towards that which suits the fancy but sound conviction and deep humiliation never prepared the Soul to a judicious relish of divine things nor do they produce those blessed effects in heart and life as in Gods Children Oh how many poor sinners are going on in a golden dream and fear no danger till they be past hopes of recovery Many think they are travelling towards Heaven and never question it till as they are stepping out of this world as they think into Heaven miss their footing and drop down into Hell That never see their errour till it be too late to retrieve it Oh that men were awakened in time If you stay till death have struck its stroke it will be too late Imparatum inveniet dies judicii quem imparatum invenerit â—â—es mortis The day of judgment must needs find him unready that the day of death finds unready Men have a conceit that the interval betwixt death and judgment may do great things to make them meet for Heaven but they are mistaken Death launcheth you into the boundless ocean of Eternity It is appointed unto men once to dye and after that the judgment Heb. 9.27 Ah Sirs what think you Is there an Heaven or Hell after this life or is there not And are you not certain whether you do enter by death into eternal happiness or misery and yet can you be quiet If you were not loose in your belief of future things you would be restlefs as long as you are doubtful You owe your ease to nothing but your Lethargy If you were not infidels you would be distracted What Man The next moment may be roaring in Hell and not repent on Earth He is worse then a Devil that trembles not under divine wrath What if it have not siezed on you as on Devils The flame is at next door wrath hangs over your heads the only reason you see it not is because you are blind The Lord open your eyes and I need not preach terrour to you your hearts will meditate terror Fearfulness will surprize you hypocrites and make you say Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 It s a wonder you do not run up and down like mad men surely you have taken some Opium to cast you in a dead sleep or intoxicate your Spirits Or as some Malafactors do that dare not dye sober Yea some wiser Heathens took great draughts of Wine saying That no voluptuous person can go in his Wits into an invisible state But is this a making meet for Heaven or Hell Can rational persons think to escape the ditch by winking Or will men say as it s reported of Robert Duke of Normandy William the Conquerours Father going on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem falling sick was born in a Litter on Saracens shoulders and said He was born to Heaven on the Devils back Alas will you trust the Fiend of Hell to bring you to Heaven Is he grown so full of charity to Souls Oh forlorn case of miserable sinners have you no better a friend then Satan That you can be content to be rockt asleep in his cradle and carried with ease to Hell rather then ride in our Lords chariot paved with Love to Heaven Is security your best fence against misery Can these poor fig-leaves of temporary Righteousness secure you from divine Vengeance Can you be content to stand by that another day that you dare not put to the tryal here Alas I am afraid 1. Some are ignorant sots that know not what is necessary to a meetness for Heaven Most think if they have but time to say at death Lord have mercy upon me God forgive me my sins Lord Jesus receive my Soul they think they have made their peace with God especially if they can say they forgive all the world and dye in charity with all and send for the Minister to pray with them and receive absolution and the Sacrament when perhaps they are little fit for such a solemn Ordinance then the Minister recommends their Souls into Gods hands commends them at their Funeral and now they are certainly gone to Heaven these poor wretched sinners blessed their Souls whilst living and men must praise them and account them blessed when dead Psal 49.18 2. Most are inconsiderate They consider nothing but meer objects of sense like the kine of Bashan go out at their breaches every one at that which is before her Amos 4.1 â—3 They never mind things out of their natural sight they put far away the evil day Am. 6.3 little thinking what will be in the end of their sensual ways Jer. 5.31 Either they say to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Isa 56.12 or else in Atheistical scorn and mockery Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye 1 Cor. 15.32 Let us be merry while we may we shall never be younger when we are gone all the world is gone with us as if there were no reckoning or rendering day or retribution in the other world but let such study Eccl. 11.9 10. Rom. 8.13 Luk. 12.19 20. Psal 9.17.2 Thess 1.6 7 8 9. Job 3.18 Psal 50 23. Oh Sirs disappointments are dreadful It s sad with a witness to be confident of Heaven and yet doomed to Hell As Hamilcar dreamed he should the next night sup in Syracusa which indeed he did not as a Conqueror as he hoped but as a Prisoner Oh how will it double your damnation to live in confident hopes of reigning with Christ yet to be judged by him and banished from him for ever If you say Soul take thine case and God say Devil take his Soul Whether of these think you will prevail CHAP. XI An Exhortation to all persons to get meet for Heaven 2. THE latter Use is Exhortation 1. To Sinners 2. To Saints to get meet for this Heavenly Inheritance The former by an habitual the latter by actual meetness for this glorious state I shall need to say the less to move you to it having urged practical Reasons from our natural unmeetness divine ordination the design of ordinances providences the season of life for it the work and priviledges here require it the inconsistency of a contrary-frame to that glorious inheritance Most of these are levelled to the state of unsanctified graceless Souls therefore I shall say the less to that branch Oh that I had here the Tongue or Pen of an Angel The Bowels of blessed Paul to perswade sinners to look after a meetness for Heaven Consider 1. What else have you to do in the world Your very Children will tell you that Mans chief end is to glorifie God and injoy him for ever If you attain not these ends you live in the world to no purpose you are unprofitable cumber-grounds 2. You frustrate Christs undertakings in the world and do what you can to render all his merits useless you tread under foot the Son of God count the blood of the Covenant an
