exclaime that hee can make no commodity nor gather any fruit out of his garden or orchard when as hee neuer set on good herbe nor plant in them one or other The like is euery husband to deeme of his wife watch for her good and shee will doe thee all good Then secondly euery father is to watch ouer his children that they degenerate and grow not from pure wheare to wilde oats as Helies sonnes did to the destruction of parents and children 1. Sam. 4. 17. c. And this watch is hardest of all because they be the fruit of our bodies in which respect we are ouer indulgent as was Dauid to Absolon 2. Sam. 18. 3. and 19. 33. and to Adoniah 1. King 1. 6. And therefore are they too often more rebellious and head-strong then wee can rule or willingly would bend much lesse breake or cast out of our houses and stone to death Deuter. 21. 18. And who though he were full of eyes and neuer sleeping is sufficient for these things and therefore parents with heauie hearts often sing Moses song in Numb 11. 11. c. Lord if I haue found fauour in thy sight kill me that I behold not my misery What is heere then to be done shall wee in the most needfull place giue ouer our watch God forbid But rather herein follow Salomons counsell in Prou. 22. 6. Traine vp or Catechize a childe that is while he is a childe in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it And good reason for looke how the first institution of children is sutable thereunto will be their whole life continually aspecting thereupon as we see the Sunne euer setteth euen against the place it first that day arose And looke what impression the waxe taketh when it is new it will retaine when it is hard and old Gods people were carefull hereof for wee see how watchfull Iob was ouer his children how he sent and sanctified them and rose vp early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all For Iob thought it may bee my sonnes haue sinned and blasphemed God in there hearts thus did Iob euery day Iob 1. 5. Abraham was commended for commanding his sonnes and houshold after him to keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement Gen. 18. 19. Which how we l he performed appeared in that in one day he circumcised himselfe his sonne Ishmael and all the men in his house Gen. 17. 26. 27. Whereof were 318. able men of war Gen. 14. 14. And how could Ioseph approoue so wise and godly a man departing from his fathers house at seuenteene yeeres Gen 37. 2. Or Samuel so holy a Prophet or Daniel and his three companions so excellent Moses and Dauid men after Gods owne heart Salomon so toward Ezechias seruants so gracious that they penned a part of Salomons prouerbs as Prou. 25. 1. Ioshua and Nehemiah so zealous and godly gouernours Nathaniel Paul and Timothy so religious but that from there cradles they were by their godly parents continually trained in the feare fauour and knowledge of the Lords word and will Mose deliuered Israel Gods lawes to teach them their sonnes and sonnes sonnes all their daies that is euery day while they liued Deut. 6. 2. And before his death bound all Israel men women children seruants and bond-slaues by an oath to keepe and maintaine Gods lawes all excuses set apart as writes Iosephus Antiq. lib. 4. cap. vlt. which they failed not for many yeeres to performe most carefully they in these last times not only from their cradles instruct their children in the principles and summes of religion which they call there little Bible but at fiue yeeres old set them to reade Moses law at tenne the commentaries and expositions of there Rabines at thirteene rules and precepts morall at fifteene the Thalumd controuersies and disputations of the Rabines law Humphred and Ioh. Buxdorph Syn. Iud. cap. 3. So that their children were compared to spungies greedily sucking from their parents the water of life to houre-glasses measuring so their houres that no minute should be mispent to wine sackes retaining the substance of pietie and stilling out the sweetnesse to others to ciues with holding within the pure wheat of the word but shifting out the dust yea they were so skilfull and painefull text-men that they could tell you how many times euery letter of their Alphabet was written in the booke of Genesis which Willet testifieth also in Gen. 50. at the end saying this booke the Iewes make such account of meaning Genesis that they haue numbred the very letters which make 4395. c. Thus in old time little children became old men Grying euen to Christ in the Temple Hosanna Matth. 21. 