1. That all those and only those that shall partake of the Heavenly inheritance in the other World must be made meet for it in this World All that I shall do in the Doctrinal part is 1. For Explication 2. Confirmation 1. To shew what this meetness is then prove the necessity of it CHAP. II. Distinctions about meetness for Heaven What habitual meetness is Both relative and real 1. FOR a more methodical proceeding in explaining this Subject I shall premise some distinctions by which you may understand what that meetness for Heaven is that I mean 1. There is an aptitudo Legalis Evangelica a Legal and Evangelical meetness Since the fall of Man no meer Man can fulfil all Righteousness or by his own power attain to any thing pleasing to God so a legal meetness is not attainable We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God See Rom. 3.23 24. ch 8.2 3 8. Gal. 3.10.13 2 Dist There is an aptitudo operum personae i. e meetness of works and of the person This explains the former in the Covenant of Works the person was accepted for the works sake but in the Covenant of Grace the work is accepted for the persons sake If the person be accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 God owns both person and offering as he did Abel Heb. 11.4 6. But what proportion can the best Services of the best Men bear to this Eternal Reward Luke 17.10 Nor can Humane Sufferings purchase this Glory to be revealed Rom. 8.18 3 Dist There is aptitudo perfecta progressiva a perfect compleat meetness for Heaven This is compatible only to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 But who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Prov. 20.9 Alas we know but in part and so love but in part 1 Cor. 13.12 Even Paul that was perfect in point of sincerity yet was not already perfect in point of degree but was pressing forward Phil. 3 12-15 Christians here below are but in via non in patria in the road to perfection singing the song of degrees and not in the height of Zion Sincerity is Gospel perfection and the Christians preparation together with a progressive motion 4 Dist There is aptitudo habitualis actualis an habitual and an actual meetness for Heaven or which may be thus distinguished there is a jus haereditarium and a jus aptitudinale an hereditary right and an aptitude or actual fitness for this Inheritance My Text includes both and I shall open both for they are both necessary in their kind and in this sense Gods Children are said to be counted worthy of Kingdom of God 2 Thess 1.5 and saith Christ They shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Rev. 3.4 And therefore are we exhorted to walk worthy of God who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Th. 2.12 It imports a conveniency suitableness answerableness in a limited Gospel-sence like Children of such a Father as Heirs of such an Inheritance as Candidates for such an Office and Honour There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemliness appertaining to every Calling Princes Magistrates Ministers must have a decency and suitableness to their Profession So here Well then I shall chiefly speak to this twofold meetness 1. Habitual meetness which is in opposition to perfect unmeetness i. e. a state of Nature Unregeneracy 2. An actual meetness which is contra-distinct from imperfect meetness and both are necessary in their kind Quest 1. What is that habitual meetness for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light without which Men can never attain to it or have eternal possession of it Answ This habitual meetness consists in a twofold change 1. Relative 2. Real 1. It consists in a Relative change This also is twofold viz. 1. Justification 2. Adoption 1. The poor sinner is standing at Gods Bar as a guilty Malefactor under the dreadful Sentence of a just Condemnation for all the World is become guilty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subject to judgment before God Rom. 3.19 Not a Son of Adam can plead innocence It s well if we be as the blushing Rose the Lilly-whiteness is lost He that believeth not is condemned already John 3.18 and the wrath of God abides on him verse 36. It was on him when he was born and it abides still on him if not taken off him by Justification Who can think the Prince will promote him to Honour that is under an attainder for Treason He must be cleared of that charge or he is fitter for Execution then Promotion Pardon must precede preferment You must be first in Christ Jesus and then there is no condemnation to you Rom. 8.1 You must be received into Favour before you be promoted to Honour The sinner must be justified before he can be glorified Rom. 8.30 Never think of ascending to Heavenly Glory under the load of guilt That guilt will shut Heavens gates against thee The guilt of one sin will press a Soul yea millions of Souls to Hell for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 O therefore what need is there of Justification as the introduction to Salvation You must be justified by his grace if ever you be made heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life Tit. 3.7 Never think your sins will be blotted out in the day of refreshing except you repent here and be converted Acts 3.19 You must be justified by faith that you may have peace with God here and so rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.1 2. You cannot think to leap from the Bar to the Throne But must be cleared by order of Justice through Christs satisfaction in the Court of God This this is absolutely necessary to a meetness for this Heavenly Inheritance 2. Adoption This is another Relative change Alas by nature we have quite lost our Filiation and so forfeited our Childs part of the Heavenly Inheritance We are exules a Regno banisht out of Paradice and there are placed Cherubims and a flaming Sword which turns every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life Gen. 3.24 Yea we are voluntarily gone into a far Countrey have wasted our substance disowned our Fathers house are feeding swinish Lusts and feeding our selves with poor husks of worldly things and till we be adopted and admitted again into our Fathers house we are not fit to eat the Childrens Bread or heir the Childs Inheritance God himself hath contrived a way how to settle the best Inheritance on such as he finds strangers Jer. 3.19 But I said how shall I put thee among the Children and give thee a pleasant land a goodly heritage of the hosts of Nations Then I said thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turn away from me Oh blessed contrivance And will any think to cross Gods contrivance Shall Mens solly challenge infinite Wisdom Is not the Heavenly Inheritance Gods own to give And doth not
