years and when they take them out the nature and worth of them is far transcendent 2. The ungodly must die that God may magnifie on them his own infinite Justice Death having seized their body their souls must go to its place to suffer the intollerable pains and incensed wrath of the Almighty and that their bodies also with their souls when they shall hereafter meet together again might he made fit fuel for eternal flames to kindle upon for now as they are in this mortal state they cannot endure the terrible wrath of God but would soon be freed of all bodily pain and extremity were they cast into that Lake that burns with fire and brimstone Thus much for the Reasons of the Point more might be said but I must hasten to the application I have onely four Uses to make of it as first an Use of Exhortation secondly an Use of Direction thirdly an Use of Lamentation fourthly an Use of Consolation First By way of Exhortation Is it so Beloved must all men die Can none deliver his own soul from the power of the grave Must every Mothers child of us take up our Lodging there Is the dark grave the appointed house for all living Shall the proudest and loftiest be brought down to the dust Must that little cool house under ground hold us all Then poor sinners shall I prevail with you to prepare for death Let me exhort you to look about you and get ready I remember when the Prophet came to good King Hezekiah Isa 38. 1. with that doleful tidings as upon some consideration and circumstances it might then appear to that holy man he bids him set his house in order make provision for eternity and this is the message that is brought to you this day You must die and not live And that I might enforce this word upon you let me lay before you a few Motives and awakening Considerations First Consider what a great favour and mercy it is that God hath let you and I live so long Others are long ago cut down and sent to the grave he hath not it may be given many half of those dayes which thou hast had Look upon this as a mercy indeed considering thy life was forfeited before thou wert born Sirs we came into the World with the Sentence of death upon us and if Jehovah had cut us down in our sins many years ago it would have been but a piece of Justice And what is the end of God in sparing of us but that we might be fitted for the place whither we are going Oh how unwilling is God to strike the fatal blow to cut men down before they are prepared for death He is not willing they should perish and that is the reason of his patience long-suffering and forbearance sinners lay it to heart Secondly Consider what dreadful provocations you and I have given him to take us away and command death in his name to arrest us Have we not grieved burdened yea even wearied him with our iniquities Nay have we not pierced him May he not cry out as being pressed as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaves Amos 2. 13. Is it not a sad and most lamentable thing thus to deal with a loving and gracious God Thirdly How often hath the Lord called you and yet you have rebelled Hath not he stretched out his hand all the day long and yet you have not hearkned but have rejected his counsel and cast his word and reproofs behind you yea and often resisted his Holy Spirit in the common motions and workings thereof Have you not many of you refused his Grace Son and divers sweet and precious Calls and Offers of Love And certain I am you have had many of these in this place Nay how many warnings have you had of the near approach of death Nay awakening summons to prepare for the grave as you would answer it before the dreadful Judge of Heaven and Earth by my dear Brother that is fallen asleep whom we shall hear no more Oh what pains did he take with some of you that so you might be ready Have not you and I notwithstanding all this hearkened to a base deceitful heart and inticeing and tempting Devil Have you stouted it out against all Pains and Endeavours used for Spiritual awakenings and are you yet alive Then consider how much this calls upon you to be ready to die Will any dare that are sensible of the worth of their Immortal Souls neglect this concern any longer 4. Consider That the abuse of Mercy and Goodness will greatly aggravate thy misery in the day of wrath Oh remember what it is to sin against Light Love and Patience Shall the goodness of God that should lead to repentance encourage and harden thee in thy iniquity How dost thou think to escape the Judgement of God Or despisest thou as saith the Apostle the rich's of his goodness forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance but aftey thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God who will render to every man according to his deeds Rom. 2. 4. 5 6. Sentence is past against a sinner but because it is not speedily executed therefore the hearts of men are fully set within them to do wickedly Eccl. 8. 11. Christ knocks at the door and yet sinners will not hear Christ may speak of sinners as God speaks of Israel of old My people will have none of me Psal 81. 11. Oh what have you to answer for abused mercy and favour What What will you do hereafter when Christ who waits upon you now to save you will then turn his face from you in the day of your calamity and plead against you to condemn you see Prov. 1. 28. 5. Consider for Christs sake of those advantages you have had and still have If some had the like we may conclude they would have made better use and improvement of them then some of you have done Hath not God afforded you the Gospel beyond what he hath to divers parts of the world Nay what a gracious and powerful ministration of it hath there been continued for some time in this place You have had helps above thousands God hath taken much pains with you that have attended upon the word here Where God gives many talents he requires the improvement of them what will become of Jerusalem and Capernaum in the day of Judgement And hath not Gods spirit striven with you also Nay and hath not Conscience endeavoured to awaken you Have you not had Summons and Calls from thence Hath not that often reproved you for neglect of Seasons flighting of Sermons and indulging your selves in iniquity and secret lusts and omissions of duty Oh! how many sharp checks and rebukes have you had from within Nay and besides all this what awakening Judgements to prepare for the grave have you and
