye happily but will not live holily they would land in Heaven but they sail the contrary way they will not go into the Vineyard and yet expect their penny at night such as these haply are afraid of Death and well they may for it will speak no good to them but evil as Ahab said of Micaiah Now I have said but a little to those in the Book for it was not my business and therefore I shall speak the more to them in the Epistle not that I have any comfort for them in this Condition but only this that there is a possibility to get out and therefore would willingly lend them my hand to help them â—ut and therefore I shall reach out some Directions which if they take they will â—e capable of the comfort the Book it self holds forth and the Directions are these that follow 1. Direction If you would look Death in the Face with comfort get your Corruptions mortified and the power of sin abated for til then Death will be an Enemy there is nothing that makes Death terrible but unpardoned unmortified sin an honest man can look the Judge in the face without fear when the Malefactor trembles Paul could triumphantly insult over it 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory the sting of Death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law but thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ You see sin is the sting of Death and what hurt can the Serpent do that hath no Sting what a bold challenge was this to Death as if Paul had said Death do thy worst I fear thee not In like manner Ambrose could say I am not ashamed to live nor afraid to dye and Ann Askew the Martyr in her Confession 〈◊〉 neither wish for Death neither do I fear it As Christ hath not taken away sin it self but the guilt of it so hath he not takeâ— away Death it self the consequent of sin but the sting of it so that every godly maâ— may say with the Martyr Kill me it may hurt me it cannot the worst it can do is bâ—â— to send me to my Fathers house the sooner but to others the Serpent is dangerous and his sting deadly for if sin dye not the Soul cannot live 't is true some there be that seem to brave Death to his Face but this shews an ignorant mind and a seared Conscience and an hard heart for 't is impossible if the Conscience be awake that a man should look into Hell yea leap into it without horror Death to such if their eyes be open will be terrible yea of all Terribles the most terrible saith a Heathen yea the King of Terrors saith Bildad Job 18.14 yea and as experience tells us the Terror of Kings Nothing can make Death look terrible but unpardoned sin till therefore this Pardon be obtained your condition is damnable till you have assurance of it it will be uncomfortable Now Faith and Repentance have the Promise of Pardon and Eternal Life and the want of this will make you liable to Eternal Death Luk. 16.16 He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be Damned He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find Mercy Leave off therefore lusting after Riches Honours and Pleasures and spend your time in minding your main Interest fight against sin which is your greatest Enemy for if sin dye not before you your Souls must dye 't is not enough to quarrel sâ—â— but you must kill it 't is not enough to coâ—fess it but you
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
this fort all is safe he can give the eyes ears the tongue their liberty if the heart be his he matters not his Prisoner is secure and to keep possession of the heart a thousand snares are laid in the way and if any make an escape he sends out Hue and cry after them stirs up all his Instruments to bring them back again sets some to reproach them some to perswade them yea some to flatter some to threaten and some to persecute for he knows the heart is the Master-wheel that guides all the rest for a man is denominated good or bad according as his heart is either good or bad this is the Shop wherein good or bad wares are forged Mat. 2.35 't is fons boni vel pecâ—andi origo the Fountain of good or the Spring of evil if there be a principle of life there the actions are pleasing to God if not they are but dead works A carnal heart is a Stewes or Shambles a place whence unclean and cruel thoughts are produced the forge where wicked thoughts are framed the Mint where they are coined the very Anvil upon which all Sin is forged an Augean Stable for Filthiness the heart is the Temple wherein Gods Ark or the Devils Dagon are placed Gal. 4.7 and worshipped 't is the Palace wherein dwelleth the Throne wherein sitteth the King of Glory or the Prince of darkness Eph. 2 2â— for the Devil works and acts in a wicked heart as a Smith doth in his Forge or an Artificer in his Shop what he pleaseth without controul these two Princes cannot sit in the same Throne or rule in the same heart these two Masters cannot be served by the same man their commands are so different those that love the one will despise the other and if one be obeyed the other must be neglected he that gets possession of the heart is our Master for we may know it by our obedience If Christ rule there the Devils kingdom must down and if the Devil rules Christ will be gone now his servants ye are to whom ye obey the heart is the fountain out of which all water flows whether sweet or bitter Mat. 7.26 and therefore it concerns us to see it be not defiled It is a Tree and we may know whether it be good or no by the fruit By the fruit saith Christ ye shall know them 'T is a Treasury out of which good or evil things are brought 't is the primum mobile that sets all the rest in motion and gives motion to the inferior