be above with God CHAP. XIII Some practical Inferences from this Doctrine USE of all this briefly is in four consectaries 1. That there is undoubtedly such a future state as bliss and blessedness for Gods ' Children after this life There remaineth a rest to the people of God Heb. 4.9 I need not go about to prove this it s sufficiently and abundantly confirmed by abler hands not only from Scripture but Nature Reason Divine Providence in the world and the grace of God in the hearts of his people Enough is said to silence Atheism in our Spirits and to stop the mouths of all Atheists on Earth Can any rationally imagine that God should endow Man with such a noble Soul and endue that Soul with such noble faculties of Mind Will and Conscience and Affections capable of knowing loving injoying God with fears and hopes of a future state and all this in vain Can we think the holy just good wise righteous God will always promote the wicked and punish the godly and not right these things in the next world Hath Christ come into the world to no purpose What would become of his Birth Life Doctrine Death Resurrection Ascention Intercession coming to Judgment if there were no life of future retribution What would become of the precepts promises threatnings motives means helps to an holy life here and to attain eternal life hereafter if there were no such thing Can we imagine that the great God governs the world by a lye Are Heaven and Hell bug-bears or meer imaginations of brain-sick fools Is there not a reality in Satans temptations to draw or drive us from God and future happiness Or are there no Devils or Spirits and so by consequence no God Away with these wild conceits contrary to the sentiments of all Mankind 2. Then it follows that assurance is attainable not only objective assurance that there is a glorious inheritance and that God will give it to some but subjective also that this is mine that its for me I have a title to it else how could persons thank God for making meet for this inheritance This assurance ariseth from actings of Faith and produceth rejoycing in hope of this glory of God Rom. 5.1 The gospel is a gospel of peace not of fears and doubts Assurance may be had not only by divine revelation but in the use of ordinary means I know in whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 Read on and you 'l find not only his assurance of his present state but his perseverance and future felicity and it s not his peculiar priviledge but common to other Believers 2. Cor. 5.1 It s true God is a free Agent and may bestow it on whom and when he pleaseth Some have it most clearly at first Conversion as Bernard for a time after his Conversion remained as it were deprived of his Senses by the excessive consolations he had from God Cyprian saith He thought before his Conversion it was impossible to find such raptures and ravishments as now he found in a Christian course Many a close walking Christian can set his seal to this truth only it ordinarily comes in after hard conflicts with temptation wrestlings with God much experience and exact walking with God There is Salvation and there is the joy of Gods Salvation Psal 51.12 This saith Mr. Latimer is the sweet-meats of the feast of a good Conscience There are many other dainty dishes at the feast but this is the banquet This is better felt then expressed but must be endeavoured after prayed for Ask saith our Lord and ye shall receive that your joy may be full Joh. 16.24 3. That the work of thankfulness is the great duty of a Christian This this is the proper character and imployment of a Christian God commands it priviledges call for it gracious Souls have been much in it it is comprehensive of mans whole duty Vrsin entitles the practical part of his Carechism de Gratitudine of Gratitude Oh that Christians were more in it Praise is comely for the upright This is the Epitome of Religion the Emblem of Heaven the proper Air in which a Christian breaths It s most acceptable to God creditable to Religion and profitable to the Christian Mr. Fox tells us the City Zurick ingraved the Year of their deliverance from Popery upon Pillars in Letters of Gold for a lasting Memorial And have not Christians cause to thank God for grace and glory The Heathens could say Call a Man ingrateful and you cannot call him worse Hezekiah brought wrath on himself Judah and Jerusalem for not rendring to the Lord according to benefits done to him 2 Chron. 32.25 Oh Sirs you little know what an evil ingratitude is you fill your Souls with guilt you too much resemble wicked men whose character is unthankful 2 Tim. 3.2 That sin makes hard times yea it makes you like the worst of Heathen for which sin God gave them up Rom. 1.21 24. you act disingenuously as those that have served their turns of God and then disown him How can you own God in the next strait that are so much in arrears Will not your mouth be stopt and Conscience fly in your face Do you not daily depend on God for new Mercies And is not thankfulness a natural duty Is not gratitude for Spiritual Mercies a great evidence of your interest in them And is not every Mercy sweetened by thankfulness Nay is not this a mean to continue them The more thankful any have been the more eminent they have been Their graces have shined and glistered like Pearls and Diamonds Yea once more the more thankful you are and the more cause of thankfulness you will both have and see Thankfulness for what you are sure you have will produce a fuller evidence of that you are doubtful of The Lord humble us for our gross ingratitude which is as one saith a Monster in Nature a Solaecism in Manners a Paradox in Divinity and a parching Wind to damme up the Fountain of Divine Favours You 'l say Oh Sir I could be thankful with all my heart if I knew I were fit for Heaven and that my Soul shall at death enter into peace but alas as long as I am doubtful and at uncertainties how can I be thankful Conscience would check and condemn me and indeed I have more cause to be humbled and ashamed for my unmeetness then thankful for any meetness I find in me for Heaven Ans 1. There may be grounds both of humiliation and thankfulness in the same soul and subject Let the best Saints do the best they can and attain to the highest pitch imaginable they shall have cause of humiliation for their defects 2. Holy jealousie fears cares do well in Gods Children to keep them humble and indeed as grace increaseth fight of imperfections increaseth and sense of short-coming the more discoveries of Gods holiness the viler will the Christian be in his own eyes as Job and Isaiah Job 42. Isa 6.5