his chief or better part be that day with him in Paradice Lord Jesus saith Stephen receive my spirit O what a blessed thing it is to die in Christ O what a happy estate is our friend in the gain is exceeding great Some may say what doth a godly man gain by death I answer First They gain a glorious place heaven the glorious Paradice of God the Mansions of glory that are in our Fathers House Who is able to conceive what a glorious place heaven is But then Secondly They shall enjoy glorious company too They shall be with Jesus Christ have his company in whose presence there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there be pleasures for evermore be with Christ holy Angels and glorious spirits of just men made perfect O what a blessed state and condition of soul have they gained that are gone thither Thirdly we shall gain sweet peace 'T is not onely peace in Christ that Gods people have as their portion here but it shall be peace with Christ A Woman that has a dear Husband who is gone to Sea he is it may be in another Countrey yet she hears from him receives tokens of love she has much satisfaction of the stedfasteness of his love cordialness of his affection in this she has peace and comfort but alas what is this peace to that when he comes home when she has him enjoys his company O we shall see Christ enjoy him yea lie in his arms to all eternity Enter thou saith Christ into the joy of thy Lord. That joy is too much to enter into us therefore we must enter into that Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace He has peace In death peace beyond death yea and peace to all etrernity And now one word more particularly to you that have lost your Pastor Your loss I must confess is great though he hath gained hereby and it may be some of you are crying out What shall we do Beloved you must labour for a quiet frame strive for contentedness of heart 't is the Lords hand upon you 't is what he has done remember David I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39. 9. 2. Consider also your loss is not so great but God is able to repair it and make it up to you though you may not see which way it can be done let it be your care to wait upon God cry to him look up to the Lord of the Harvest and patiently wait to see what he will do for you 3. To support you under this sore affliction Consider the great Shepherd of the Sheep never dyes he lives for ever and sure he that dyed for the Sheep whose own Sheep they are will take care of them he will feed them and preserve them from danger Isa 23. 1 2 3. The Lord is my Shepherd saith David I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still waters he restoreth my Soul he leadeth me in the paths of Righteousness for his Names sake And from hence he takes courage Yea though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil Oh what a blessed thing it is to have confidence in God and to have such a Shepherd the keeper of Israel never slumbers nor sleepeth And now to conclude one word to dear Relations and to comfort us all under the present dispensation 1. Consider death shall not seperate us long we shall see one another again over a short time he is gone but a little before let us think upon that glorious Meeting we shall have ere long in the Air read 1 Thes 4. 13 c. I would not have you to be ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words What can I speak that may be more seasonable for comfort then that which the holy Spirit hath left upon record upon that very account it will be but a little while and we shall see him again we shall have a joyful meeting and never part more O therefore be quieted consider what you have heard what death is to a Believer Shall not our Friend go to rest Alas he hath laboured hard and O how sweet is this rest to him When a man hath worked hard all day and wearied himself how willing is he to go to bed at night Alas he is but gone to sleep to take sweet and quiet rest until the Morning 2. Shall not we be willing he should have inlargement to be freed out of Prison Alas our Souls are as it were but in Prison whilst we dwell here below in these Houses of Clay Death as a Porter opens a door into that Glorious Palace above He is but gone home to his Fathers House and how earnest was he to depart that he might be present with the Lord. 3. Shall not he eat the fruit of his labour he that soweth in tears shall reap in joy those that go forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again rejoycing and bring their Sheaves with them 4. He having overcome shall not he receive the Crown Paul having fought the good fight of faith knew there was laid up for him a Crown of Righteousness To him that overcometh saith our Saviour will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father an his throne Rev. 3. 21. 5. And now in the last place and to shut up all consider uncertain is thy life and mind you know not but that in a very few dayes you may go after it will not be long be sure and thither we all must go For What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Shall be deliver his Soul from the hand of the grave Selah FINIS ERATA PAg. 4. l. 9. blot forth cut p. 4. l 10. also blot forth out p 9. l. 25 for is read it p. 11. l. 14. blot out word p. 15. for Augustus Caesar r. Julius Caesar p 17. l. 2. for if r. of p. 18. for question r. query p. 32. l. 8. blot out And p. 32. l. 9. for And r. For p. 58. l. 8. blot out and Consolation which escaped in sâ—me Copies * Mr. Clark gives us several instances how the death of the righteous hath been the Fore-runner of sad and lamentable Judgements Begins with Methuselah before the Flood whose very name was very significant upon this account Also I lately met with a Sermon of a godly Minister in New England that was preached sometimes before their late calamities and miseries broke forth there and amongst their other signs of approaching judgement that he seemed to be very apprehensive of he minds that of the dropping away of many holy and godly persons Oh how many able and godly preachers and others have we lost in a short space We may look upon it as one sad sign or symptome of approaching evil * Some probably may object the dead are not sensible of time 't is but as a sleep to them they die and their resurrection to them immediately follows no distance of time between Death and Judgement the dead and so Paul's gain he speaks of 〈◊〉 might not be till the resurrection Aasw Though it be granted death to the body is but as a sleep yet 't is not so to the soul But that this is not the intent or meaning of the Apostle is plain which I make out thus Paul Plainly shews that if he did presently depart or die it would be gain to him now if that which you say were true he would have lost by death 't is easie to see how Suppose he might live twenty or thirty years longer on earth would not thirty years sweet enjoyment of Jesus Christ be worth nothing Is not one day with God beholding his lovely face better than a thousand All know that if he died presently he should never the sooner obtain the resurrection of this body than if he had lived a hundred years longer this being well weighed to die presently would have been his great loss were not the soul in a present enjoyment of Christ at death