state and loves and lives in sin lyes and dyes in the old Adam That 's the sadest word in all the Bible pronounced twice in a breath by our blessed Lord Joh. 8.21 24. Ye shall dye in your sins i. e. under the guilt of your sins and sentence of condemnation This is surprizing from what he adds in the first place whither I go you cannot come that is to Heaven whither sinners cannot enter You 'l say then no man can enter into Heaven for all men are sinners even to the last breath When are men cleansed is it in Articulo mortis in the passage of the Soul out of the Body May not all be cleansed alike then Answ It s true all are sinning to the last gasp of breathing out their Souls but 1. You must distinguish betwixt a state of sin and having fin The best have relicks of Original corruption as long as they live The death of the body will only annihilate the body of death Death is not properly the punishment but period of sin It reigns not in Gods Children at present it shall not remain in them when dead The guilt of sin is already gone for there 's no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and the filth yea being of sin is taken away as soon as death strikes the stroke 2. I see not but the mighty God can perfectly expel sin out of the Soul and also perfect defective graces in the instant of the Souls separation from the Body as well as he did infuse a principle of grace into the Soul in an instant at the Souls first conversion for by death the spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Mind it it is just men not wicked God will not infuse grace into men ordinarily in their passage out of the world qualis vita finis ita as men live so they dye and if men imagine God will put another principle into their hearts just as they pass out of this World as this is a daring presumption so they will be mistaken for how is a departing Soul capable of such receptions or reflections as are necessary in the work of conversion Alas the Eyes being set Lips quivering Memory failing and the Body in a cold sweat is unfit for any thing their hopes giving up the ghost as their breaths depart and it s a wonder that the Souls of wicked men go quietly out of their Bodies its strange they depart not as the Devils out of the Demonaicks rending raging tearing foming but if Conscience be asleep death will awake it could you follow their departing Souls a minute out of their Bodies you would hear howlings and roarings 3. Heaven will not receive any Souls but such as are made meet for it on Earth Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither what soever worketh abomination for without are dogs Rev. 22.15 They say Ireland will not brook a Toad a Snake or venomous Creature to live and like in it I am sure Heaven will not admit but cast out an unsanctified heart The Legions of apostate Angels knew this who abode not one moment in that holy place after they left their innocency It is said of the Halcyons nest that it will hold nothing but its own Bird The same may be said of Heaven the Serpent could wind himself into the Earthly Paradice but none of the Serpentine brood shall once peep into this Heavenly Paradice For 1 The Text saith It is an Inheritance now an Inheritance is for none but Children its true all Gods Children are heirs Rom. 8.17 but none shall inherit Heaven except Children By nature we are Children of Wrath by grace and adoption Children of God All Gods Children are begot again to a lively hope for this incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. 2. It s the inheritance of Saints i. e. of holy sanctified Souls Persons must not think that Heaven is like Mahemets Paradice where there is delicious fare pleasant gardens fair women and all sensual delights fit lettice for an Epicures Lips No no Heaven is a state of perfect immediate and perpetual injoyment of God suited to the raised faculties of a sanctified Soul 3. It s the inheritance of Saints in light It s a bright and lightsome state suited to seeing Souls blind sinners can see no beauty there such as are not changed from darkness to light are not fit for that state see Acts 26.18 Alas a blind man can take no content in beautiful objects though the Sun shine never so gloriously Heaven and light are synonymous but light and darkness are directly contrary If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1.6 and such dark sinners are far from a suitableness to this state and place of light O therefore poor sinners consider this the holy God hates all the workers of iniquity the holy Heaven is no sanctuary for Rebels and Traytors God will not take such vipers into his bosom thou must either be renewed or never received into glory it is an undefiled inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 a dirty sinner must not enter this would disparage and contradict all Gods Attributes as his Justice then God should give to the wicked according to the work of the righteous it would blemish his Holiness as though unclean were delighted in equally with the clean it would contradict his Truth as though God regarded not what he said or swore that no unclean thing shall enter there Every Attribute would have dirt cast upon it if God should save the unsanctified Soul Nay it contradicts the undertakings of Jesus Christ who came to save his people from their sins not in their sins It exposeth the office and operations of the Holy Ghost whose office it is to sanctifie sinners and prepare Souls for Heaven that sinner must surely be in a desperate case that must un God the infinite Jehovah God blessed for ever or else he cannot be saved 4. The unsanctified sinner would by no means like in Heaven Heaven would be an Hell to him except his Nature were changed and renewed Most Men mistake the nature of Heaven they only look upon it as a place of happiness it is so but withal it is a state of perfect holiness They are holy priviledges injoyment of God and what care wicked men for his company They say unto God depart from us and their choice shall be their punishment They are holy joys and delights how will they like that who were never pleased but with sensual laughter which is madness There 's holy company above of Saints but they cannot abide to be near them on Earth how then can they like to be associated to them in Heaven There is holy imployment above but alas they are not at all qualified for nor can they be delighted in the work of loving praising or taking pleasure in God Augustine hath a saying