Meetness FOR HEAVEN Promoted in some brief MEDITATIONS UPON COLOS. 1.12 Discovering the nature and necessity of habitual and actual Meetness for Heaven here in all that hope for Heaven hereafter Designed for a Funeral Legacy By O. H. an unworthy Minister of the Gospel of Christ Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward received me to Glory Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City London Printed by J. R. for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside AN EPISTLE To my Dearly Beloved Hearers Friends and Neighbours and others that will be at the cost to buy or take the pains to read this small Treatise Dearly Beloved A Desire after Happiness is so ingraven in the Nature of Man that it was never put to the debate whether he would be happy or no This needs no choice all are agreed in this as the end of a rational Agent And therefore at last Felicity was accounted a Goddess among the Romans and St. Augustine tells us that Lucullus built her a Temple only he wonders that the Romans that were worshippers of so many Gods had not given Divine Honour to Felicity sooner which alone would have sufficed in stead of all the rest of their Deities which he reckons up and saith at last of Numa that having chosen so many Gods and Goddesses 't is strange he neglected this An eam forte in tanta turbâ videre non potuit but though they at last had got a notion of Felicity yet having no true Piety that veneration ended in the greatest misery and infelicity nothing but Wars ensued Vid. Aug. de civit Dei lib 4. cap. 23. This indeed is the case All men would be happy but few know the due object and true means leading to Happiness It is possible as the same Father saith there to find a man that is unwilling to be made King nullus autem invenitur qui se nolit esse foelicem that is loath to be made happy But indeed most men blunder in the dark and few find the thing they seek The same Father tells us de civ Dei lib 19. c. 1. that Varro in his Book of Philosophy that had diligently searched the various Opinions of men about the chiefest good reduceth them to two hundred eighty eight Sects or Sentences non quae jam essent sed quae esse possent and Augustine reduceth them to their several heads But I pass by Heathens that are bewildred in the dark and know no better Even professing or pretended Christians either do not understand or will not embrace the way of Peace and Rest The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14.2 3. All mankind is degenerate and few are regenerated We set out for Hell as soon as we are born and till converting Grace turn us Heaven-wards we go blindfold to the pit The whole World lyeth in ignorance and wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 But no such ignorance as that which is wilful This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil Joh. 3.19 No man perisheth but by his own will Men will sin and love death rather then life You will not come to me saith Christ that you may have life Joh. 5.40 He that rejecteth the means rejecteth the end All they that hate Christ love death Prov. 8.36 They do both not directly or designedly but interpretatively and consequentially Most men observe lying vanities and so forsake their own Mercies Jon. 2.8 as he leaves the East that goes to the West My people saith God have committed two evils Observe it it 's but one act yet there 's two evils in it what are they they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.13 Oh what evil is in the bowels of one sin But especially in the sin of Vnbelief The evil of sin brings on the evil of punishment Miss of Heaven and you purchase Hell What mad man will refuse this gift that is better then Gold What beast will run into a pit or praecipice But some men make a jest of Heaven as that Bishop who when one said I hope to see you at your Diocess ere long replyed I fear I shall be in Heaven before that time come Others like Martha are so incumbred in the World that they are staked down to Terrene Objects and Answer as he that being asked if he saw the Eclipse answered No I have so much business on Earth that I have no leisure to look up to Heaven This is most mens ease Alas the World eats out many mens Religion as the Sun shining eats out the fire So that men are as dead to Religion as if Heaven were but a dream and as hot upon sin as if Hell had no fire or were all vanisht into smoke Nay it 's well if some look not on Heaven and Hell as if they were but a Fable or Romance a scar-crow to fright weak headed people or the meer invention of designing Priests to keep men in awe But they shall know one day to their cost that there is an Heaven by the loss of it and that there is an Hell by the torments of it Let these ask the rich man in torment whether there is an Hell or no Targum saith the dispute betwixt Cain and Abel was concerning a World to come And indeed this is the Controversie betwixt the faithful and unbelievers Though the wicked say the Creed wherein they profess a belief of the Resurrection Judgment and Eternal Life yet it s but notional not experimental practical They know nothing of it initially inchoatively by feeling the beginnings of it here and living to the rates of it It is to be feared that the greatest part of Mankind will fall to the Devils share How little are men concerned about a future state How many put away from them the evil day Some have a foolish imagination that Heaven is every where that there is neither Heaven nor Hell but in a mans own Conscience and then they can shift well enough for they can stop the mouth of a bawling Conscience and speak Peace to themselves But how long will either of these last When God arms a man against himself he shall be a Magormissabib a fear round about Witness Cain Saul Judas that thought Hell was easier then his own Conscience and therefore desperately leapt into it to the crushing of his Body and the damning of his Soul They shall find that there is an Heaven and Hell after this natural Life is ended It is recorded of Peter Martyr that he
to evince the truth of it but convince the Conscience of the necessity of it and perswade the Affections to comply with it 1. It s fit persons be made meet because no man by nature is meet for Heaven Man is estranged from God even from the Womb Psal 58.3 and are these fit to live with God till brought nigh Man is shapen and conceived in sin Psal 51.5 and is this fit to dwell with an Holy God till sanctified Man is dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 and is such a dead block meet to converse with the living God Man is darkness Eph. 5.8 and what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 Man by nature is a child of wrath Eph. 2.3 and how can dryed stubble dwell with consuming fire Alas we are all enemies to God in our minds Col. 1.21 yea enmity it self Rom. 8.7 and can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3.3 Can the sin-revenging God and the guilty sinner hold intimate correspondence till they be reconciled O no it will never be Heaven and Hell will as soon joyn as God and an unregenerate sinner Will the holy God take such vipers into his bosom Can you imagine God will deface or lay aside his immaculate Holiness to take you from the Swine-sty into his holy Sanctuary What cleanly person can endure to have a filthy swine a bed and board with him in his Parlour or Bed-chamber Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee Psal 94.20 No no God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity with liking and delight Hab. 1.13 If God should take men a caeno ad coelum from the dunghil into his Palace others would conclude that God is reconciled to sin that its an harmless thing and not that abominable thing which his Soul hates No it can never be graceless sinners so remaining cannot dwell with God Psal 5.4 5. 