live cause have to complain There 's few like him surviving to arouse Their fluggish souls cut of their sinful drouse They now may sleep secure and not awake Until they fall into the Seygian Lake This Golden Trumpet 's stopt 't will sound no more To warn them of what danger 's at their door To win sinners to Christ he did not spare His strength nor time thought nothing was too dear To part withall if any wayes he might Their Souls turn from false ways unto the right Like as a Candle which much light doth give Doth wast itself whilst from it we receive Much benefit so did he clearly burn To the wasting of himself unto the urn This godly Preacher in a little space Much work did do he swistly run his race With 's might perform'd what e'r he found to do God graciously did bless his work also Yea few I think have had the like success In turning sinners unto righteousness O were the worth of this good man but known It might produce an universal groan Let Brethren dear of different minds lament For he for you in prayers much time has spent He lov'd you all though I have cause to fear The like affection some did scarcely bear 'T would pierce ones heart to think in such a time Obedience unto Christ should be a crime Or that offence should in the least be took ' Cause from Gods word he durst not turn nor look He would own nought but what thus faith the Lord Add would not he nor minish from Gods Word Come let us live in love we shall agree When at his Port we all arrived be Let sinners mourn who shall their loss repair Who for their Souls so naturally did care Well may ye fear God will proclaim new wars When he calls home his choice Embassadors What may a Sodome look for from above When such who stood i' th' gap God doth remove O tremble City what is God about Look for new flames thy Lots are calling out And now chastized flock a word or two I 've double sorrow when I think of you When that the Harvest doth for Reapers call To lose your Labourer this wound 's not small O who shall bear the burthen of the day If God doth take the Labourers thus away When Pylots dye how shall the Seamen stear ' Mong'st Rocks and Sands when storms also appear Have we not cause to think the crafty Fox We 'l out abroad and play upon the flocks And Ravening Wolves also will grow more bold And scare some silly Lambs out of the fold If God proceed to call the Shepherds home O what will of so many flocks become i th midst of all in this doth comfort lie The chiefest Shepherds lives when others dye And he be sure who for the Sheep did bleed Will stick to them in times of greatest need Come cease your grief don't you know very well Then care God has on his own Israell And it s no more which now is come to pass The what by you some time expected was And what is done is but our Fathers will Therefore be silent every one be still For should we yield to passion I have fears We should grieve Christ and wound our Souls with tears The narrow Sluces too of dribling eyes Would be toostreight for those great Springs that rise But since our Vessels fills up to the top Le ts empty them for every sin a drop For it le ts wish we were compos'd of Snow Instead of flesh yea made of Ice that so We might in sense of sin and its loathing Melt with hot love to Christ yea thaw to nothing And should our sins deprive our Souls of him Let tears run from our Eyes till Couches swim Yet let 's not grudge him that most happy bliss Who now in glory with Christ Jesus is He did his work apace his Race is run He as touch'd the Gole yea and the Prize hath won AN EPITAPH A Sweet and Godly Preacher doth lie here Who did his Master Jesus love so dear And Sinners Souls that he his strength did spend And did thereby t is thought hasten his end He brought himself by Preaching to the Grave The Precious souls of Sinners for to save He lies but here asleep he is not dead To God he lives to Christ his Soul is fled And o're a while must he awake again And evermore with Christ in Glory raign By B. K. Another Elegiack POEM by a Young Man that dearly loved him WAves upon Waves Methinks begins to roule Some strange Alarm afflicts my troubled soul VVhich grieves my heart by founding in mine Ears And makes my Eyes to flow in Brinish tears VVhat Tragedy is this Death hold thy hand VVhy must the good man perish from the Land Is NOBCOT dead suffer me then to mourn For now he 's gone but never well return Oh father father whither dost thou fly And leave my soul in this perplexity And if that I dear Lord must stay behind A portion of his Spirit let me find Oh find thy Spirit noâ— into my heart That it may Gospell grace to me Impart And that it may likewiâ— anoynt mine Eyes For to Conceave those glorious misteries Of thy most sacred Kingdom heaven above VVhere NORCOT s swallowed in Eternal Love Faith Love and Zeal did his brave Soul adorn And this did manifest he was new born NORCOT a Boanerges was Indeed Could make the heart of sturdy sinners Bleed And yet and Evangelicâ—s did prove VVith Soveraign Balm of sweet Gospell Love Great reverence dear soul he used to Bear To things that sacred and Coelestial were Oh with what gravity and Zeal did he Declare to sinners their sad misery In Praying Preaching Christ alone he Fyed And when he had done the will of God he dyed A Panegyrick I do not intend Neither with Parasites for to Contend Yet much as to his Vertues I might say Did I not know the humors of the day Doubtless on whom God honour doth confer In our affections we highly should prefer Dear NORCOT's gone that worthy man of God Lord this aloud bespeaks our Ichabod My Soul Cease for to mourn he is not dead He into Everlasting Bliss is fled VVhole troops of Angels did his soul attend VVhen he to Jesus Christ did it commend He now is swallowed up in Glory above Embrac'd in Arms of Everlasting love And now dear soul he 's gone his race is run And faithfully his Fathers work he hath done The veil of Enmity hath been removed He could not love more then he is Beloved The veil of Blindness that is ta'en away And now with his dear soul 't is perfect day The veil's Removed he seeth as he is seen And praiseth him that did his soul Redeem He now sings Halleh jahs heavenly hymnes Amongst Coelesticall glorious Seraphims He hath fought the Fight the Crown hath gain'd Yea and to perfect Visions hath attain'd And you his Mourners here the Word doth say The Righteous