matters to mind Do we not bring dishonour to God and discredit to our Religion by our backwardness And can we have that comfort and confidence in meeting the Bridegroom of our Souls as is fit Alas our Lord will be less welcome if he surprize us unawares as I have told you Ah Sirs you little know how near death is and therefore should be always ready to meet our Lord. It is matter of great lamentation that so few of Gods Children are meet for their home and like wayward Children are loath to go to bed though God hath taken a course to weary us out of the world The Lord help us to lament and lay to heart our great unmeetness for Heaven When sin security senselesness steals in upon thy Spirit search it out mourn for it confess it beg a pardon of it and recover thy self quickly out of it be not satisfied with any distance from God recover thy wonted familiarity with thy best friend and mend thy pace towards Heaven as a man in his journey that hath been hindered hies the faster to recover his way lost by his stay breath after more likeness to God fitness for every dispensation and long to be with God in Heaven Alas Sirs you little know how near you are to Eternity You see the sands that are run to the nether end of the glass but the upper part as one saith is covered with a mantle you know not how few sands are yet to run God forbid that you should have your Evidences to procure when you should have them to produce If you be not sure of Heaven you are sure of nothing all worldly things must leave you or you must leave them Dispatch all but this off your hands and be as the bird on her wings to her nest or the traveller whose mind is still on home home nothing will please him but home Say with Calvin Vsquequo Domine How long Lord shall my Soul be at a distance from thee Come Lord Jesus come quickly CHAP. XII The second Doctrine briefly handled that a meetness for Heaven is a mercy worth thanking God for I Proceed briefly to explain the second Doctrine in my Text which is That its a transcendent Mercy worth thanking God for to be made meet for the Heavenly Inheritance If we must thank God for Daily-bread for Houses Health Estates Worldly comforts and accommodations for our Bodies how much more should we thank God for Heaven and a meetness for Heaven without which we shall never come there The truth of this I shall demonstrate in these seven particulars 1. Spiritual Mercies are of most worth and deserve most thanks from us to God But this is a Spiritual Mercy Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so may signifie spiritual things as well as places i. e. Graces Priviledges Comforts or whatever hath a tendency to the good of the Soul or eternal Salvation in Heaven These indeed are a Benjamins portion a goodly heritage the quintessence and marrow of all Blessings If God should give you the whole World and put you off therewith you are cursed and wretched if he give you Grace and Glory you are happy if you had nothing else Our Lord thought that a plenary Benediction with which he begins his first Sermon Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God There 's the mercy promised and the qualification for it both choice Blessings 2. That which is the purchase of Christ is worth our thanking God for but this is the fruit of Christs purchase It s not only a purchased inheritance nor did Christ only purchase us to be heirs of this inheritance but he hath purchased a meetness in Believers for that Inheritance Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works How do men thankfully celebrate Christs Nativity But that mercy of Christs being born into the world though transcendently great will never advantage you unless Christ be in you the hope of glory Col. 1.27 his dwelling in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 intitles you to the inheritance he hath purchased Look within thee Man as well as without thee and above thee for the fruits of Christs purchase and occasions of thankfulness to God 3. The operations and fruits of the Spirit are surely worth thanking God for but this is one of the most glorious fruits of the Spirit to fit Souls for Heaven Our Lord promiseth to send the Holy Ghost to supply the want of his Bodily presence and it is the richest gift that ever proceeded from Father and Son such as have it out of their Belly flow Rivers of living water Job 7.38 39. God is to be admired in all the saving works and actings of the Spirit the convincing humbling sanctifying supporting satisfying sealing comforting quickening inlarging confirming witnessing and reviving operations of it Alas we had never lookt after God had not the Holy Ghost knockt at our doors we had been blind in the things of God but that the Spirit inlightened us dead but that the Spirit enlivened us we had wandered for ever but that the Holy Spirit reduced us our hearts had been for ever hardened from Gods fear had not Gods Spirits softened us we should have been unlike God but that the Holy Ghost stampt Gods Image upon us whatever hath been done upon our Spirits to fit us for Heaven the Holy Ghost hath been the Agent yea that Spirit that we have quenched grieved resisted vexed what cause then have we to be very thankful This is the golden Oyl that runs through the golden pipes of Ordinances into the candlestick of the Church Zech. 4.11 12. 4. The Gospel-dispensation is great matter and ground of thankfulness It is a mistery which in other ages was not made known to the sons of mon Eph. 3.4 5. But what is the marrow and main design of this Gospel-revelation Why ver 6. That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Oh glorious design Oh blessed Charter But what are we better unless we be partners of this priviledge Therefore chap. 2.19 saith Christians are fellow-vitizens with the Saints This is the Gospel way of infranchising and incorporating poor strangers in the Immunities of Heaven and surely this is worth thanking God for The Charters of some Cities cost them dear and the Chief Captain said to Paul with a great summe obtained I this freedom Paul said and so may Believers say in this sense but I was free-born Acts 22.28 Though it cost Christ dear yet it costs us nothing but reception This new Jerusalem is built all of Free-stone and shall not our shoutings echo grace grace to the Head-stone Jesus Christ