2. Because this is the divine ordination and appointment that there should be a connexion betwixt grace and glory holiness and happiness Psal 84.11 As Sin and Hell are joyned by divine commination so Grace and Heaven are knit together by divine promise So saith the Text Rom. 2.7 10. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life This is a connexion of grace not of merit of promise not of debt yet inviolable for Gods Justice and Truth are ingaged in it It s fit the infinite God should distribute his Mercies to whom and upon what termes he pleaseth now he hath said peremptorily without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 All things are ordered and wrought after the councel of his will Eph. 1.11 First he chuseth them before the foundation of the world that they should be holy Eph. 1.4 They are redeemed to be holy Tit. 2.14 called with an holy calling 2 Tim. 1.9 and therefore they are holy Brethren that are partakers of this Heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 Let wicked scoffers mock on to their guilt and cost Such there are in the world and such must they be if they think to inherit Heaven Its Gods ordination you must be Saints in this world or never Crowned as Saints in the other tho' Canonized for Saints by Men when gone Consider sinner whose word shall stand Gods or thine Thou hopest to go to Heaven without Saintship or meetness for it God saith it yea swears it Heb. 3.18 that thou shalt never enter into his rest This is Gods councel that men must be brought through Sanctification to Salvation 2 Thess 2.13 and can you think to overturn his appointed Will or contradict his Councels Must the Earth be forsaken for thee Must the immutable God falsifie his word to save chee against his will yea against thy will For thou wilst not come to him for life God will not be merciful to any wicked transgressour The eternal determination of Heaven is recorded in that chain of Salvation Rom. 8.30 and all the Men on Earth and Devils in Hell cannot break one link of it Predestination Vocation Justification Salvation or Glorification Go try the turning Day into Night or Winter into Summer or stop the course of the Sun before thou think to divert the proceedings of grace in the salvation of Souls but its vain to attempt either for his councel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure 3. This is the design of God in all his Ordinances to make Souls meet for Heaven It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 Ministers and Ordinances were given for perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.11 12 13. This is the means of Conversion the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 the means of edification of resolution of doubts consolation and confirmation so are the Seals of the Covenant given to this end to bring Souls onward to this glorious Inheritance Now Sirs consider shall you receive this grace of God in vain Shall all the Ordinances be lost upon you You must give account of Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments shall they be the savour of death unto death to you or the savour of life unto life Alas how do poor Ministers toyl and travel pray and watch weep and sigh to the breaking of their Loyns spending of their Spirits to bring you to God and Heaven and you pretend kindness to us but have no real kindness to your own Souls we dare not but warn you in the name of Christ lest you fail of the grace of God and fall short of this Inheritance We watch for your Souls as those that must give an account O let us do it with joy and not with grief Heb. 13.17 If it be uncomfortable to us it will be unprofitable to you Must our sweat and labour be in vain But it will not be in vain to us for our work is with the Lord we shall not lose our reward God will pay the Nurse though the Child dye Our Crown will be given us if we be faithful though we be not successful for that 's in Gods hands But woe be to those souls that have sitten under powerful Ordinances and miss of this Inheritance O woe woe to you you cannot miss of Heaven but be plunged into a deeper Hell O ease our Hearts and save your own Souls Kill us and damn your selves nay murder your selves and you again Crucifie Christ whose person we represent Rather give us leave to espouse you to one Husband 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fitted you as things that are pieced together glued or soddered let us do so with you that we may present you as chast virgins in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 Would to God this were the fruit of our labours 4. This is the design of all Gods Providential dispensations Mercies afflictions smiles frowns come upon this errand to make Souls meet for Heaven Cords of love draw rods of wrath drive the poor sinner
towards that which suits the fancy but sound conviction and deep humiliation never prepared the Soul to a judicious relish of divine things nor do they produce those blessed effects in heart and life as in Gods Children Oh how many poor sinners are going on in a golden dream and fear no danger till they be past hopes of recovery Many think they are travelling towards Heaven and never question it till as they are stepping out of this world as they think into Heaven miss their footing and drop down into Hell That never see their errour till it be too late to retrieve it Oh that men were awakened in time If you stay till death have struck its stroke it will be too late Imparatum inveniet dies judicii quem imparatum invenerit â—â—es mortis The day of judgment must needs find him unready that the day of death finds unready Men have a conceit that the interval betwixt death and judgment may do great things to make them meet for Heaven but they are mistaken Death launcheth you into the boundless ocean of Eternity It is appointed unto men once to dye and after that the judgment Heb. 9.27 Ah Sirs what think you Is there an Heaven or Hell after this life or is there not And are you not certain whether you do enter by death into eternal happiness or misery and yet can you be quiet If you were not loose in your belief of future things you would be restlefs as long as you are doubtful You owe your ease to nothing but your Lethargy If you were not infidels you would be distracted What Man The next moment may be roaring in Hell and not repent on Earth He is worse then a Devil that trembles not under divine wrath What if it have not siezed on you as on Devils The flame is at next door wrath hangs over your heads the only reason you see it not is because you are blind The Lord open your eyes and I