the terme of his naturall life abideth in the flesh or body 4. More necessary This is not spoken simply but comparatively it was not absolutely necessary for the Church that S. Paul should live for GOD could even then as after his departure he did provide other Instructours to build his Church and House but yet it was more necessary for their profit that he should live then die 5. For you But why more necessary was it not because his appointed time to die was not yet come this is true but personall He mentioneth that which concernes the Philippians that they might take notice how carefull he was for them and how thankfull they ought to be to GOD for him My life is more needfull for you for the furtherance of your faith and piety Q. Did Saint Paul desire to live only for the good of the Philippians Sol. He neither saith it nor thinketh it He saith his life was more needfull for the Philippians so it was but he saith not only for them Q. Why then doth he only name them Answ Because he only writeth to them Behold a patterne of admirable love in a Shepheard to the sheep of CHRIST preferring their welfare to his own present glory What Merchant saith Saint Chrysostome having his vessell fraught with rich commodities if he could safely arrive at a haven would doubt to do so rather then be still tossed in the sea What Champion would-strive for the mastery when he might weare the corruptible crowne What Commander when he might rest at home in glory after a triumphant victory would rather still continue the fight to the hazard of his life and honour and yet this is S. Pauls choise wherein he resembles a woman that hath husband children her husband is in a far country she is with her children she may go to him whom her soule doth chiefely love and there she shall be abundantly provided for but then she must leave her children behind her and what then will become of you my poore children it would be better indeed for me to be with my husband but it would be worse with you then now it is for your sakes therefore it is that I neglect mine owne present honour to do you good Leaving this discourse the words do naturally yeeld us this Doctrine which I will handle being pertinent to our present purpose The life of a faithfull Minister doth more good and is more profitable for GODS people then his death This doth S. Paul witnesse of himselfe yet from this particular and worthy example the grounds and reasons of his assertion being common and the same in others that they were in him the doctrine is generally true of every faithfull Pastour that they doe more good to the living Saints while they themselves doe live then when they are dead The Word of GOD in the mouthes of the Ministers is not weake but mighty in operation able to cast downe strong holds and whatsoever opposeth it selfe to it though Satan be the strong man that keeps possession yet the LORD is stronger and can cast him out See the efficacy and wonderfull working of the Gospell that Saint Paul could say for his part only that from Ierusalem round about unto Illyricum he had fully preached the Gospell of CHRIST and as the lightening commeth out of the East and shineth to the West and as the Suns going forth is from the ends of the heaven and his circuit to the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof so in Saint Pauls time the Gospell was come into all the knowne parts of the world and brought forth fruit as it did amongst the Colossians thus did the Gospell strangely spread it selfe by the preaching of GODS servants even while Saint Paul himselfe was alive and after the Apostles by their Successours as they were Pastours as the soule in the body so were Christians dispersed in the world even the Getulians Moores Spaniards Galls and the Britans the Sarmatians also Germanes and Scythians do believe in CHRIST before whom the gates of all Cities are throwne open and none are shut against him before whom also the iron locks are broken and the brazen gates are opened i. e. the hearts of very many that were holden fast locked by the divell are now unlocked by the faith of CHRIST saith Tertullian What instrument was ever too weake to effect GODS will if he tooke it in hand though the Apostles presence was but weak and their speech rude and their words distastfull and unwelcome to the world yet did they prevaile or if they had been to preach to Infants and children not seasoned with inveterate idolatry it had beene no great mastery to have brought them to the faith of CHRIST as it was no great glory to the Spaniard to vanquish the Indians when Benzo the Italian reported that he durst be one of the 25. that would fight with ten thousand nay with twenty thousand of that naked people but the case is altered now for 1. The Apostles were but few for number and of no great reckoning in the world 2. For the same men to teach a strange doctrine to believe on CHRIST crucified and to be ready to lay downe their lives for him if they looked to go to heaven 3. To preach to the world when many of them did seeke after wisdome and secular Philosophy as did the Grecians many after state policy and war as did the Romans and all of them trained up in a long continued will-worship and damnable idolatry of a deepe die yet the Gospell by the preaching of it as Aarons rod amongst the serpents of the Magicians devoured them all and brought them to acknowledge allegiance to it surely this should make us cry out as the people did upon the proofe that Elias made the LORD he is GOD the LORD he is GOD. Now the LORD doth this great worke by the Ministery of living men and sometimes by weake men that the excellency of the power may be ascribed to GOD and not to man and thus you see in generall the great profit which accompanies the work of the Preachers in the plantation and foundation of Churches let us consider some particular benefits which redound to them which are actuall members of a visible Church and they are either 1 in regard of the bad or 2 in regard of those that are good or 3 in regard of all sorts both good and bad First I say their life is more needfull in regard of those that are actually as yet in the state of unregeneration and that in a double respect First to be a powerfull meanes of converting the Elect and to bring them to all the degrees of salvation other professions do aime at the good of this life the Physician at the health of the body the Lawyer is for the right of his Client but the end of the Ministery alone is chiefely to