from bad times are snatch'd away A Prince and a great man you all can tell This day is fallen in our Israel Oh Israel mourn thy Chariots flee away Thy Horsemen leave thee in an evil day The Godly fail and ceaseth for to be Lord is not this for our iniquity Let 's tremble then black Clouds hang o're our heads Whilst we securely lie upon our Beds Rouse rouse my soul for shame what sleepy still Hast thou not of luke-warmness had thy fill Heark dost not hear the Bridegroom very nigh Oh then by faith thy self to him apply Get oyl more oyl thy heart to purifie For now methinks I hear a louder cry Thousands there are which to the forme attain'd Of Godliness yet without grace remain'd They cry and howl Lord Open Heavens Gate But he saith No you now are come too late Oh Norcot Norcot if it were but free To envy any I would envy thee Because thou now invested art with glory Whilst I behind do write this mournful story But stay my soul pray why so passionate grown Wilt thou not suffer him to reap his own He sowed in tears but now he reaps in joy Don't then by murmuring thy self annoy Must he all day be labouring in the Field And now 't is night dost grudge him Rest to yield Rather lament and mourn for thy own sin And that 's the way for thee to follow him Dost hear him call Mourn for thy self not me I from Death Sin and Sickness now am free Farewel blest Saint farewell thou art fled away And left us in a black and stormy day And yet we hope to see thy face again That so with thee in glory we may reign ACROSTICK I s Norcot dead No he is fallen asleep O h then my soul cease to lament and weep H e now in Glory clearly doth behold N ought else but Joys that never can be told N ever more grieve for him what is thy loss O 't is his gain for he hath left but dross R epent oh England I filled am with fears C ompel me not to mix my thoughts with tears O Gospel-Grace will haster if you scoff T o a Nation bringing forth the fruit thereof E. P. AN EPITAPH on his Tomb-stone HEre underneath this Stone lieth the Dust of NORCOT whilst the Râ—siâ—g of the Just His Soul to Heaven is sled and there doth stand With Christ and all the Saints at his Right Hand And when on Earth he was he did not spare His Life for Christ it was his daily care To Pray and Preach and unto God to crave That Sinners might repent their souls to save His Work was done his Glass is run and we May all conclude he 's Blest t'Eternitie B. H. A SERMON â—â—â—ached at the Funeral of Mr. JOHN NORCOT March the 28th 1676. I Need not tell you the ground and occasion of this present Meeting Certain I am this is a sorrowful Assembly Whether I am fit to preach or no I cannot tell but sure I am ripe to mourn May I not on this occasion use the words of David upon Abner's death 2 Sam. 3. 38. Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel Who more worthy of honour than those God confers honour upon and to be employed as Christs Embassadors to treat in his stead with poor sinners about their eternal estate and condition is no small dignity and to be deprived of such a one what greater ground for grief and mourning But not to take up your time in a way of Introduction I shall commend to you that portion of holy Scripture which shall be the ground of my present discourse Psal 89. 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Selah The Psalmist in the verses that doth precede is pleading with God under great afflictions and the hidings of Gods face upon consideration of the shortness of his dayes How long wilt thou hide thy self for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire and ver 47. Remember how short my time is as if he should say Lord I have but a little while to live my time on earth is short let me therefore enjoy thy favor let the remainder of my dayes the days of my pilgrimage be good dayes Let me see thy face have the light of thy countenance let them not be dayes of sorrow and darkness From hence note this That a gracious soul whilst on earth desires nothing more than the enjoyment of Gods favor Communion with God is the onely thing his soul longs and breaths after They having a sense of the shortness of their dayes resolve to live well and to make good improvement of their time They would not onely have the full enjoyment of God hereafter but a sight of his presence and favour whilst here And indeed those who would live with God in heaven must first live to God on earth Now it is not thus with the unregenerate if wicked men have a sight of the shortness of their lives it hath not this effect upon their hearts they many times the more pursue their lusts they endeavor to get as much pleasure as they can and to gratifie their covetous ambitious and carnal appetites and suck out what sweetness they can out out of this perishing world they resolve to have it as sweet as outward enjoyments can make it they know no higher or better good then what is earthly and sensual Oh miserable deceived Creatures how is their understandings darkened having never attained a saving knowledge of God nor spiritual relish of his grace and love nor a sight of his favour and kindness towards them They are dreadfully involved in Egyptian darkness they are ignorant of the satisfaction joy and sweetness that is in him hence they cry not after God nor seek after him here that they might be made happy with him hereafter But that I may come to the words that I have read to you in the Text you have a twofold Interrogation or Negative Questions 1. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death 2. Can he deliver his soul from the power of the grave Selah The meaning is no man can avoid it none can escape the grave whatever he be Many such kind of questions are put forth and thus answered in Holy Scripture Here are two terms before I proceed to any observation that I judge needful to speak to by way of Expâ—ication First What is meant by the word soul in this place Doth the soul go to the grave I answer Soul in holy Scripture bears divers acceptations sometimes by it is intended one thing sometimes another and from hence I judge it is that so many persons miss in their understandings about the noble and superiour part of the Creature 1. By it is intended the whole man Gen. 46. 27. And the sons of Joseph which were born him in Egypt were two souls all the