15 16. But now old men are twise children to wit in age and knowledge Neither doe I take it any sin besides holy writ to shew vnto you how the holy ancient Christians were not sleepy in this worke as Leonides Origens father was so painfull in the education of Origen that daily he exercised him inreading and learning by heart set portions of the holy Scriptures wherein the childe had such inward and mysticall speculation that many times he would mooue very profound questions concerning the meaning of the Scriptures that his father in outward shew would reprooue him for wading so deepe into matters vncapable for his age and often would vncouer his brest being asleepe and kisse it giuing thankes to God that made him father of such a childe and being but seuenteene yeeres of age had such desire to suffer martyrdome for Christ with his father that his mother priuily in the night hidde away his clothes that for shame he could not go forth but writ to his father to take heede for affection to wife or children to recant Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 2. So in the time of the Tenth persecution of the Primatiue Church a little childe of feuenteene yeere old made a glorious confession of the vnitie of the Dietie and together with Noble Romanus suffered martyrdome Prudent de cor Martyr And when Valeus the Arrian Emperour sent his deputie to slay all the Orthodoxe Christians congregated in a Church at Edesse in Mesopotamia a poore woman of the citie hearing thereof hastned with her children in her armes thither which the Deputy seeing asked her whether she would she answered to the Church to suffer martyrdome so godly giuen mother and children were in those daies Ruffinus lib. 2. cap. 5. Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 17. Tripart hist. lib. 7. cap. 32. So Dionysia Africana when her most noble yong sonne Maioricus was martyred in the midst of his torments shee exhorted her sonne to constancie and to remember the holy Trinitie in whose name he was baptized and to keepe vndefiled his wedding garment Victor de perseq Vandal lib. 3. So Frumentius a ladde together with his fellow Aedesius Phoenicians conuerted
trimme the chambers and vvhat not that so they may be freed from all blame receiue their Master with ioy and be of him commended and rewarded So though Gods Elect be through the whole course of their liues and for death also very watchfull that so they may bee approued of God come hee when he please to iudgement yet if by Gods messengers they bee aduertised that his comming is by infallible signes at hand then they prepare and trimme their lamps a fresh and so vse to the two former a third more speciall watch and so a threefold Cable will not bee soone burst and thrise blessed are those seruants whom their Lord when hee commeth shall find so doing Luk. 12. 43. which being so I out of this third member and sense of my text arise this doctrine Whosoeuer will escape the dreadfull sentence of condemnation in the day of Iudgement and be receiued to eternall glory must most carefully watch for our Sauiour Christ Iesus comming to iudgement Before I descend to the proofes of this doctrine so little respected of many I will shew the necessity therof that so my godly Christian may be perswaded more carefully to stand vpon his watch As first there is not a more effectuall Doctrine to rouse the sluggard from his deadly security and sleeping in sinne then to blow in his â—are this fearefull trumpet to call him to iudgement and in time prepare for it no man almost so dead in sinne but will be awaked at this Alarum 2. Who seeth not the sensuall licentiousnesse of this age we liue in that they neyther regard heauen nor hell but as an horse to the battell rush vpon the pikes of all wickednesse with greedines and therefore ought to be put in minde and terrified with Gods iudgements allured with his promises for the â—ife to come 3. A booke case it is that all must die and come to iudgement Heb. 9. 27. Rom. 14. 10. 12. and 2. Corinth 5. 10. 11. as thou tenderest then thy saluation remember that thou art a man a Christian in that thou art a man needs must thou die yet not as a beast to be quite extinguiâ—hed for thy body shall but rest and sleepe a while in the graue and for that terme of time thy soule shalâ— be carried into a region of weale or woe And in that thou art a Christian belieue this article of the Christian faith that thou must in body and soule rise come to iudgment and therfore prepare for it that now for it is high time and thou hast idled ouer-long and it is ouer-late to make any delay 4. Sathan mans deadly enemy labours to hide from vs this day so fearefull and faine vvould perswade vs that there shall bee no day of iudgement and preuaileth with all Mockers Sadduces and Atheists his schollers though he can neuer perswade himselfe therein which makes him beleeue and tremble Iam 2. 19. and though it be yet it is not in haste for the daies are prolonged Ezech. 11. 3. and 12. 