need not preach terrour to you your hearts will meditate terror Fearfulness will surprize you hypocrites and make you say Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 It s a wonder you do not run up and down like mad men surely you have taken some Opium to cast you in a dead sleep or intoxicate your Spirits Or as some Malafactors do that dare not dye sober Yea some wiser Heathens took great draughts of Wine saying That no voluptuous person can go in his Wits into an invisible state But is this a making meet for Heaven or Hell Can rational persons think to escape the ditch by winking Or will men say as it s reported of Robert Duke of Normandy William the Conquerours Father going on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem falling sick was born in a Litter on Saracens shoulders and said He was born to Heaven on the Devils back Alas will you trust the Fiend of Hell to bring you to Heaven Is he grown so full of charity to Souls Oh forlorn case of miserable sinners have you no better a friend then Satan That you can be content to be rockt asleep in his cradle and carried with ease to Hell rather then ride in our Lords chariot paved with Love to Heaven Is security your best fence against misery Can these poor fig-leaves of temporary Righteousness secure you from divine Vengeance Can you be content to stand by that another day that you dare not put to the tryal here Alas I am afraid 1. Some are ignorant sots that know not what is necessary to a meetness for Heaven Most think if they have but time to say at death Lord have mercy upon me God forgive me my sins Lord Jesus receive my Soul they think they have made their peace with God especially if they can say they forgive all the world and dye in charity with all and send for the Minister to pray with them and receive absolution and the Sacrament when perhaps they are little fit for such a solemn Ordinance then the Minister recommends their Souls into Gods hands commends them at their Funeral and now they are certainly gone to Heaven these poor wretched sinners blessed their Souls whilst living and men must praise them and account them blessed when dead Psal 49.18 2. Most are inconsiderate They consider nothing but meer objects of sense like the kine of Bashan go out at their breaches every one at that which is before her Amos 4.1 â—3 They never mind things out of their natural sight they put far away the evil day Am. 6.3 little thinking what will be in the end of their sensual ways Jer. 5.31 Either they say to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Isa 56.12 or else in Atheistical scorn and mockery Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye 1 Cor. 15.32 Let us be merry while we may we shall never be younger when we are gone all the world is gone with us as if there were no reckoning or rendering day or retribution in the other world but let such study Eccl. 11.9 10. Rom. 8.13 Luk. 12.19 20. Psal 9.17.2 Thess 1.6 7 8 9. Job 3.18 Psal 50 23. Oh Sirs disappointments are dreadful It s sad with a witness to be confident of Heaven and yet doomed to Hell As Hamilcar dreamed he should the next night sup in Syracusa which indeed he did not as a Conqueror as he hoped but as a Prisoner Oh how will it double your damnation to live in confident hopes of reigning with Christ yet to be judged by him and banished from him for ever If you say Soul take thine case and God say Devil take his Soul Whether of these think you will prevail CHAP. XI An Exhortation to all persons to get meet for Heaven 2. THE latter Use is Exhortation 1. To Sinners 2. To Saints to get meet for this Heavenly Inheritance The former by an habitual the latter by actual meetness for this glorious state I shall need to say the less to move you to it having urged practical Reasons from our natural unmeetness divine ordination the design of ordinances providences the season of life for it the work and priviledges here require it the inconsistency of a contrary-frame to that glorious inheritance Most of these are levelled to the state of unsanctified graceless Souls therefore I shall say the less to that branch Oh that I had here the Tongue or Pen of an Angel The Bowels of blessed Paul to perswade sinners to look after a meetness for Heaven Consider 1. What else have you to do in the world Your very Children will tell you that Mans chief end is to glorifie God and injoy him for ever If you attain not these ends you live in the world to no purpose you are unprofitable cumber-grounds 2. You frustrate Christs undertakings in the world and do what you can to render all his merits useless you tread under foot the Son of God count the blood of the Covenant an
and the humbler the Soul is the fitter for God Isa 57.15 and 66.2 Thank God for that humility 3. You may and must be thankful for the Mercies which you have and cannot deny but God hath vouchsafed You have your lives for a prey are out of Hell which is more then you deserve you have abundant outward Mercies do not these deserve thankfulness Yea Christ hath purchased grace and glory for some nay further he hath put thousands into possession of this inheritance and should not this make you thankful Yea further Heaven is offered to you and you are under the means of grace and in a possibility of obtaining this happiness which Devils and damned Souls are not and is not this ground of thankfulness 4. Be sure you keep in mind the distinction of habitual and actual meetness for Heaven If you have not the former either relative or real be not adopted or justified are neither converted nor covenanted with God I say the Lord have mercy on you your case is doleful you have great cause of lamentation Oh man I am not now speaking to thee Be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into mourning your joy to heaviness Jam. 4.9 Yea you graceless rich men weep and houl for your miseries that shall come upon you Jam. 5.1 I have not a word of comfort from the Lord to you Your eatthly inheritances shall be taken from you and you shall be thrust into the dungeon of Hell You may for a while kindle a fire and walk warm in the sparks you have kindled but faith God this shall you have of mine hand ye shall lye down in sorrow Isa 50.11 Stand you by while the Saints take comfort in their portion Read Isa 65.13 14 15. It is to you the heirs of promise to whom I am now speaking and bear you this in mind that its one thing to have right to this inheritance another to know you have right Many a gracious Soul is much in the dark about its relation yet its state safe for the main What sayest thou Hast thou not the things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6.9 Hath not God been dealing with thy heart as he useth to deal with such as he designs for Heaven Hast thou not seen thy woful state by Nature The necessity of Christ and grace Hast thou not experienced a change from Nature to Grace from Death to Life Hath not this new birth cost thee griefs and