the Life of Paul the aged within a few days and my Lord only knows how soon my sun may set though I cannot say my Natural Vigour either of Body or Mind is in the least abated but I am mortal and am loath to be surprized unawares 2. I see a great failure in my self and other Christians in this that terminate our studies and endeavours in getting a title and then think all is well we need no more but surely there is much behind we have abundance of work upon our hands for obtaining actual meetness without which we cannot evidence our habitual meetness 3. I never yet met with any Treatise upon this subject though it be of great importance for every Christian surely Heaven is worth minding and methinks Abrahams Query in another case should be ours Gen. 15.8 O Lord God whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it 4. I have observed a commendable practice of some Christians which is to order some Books to be distributed at their Funerals The first that I knew of that nature was Mr. R. A. his Vindiciae Pietatis and some other practical pieces which by Gods Blessing have done much good Such a Memorandum would I bequeath as my last Legacy to you my dear People amongst whom I have laboured above thirty nine years in publick and private serving the Lord in some measure of Integrity and Humility with many Tears and Temptations through variety of Dispensations Excommunications Banishments Confiscations and Imprisonments but out of all these the Lord hath delivered me and set my feet in a large place and God that searcheth the heart knows what hath been my design in studying preaching praying preparing you a place to meet in to Worship God and what are the agonies and jealousies of my Spirit to this day least I leave any of you unconverted and so cashiered from Gods presence at the great day and now at last I solemnly charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that you rest not in a graceless state another day lest that be the last day and you be found unready And I solemnly require you that have a principle of Grace gird up your Loins trim your Lamps and observe these few Rules and the dispositions mentioned in this small Treatise I only hint further Be much in the love of God Dayly act Faith on Christ Walk in the Spirit Design Gods Glory Intermit not holy duties Be not content therein without communion with God Mingle Religion with civil acts Increase every Grace Redeem time Profitably converse with Gods Children Aim at perfection Maintain tender Consciences Keep strict accounts Study the life of Heaven Be still doing or getting good Set God before your eyes Trample on worldly things Live in dayly view of death Be nothing in your own eyes Be much in heavenly praises Say O Lord who am I and what is my Fathers house that thou hast brought me hitherto What is man what am I the least and worst of the children of men that the heart of God should be working for me and towards me in infinite bowels of eternal love That the Lord Jesus should shed his heart-blood for me That the holy Spirit should take possession of me That God should provide such an inheritance for me Assure me of it by precious Promises seal it to me in his holy Supper That ever God should give me an heart to fear him Heal so many backslidings Prevent total Apostacy Pardon all my iniquities Vouchsafe me such large priviledges Supply my wants Hear my Prayers Help me over so many a foul place in my journey Brought me to the borders of Canaan Given me so many foretasts of the promised Land Tells me the Jordan of death shall be driven back and give me a safe passage to Heaven O Blessed blessed be God all this is from sovereign Grace God doth what he pleaseth I would not exchange this hope for the worlds possessions Eternity will be little enough to be taken up in the praises of rich grace Thus the gracious Soul may quickly lose it self in these Divine Praises and Contemplations as that zealous German Martyr Giles Titleman who in his Prayers was so ardent kneeling by himself in some secret place that he seemed to forget himself being called many times to meat he neither heard nor saw them that stood by him till he was lift up by the Arms and then gently he would speak to them as one waked out of a deep sleep Oh that there were such a spirit in Gods children That our hearts were so intent on things above as to pass through the world as unconcerned in it Then shall you be content to leave all and go to Christ Then will you not be afraid of the King of Terrors though armed with Halberts Racks Fires Gibbets then will you have a brighter Crown and higher degrees of Glory and shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as one Star differs from another in Glory so you will be set in the highest Orb and having had largest capacities on Earth shall have fullest joys in Heaven I will conclude with the blessed Apostles Prayer 1 Th. 3.12 13. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints Amen and Amen Thus prayeth Your Servant in our dearest Lord Oliver Heywood COLOS. 1.12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light CHAP. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised and explained PRayer and Praise are the two wings upon which a devout Soul mounts Heavenwards Prayer fetcheth down occasions of Praise These two are as Chariots and Factors to maintain intercourse betwixt God and his Children Paul was a great man in both for after the Inscription Subscription and Benediction in this Epistle he falls to Praise ver 3. then to Prayer ver 9. and in the Text he falls again to Praise and Thanksgiving wherein observe 1. The Duty Praise 2. The Mercy for what In the former observe 1. The Act giving thanks 2. The Object the Father 1. The Act 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies a being of a good Grace having a very grateful Spirit and expressing it in words and actions Col. 3.15 Be ye thank ful or be ye amiable one to another or grateful both in conferring and receiving Benefits But here it referrs to God Obs 1. That thank fulness is the duty and property of a Christian Thankful retribution for Mercies is the study and enquiry of gracious Souls Psal 116.12 Prayer and Thanks are like the double motion of the Lungs the air of Mercy that is sucked in by Prayer is breathed out again by the duty of Praise O happy Christian that can and must in every