22. out and though it come it shall not come so suddenly but a man may make somâ— shift to hide him in that throng or haue respit to say his prayers or cry Lord haue mercy vpon mee and marke it will Satan say iâ— thou shouldst entertaine such frightfull meditations of death of hell of iudgement c. they would depriue a man of all worldly comforts make them weary of their liues therefore needfull it is for them to know how it is likely to fare vvith them if they repent not and I would that but the very remembrance of that day which is so fearefull to Sathan that it causeth him to feare and tremble and which should make rich men weepe and howle Iam. 2. 19. and 5. 1. were deepely infixed in our hearts and then should it not greatly need to call vpon them once twice thrice to watch for then euery man would be a Niniuite Ion. 3. 6. and would at euery temptation remember this counting day whereas now alas no sooner is the thunder-clappe of Gods temporall iudgements past but with Pharaoh their hearts be hardned with Israel they repent of reformation and with hogge and dogge returne to their weltring in the mire and to their olde vomit as though there were no God no heauen no iudgement no hell 5. The world is wholly drowned in infidelity Luke 18. 8. and needs must bee conuinced thereof and drawne to repentance faith and new obedience that wee all may cheerefully meete the Lord in the clouds and bee saued 6. The due meditation vpon this day will enforce vs to contemne the world and all the vanities thereof Seeing then they must be fired and we iudged for abusing them hee that beleeueth this will soone contemne all present vanities and hasten to future felicitie and euer will be thankefull to God for giuing him this warning to pul the stings of that day out of his conscience before dooms day come that so that day bee not terrible vnto him but a ioyfull wedding day translating the nature of it from a day of iudgment to a day of redemption conuerting it from the door of hell to the blessed gate of heauen 7. This doctrine of the last iudgement is moreouer in sundry respects profitable for 1. It will stirre vs vp to serue God sincerely without hypocrisie 2. It will cause vs suruay our liues and iudge our selues that we be not iudged of the Lord it will also pull downe our pride and loath the best thing that will hinder our reckoning in that day 3. It will cause vs make no more account of this world then of an Inne or baiting-place and to ioy that wee haue occasion to leaue it and the vanities thereof 4. It is Gods day of redemption and our yeare of Iubely to warne vs to enter into the possession prepared for vs before all worlds Thus of the premises wee see that this watch appertaineth to all men and that none must refuse this so necessary a worke Now this Doctrine is proued true and sound and is confirmed in Math. 24. 42. and 25. all c. Mark 13. 33. out Luke 12. 35. to 49. and 17. 20. out and 21. 25. to 37. Iohn 5. 27. c. 1. Thes. 4. 15. out and 5. 1. to 12. and 2. Thes. 1. 7. out and 〈◊〉 Tim 408. Apoc. 20. 12. out and 22. 20. all which places call and exhort vs to watch and prepare our selues for this great day This is figured in Exod. 19. as the Lord commanded Moses to sanctifie the people against the third day so Christ bids 〈◊〉 against doomes day 2. as God gaue signes of his comming so did Christ. 3. as Moses brought the people to meet the Lord so the Angels gather the Elect to iudgement 4. as the people 〈◊〉 the thunders and trumpets so shall they feare in that day 5. as God then deliuered the Law so then will hee iudge
the violaters thereof 6. as that day waâ— for the good of the Elect so will this be to Reasons enforce this Doctrine 1. Because the Iudge himselfe commandeth vs so to doe Luke 11. 28. 2. Gods iustice mercy calls for this day to punish the wicked and crowne the godly 3. The Lord sundry times and after diuers manners forewarned vs heereof as 1. by pronouncing the sentence of Death for sinne before it was committed Gen. 2. 17. 2. by often repeating the same sentence in the Law Deutr. 27. 26. 3. by the euidence of euery mans conscience summoning as it were all men to appeare at the day appointed before the great Iudge of all the world Ioh. 8. 7. and 1. Iohn 3 20. 21. Rom. 2. 15. 16. 4. by his speciall temporall iudgements that figure it as vpon the old world Sodom Babel Canaan c. 5. by many signes and tokens fore-running and presaging the same 6. by deliuering his talents to bee occupied vntill his comming againe Luk. 19. 12. 7. 7. by the word of God warning all to iudgement 4. The ends for which Christ commeth to iudgement iustifie the same as 1. for the glory and praise of his Iustice for all eternity 2. inrespect of the compleat fulfilling of Christs three offices And then shall he deliuer vp the kingdome to his father when hee hath put downe all power rule and authority 1. Cor. 15. 24. e. 3. for the crowning of the Elect with immortality in heauen for hauing abolished Sinne and Death and reconciled the Elect hee shall deliuer them to his Father to be crowned with eternall glory and shall triumph ouer all his enemies for euer 4. In respect of men that euery man may receiue his iust desarts be they good or euill 5. for the deliuerance of the creatures from the slauish bondage of corruption whereunto it is subiect Rom. 8. 