groans prayers and tears Dost thou not delight now in what thou didst disdain Is not thy principle rule end otherwise then formerly Hast thou not changed thy company courses manner of life Speak out man belye not thy self deny not Gods grace something like grace thou seest in thy self and to be sure Satan and World oppose it and man and thy self could not work it It is of God a seed sown by the hand of omnipotency And he that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 As to actual meetness for Heaven I refer you to what hath been laid down before look it over deal impartially see if your experience do not answer those heads hath not God helped you in the exercise of the graces of Faith Hope Love Humility Hath not God given you some grounded evidence of sincerity by diligence in duty reflection on your state appealing to God and pleading with God for the Spirits sealings Hath not God helpt you to be dispatching your work off your hands Spiritual Temporal Relative and Publick Are you not much mortified to corruption worldly injoyments and have you not spiritualized earthly things and got more intimate familiarity with God What say you to these things Do not your hearts eccho back with your probatum est setting your seal to these things I have not time nor room to inlarge further but I would have you diligently compare your selves now with what you were some years ago Is not your Repentance more Evangelical Doth not the sense of divine love extort from you more tears of godly sorrow and more vehement hatred of all sin purely it is offensive to God Hath not your Faith been more vigorous in its actings upon your dear Lord In closing more fully with promises Have you not been more frequent and serious in renewing your Covenant with God And have not such dayes and duties been solemn heart-melting opportunities Have you not been more constant and inlarged in the duty of secret Prayer with shorter intermissions and more favouriness Do you spend your time better then formerly Do you fill up every vacancy with some useful business for Earth or Heaven Have you not more incomes of grace and assistance in duties both as to matter and manner To knit your minds and raise your affections to God and sometimes suggest words to you Do you not more concern your selves for the Souls of Relations and others in Prayer and Discourse being more weighted with the necessity of their Conversion Are you not more endeared to Saints as Saints though poor or disobliging and of a different perswasion Have you not got power over your Passions to regulate them And if you feel unruly motions can you pray them down and through grace calm them Can you not put up injuries and affronts and not only so as not to revenge and forgive but pray more heartily for the repentance and remission of such as are most malicious against you Is it not more the grief of thy heart when God is dishonoured his Spirit grieved his Gospel reproached by the sins of profane or professours If thou think any body is offended by thee is it not more a real trouble to thee then formerly And thou canst not be quiet till thou seekest Reconciliation And if thou be conscious of giving them just occasion thou confessest thy fault and humblest thy self to them Hast thou not learned more faithfully and discreetly to manage the duty of private admonition of an offending Christian Drawing out bowels of compassion for and to such as are fallen Do not publick concerns of Church or Nation lye nearer thy heart daily Canst thou not more rejoyce in the gifts graces holiness usefulness of others though it obscure thine Art thou not more glad when corruptions are mortified then gratified When occasions of sinning are removed rather then afforded though it cost thee dear Dost thou not more sensibly understand the sweet life of faith in temporals Committing all to God thou findest provisions have been strangely made Are not thy affections more spiritualized towards dearest Relations Dost thou not love them in the Lord and the Lord in them and canst freely part with them upon Gods call Art thou not more taken up with Gods Mercies to give him the glory of them then any personal content thou hast in them Is not thy heart daily more weary of the world and longing for Heaven Yet after all this canst thou not say thou art nothing deservest nothing but Hell And if God glorifie his Justice in thy confusion thy mouth is stopped and thou must justifie him for ever with flames about thine Eares Dost thou not account thy self the greatest of Sinners least of Saints and by the grace of God thou art what thou art And this thou canst truly say that God is more thy exceeding joy and Christ more precious to thy Soul then ever Canst thou in thy sober solid setled frame answer these questions thy state is safe and sweet and thou art meet for Heaven yet not so meet but still breathing after more meetness till thy last gasp of breath for no man on this side death was ever meet enough and all must be ascribed to grace grace in the foundation grace in the topstone I shall conclude all with a part of a Poem in Mr. Herbert called Grace p. 52. Death is still working like a Mole And digs my Grave at each remove Let Grace work too and on my Soul Drop from above Sin is still hammering my heart Vnto an hardness void of love Let suppling Grace to cross his art Drop from above O come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above 2 Cor. 5.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent frrm the body and to be present with the Lord. Amen FINIS Some Books to be Sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside A Call to Sinners such as are under sentence of Death and such as are under any prospect of it from the long suffering and gracious but most righteous God Three Questions resolved briefly and plainly viz. 1. What Conceptions ought we to have of the blessed God 2. What are those Truths whereof the Knowledge appeareth most indispensably necessary unto our Salvation and therefore to be first and most learnt by us 3. What is the change wrought in a Man by Gods H. Word and Spirit before he can safely conclude himself passed from Death to Life Being the Summ of three Sermons The Christian Temper Or the Quiet state of Mind that Gods Servants labour for Set forth in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Vrsula Collins A seasonable Question plainly resolved viz. What are we to judge of their spiritual estate who neglect the Lords Supper And what is that discerning of the Lords Body in it without which men do Eat and Drink their own Damnation The Christians earnest Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Set forth in a Discourse occasioned by the Decease of that Excellent Christian and Minister of Christ Mr. Noah Webb late of Sandhurst in the County of Berks. FINIS In Answer to this question see 3 Opinions in Dr. Tuckney Theses Praet Theol. ubi videa praeclare furius disputata p. 269. ad p. 292.