death where is thy sting they may take this all-devouring serpent without any hurt at all into their bosomes they that have their debts paid dare go out of doores and are not afraid to meet the Sergeant they dare looke on death and welcome him as the King of heavens officer to give them possession of an everlasting-inheritance wee feare our friends when they have a vizour on their faces but put it off and we rejoyce in them Excellent was the speech of S. Ambrose to the Nobles of his city which with threats and flatteries were sent to him by the Count Stilico to perswade him to pray unto GOD for the continuance of his life which when the holy Bishop heard he answered divinely J have not so lived amongst you that I am ashamed to live longer nor am J afraid to die because we have a good Lord. Doubtlesse had we beloved brethren as much faith on earth as there is joy in heaven we would not be afraid of death this is the narrow passage betwixt this life and our countrie on this side the bridge we have many troubles many sins many feares many temptations of the Divel which should make us think the worse of our lives and very willing to leave them but on the other side we shall be freed from all trouble from all sin from al molestation of the divel and shall be filled with all the joy our hearts can possibly desire So that hitherto we may apply Sampsons riddle Out of the enter came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetnesse Secondly this may serve to moderate our excessive mourning for our friends which die we hope in the LORD David exceeded in his sorrow for Absalon and was there not a cause He did not so at the death of the infant Let us rejoyce Saint Chrysostome saith for the just both living and dead because they are happy let us not in an unseemely manner bewaile them by pulling off our haires baring our armes tearing our faces or putting on mourning garments so saith the father and I say happy are they which have exchanged a base earthly tabernacle for a princely Pallace sorrowes for joy and earth for heaven and me thinkes our blessed brother now deceased if he had intercourse with us mortall creatures would say to his deare wife lying in her teares children and friends as our Saviour did to those pious women that followed him Daughters of Ierusalem weepe not for me but weepe for your sâ—lves you know my fastings my meditations my watchings and know you brethren that godly Ministers do purposely watch and meditate for you when you are or would be a sleep You know my griefe for my owne calamities and for the calamities of GODS Church and by your owne experience you may know what sharpe combats I have had with that raging enemie the Divell and what wounds I have received in the conflict now do I feare no perils on the land or sea no perils in the house or in the field now am J victorious over Satan and have trampled him under my feet and now he hath nothing at all in mee and now am J crowned with glorie and would you my deare friends be so unkind to me to wish me alive againe and to run the former hazards Kings and Queenes are willing to marrie their daughters to forraine Princes and never looke to set their eyes onthem againe and should we mourne too much for his absence and not rather rejoyce with him for his happier estate then this earth can afford When Iacob heard that his beloved Ioseph was alive and governour over all the Land of Aegypt his fainting heart revived no lesse ought the consideration of the glorie of departed servants of GOD cheere up our drooping and sad hearts for them and excite us to desire the fruition of the same glorie And this is my next point to be handled I desire saith S. Paul to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST It 's the fore-sight of heavenly glory and being with CHRIST that makes a man desire to die Some men indeed would die because there is nothing in this world for them to expect but miserie and shame and these do little lesse sometimes then call for the rocks to fall upon them that they might end their wretched daies as Iob saith they long for death and dig for it more then for hid treasure which rejoyce exceedingly and are glad when they can finde the grave this motive swaied not Saint Paul but onely this that he might be with CHRIST I grant to desire death simply as death is against the Law of GOD and the law of nature death is our enemie and is not from GOD creationes by creation though it be truly from him ultione to revenge the sins of man saith Florus de praedest or as others say it is from him ordinatione because in justice he ordained death corporall as one part of the punishment which was due for the sinne of man and hence our Saviour CHRIST himselfe who knew no sin at all viewing death as it is in it selfe considered declined it let this cup passe and so did Saint Paul too we will not saith he be uncloathed the parting of these good friends body and soule without some further end is a grievous separation this harmelesse innocent nature teacheth and as death is further a meanes to cut off all possibility to profit others and to helpe the poore Church of CHRIST with our labours â—â—…us piety and grace may move them to pray with David LORD let my soule live These cautions are premised to prevent mistaking in the point but now which is to my purpose Consider death as it is a way meanes to bring us to the presence of CHRIST so it may be holily desired our Saviour CHRIST who said let this cup passe said also as his death was our life I have a Baptisme to be baptized withall and how am I pained till it be accomplished and nót only I Paul but we that are faithfull that are in this tabernacle do groane earnestly ver 2. not for that we would be uncloathed but cloathed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life and after we are willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the LORD It s the love that a child should be borne into the world not the love of paine that makes the mother desire the travell in child-birth excellently saith Saint Basil properanti ad coebestem paetriam c. to him that makes hast to the countrey which is above the stay in the body is more grievous then any paine or any prison and it is said that Peter and Andrew welcomed their crosses as they were wont to doe their dearest friends and imbraced them in their armes and saluted them with kisses of peace Ignatius encouraged wild beasts to devoure him that he might be