20. 6. meet and right it is that the Lord should bee reuenged vpon Satan and all his complices for troubling his Elect and consequently vpon all the world for persecuting and afflicting any manner of way his holy Church who now as the bloud of Abel cry against their oppressors Reuel 6. 9. â—0 Luk. 18. 7. and with their prayers hasten the Lord to iudgement and so likewise do the cries of the poore of the hireling the stranger widdow and fatherlesse Deut. 24. 14. 15. Gen. 18. 20. and 4. 10. 6. 5. 6. 7. Iam. 5. 4. the complaint of the Angels of Satans sowing tâ—res Mat. 13. 27. the accusations of Sathan Reu. 12. 10. and the sins of all the world crying to God all which hasten his comming to this great assises and the while he stayeth and delayeth his comming for causes best knowne to himselfe as the complement of the Elect c. also he is faine by strange fearefull and extraordinary iudgements to punish the world when for want of executing Iustice men hiding their eyes Leuit. 20. 1. and to visit countries and people vvith strange plagues and calamities and that for the peace of his Elect else the world would grow out of frame Satan and his kingdom become ouer-insolent and the poore and weake be trodden vnderfoot and therefore there must be a day of generall iudgement The Doctrine thus proued it followeth to giue some vses for the edifying of the conscience whereof the first serues for confutation of all Atheists Sadduces Epicures ignorant Sotts Mockers and whosoeuer besides of that cursed crue and litter who impudently desperately deny there shall be any day of iudgement and therefore without reremorse giue the raines of liberty to all sensuality and abhominations Math. 22. 23 and Acts 23. 8. and 1. Cor. 15. 12. Phil. 3. 18. 19. and 2. Pet. 3. 3. 4. The reasons of these foolish-witty sinners be these the whole world stands of beleeuers and vnbeleeuers but there is no general iudgment day for neyther of these for the beleeuer hath life euerlasting and shall not come to iudgement but passeth from death to life Ioh. 5. 24. as for the vnbeleeuer hee is condemned already Iohn 3. 18. and needs no further iudgement and therefore there shal be no iudgement at all for it is needless I answer By iudgement is meant sometimes absolution as Math. 25. 34. other while condemnation Iohn 5. 24. now God will iudge the iust and the wicked Eccles. 3. 17. the beleeuer shall not come to the iudgement of condemnatioÌ„ yet shal he come to the iudgement of absolution Math. 25. 34. 40. 41. they reply that all men at their seuerall deaths and departure out of this world are iudged and what needs the generall I answer That notwithstanding this particular iudgement granted onely vpon mens soules there must and shall be a generall Sessions and that for the aboue recited reasons as also 1. Because in the first particular iudgement the soule onely is iudged and the body is interred in the graue therefore meet it is that as soule body honoured or dishonoured God together both should be paid or pained together and therefore must both appeare that day to be iudged according to their workes 2. The Lord in pronouncing his sentence of absolution as of condemnation will be iustified and glorified in the face of all the world 3. The Lord will haue this to bee a day of generall triumph ouer sinne and Satan and there must a day be assigned for it and therefore are wee to watch for it The second Vse serues for instruction for Gods children to bee wise and watchfull for seeing there must bee a generall day of iudgement wee must without delay or procrastinations prepare for it which I take we shall performe the better if wee vse the few motiues offered to your considerations to stir vp your hearts for this work wherof I raise my first motiue from the very names and attributes of that fearefull day for the names in part shew the nature thereof whereof some be fearefull to rouse the sleepy sluggard others comfortable to encourage forward the godly and both in time to regard their saluation as 1. This day is called the day of iudgement Math. 12. 36. Luk. 10. 14. and who knoweth not that to iudge meaneth properly to doe iustice vpon malefactors for it is contrary to the name of sauing deliuering or redeeming Ioh. 12. 47. 48. and therefore thereby is meant a day of damnation which implyeth thus much that in that day Christ the Iudge will bee so offended with his enemies that hee himselfe will sit in iudgement vpon them to condemn them to hell we know that Monarchs sit not in iudgment for toyes howsoeuer reprobates make but a sport of sin Pro. 4. 19. though they tread vnder foot the very bloud of Christ the Iudge himselfe 2. It is called a snare Luk. 21. 35. because as birds when they fare best misdoubt no danger are vnawares caught in a snare so when the wicked are most secure this