Vine tree Ezek. 15.3 4 5. that is not meet for any work but it is cast into the fire for fuel just so is that branch that 's professionally in Christ that beareth not fruit it s taken away and cast into the fire and burned Joh. 15 2.-6 The Divine Wisdom is seen in suiting means to the end object to the faculty back to the burden Now graceless sinners are not fit for Gods work and if they be not fit in this world they will never be fit 2. The Christian hath many priviledges to injoy which he must be meet for even in this world as Reconciliation Justification Adoption Joy in the Holy Ghost Peace of Conscience Communion with God Audience of Prayers c. All these God hath promised Christ hath purchased for his Children and they are Childrens bread and must not be given to dogs God will not throw away his Mercies on such as value them not but scorn them they set light by precious delicates of his Table Mat. 22 5. The whole slight the Physitian Mat. 9.12 The full soul loaths the honey comb The carnal heart will not thank God for pardon and grace and can we think God will force his Blessings on such ungrateful miscreants that scorn both him and his kindness No surely there are some that long for these Blessings and will thankfully accept them See Acts 13.46 48. and 28.28 Yea he will make you prize them and part with all for them or you shall never have them What think you doth not the great God take care to secure his own glory as well as Mans felicity And would it not be dishonourable to God to bestow his richest treasures and pleasures of grace on such as despise them and take more pleasure in rooting in the sordid dunghil of sensual delights then in seeking first the Kingdom of God which consists in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Alas Honour is not seemly for a fool Prov. 26.1 As a Jewel of Gold in a swines snout so is a fair Woman without discretion Prov. 11.22 These silly fools are not meet to sit as Princes with the King at his Table because they want a Wedding-garment of suitable disposition for so high a priviledge Mat. 22.12 CHAP. VIII Another Reason drawn from the necessary consistency of a Christians meetness for so glorious an Inheritance 7. THE last Reason why souls must be made meet for Heaven is because other wise there would be no consistency or suitable harmony betwixt men and glory If their natures be not changed they will not have a suitableness of disposition to the glorious state above The truth of this I shall demonstrate in these 4 particulars 1. None but persons made meet for Heaven will have any mind to leave the world and go to God A carnal unconverted soul is totally unwilling to go hence they fancy to themselves an Eternity below Their inward thought is that their houses shall endure for ever Psal 49.11 Yea themselves for they put far from them the evil day and sing a requiem to themselves as the fool in the Gospel and no wonder for they live by sense and know what they have here but know not what they must have hereafter As the old doting Monk that shewed his brave accommodations saying These things make us unwilling to dye It was an usual saying among the Heathens soli Christiani sunt mortis contemptores that Christians only are contemners of death This is applicable to sincere Christians Stoical apathy will not do it but Faith will Julius Palmer the Martyr said To them that have their Souls linked to the Elesh like a Rogues foot to a pair of stocks it is indeed hard to dye but for him who is able to separate Soul and Body by the help of Gods Spirit it is no more mastery for such a one to dye then for me to drink this cup of Beer Nay when the Christian is upon good terms with God he desires to be loosed or dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 Yea this is the disposition of a Soul meet for Heaven that he loves and longs for Christs appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 but the sincere Christian that is not actually meet son Heaven though through grace he be habitually meet often shrugs at the approach of death and is glad to chide himself out and say as that holy man Egredere mea Arima egredere Go out my Soul go out what art thou afraid of And surely that man is more acceptable to God and comfortable in death that hath set all things streight and hath nothing to do but surrender his Soul into Gods hands this man will make his Lord welcome any hour of the day or watch of the night but the other is like a Maid undrest and unready though for the main she love her Friend and desire his coming yet in the present juncture and under those circumstances she is surprized and troubled that he should find her in that pitiful pickle This is the case of the unmeet Christian 2. None but Souls meet for Heaven are fit for death through which all must pass It s true the Apostle doth discover to us this mistery which among the rest he might receive in the third Heavens 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed but this change is a peculiar dispensation in the end of the world and this change is equivalent to death This is certain the fruit of the curse the sting of death will fasten her fangs on the unconverted soul that 's under the covenant of works and is not in Christ It s only the sincere Christian that can sing that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Song of Triumph or can make that brave challenge 1 Cor. 15.56 57. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Only our Captain Jesus hath disarmed death and it is only for his members others are left to its rage Death feeds on them Psal 49.14 it hath a full morsel of them The first death kills the Body and the second death damns the Soul but blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power Rev. 20.6 Oh happy state of real Saints Christ our David hath conquered this Goliah The Ark of the Covenant hath driven back this swelling Jordan Tollitur mors non ne sit sed ne obsit This Serpent may hiss and hit not hurt strike down it may not strike home it may thrust Gods Children into the Grave not into Hell Nay our Lord sets his not only above the danger by death but fears of death that are thus meet for Heaven Heb. 2.14 15. that can say as that gracious Gentlewoman a Martyr written by me Anne Askew that neither wisheth for death nor feareth his might and as merry as one that 's bound for Heaven But oh the woful state of a graceless sinner that is in Natures