bread for CHRIST Martyrs went to their death with cheerefullnesse and songs and ran to the stake as to a garland and who would with Saul hide himselfe in the stuffe when he is called to be crowned a King If Abraham saw his day by faith when he was but promised and rejoyced what cause of joy must it needs be to see the Saviour of the world when he is exhibited If Saint Iohn Baptist did leape at his presence when he was in the wombe of his blessed mother What will his glorious presence effect in them who shall behold him in al his Royaltie if the Wife men of the East went a long journie and rejoyced to see the holy Babe CHRIST in the house what cause of joy will it be to see him sit in his glorie at the right hand of his Father far above all Principalities and powers If many Kings and Princes longed for that day to see their Saviour mortall what resemblance is fit to expresse the joy of those that behold him crowned with glory and immortalitie it is a passing glory to be admitted to the sight of CHRIST his face and to receive glory from the brightnesse of his Majestie and if we were to suffer torments every day yea the very torments of hell for a time therby to gaine the sight of CHRIST it were nothing in respect of the reward This Doctrine shewes us the extreame folly of all licentious livers and impenitent sinners when they looke upon their wicked courses what for sight can they have but of hell as their just reward they would be with CHRIST as they say hereafter and yet they will not have CHRIST to be wiâ—h them now and to rule over them they will sow unto the flesh and yet would reape unto the spirit they are stout and will have their sinne though they be damned for it we will say those rebels in Ieremy walke after our owne devices and we will every one doe the imaginations of his evill heart Experience sheweth us that you cannot crush oyle out of skins nor sweet wine out of sower grapes and if you be the seedesmen of darnell and cockle you shall have no harvest of wheat â—…or good graine you will not live conscionably and yet you would die peaceably and though you speake CHRIST faire yet you wil loose nothing for his sake the chaine will make your profession afraid and reproach will make it ashamed you love him well you say but you will be advised not to displease such and such friends for his love your fore-sight of Heaven hath no hands to do good works corporall and spirituall nor eyes to shed teares for your sins and the sins of others nor stomacke to abide a holy and a religious fast nor flesh to endure this mortification and zealous revenge nor tongue to speake the language of confession and zealous devout and faithfull prayer if then in your extremities and when your feares approach you send for us as Pharaoh did for Moses and never till then and cry unto us helpe us and comfort us as that starved woman did to the King of Israel Wee answer as hee did that distressed creature if the LORD doth not helpe you how should we And now by this time I suppose you are brought to that passe that GODS servants whom you have in your prosperity despised may say to you concerning all your daubers whom you then respected where are they now that will prophesie peace peace unto you your consciences which before were asleepe being now awakened to heare the crie of your sinnes and these glasses formerly covered with dust as it were being wiped cleare to represent unto you the disfigured and odious face of your sinnes when these evill daies shall come upon you as they will or that which is worse you must needs confesse to the terrour of your soules that we GODS Messengers have told you of these things and you would not heare us as Reuben said to his brethren Your sins which you tooke to be your friends as GOD himselfe hath threatned are suddenly turned to be your foes and now do appeare as a marshalled army comming in a terrible manner against you and when GOD speakes to your consciences as Iehu did to the Eunuchs who is on my side who even they will cast you downe and dash as it were your blood against the wals and make you to be trampled upon and then can you cast your eyes no-way without horrour if upwards unto heaven they will tell you that you are justly excluded out of that happy place if you think upon hell the mouth thereof as you feare is open every moment to receive you when these evill daies shall come c. Second Use of instruction is that we would study our selves and ransacke our soules and be of good grounds and to have certaine evidence that our change shall be for the better mans wisdome teacheth him in Summer to provide for Winter in youth for old age if GOD be better then the world and heaven better then earth and the soule better then the body shall we not labour while we live to get full assurance of being with CHRIST as S. Paul had when we are dead but here is the maine doubt how I should know and be assured thereof First if thou art assured hereof then hast thou faith the maine and fundamentall grace not fundamentum quod that is CHRIST but cui as a learned Schooleman doth distinguish immediatly laying us upon CHRIST and as a Captaine I say not making the graces as heavenly Souldiers but as bringing them forth to fight according to their severall operations thou hast I say a lively faith both in that direct act whereby it justifieth and also by a prudent observation of the worke of faith in thy soule thou dost by faith believe that thou art justified by faith thou hast also the attendant companion upon faith that Christian hope whereby thou waitest on GOD till he accomplish all his gratious promises if we come against the Divell as David did against the Philistine not with sword shield and speare but in the name of the LORD of Hosts we are sure to conquer If we have these graces and by the use of holy meanes do hold them fast how happy are we Blessed is he that beleeveth the Lords words to be all of them true and blessed is he that waiteth on him till he manifests the truth of his words that believeth by faith that GOD is his Father and expecteth by hope that he should shew a fatherly affection to him who believes that salvation belongs to him and waites by hope til he enters into possession of it if this then be the blessed frame of thy soule that thou resolvest and hopest to live and thou resolvest and hopest to die in the armes of thy sweet Saviour thou art in a happy case Secondly if thou hast this holy