more of heauen then any of vs yet the thinking of that country much encreaseth his sorrow and so will it be to the wicked in the midst of their iollities a sting in their soules as a tart sawce making their sweetest melodies sowre deadly If this meditation were holpen with the light of a liuely faith it would as Elishaes salt sweeten all the waters of Iericho and as Elias fiery Chariot soone lift vs vp to heauen and the vvhile make al the bitter pains of this life comfortable to vs for if the loue of Lands and desire of Riches cause the paines taken for them to seeme nothing vvhat should the loue of Heauen effect in our soules should vvee for this Countrey refuse any toyle vvee know how all condemne Esau for selling his birth-right for a messe of redde pottage and what are the very best things in this world but vanity and vexation of spirit and God forbid wee should loose our birth-right in heauen for the loue of vncertaine pleasures a wise pilgrime will forbeare all delights that hinder his return and reserue all pleasures vntill hee come home and so should we else we will not come thither in haste Abraham obeyed God calling him out of his country Heb. 11. 9. because he looked for a City whose maker was God and Paul vvas content to beare all afflictions because hee looked for things that were not seene 2. Cor. 4. 17. and 5. 1. 2. and vvhosoeuer assureth himselfe of heauen will little regard this sinfull life which one point should cause worldlings to looke about them The second Vse serues for thankefulnesse to our good God for redeeming vs from hell and all miseries whereunto by our sinnes and the sinnes of our sorefathers we had wretchedly plunged our selues and of his vnspeakeable loue and mercy made vs his elect children heyres of his kingdom and if thou take this to be but a slender benefit then coÌ„der what a damned soule would giue if he had wealth to be thus freed and do thou now the like for by nature thou wast the childe of wrath as well as hee Ephes. 2. 3. And therefore if Noah escaping the Deluge wherein millions were drowned and Israell deliuered from Pharaohs tyranny and Dauid from Saul forgat not due thankefulnesse much more ought wee deliuered from the flouds of Gods wrath tyranny of Sathan and cruelty of all enemies yea and from the euerlasting paines of hell be euer thankefull in this and the life to come for this most gracious deliuerance and blessed aduancement to his holy kingdome in heauen The third Vse serues for comfort to the Elect which goe to euerlasting life and to heauen and that in three respects 1. Of the ends why eternall life was ordained 1. that God might manifest the riches of his grace to his Elect 2. that the godly might enioy the full fruits of Christs death and the promised rewards of their labours and indignities in this life sustained 3. that they might magnifie the great vvorkes and mercies of God wrought for them 2. In regard of the effects of eternall life 1. that they may be as the Angells of God Math. 22. 30. not in substance but in conditions 2. that wee may be made partakers of the dignity of Christ in his three offices as Kings Priests and Prophets though not in the same excellency 3. In regard of certaine degrees of heauenly ioyes vvhereof the first degree of our comfort and ioy shall be in respect of the generall resurrection 1. For it shall bee a ioyfull day to vs. 1. For the Angells will awake and comfort vs in the Lord. 2. Ioyfull it shall be for that our soules and bodies separated by death shal now againe be ioyned together and glorified together eternally 3. Ioyfull shall it be in respect of the holy communion of Saints whereunto we shall be ioyned to praise the Lord. 2. A second degree of glory will this he that wee shall appeare before Christ our Sauiour be absolued and sit vvith him to iudge the wicked enter vpon his sweet promises of eternall life 3. A third degree of glory is that he will iustifie and saue vs from our sinnes 4. The fourth degree of ioy is in that wee shall be honoured with the dignity of Iudges 5. A fift degree is after we haue thus triumphed and troden our enemies all vnder feet in most glorious and triumphant manner we shall with Christ our head and all his Angells and Saints goe to life eternall which is the end of all our wishes and desires where for euer we shall enioy the presence of the holy Trinity where the inhabitants of the heauenly Ierusalem bee all Angells and Saints for Nobility all the Sonnes of God for vnity brethren for wisedome and knowledge all taught of God for experience they al ouercame the world for multitude they cannot be numbred for amity they liue in coÌ„tinuall peace their work praising seruing the Lord for piety they keep a perpetual sabbath euery day an holy day to the Lord. 6. The 6. degree is in regard of our continuance in heauen which is euerlasting without end but if these ioyes