souls of the house of Jacob which came into Egypt were threescore and ten souls the like you have in Acts 7. 14. And Joseph called his father Jacob to him and all his kindred threescore and fifteen souls that is so many persons in Acts 27. 37. all that were with Paul in the ship are said to be two hundred and threescore and sixteen souls 2. It is taken for the life of the body Psal 7. 5. Let the wicked persecute my soul and take it yea let him tread down my life upon the earth 3. It is taken for the affections desire or heart of the Creature 1 Sam. 1. 15. And Hannah answered and said no my Lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. And in chap. 18. it is said the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David that is his affections were set and fastened upon him In many other places by soul we find some one or more faculty of the soul is intended 4. It is taken for the stomach Prov. 27. 7. The full soul loatheth an honey-comb but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet 5. By it is meant oftentimes the noble and superiour part of man distinct from the body for this see Psal 19. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Mat. 10. 28. Fear not them which can kill the body but are not able to kill the soul But probably some may say if the word soul hath so many various acceptations how may we know when the spirit or principal part is in Scripture meant hereby Answ I shall briefly lay down three or four Rules whereby you may know 1. When you read of soul as that wherein couversion is wrought it can intend nothing else save the noble or immortal part for Conversion is a change onely of the evil qualities of man's better or superior part Psal 19. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Conversion to God changes not the defects and qualities of the outward man If a man be attended with such and such a disease or distemper before Conversion he may be truly converted and yet retain the same diseases the same lameness blindness deafness crookedness or what ever other blemish he may have of the like nature 2. When you read of soul as that which rejoyceth in God delights in God longs and thirsts after God lives and feeds upon God and Christ and united to and hath communion with God cloathed and adorned with the holy Spirit it alwayes holds forth the glorious spirit or soul of man let me onely direct you to one or two Scriptures upon this account Luke 1. 46. My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Psal 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Psal 42. 1 2. As the hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before him Psal 73. 26. My heart and my flesh faileth me but God is the strength of my soul and my portion for ever 3. When you read of soul as that which men cannot kill or destroy is alwayes intended this excellent part see Matth. 10. 28. Fear not them that kill the body but cannot kill the soul 4. Lastly When you read of soul as that which lives when the body dies or is commended into the hands of God at death you must alwayes take it in those Scriptures for the same 6. By soul sometimes is meant only the body distinct from the spirit or immortal part see Josh 10. 28 37. And the king thereof he utterly destroyed and all the souls that were therein and they smote the king thereof and all the souls that were therein and in this sense soul is to be taken in this place But that I may proceed a word to explain the other term to wit the hand of the grave By hand beloved often in Scripture is meant power Isa 50. 2. Is my hand shortned that it cannot redeem that is Have I lost my power to redeem so Acts 4. 3. My Text thus briefly opened I shall proceed as most suiting with our present occasion to take notice of one Doctrinal Truth from the words which take as followeth Doct. That all men must die Or thus That no man whatsoever can escape the power of the grave I shall God assisting endeavor to demonstrate and confirm the truth of this Proposition The holy Spirit doth not slightly pass it by but puts a Remora to it viz. that Emphatical signal word Selah which shews us that this word calls for meditation and our diligent attention it doth lay a kind of an arrest upon our spirits not passing from it till we have seriously weighed the matter What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Death will be too hard for him and too powerful to resist there is no withstanding the strength of this King he will bring all into subjection he is said in Rom. 5. 12 14. to reign over all and so he is called the terror of Kings as well as King of terrors he is so to the wicked and what King hath as many subjects as Death hath And that I may demonstrate it consider Age cannot rescue any man from the hand of Death the oldest man must die All those that lived before the Flood are dead Methuselah lived nine hundred sixty nine years Gen. 5. 27. but alass at last the words tell you and he died he lived near a thousand years but at last was forced to subject to the grave 2. As the oldest man must die so must the strongest Sampson was a mighty man yet Sampson must die Death will make the stoutest hearts to faint and the strongest legs to tremble One dieth in his full strength being wholly at ease and quiet his breasts are full of milk and his bones are moistned with marrow Job 21. 23 24. If any were likely to encounter or grapple with Death we may suppose that this is the man he who is in his perfect strength free from distempers signified by that word wholly at ease and quiet yet alass all will not do this man was forced to yield he is made Deaths Captive 3. The wisdom and policy of man cannot deliver from the power of the grave The wisest prince that ever late upon a Throne was forced to stoop to the sovereign hand of Death Wise men die faith the Psalmist likewise the fool Psal 49. 10. In death there is no remembrance of the wise more than the fool Eccl. 2. 16. The most grave and politick in all ages of the world after all their famous and deep contrivances have been overcome by death 4. Riches cannot deliver from Death if it could we should have few rich men die doubtless they would give their