Orbs the hand the eye the foot the tongue are all moved by it either in a direct or irregular motion 'T is the chief Monarch in the Isle of man that gives Laws and Commands to all the rest 'T is like the Treble in a Viol if this be in tune the other are soon ordered if out the Musick is spoil'd 't is the spring or Master-wheel of all the curious Clock-work of the Soul and sets all the rest in motion This is it that denominates an action good or bad as it differenced between Cains sacrifice and Abels and the fastings prayers and alms of the Pharisees and of the Apostles The more of the heart is in the sin the greater is the aggravation but the more of the heart is in a duty the better God accepts it Where the heart goes not along with the sin God will pardon it but if the heart go not along with the duty he will not own it weak performances are accepted where the heart is right glorious actions are abominable where the heart is rotten Now the heart by nature is polluted and must be cleansed it is deceitful and if not lookt to will betray us and when the heart is polluted the whole man is defiled and till this be cleansed a man is neither fit to live nor fit to dye nor after death to come to Judgment Get therefore the heart purified by Faith or never think to dye comfortably or happily 9 Direction As the Heart must be purged from sin so 't is necessary that it be replenished with Grace for without this you can neither dye a happy nor comfortable death for these are the Divine qualifications which God hath made necessary to salvation this is the Oyl which the wise Virgins had in their Vessels Mat. 25.4 c. their Hearts which the foolish did want and therefore were shut out of the Bride-chamber This is the wedding-garment without which you will be bound hand and foot Mat. 22.1 and cast into outer darkness this is the Sheep-mark of Christ those that have it he will own and place them at his right hand when all other like reprobate Goats shall be set on the left This is the Ticket whosoever hath it shall be admitted into Heaven and whosoever hath it not Heaven gates will be shut against him now how can that man be happy or comfortable in death that hath not this Oyl this Wedding-garment this Sheep-mark nor this Ticket that hath nothing to shew for Heaven and happiness or why he should not go to Hell and misery These Graces are the Jemmes and Jewels that adorn the Spouse of Christ and make her amiable in his eyes this is the differencing badge between the Children of God and the men of the World that shall have their portion in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone These these are the Evidences Believers have for Heaven and by these it is they hold God to his bargain for he hath told them he that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be condemned This is the witness of the Spirit for 't is the Spirit that worketh those graces in the soul and also enables the Soul to read them thus written in the heart by the Spirit and so the Spirit witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Now can any man willingly leave a present Inheritance that hath no assurance of any for the future Holiness is the Image of God the Livery that all that go to Heaven are clad with and though now it be out of fashion at death our greatest Gallants would willingly be found in this Livery yea Balaam himself would dye the death of the righteous though he liked not his life other Jewels adorn the Body but this adorns the Soul these have this excellent vertue they make a man live holily and dy happily none can miscarry that wear them these make men dye securely but it is also requisite that they know they have them for sometimes Believers lose their comforts for want of clearing up their Evidences for Heaven 't is necessary that a man have grace and 't is comfortable to know he hath it to have it in the habit sufficeth not if he act it not he must not only have faith but he must live by faith and by faith suck sweetness from the promises this will make a man look death in the face
undauntedly this grace will assure a man that life and death will prove advantagious to him and that God and his departing soul are at peace and that the Covenant remains firm even in the Grave it self this makes a man look even beyond death it self and see the Crown of glory the recompence of reward before him and assures him death will do him more good than hurt that it will set an end to his misery and beginning to his happiness and that when death hath struck the stroak the Angels will carry the Soul into Abrahams bosom yea lodge it in the Arms of their dear Redeemer These apprehensions made Paul to desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and the Martyrs to be so willing to dye and so chearfully to go to the stake Love to God also is another grace which much sweetens the very thoughts of death indeed this sweetens the sharpest passage of Providence when we think this is my Fathers will whom I love and who loves me and knows best what is for my good yea death it self shall be welcome when 't is a Messenger from him I love to fetch me home to his bosom what will not a loving Wife suffer to enjoy her beloved Husband love desires the strictest union and most intimate communion with the party beloved but this the Soul cannot obtain but by Death O saith the Soul now I lye under the hatches troubled with a thousand infirmities I can seldom have a glimpse of Christ here well the time is at hand that I shall see him face to face and enjoy him in glory where I shall serve him without distraction and never be troubled more with vain