had had an end then had it not been an heauen but it is eternall without end greefe wearinesse oldage or any corruption for vvhen Death is swallowed vp in victory how possibly can wee die our Sauiour being life it selfe 7. The seauenth degree is that the Lord will poure into our soules and bodies all the communicable graces of his Spirit for when we are vnited to Christ our head and then by vertue of this vnion and communion mysticall wee be in all created gifts and graces belonging vnto all and euery part of our soules and bodies like him but not in the same degree 8. The eight degree of ioy is a freedome from all miseries whatsoeuer belonging to body and soule and in stead thereof be enriched with the contrary blessings which the Lord grant vs. And thus farre of the thirteene Motiues for watchfulnesse against the day of iudgement and of the timely vses wee are to make thereof Hauing dwelt thus long vpon these Motiues I will now draw in my sailes and hasten to the shore exhorting euery man in the Lord that as this triple watchfulnesse is necessary and concerneth euery man that euery Christian particularly watch and prepare himselfe accordingly for while the arrows of the Lords wrath flie ouer euery mans head and are not yet fallen euery man may see and prouide for himselfe and escape were it proclaimed that for some priuy fault onely known to himselfe the King whole life the Lord long preserue would execcute in euery town some 100. â—0 or 10. persons nay but two in euery towne whom pleased him all would feare and by all meanes labour to exempt and secure themselues least he should be one of that number but we know that the fewer number in euery Towne or Hamlet shall bee saued Mat. 7.
God in lip labour without feeling or attention of heart so charming sorcerie coniuring casting of figures and iudicial astronomie as also when we feele no guilt of sinne by reason of the hardnesse of our hearts and corruption of our liues as doe persumpters adulterers murtherers theeues swearers c. and yet take themselues to be cockesure by reason that sometimes they goe to Church mumble a few prayers by rote and tale or for that they pay their tythes fast c. As he Luk. 18. 11. and Isa. 65. 5. Or leade ciuill liues yet let such awake speedily from this deadly sleepe and know that now Satan preuaileth and keepes the possession when all is peace peace and thou in the broad way to damnation vnlesse in this quiet storme thou fall lustily to the tackling for thy shippe is in the quick sands ready to drowne fall therefore to speedy repentance crie to the Lord mightily thy ship sinketh procure his fauour in Christ shake of thy drowsinesse least as a sluggish souldiour thou loose the day and Satan get the victory The vse serues for instruction to Gods children to stand vpon their watch knowing that our whole life is a spirituall warfare and therefore beware thou loose not the field before the day of triumph come for we see how Sathan our Arch enemie knowing his time to be but short redoubleth his forces to vanquish vs therefore in this danger there is no sleeping for then the hungry roaring Lyon will deuoure vs but be we wise to preuent his stratagems and neuer thinke that we are stronger in faith nor holier in life then Satan dare aduenture vpon vs. He spâ—red not our Sauiour nor any of Gods Elect in any age nor estate of life What thinke ye of these pillars of the Church Peter and Andrew Iames and Iohn were they not Christs chosen and best beloued Apostles and most mortified men who had forsaken all for Christ and had of long time beene continually schooled by the Lord himselfe so that Peter had good reason to doubt that this commandement concerned them not and yet see what sadde and serious exhortation our Sauiour giueth them not to snort in security The mercifull God be gracious and mercifull vnto vs. Is our corruption so contagious so farre and wide crept and euery where so pestilent that in all the world not on man nor woman can be found who can say I neede not watch I may sleepe carelesse for thou Lord of thy goodnesse haste made my hill so strong my lampe ouerrunneth with oyle my siue talents haue gained ten and I my selfe am so wise so holy so mortified that I need no admonition I am holier then thou stand a part come not neere to me Isa. 65. 5. No no neither Peter nor Andrew Iames nor Iohn are exempted I say to you Take heede watch and pray and what I say to you I say to all none excepted watch sleepe not and why But for that securitie carelesnesse sleepe so inebriate mens minds as a continuall drunkennesse that they neither remember God to know his reuealed will nor stir vp themselues to reforme their liues nor yet arise from from this dead sleepe that Christ may giue them life And this deadnesse of heart that nothing can awake them with what pipe soeuer ye play what is it else but as in Christs time it was an infallible signe of the destruction of the Citie and Temple so now of the end of the world when Christ shall not finde as himselfe foretelleth faith vpon the earth 2. This serues for comfort to Gods Elect who in watching and prayer wholly submit themselues to Gods commandement doe most carefully shake off this drowsie sluggishnesse in the whole course of their liues not forgetting they must die be brought to iudgement and albeit they sometimes cannot chuse but slumber sleepe Matth. 