go down before the work is finished Redeem the time because the days are evil Eph. 5. 16. Alas Sirs are not the shadows of the evening upon some of you the Lord help you to lay it to heart Do not think the whole work of your lives can be done upon a Dying Bed Oh consider Old age is unfit for labour and it is folly with a witness to think 't is time enough to sow when thou shouldest reap Delays proves the ruin of many thousands The night cometh saith Christ when no man can work 10. And lastly Consider what will become of your precious souls if death takes you before you are ready for it will not stay for you Will he be bribed or perswaded to come another time I remember a young Maid in the Countrey that was sick and as she grew near her end she cried out to be spared one quarter of a year one month but when that would not be granted rather than fail one week but die she did greedy death will have no denial Oh what a sad sight is it to see a Christless soul a dying When death sits upon your trembling lips and you not prepared what would you give for peace and pardon then When pale death comes upon thee like a sturdy Sergeant and doth arrest thee in the name of the great King of Heaven and Earth he will hale you along to prison you must go Death comes upon a wicked man like a hungry Lyon tearing their souls from their bodies to such he is indeed the King of Terrors He comes on them like a fiery Serpent with his venomous sting with which he wounds them and lays them a bleeding to all Eternity Oh to have the soul dragged out of the body and cast into hell is of a dreadful and amazing Consideration With this I shall conclude the Use of Exhortation The next is an use of Direction to poor sinners and all others that would be prepared for the grave if this be so First Doth not some poor soul hear say Oh what shall I do that I may be prepared for the grave Have you a heart a mind a desire indeed to be fitted for that hour Then in the first place labour to get a full sight and sense of your sins and of your lost and undone condition by nature Oh what a miserable creature hath sin made man or rather man by sin made himself That must needs be the greatest evil that deprives man of the greatest good God is mans chief good sin deprives man of this good sin makes man hated or God and causeth man to resemble Satan who is the opposite of God The carnal mind is enmity against God this enmity must be removed Unless a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. Secondly Labour to get Brokenness of heart oh strive to melt in the sight and sense of your iniquity Sinner what hast thou done wilt thou sin away thy mercies sin away thy Ministers Gods hand is lifted up we are under sore rebukes of the Almighty though I fear few are sensible that it is the fruit of their transgressions May we not say with the Prophet No man repenteth him of his wickedness saying What have I done Jer. 8. 6. God expects and looks for tears of Repentance A broken and a contrite heart is a sacrifice that he will not despise If you are not broken in the sense of the odious and abominable nature of sin broken into pieces now you are like to be broken with horror under the weight of the punishment hereafter Oh! Is it not better to be smitten and broken in a way of mercy in order to healing then to be broken in a way of wrath and judgement when there will be no help nor cure for you Thirdly Labour so get an interest in Jesus Christ Oh that this opportunity might have some tendency this way Unless ye believe that I am he saith Jesus Christ you shall die in your sins Soul never rest and be satisfied till thou canst say with Thomas My Lord and my God John 20. 28. Can you still stand it out against such precious patience and offers of grace Will you not yet open to Christ Shall he call and cry to you and will you give him no entertainment Can you close in with a better friend How long hath he stood knocking at the doors of your hearts Was he not graciously calling upon you the last Lords day and now in mercy he is giving you another knock Oh fear lest he depart Is he not ready to take his farewell of you Have you not let him stand till his head was wet with the dew and his locks with the drops of the night Sinner sinner hasten to him and open the door do'st not hear that lovely voice that was spoken to the blind man Be of good comfort rise he calleth thee Mark 10. 49. It may be you will ask where I 'll tell thee if thou art a weary and burdened soul that feelest the weight of thy sin there is a precious word spoken for thy sake take hold of it Matth. 11. 28. Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls Oh the sweetness of that word take it and receive it down Fourthly Labour in the strength of Christ to oppose every sin See that there be no sweet morsel hid no Dalilah no pleasant nor profitable lust spared O cry with David Search me O Lord and try my heart prove me and know my thoughts Psal 139. 23. Fifthly Take heed you do not sin against Light Neglect no Conviction either of Sin or Duty if you would be prepared for the grave Then shall I not saith David be ashamed when I have respect to all thy commandments Psal 119. 6. Sixthly Never be satisfied until you have all your sins subdued Sin must be crucified or the soul must die Rom. 8. 13. To this I might add for I cannot enlarge make it your business also to get your sins pardoned so that you may have the feeling sense of the forgiveness of them in your own hearts Seventhly Labour after a pure Conscience What will stand your souls in greater stead when you come to die than this Paul's great care and endeavour was to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God and toward men Acts 24. 16. I must tell you An accusing Conscience will be a bad Death-bed Companion I remember what our dear Friend spake to me in the time of his Sickness Oh Brother said he a good conscience is the best refuge That was his rejoycing alluding to that Text 2 Cor. 1. 12. the testimony of his conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God he had his conversation in the world It matters not who reproach