thoughts or roving imaginations or any of Satans temptations Oh when will this time be The other graces of the Spirit are also necessary to this end to sweeten death such as Knowledge Repentance Obedience Humility Self-denial Patience Hope c. of which I shall not speak particularly Now the Promises are made to these graces not only of this life but of that to come among the rest of the good things promised is Heaven and Happiness but what is a carnal man the better for these promises that is not qualified for them but when by Faith we can see this Crown of glory and see our Names written upon it and get a Pisgah-sight of this heavenly Canaan we shall willingly venture over this Jordan and encounter all the Sons of Anak we meet in our way and not fear what Man what Devils what Death can do unto us get these Graces in exercise and you need not fear Fire and Faggot 10 Direction That you may thus empty the heart of sin and wickedness and replenish it with Grace and godliness that so you may be fit to live and fit to dye and fit to live with Christ-for ever 't is fit and necessary you take Gods way for it cannot be done by your own strength Improve therefore all the means which God hath afforded you for this end for those that refuse the means seldom attain the end Improve his Word and Ordinances these are the appointed means however some scorn at them and some think they are above them but those that go not this way seldom come to Heaven In the Word are given Rules how to live and how to dye and how to behave ourselves in all Conditions here is Oyl to be had and those that neglect will be to seek when the Bridegroom comes Those that now neglect the Wedding-garment will want it when they have occasion to use it and so be thrust out of the Bride-chamber This Word of God should be our daily study for here are directions both for life and death and none but those that are bad Husbands for the soul will neglect it here are the precious Promises which are our Fathers Legacy out of which the Soul by Faith sucks sweetness which are special Cordials against fainting fits which bear up the head above water and the heart in all storms and tempests here is direction in Heavens way yea way-marks set up that we should not erre nor wander here you may find what qualifications God requires in his servants and what Evidences for Heaven are good and authentick and what God will own another day and if by the help of the Spirit you can read them in your own hearts as in a counter pane there is no better Evidence for Heaven no greater Cordial in the world to bear up the heart here you may find comforts and consolatious in all your conditions and if you walk in this road you will meet with much help and assistance yea many companions in your Journey here you have the Spirit of God both to direct and comfort you and who can erre that hath such a guide or droop that hath such a comforter here you shall hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walk in it turn not to the right hand or to the left here you have the assistance of Gods Ministers to direct you but take heed of quenching the motions of his Spirit or abusing his Messengers lest his Spirit leave striving with you and God take away his Messengers in his anger here you may find many that have walked the same way met with the same troubles suffered the same afflictions temptations crosses and losses as you do and yet have born it with patience and overcome it with constancy and comfort here you may know the worst that death can do to you is for your advantage if you love God for such death cannot hurt kill you it may hurt you it cannot the worst it can do is but to send you to your Fathers house the sooner Meditate therefore upon this Word of God and also upon the Attributes of God and this must needs support you under sufferings Meditate also upon mans Mortality to quicken you in your pace of the Worlds vanity and emptiness to make you slight it and the fulness of Christ to make you to desire him The Meditation of death will not make you dye sooner but safer and the Promises will yield sweetness even in the pangs of death for death is to the godly but as a Pursivant to fetch them to Heaven and his wisdom power holiness justice goodness and truth are Cordials also and will help to keep the heart from fainting and desponding and will shield the Spirits against all crosses and afflictions they shall meet with and by Meditation in the Word you may learn the happiness of the godly and the miseries of the wicked and what will be the end of both yea you may find there what are the pains of Hell and the Joyes of Heaven and these may be used as motives to a holy life Prayer also is an excellent duty to prepare for death by this God is engaged to help at a time of need Christian Conference also is another help wherein one fire-stick helps to inkindle another till all come into a