25. 5. Yet are they full secure and carelesse there lampes purely burning and well stored with oyle for they replenished in hearts with faith and obedience in life haue euer a good conscience are euer prouided and are sure that there sinnes in Christ being pardoned no euill can befall them nor separate them from the loue of God Rom. 8. 38 39. But may euer with Dauid cheerefully sing I will lay me downe and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. And what beloued can be more ioyfull and comfortable to vs then by these meanes now in this life to be interressed to Gods heauenly regalties and diuine priuiledges whereby this kingdome of grace wherein we thus conuerse is made an entry to the kingdome of glory and not now only but at our death will make vs sanctifiedly secure and ioyfull when then a farre off as saylers vpon the sea wee behold our long wished hauen and home and thereupon breaking vp our watch and ward doe confidently in sure faith and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection to life eternall commit our selues soules and bodies into the hands of our gracious God and thus farre of the Antithesis next of the Thesis it selfe which is watch This watchword I deuided into three parts for this life for death for iudgement In the first place I am to shew how we are to watch for this present life that so wee may liue according to Gods holy will while wee haue our aboade heere and be the while secured of Gods good acceptance of vs and all our doings and dealings wherefore of this first branch of watching I gather this doctrine viz. Seeing the whole lifo of a Christian is a continuall warfare full of labour and dangers and we enuironed on euery side with many and mightie fierce and malitious enemies we must while we liue in these earthy Taber nacles and tents as souldtours in the field and pilgrimes in the world in all carefulnesse pietie and sobrietie constantly watch ouer euery periode of our liues and all our actions that so wee may passe our daies religiously and holily according to Gods reuealed will during our naturall liues This proposition is thus prooued First our Sauiour here and in sundry places besides stirreth and commandeth his Disciples and vs all to watch and in Luk. 12. 35. to 49. largely discourseth of this point concluding againe and againe That blessed is that seruant whom the Lord when he commeth shall finde waking And Paul in 1. Cor. 15. 34. Exhorts vs to awake to liue righteously and not to sinne and 16. 13. To watch to stand fast in the faith to quite vs like men and be strong and Eph. 6. 18. To watch with all perseuerance and supplication for all Saints Where he makes watching a part of our Christian armour against Satan and all his power and so doth Peter 1. Epist. 5. 8. And the Angel of the Church of Sardis exhorteth her to awake and watch else threatneth to oome vpon her suddenly as a theefe Reuel 3. 2 3. and
vaine when we haue done all we are so weake and corrupt yea and ignorant of this way by Deaths doore to Heauen but if the Lord assist vs with his holy spirit wee shall not misse of a prosperous voyage for if God be with vs who can be against vs and questionlesse he will be with vs if wee carefully keepe this watch and though wee know not the way further then with our eyes we see it yet he knowes it and euery balke and temptation and stumbling stone and will both put in our hearts how to answere euery temptation and as Peter out of prison will lead vs safely that nothing shall let vs for his owne Names sake And therefore let vs confidently sticke vnto the Lord and he will sticke vnto vs for hee hath said I will not faile thee neyther forsake thee Iosh. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 5. Luk. 22. 