comforts of his Spirit from the best of his Saints yea he with-held them from his own Son and another thing what may and usually is the effect of Mans sloth and negligence which is too commonly our case as Mr. Dod answered him that complained of want of assurance why Man assurance may be had and what have you been doing all this while 4. Yet this will hold good that a clear evidence of our title is a great meetness and readiness for Death For though assurance be not necessary ad esse to the being of a Christian yet it s necessary ad bene esse of a Christian i. e. to his well being or comfortable passage through or parting out of this World for if we must draw near to God in a duty with full assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 much more at death Oh what a vast difference i◠there betwixt a Soul carried 〈◊〉 the wing of Faith and flames o◠Love in an extasie of Joy and the poor doubting heartless disconsolate Soul The former is like some high Mountains that are above Storms and Clouds as they say Olympus is clear and beautiful Oh the calmness and serenity of the well assured Christian He hath a double Heaven well at present better presently it s but shooting this gulf crossing this Jordan passing this stile as Dr. Taylor said and I shall be in my Fathers house Death it self as terrible as it is in it self and to others is a stingless Serpent my Friend and Fathers Servant sent to fetch me home Angels shall guard me my Lord will bid me welcome my Christian Friends gone before will make Heaven ring with shouts of joy at my landing safe and my Soul shall ever be with the 〈◊〉 But alas the poor doubting Soul whose evidences are not clear cryes out Alas dye I must and dye I dare not I dare not say God is my God Christ my Saviour the Spirit my sanctifier Promises the Charters that convey the Inheritance to others I cannot apply whither I am going I know not God carries strangely to me I remember God and am troubled guilt stares me in the face I am conscious to my self of thousands of sins and though I have been long bungling about Faith and Repentance yet I am not sure they are sincere and saving and whether God will receive my sad departing Soul Anxius vixi dubius morior as that great Man said I have lived under fears I dye under doubts and God knows what will become of me and I may thank my self alas this is the fruit of my sloth security my slipping into sin backslidings from God intermittings of duty careless and heartless performances wo is me what will become of me These are the astonishing thoughts of a poor doubtful dying Soul And is this Man meet for Heaven He may be right for the main but he cannot make Death welcome CHAP. V. Meetness for Heaven in dispatching our work here off our hands 3. THE next thing wherein our meetness for this blessed Inheritance doth consist is in dispatching our main work in the world that God sent us to do whatever that is God expects we should dispatch it and get it done this we must all address our selves chearfully to do and be very diligent in doing it Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thine hand findes and do it with thy might This is 〈◊〉 a time of working the other world is a day of retribution and when the Child of God hath wrought his days work it s a fit time to go to Bed Thus our dear Lord tells his Father Joh. 17.4 5. I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie me with thy own self Quest What work is it that God sets before Men to dispatch and manage Answ There is a fourfold work lyes upon a Christians hands to manage in this world 1. Personal Spiritual work Soul work wherein God is more immediately concerned which is the glorifying of God and saving his own Soul God hath involved these in one they are inseparable companions and its a mighty business Our Lord saith I have glorified 〈…〉 on the Earth This in 〈◊〉 measure is required of us and the sincere Christian makes it his design Thou knowest Oh my dear Lord what is that which hath lain highest in my heart ever since thou openedst mine Eyes The earnest desire of my Soul hath been to be nothing in mine own eyes that God alone may have all the glory I will confess and give glory to God I will and through grace have desired to make it my business to give glory to God by believing repenting obeying fruit-bearing yea in eating drinking and whatsoever I do in natural moral or civil actions This this is the mark I shoot at my highest aim that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.11 And my business is in order thereto to study how to please God and to abound more and more 1 Thess 4.1 to obey Gods Commandments and to do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1 Joh. 3.22 and oh that my Person and Prayers might be accepted in Christ The salvation of my Soul is more dear and precious then this poor perishing Carcase My grand enquiry is what must I do to be saved This is the one thing needful other things are upon the by Oh that I could work out my own salvation I appeal to thee Lord how many griefs and groans prayers and pains fears and tears this main concern hath cost me I know there 's much of this work about my precious Soul yet undone but thou knowest the main is dispatcht I have fought a good fight finisht my course kept the faith 2 Tim. 4.7 And now my Land-business is done let me go to Sea and launch out into that boundless ocean of eternal happiness 2. Temporal work the business of our Callings and particular occasions This also the dying Christian is drawing into a narrower compass that he may voluntarily leave the world before the world leave him the Christian having had his head and hands full of business in his younger days when old age comes is glad of a quietus est or writ of ease that he may vacare Deo be at more leisure for God in holy duties Methink saith the good heart I have had my share both of the imployments and injoyments of this lower world and am well content to shake hands therewith I can behold with pity the laborious Ants and Pismires running upon this Mole-hill and busily scrambling for a little dust let them take it God hath made my hands to be sufficient for me I have what will bear my charges to the grave let it go I am glad I have so fairly parted with it I would not be to enter again upon this busie stage or put forth to this tumultuous Sea I have now other things to mind I have now the great work to mind of setting streight my accounts for another