state and loves and lives in sin lyes and dyes in the old Adam That 's the sadest word in all the Bible pronounced twice in a breath by our blessed Lord Joh. 8.21 24. Ye shall dye in your sins i. e. under the guilt of your sins and sentence of condemnation This is surprizing from what he adds in the first place whither I go you cannot come that is to Heaven whither sinners cannot enter You 'l say then no man can enter into Heaven for all men are sinners even to the last breath When are men cleansed is it in Articulo mortis in the passage of the Soul out of the Body May not all be cleansed alike then Answ It s true all are sinning to the last gasp of breathing out their Souls but 1. You must distinguish betwixt a state of sin and having fin The best have relicks of Original corruption as long as they live The death of the body will only annihilate the body of death Death is not properly the punishment but period of sin It reigns not in Gods Children at present it shall not remain in them when dead The guilt of sin is already gone for there 's no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and the filth yea being of sin is taken away as soon as death strikes the stroke 2. I see not but the mighty God can perfectly expel sin out of the Soul and also perfect defective graces in the instant of the Souls separation from the Body as well as he did infuse a principle of grace into the Soul in an instant at the Souls first conversion for by death the spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Mind it it is just men not wicked God will not infuse grace into men ordinarily in their passage out of the world qualis vita finis ita as men live so they dye and if men imagine God will put another principle into their hearts just as they pass out of this World as this is a daring presumption so they will be mistaken for how is a departing Soul capable of such receptions or reflections as are necessary in the work of conversion Alas the Eyes being set Lips quivering Memory failing and the Body in a cold sweat is unfit for any thing their hopes giving up the ghost as their breaths depart and it s a wonder that the Souls of wicked men go quietly out of their Bodies its strange they depart not as the Devils out of the Demonaicks rending raging tearing foming but if Conscience be asleep death will awake it could you follow their departing Souls a minute out of their Bodies you would hear howlings and roarings 3. Heaven will not receive any Souls but such as are made meet for it on Earth Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither what soever worketh abomination for without are dogs Rev. 22.15 They say Ireland will not brook a Toad a Snake or venomous Creature to live and like in it I am sure Heaven will not admit but cast out an unsanctified heart The Legions of apostate Angels knew this who abode not one moment in that holy place after they left their innocency It is said of the Halcyons nest that it will hold nothing but its own Bird The same may be said of Heaven the Serpent could wind himself into the Earthly Paradice but none of the Serpentine brood shall once peep into this Heavenly Paradice For 1 The Text saith It is an Inheritance now an Inheritance is for none but Children its true all Gods Children are heirs Rom. 8.17 but none shall inherit Heaven except Children By nature we are Children of Wrath by grace and adoption Children of God All Gods Children are begot again to a lively hope for this incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. 2. It s the inheritance of Saints i. e. of holy sanctified Souls Persons must not think that Heaven is like Mahemets Paradice where there is delicious fare pleasant gardens fair women and all sensual delights fit lettice for an Epicures Lips No no Heaven is a state of perfect immediate and perpetual injoyment of God suited to the raised faculties of a sanctified Soul 3. It s the inheritance of Saints in light It s a bright and lightsome state suited to seeing Souls blind sinners can see no beauty there such as are not changed from darkness to light are not fit for that state see Acts 26.18 Alas a blind man can take no content in beautiful objects though the Sun shine never so gloriously Heaven and light are synonymous but light and darkness are directly contrary If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1.6 and such dark sinners are far from a suitableness to this state and place of light O therefore poor sinners consider this the holy God hates all the workers of iniquity the holy Heaven is no sanctuary for Rebels and Traytors God will not take such vipers into his bosom thou must either be renewed or never received into glory it is an undefiled inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 a dirty sinner must not enter this would disparage and contradict all Gods Attributes as his Justice then God should give to the wicked according to the work of the righteous it would blemish his Holiness as though unclean were delighted in equally with the clean it would contradict his Truth as though God regarded not what he said or swore that no unclean thing shall enter there Every Attribute would have dirt cast upon it if God should save the unsanctified Soul Nay it contradicts the undertakings of Jesus Christ who came to save his people from their sins not in their sins It exposeth the office and operations of the Holy Ghost whose office it is to sanctifie sinners and prepare Souls for Heaven that sinner must surely be in a desperate case that must un God the infinite Jehovah God blessed for ever or else he cannot be saved 4. The unsanctified sinner would by no means like in Heaven Heaven would be an Hell to him except his Nature were changed and renewed Most Men mistake the nature of Heaven they only look upon it as a place of happiness it is so but withal it is a state of perfect holiness They are holy priviledges injoyment of God and what care wicked men for his company They say unto God depart from us and their choice shall be their punishment They are holy joys and delights how will they like that who were never pleased but with sensual laughter which is madness There 's holy company above of Saints but they cannot abide to be near them on Earth how then can they like to be associated to them in Heaven There is holy imployment above but alas they are not at all qualified for nor can they be delighted in the work of loving praising or taking pleasure in God Augustine hath a saying