43. The second Vse serues to put vs in minde of Death for seeing it is thus conuenient profitable for vs to watch against Death and so dangerous and pernitious to forget death vntill it sodainly taketh vs away vnprepared we must subscribe to the iudgement of the godly and also of Heathen writers who would haue mans life to be but a meditation of Death because it meeteth both young old at euery stile and for that nothing is more dangerous nor comfortlesse to any then at an vnawares full of sinne and full of the world to be arrested by Death for if thou look about thee thou shalt finde Death painted in euery place and worke thou doest And therefore thinke vpon it not as thou wouldest of a thing that were to come or some deuised figment but euen as Gods messenger now present and withall not as a thing appertaining onely to others but belonging to thy selfe The Indian Gymnosophists called Brachmanes were so carefull to make their liues a continuall meditation of Death that they had their graues alwaies open before the gates of their houses to the end that at their going out and comming in they might euer be mindfull of their passage to death and this house of earth to wit our graues is the schoole of true wisedome where God teacheth those that be his the misery and vanity of this life and whereas the world considereth no more but the painted face of Iezabel shining gaily at a window and not the miserable and extreame parts of her which after her body was eaten vp of dogges God would haue to remaine whole that thereby as in a figure vvee might see that the world is another manner of thing indeed then it appeareth in shew and that we should in such wise consider the face of it as also to be mindfull also of the extreame griefes sorrowes wherein the glory of it endeth 2. King 9. 30. 1. Let vs then preuent this misery and thinke on our death for this will first make the proudest Peacocke â—ay downe his fairer feathers so often as hee thinketh vpon it though hee pricke them vp againe when hee draweth his eye from this glasse 2. It will make vs serue God sincerely the feare of whom is the beginning of wisedome Marriners while they saile peaceably giue themselues to all riot and disordered excesse but when the tempest beateth into their shippe and death is before their eyes they cry mightily to God so we rocked in the cradle of security as in a ship glutte the forbidden fruit but stricken in aduersity loath this life and labor for a better 3. The memory of Death causeth vs to know that none of these things can be called ours which wee cannot carry with vs out of this world and therfore while we haue time wee should doe all good with them we can 4. In what calling soeuer a man bee hee cannot choose but deale vprightlie in most things if he doe but remember hee must die for what ambitious man would be proud of his honour and offices seeing he must die when all honor wealth and glory shall forsake him and another shall step in his roome as proud as he and when his glasse is runne out another shall succeed him c. vntill Death catch all as fish in his nette and to what purpose should I hoord money or purchase Lands c. seeing that Nakednesse shall be my last end Iob 1. 21. Of the want of this consideration arise all errors deceits for vvho vvouâ—d haue a sparke of presumption to sinne that knevv his end shortly to bee dust and ashes or would make his belly his God that were sure shortly his belly should become worms meat or would bestow one penny in building that were perswaded the graue should become his Pallace or braue himselfe in braueries considering hee shall be turned hee knowes not how soone out of all yea out of house and home in a poore winding sheet Therefore beloued let vs adhorre all vanities which doe but make vs vnwilling to die and open the gates of our soules to all our spirituall enemies a rule in policy it is to vvatch and ward that City which is beseeged round about and such as vvould keepe their cities in flourishing estate must euer be watchfull as if their enemies were at the gates so our Sauiour seeing that wee haue enemies on euery side and that Death the terriblest enemie knocketh at our gates foreseeing the danger might come of our sleepie security commendeth to his Church and commandeth watchfulnesse and therefore let vs not bee wanting to our own saluation but euer desire the Lord to grant vs this grace to number our daies aright and aboue all to perswade our faithlesse hearts that wee cannot heere long continue but must die The next Vse serues for comfort against the feare of Death for 1. If against the comming of Death wee be watchfull and euery way prepared as is aboue said then need wee not feare Death for then we shall die in the Lord and the Angell and Gods Spirit pronounceth from Heauen that such are blessed as is Reucl. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them If then it be a blessed thing to die in the Lord we need not feare it for all manner of seare presupposeth some euill and danger for we are not afraid of a good thing but affect it offered vs and receiue it cheerefully If then wee be not in danger of the second death as none that die in the Lord are it is folly to dread it seeing it is a blessed thing If a towne be well furnished with victualls as was Babilon which was prouided for twenty yeares as writ Xenophen and Herodotus though the towne be besieged the people within are secure but being vnstored quaketh for fear whence we may iudge of what importance it is to preuent dangers and be well prepared in time for that which astonisheth many at their death