world my Peace to make with God an Eternity to provide for which the affairs of the world have thrust out or distracted me in This this shall be my imployment for the future for what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul I leave all these things to others that succeed me 3. Relative work This also may be in some respects dispatched off our hands and the doing of it maketh more meet for Heaven This is not to be slighted for it is needful in its place When King Hezekiah was sick unto death God sends him this Message Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live Isa 38.1 i. e. Make thy Will and dispose of thy domestical concerns so as may be a prevention of quarrels and contentions in thy Family after thy decease And ver 3. 't is said that Hezekiah wept sore Why so Was not Hezekiah a Godly Man Was not his Soul in a readiness for death Yes doubtless for he dare appeal to God that he had walked before him in truth and with a perfect heart What then was the matter Why Hezekiah had yet no Son Manasseh being not born till three years after this q. d. Lord if it may be thy will spare my Life and give me a Son for if I dye at this time I know not how to dispose of the Crown I am likely to leave the Church and State in miserable distraction and confusion through the great uncertainty of a succession and the proneness of the people to backslide to their false Worship God heard his Prayer gave him a lease of his Life for fifteen years But this is a duty to all though it be more necessary to some then to others But however its useful to settle the Mind at ease and prevent outward ill consequences and inward disturbances of Spirit but as that good Man was loath to go off the stage Heirless so other circumstances may call for the settlement of their Families by their last Will and Testament especially when Children are left young c. Yea and others also may say now God hath lengthened out my days to see my Children brought up and hopeful for Religion setled in Callings and Families there was but this Child or that business that I desired to see well ordered as to my Family-affairs As Jacob closed up his Blessing of Dan Gen. 19.48 I have waited for thy salvation O Lord. Now at last since God hath wrought on such a Child I will say with old Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Luk. 2.29 30. 4. Another work to be dispatcht off our hands is publick work This concerns men in a publick or private capacity as when Moses had led Israel out of Egypt and through the Wilderness he had dispatcht his work and having been faithful in Gods house he was fit to dye So when Joshua had conquered many Kings in Canaan divided the Land to Israel he got a discharge and fell asleep Thus David after he had served his own generation by the will of God fell on sleep and was laid unto his Fathers Acts 13.36 And so Aaron Samuel and the rest of the Prophets marcht off the Field by the order of our great Lord General when they had dispatcht their warfare and delivered their message Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever Zech. 1.5 And indeed to what purpose should they or we live when our work is done Especially when Gods servants have not only dispatcht that work that concerns present but future Generations For this is also the work of our present day Thus Solomon built God an house for future times And the Apostle Peter lays in for after ages 2 Pet. 1.15 Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things alwayes in remembrance It s the property of a good man to take care that Religion may live when he is dead Ambrose saith of Theodosius I loved the man exceedingly that when he dyed he was more sollicitous for the Churches then his own danger Then indeed is the Christian meet for Heaven when he hath dispatcht his work on Earth and laid a foundation for good in after times however bears his testimony against corruptions in future generations as Moses Deut. 31 26.-30 Quest You will say how can any man be said to dispatch his work till his life be done Surely the date of work and life run parallel Answ 1. Active doing work may be oft at an end when suffering work is but a beginning for God often reserves suffering work to the last that patience may have her perfect work that the Christian may be perfect and entire wanting nothing Jam. 1.4 The Christian hath little to do but lye in bed and patiently wait Gods pleasure and this usually follows on doing Gods will See Hebr. 10.36 This is indeed a great work to bear our burden patiently chearfully thankfully and fruitfully and say well for the present and will be better shortly the greatest part is then over 2. Though something be to be done or suffered yet when the greatest part of a Christians work is done it may be said it is finished So it was with our Saviour Joh. 17.4 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do But was not dying upon the Cross for the sins of Men a principal piece of Christs work Answ It was so nigh that he speaks of it as already done so ver 11. I am not in the world for he was just a going out of it Besides he had done most of his work and was ready prest to do the work fully the rest that was behind And when our Lord had tasted the vinegar he said it is finished Joh. 19.30 This is a closing word as giving up the ghost was a closing work 3. Sometimes Divine Providence takes off Gods children from much of their work before their dayes be ended this is obvious to a rational eye that then their work is done as sometimes by natural causes Thus Isaac Jacob could presage their own death by the certain prognostick of death namely old age Others by some sickness Consumptions which are usually mortal Others are taken off most of their work by Persecutions Prisons c. Others are taken off the stage of the World by violent death As a dying Minister said on the Scaffold Isaac was old and knew not the day of his death I am young and know the day manner and instruments of my death It s but a nodding the head and death doth its office Now my work is ended 4. Yet once more Some godly Ministers and Christians have had a kind of instinct that death was approaching even in their best health and younger days and so consequently of the dispatch of their work as some Creatures by natural instinct foresee a falling house So we