were hid from thee take heed lest thou see through the Devils Spectacles for these may deceive thee Is the world now become a Pearle in thine eye that thou despisest that Pearl of great price be not deceived it will not prove a true Diamond but a Bristow Stone Art thou now ready with Cardinal Burbon to say thou wilt not leave thy part in Paris for a part in Paradice consider well what thou dost before thou strike up the bargain and take the world for thy portion take a view of it again and see it in its own dress and not in the Devils paint and colours or in his Glass hadst thou indeed rather be absent from the Lord than from the World and doth it yield thee better delight and satisfaction Well and will it do so at death also where will thy portion be 2 Pet. 3.10 when the earth and all the works therein shall be burnt up give not Christ a bill of divorce till thou art sure of a better match will the World content thee here and hereafter what provision can it make for thee for hereafter if this be all thou takest for thy portion then no wonder thou art loth to leave it for where the treasure is there will the heart be also Hadst thou a great Estate in the World there might be some temptation but who will grieve to leave an empty Cell heretofore when thou hadst a greater Estate in the World thou wast crucified to the World and the World to thee and now dost fall in love with Poverty and Want thou didst look upon it as upon a dead Carkass and now dost perceive some life in it But stay a while and consider well what the World hath and whether her portion can pay thy debts and make provision for thee to Eternity thou canst expect no more portion than it hath consider whether it will serve thy turn the Soul is an immortal piece and must run parallel with the longest line of Eternity will the world do so also if not what will the Soul do when the portion is spent thou art in debt ten thousand Talents and canst not pay one farthing and it must be paid to the utmost mite or thou wilt be cast into a Furnace of fire for ever can the World if thou espouse thy self to it pay this debt No nor all the Angels in Heaven to help it and what a case wilt thou then be in to Eternity 'T is best for thee to return to thy former Husband for it 's much better with thee then Here is enough in him to pay thy debts and provide for the future But is thy forsaking Christ and choosing the World the result of all thy profession and the fruit of all thy Mortification Repentance Self-denial Preaching Praying Hearing Reading Meditating and of all thy other duties and is the World a sufficient recompense for all the pains thou hast taken in Gods Service and dost expect no more at his hands and art thou willing to let go all thy right in the Promises and all thy hopes of a future reward and doth the World make thee amends for all thy losses and crosses thou hast met with upon Religious accounts hast thou reduced thy self to pinching wants hard labour how foolishly then hast thou behaved thy self if the world be thy portion how foolishly hast thou denyed thy self in thy portion why hast thou not run down the current of the times as others have done when it was the way to preferment why hast thou swam against the stream why didst not take thy pleasure as others did in thy sins and sinful company then mightst thou have enjoyed the World as they do for their Portion in Externals is better than thine they take their pleasures they satisfie their lusts and why dost then live a mortified life for the like portion why didst thou take upon thee the profession of Religion when thou knewest it would run counter with the times why dost not swear with the Swearer drink with the Drunkard and be as debaucht as any other if the reward be alike but if thou look for another reward why art thou afraid of the time when thou art to receive it if Religion will not pay thee thy charges why didst profess it if it will why dost forsake it haft thou had a hard Master of Christ hath he failed of his Word or broke his promise to thee is his work or Wages worse than Covenant if not why dost leave thy Master look about thee within and without consider while thou art here what thy wants are what thy miseries and whether the world is like to free thee from the one or the other if it can how happens it in all this time it is not done thou hast spiritual wants can the World relieve those thou hast but a little knowledge of God and dost thou desire no more if thou do in what School wilt thou learn it death will bring thee where all these clouds of ignorance shall be dispell'd and thy knowledge shall be perfected 1 Cor. 13.9 10. Here thou knowest but in part and understandest but in part But when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away Thou hast now but a little enjoyment of him a few glimpses of him in a duty and dost desire no more what means then all thy Prayers and Duties tending this way but thou art never like to have much more till thou come to Heaven doubtless if thou now take up with the World for thy portion thou art of all men the most foolish why dost thou run from it when thou seekest to enjoy it and why dost forsake thy desired happiness If the world will content thee why dost seek after other things and deny thy self that content the world offers thee Art thou as holy as thou desirest to be and as good as thou wouldst be and hast thou as much satisfaction as thou desirest what is the meaning then of all thy Prayers Studies and other duties why dost bewail thy sins and implore Heaven for power against them and if thou wouldst be better why dost fear Heaven where thou wilt be holy as God is holy if thou be as good as thou desirest to be why dost play the Hypocrite with God and man and like a man in a Boat look one way and row another wouldst thou have no more power against thy sins why then dost rail upon it and revile it and profess that it is thy greatest trouble why dost wrestle and fight and pray against it and bring under thy body and if thou wouldst have power why dost thou fear Death which will free thee from this as well as other Enemies art content to live in thy Pride and Passion and Ignorance and Hypocrisie why dost not then speak plain art thou like some Beggars that have sores to shew to move compassion but are not willing to have them cured lest it marr their Trade