us if Conscience doth not Conscience as I told some of you lately will be your best friend if a friend a friend indeed a friend in adversity a friend at death and a friend in the day of judgement Oh what would some men give for such a friend But if Constience be an enemy he is the worst of enemies Conscience is a secret enemy an enemy that is privy to all we have done he knows all our thoughts yea those secret lusts and evils that lie in our hearts and he will not be flattered He will tell the truth and all the truth Conscience will lay all open in the dreadful day of Account before Angels and Men Rom. 2. 15. Holy Job resolved to hold his integrity fast and not to let it go his heart should not reproach him as long as he lived Job 27. 5 6. Sincerity of heart and a good conscience will be a good sanctuary at the hour of death The Lord help you to lay these things to heart I might give you more directions which I am forced to omit because of time Onely this if thou wouldst be prepared for the grave take this one which was not then delivered which I am sorry I did omit Eightly Beware of resting in the form of godliness without the power 'T is an easie thing to conform to the outward part of Religion to take up Ordinances and come into Churches but oh what will become of the foolish Virgins Sinners in Zion ere long will be afraid and fearfulness will surprize the hypocrites Many of you heard those excellent soal-searching Sermons of your dear Pastor now deceased on 2 Tim. 3. 5. Oh that you would labour to call them to mind and those upon a well-ordered Conversation from Psal â—50 and the last verse What pains did he take with you that you might not deceive your selves and miss at last of eternal life I think there was never more formality amongst Christians and carnality amongst Professors in the Churches than in these dayes No marvel if God bring a day of dreadful tryals and afflictions upon us that those that are approved may be made manifest Tremble sranners for God is a coming forth to refine his people he will search Jerusalem with candles Zeph. 1. 12. And woe to them that are at ease in Zion however you appear now to men your sins ere long will find you out I now must come to the third Use which must be an Use of Lamentation and indeed I know not well how to enter upon it my heart is full Is it so Must all die Can none deliver their own souls from the power of the grave Must Husbands die dear Husbands Must Fathers die yea tender Fathers Must Friends our dearest Friends die Ministers nay our choice and godly Pastors must they die too Oh greedy Death oh cruel Tirant Oh that ever we sinned This may well be for a Lamentation Samuel died and Israel made great Lamentations for him Your Samuel is gone but no asking for him again he cannot come In Acts 8. 2. it is said Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him O spare me a little you have lost one who laboured to do the work of his generations in faithfulness Let me lay down some grounds that we have for a Lamentation 1. Oh it 's grievous to loose a godly Preacher a Pastor a faithful Labourer 'T is a day of Mourning my soul as well as yours is full Alas there is but few of them We have need of more and Lord do'st thou take away these we have 2. But if any should say we have many yet left behind I must say not many such who make it their main work and business to bring souls to Jesus Christ There are but few who naturally care for the Flock Few preach Christ for Christs sake that are willing to spend and be spent for his Name sake like our dear Brother now with the Lord. May I not say with Paul some preach Christ out of envy and some of strife onely with this variation Are there not many who preach Jesus Christ not sincerely but have self and sinister ends at the bottom But to leave that however if God proceed and go on after this rate to take our Preachers away there will be few enough ere long 3. You have not onely lost a Pastor a Shepherd a tender one but you have lost a Father Many of you must follow your Father this day to the grave You have many Instructors in Christ yet not many Fathers He hath been an Instrument through the Word and the operation of the Spiriâ— in his Ministry to beget many of you to Jesus Christ May you not cry out with Elisha when Elijah was taken up from him My father my father the horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof and he saw him no more 2 Kings 2. 12. He is now gone you will hear him no more see him no more This golden Trumpet is now stopped you will hear it sound no more 4. Consider the time in which God hath taken him away when the harvest is white or when the fields are ripe to harvest when many sinners are ready to be brought in to Jesus Christ The loss is great oh how shall it be repaired How shall the harvest be gathered in when the chief Labourer in this field is gone 5. Ministers are and fitly may be compared to Pilots the Church to a Ship passing through a troublesome Ocean amongst many Rocks and Sands and when such die how shall the poor Marriners steer especially considering the dangerous and grievous stormes that do now appear is not this a ground of lamentation 6. Ministers are compared to Shepheards that are to keep the flock and watch over them to take care of the tender lambs and let me tell you ravenous wolves are abroad yea and the cunning Fox nay as crafty Foxes as ever were in the world and the Shepherd being gone may we not fear that which will follow is not the flock in danger to be scattered 7. Ministers of the Gospel may be compared to Captains to encourage us in our spiritual warfare and now alas your Leader is gone he is taken from you and are we not surrounded with enemies May we not say with Leah in another case Gen. 30. 11. a troop cometh a troop of troubles a troop of afflictions a troop of temptations a troop of miseries and persecutions I wish improve not a troop of division to the scattering of us the Lord I hope will prevent it 8. Ministers of the Gospel are compared to Trees the trees of the Lord are full of sap Psal 104. 16. the lip of the righteous feed many saith Solomon and this was a fruitful tree Oh the sweet fruit it did bear most precious fruit it yielded us for many years Oh what good have many gathered out of the branches thereof But now alas it is cut down it will bear fruit for you