Vine tree Ezek. 15.3 4 5. that is not meet for any work but it is cast into the fire for fuel just so is that branch that 's professionally in Christ that beareth not fruit it s taken away and cast into the fire and burned Joh. 15 2.-6 The Divine Wisdom is seen in suiting means to the end object to the faculty back to the burden Now graceless sinners are not fit for Gods work and if they be not fit in this world they will never be fit 2. The Christian hath many priviledges to injoy which he must be meet for even in this world as Reconciliation Justification Adoption Joy in the Holy Ghost Peace of Conscience Communion with God Audience of Prayers c. All these God hath promised Christ hath purchased for his Children and they are Childrens bread and must not be given to dogs God will not throw away his Mercies on such as value them not but scorn them they set light by precious delicates of his Table Mat. 22 5. The whole slight the Physitian Mat. 9.12 The full soul loaths the honey comb The carnal heart will not thank God for pardon and grace and can we think God will force his Blessings on such ungrateful miscreants that scorn both him and his kindness No surely there are some that long for these Blessings and will thankfully accept them See Acts 13.46 48. and 28.28 Yea he will make you prize them and part with all for them or you shall never have them What think you doth not the great God take care to secure his own glory as well as Mans felicity And would it not be dishonourable to God to bestow his richest treasures and pleasures of grace on such as despise them and take more pleasure in rooting in the sordid dunghil of sensual delights then in seeking first the Kingdom of God which consists in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Alas Honour is not seemly for a fool Prov. 26.1 As a Jewel of Gold in a swines snout so is a fair Woman without discretion Prov. 11.22 These silly fools are not meet to sit as Princes with the King at his Table because they want a Wedding-garment of suitable disposition for so high a priviledge Mat. 22.12 CHAP. VIII Another Reason drawn from the necessary consistency of a Christians meetness for so glorious an Inheritance 7. THE last Reason why souls must be made meet for Heaven is because other wise there would be no consistency or suitable harmony betwixt men and glory If their natures be not changed they will not have a suitableness of disposition to the glorious state above The truth of this I shall demonstrate in these 4 particulars 1. None but persons made meet for Heaven will have any mind to leave the world and go to God A carnal unconverted soul is totally unwilling to go hence they fancy to themselves an Eternity below Their inward thought is that their houses shall endure for ever Psal 49.11 Yea themselves for they put far from them the evil day and sing a requiem to themselves as the fool in the Gospel and no wonder for they live by sense and know what they have here but know not what they must have hereafter As the old doting Monk that shewed his brave accommodations saying These things make us unwilling to dye It was an usual saying among the Heathens soli Christiani sunt mortis contemptores that Christians only are contemners of death This is applicable to sincere Christians Stoical apathy will not do it but Faith will Julius Palmer the Martyr said To them that have their Souls linked to the Elesh like a Rogues foot to a pair of stocks it is indeed hard to dye but for him who is able to separate Soul and Body by the help of Gods Spirit it is no more mastery for such a one to dye then for me to drink this cup of Beer Nay when the Christian is upon good terms with God he desires to be loosed or dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 Yea this is the disposition of a Soul meet for Heaven that he loves and longs for Christs appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 but the sincere Christian that is not actually meet son Heaven though through grace he be habitually meet often shrugs at the approach of death and is glad to chide himself out and say as that holy man Egredere mea Arima egredere Go out my Soul go out what art thou afraid of And surely that man is more acceptable to God and comfortable in death that hath set all things streight and hath nothing to do but surrender his Soul into Gods hands this man will make his Lord welcome any hour of the day or watch of the night but the other is like a Maid undrest and unready though for the main she love her Friend and desire his coming yet in the present juncture and under those circumstances she is surprized and troubled that he should find her in that pitiful pickle This is the case of the unmeet Christian 2. None but Souls meet for Heaven are fit for death through which all must pass It s true the Apostle doth discover to us this mistery which among the rest he might receive in the third Heavens 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed but this change is a peculiar dispensation in the end of the world and this change is equivalent to death This is certain the fruit of the curse the sting of death will fasten her fangs on the unconverted soul that 's under the covenant of works and is not in Christ It s only the sincere Christian that can sing that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Song of Triumph or can make that brave challenge 1 Cor. 15.56 57. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Only our Captain Jesus hath disarmed death and it is only for his members others are left to its rage Death feeds on them Psal 49.14 it hath a full morsel of them The first death kills the Body and the second death damns the Soul but blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power Rev. 20.6 Oh happy state of real Saints Christ our David hath conquered this Goliah The Ark of the Covenant hath driven back this swelling Jordan Tollitur mors non ne sit sed ne obsit This Serpent may hiss and hit not hurt strike down it may not strike home it may thrust Gods Children into the Grave not into Hell Nay our Lord sets his not only above the danger by death but fears of death that are thus meet for Heaven Heb. 2.14 15. that can say as that gracious Gentlewoman a Martyr written by me Anne Askew that neither wisheth for death nor feareth his might and as merry as one that 's bound for Heaven But oh the woful state of a graceless sinner that is in Natures