that sweet word of Paul to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 3. 22. Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours it will be every way for thy good Consider what freedom thou wilt gain thereby 1. It will free thee from a body of sin and death that often makes thee go with a sorrowful heart Oh! hath it not oft made thee to cry out with St. Paul Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death Oh what is a greater trouble to a Child of God than indwelling sin He cannot do the things he would do But now comes death and frees thee of all these soul perplexities and disquietments Sin makes a Saint to groan being burthened but now thou shalt grieve Christ and his spirit nor thy own soul no more Is not this that a poor Saint longs for 2. 'T will free thee from a poor crazy diseased or distempered Body There will then be no crying out of back or bone nor head not heart any more 't will be with thee as with the Church in the glorious day to come Rev. 21. 4. There shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away 3. It will free thee from an evil and wicked world Oh what a defiling ensnaring and bewitching world is this What hinders us of our joy and peace in Christ more than it What greater vexation to us Oh how many precious Saints are clogged and imprisoned by the cares of the world which many times is ready to choak the seed of holy desires after Christ But by Death thou shalt be delivered 4. It will free thee out of the hands of presecutors Thou wilt with our dear Brother be out of their reach then they shall not disquiet thee imprison thee nor torment thee any more There saith Job speaking of the grave the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary be at rest there the prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Job 3. 17 18. 5. Death will free thee from an envious raging and tempting Devil He will have not more power to disturb thee accuse thee nor by his cursed suggestions to vex and perplex thy soul no nor any other ways to hurt or annoy thee O will not this be to thy great advantage Who would be unwilling to die that hath an interest in Jesus Christ 6. Thou wilt hereby also be freed from all the discords and troubles that rise amongst Brethren The unworthy and disorderly lives of Professors shall sadden thy heart then no more This was that which worried and grieved the blessed Apostle Phil. 3. 18. Our dear Brother is set at liberty from all these things disorders in the Church no loose walking of Members thereof will burden nor trouble him again 7. Nay and Death will free thee of all that trouble that riseth from those inward becloudings and hideings of God's face It will never be night with the soul any more thou wilt then be with Christ and behold his face with joy for ever 8. And lastly Thou wilt also be freed of all thy toilsome pains and labour of what nature soever it be O how good is rest to a weary soul Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. But then once again Consider what a blessed state thy soul will be in at death If thou art a true Beliver thou shalt not onely have hereby a negative good it will not simply a freedom from all those sorrows and troubles thou hast heard but thy soul shall immediately receive transcendent joy with Jesus Christ For me to live saith Paul is Christ and to die is gain The advantage the soul receives upon this account made Paul so much desire to depart and be with Christ which he says is far better Phil. 1. 21. Pray observe his words he doth not say it will be gain to him when he rises again no but to die is gain I shall receive more joy more consolation more of the fulness of God and Christ as if he should say when I die then I can whilest I am in this body Mind that passage in 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Compare this with ver 6. Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. The Apostle doth not say we know when this earthly house is broken down and raised up again we have a building with God eternal in the heavens Pray consider it but plainly when it is dissolved when it is turned to its dusty crums We have that is our souls he can intend nothing else By we he means their better part which he compares to an inhabiter and the body to the house or tabernacle in which it dwels Oh what an excellent thing is the soul of man over the body And now beloved That the soul or better part is capable of being separated from the body and in its seperate state from the body capable of glorious enjoyments of God and high raptures of joy with Jesus Christ doth appear most evident from that passsage of the Apostle in 2 Cor. 12. 1 2 3. It is not expendient for me doubtless to glory I will come to vissions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell God knoweth such a one caught up to the third heaven ver 4. says he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which is not lawful for a man to utter The soul or spirit then it appears may be seperate from the body I from this place thus argue 1. If the soul or spirit of man be not capable of being seperated from the house of clay or earthly tabernacle then Paul might have boldly and safely have said the whole man was taken up a soul and body together and not one without the other because it is impossible to seperate them but since Paul says he knows not whether in the body or out of the body he plainly shews what opinion he was of And then secondly I may from what he says reason after this manner viz. If the soul in its seperated state from the body be not able or capable to enjoy or take in heavenly comforts or consolations of Jesus Christ Paul might boldly and Positively have said he was taken up in the body because however he was caught up whether within or without the body he heard and saw unexpressible things he had high and soul-filling raptures of joy The Lord Jesus promised the penitent Thief that he should that is