they spend their time in studying to do you good they spend their Lungs in speaking to you in speaking to God for you but all doth no good they cannot be heard till it be too late no warning will serve Men say as that evil Servant My Lord delayeth his coming so begin to eat and drink with the drunken Let them know the Lord of that Servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrities there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 24.48 49 50.51 CHAP. X. An Answer to the Objection of vain pretenders to a meetness for Heaven Obj. BUT some may say you speak terrible things against the prophane but I bless God I am none of those my case is better then those before described I carry fairly in my Conversation none can challenge me for the foresaid gross enormities I keep Church hear Sermons pray as well as God gives me grace none are perfect I hope God for Christs sake will pardon my defects I repent of my sins from the bottom of my heart and believe in Christ and do as well as I can God help us we are all sinners God will not be so severe as you say I hope I shall go to Heaven as well as others Answ It s not as I say or you say but as God himself saith do I say any thing but what the holy God saith in the Bible Object against it and disprove it but must not the Word of God judge you another day Hath he not told us in his infallible word who shall be saved and who shall be damned and will you believe God or your own self deluding hearts Besides I stand upon habitual meetness chiefly What art thou man in point of state Art thou a child of God or a child of the Devil Tell not me that thou hast done this or that good work but art thou savingly converted from sin to God Hast thou that renovation that necessarily accompanies Salvation This I have spoken to But that which I shall briefly hint at is to tell you that many go as far as Kadesh-barnea that reach not Canaan Many go far that dye in the Wilderness and set out fair yea hold on long that yet never obtain this Heavenly Inheritance Strive to enter in at the strait gate saith our Lord for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13.24 1. You say you carry it fairly and live civilly Alas civil Righteousness and abstaining from gross sins will not do Abimelech an Heathen was an exact Moralist Gen. 20.6 Paul unconverted was blameless Phil. 3.6 These were not Saints nor fit for Heaven 2. You say you keep Church attend on Ordinances hear the best Preachers so did those that heard Christ himself Luk. 13.26 yet at last are rejected with an I know you not so did they Ezek. 33.31 32. 3. You say you Pray and perform many Religious duties so did the Jews of old that were stark naught and rejected Isa 58.1 2. so did the Pharisees in Luk. 18.11 12. Some have the form but want the power of godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 these are lifeless blocks 4. You say you own the Orthodox Faith and are not guilty of Heresie so did they Rom. 2.24 28. Creeds make not Christians A sound head and unfound heart may be companions The Scribe answered discreetly and orthodoxly Mark 12.34 and was not far from the Kingdom of God but never came into it 5. You say you have honest purposes and endeavours yea some attainments in growing better and mending what 's amiss it s well but Saul said 1 Sam. 16.21 I will no more do thee harm yea Herod reformed and did many things Mar. 6.20 All this is good but not good enough for Heaven 6. You say but my reformations were begun and attended with strong convictions and troubles of Conscience but this will be no good evidence for Cain had great terrors Gen. 4.14 Felix had his tremblings Acts 24.25 yea The damned Devils believe and tremble Jam. 2.19 7. But I repent of my sins you 'l say and mourn sore I reply hast thou considered well whether it be a worldly sorrow that worketh death or a godly sorrow that worketh repentance to Salvation 2 Cor. 7.10 Saul wept sore Ahab humbled himself Esau sought the blessing with tears Heb. 12.17 Judas repented himself Mat. 27.3 yet all short 8. You say but I associate with Gods people am well accounted of can have testimonials under the hands of eminent Ministers Christians I answer so high did the foolish Virgins artain they had Lamps Oyl in them waited for the Bridegroom yet the door was barr'd upon them with an I know you not Mat. 15 1.-12 Some have a name to live but are dead Rev. 3.1 9. But God hath given me notable gifts of memory knowledge utterance in discoursing praying which surely he will not reject I answer so had they Mat. 7.21 22 23. gifts of Preaching Miracles yet even these meet with an I never knew you Gifts and grace are different things See 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. 10. But I have grace I have the grace of faith love good desires I answer Simon Magus also believed and was baptized yet had neither part nor lot in this matter for his heart was not right in the sight of God Act. 8.13.21 There is a feigned as well as unfeigned faith a dissembled love unfound desires legal repentance 11. But I have put forth my self in extraordinary acts of Piety zeal for Religion Reformation sufferings for God I doubt not but this inheritance belongs to me I answer all this thou mayst do and be no Candidate for Heaven Jehu was a great reformer yet a rotten-hearted hypocrite 2 Kin. 10.16 28. Young Joash was so zealous for a season 2 Chron. 24.4 17. What strict observers of the Sabbath were the Scribes and Pharisees Luk. 11.42.13 14 15. 12. You 'l say further Oh but I have assurance of my good estate and not only so but some joy and peace of Conscience which are as so many foretasts and prelibations of my future happiness I answer it s well but see to it that they be of the right stamp the stony-ground hearers anon with joy receive the word Mat. 13.20 Balaam had brave raptures in hearing the words of God seeing the vision of the Almighty and beholding the glory of Gods people Israel he fell into a trance Num. 24.4 5 16 17. and there are that tast of the word of God and powers of the world to come Heb. 6.5 6. yet such may fall away irrecoverably Oh how many catch at the promises and are pleased with a sweet discourse of free-grace Alas these long for and love Gospel-delicacy as Children delight in sweet-meets And as Dr. Ames saith Arminian grace may be but the effect of a good dinner Good nature working
be above with God CHAP. XIII Some practical Inferences from this Doctrine USE of all this briefly is in four consectaries 1. That there is undoubtedly such a future state as bliss and blessedness for Gods ' Children after this life There remaineth a rest to the people of God Heb. 4.9 I need not go about to prove this it s sufficiently and abundantly confirmed by abler hands not only from Scripture but Nature Reason Divine Providence in the world and the grace of God in the hearts of his people Enough is said to silence Atheism in our Spirits and to stop the mouths of all Atheists on Earth Can any rationally imagine that God should endow Man with such a noble Soul and endue that Soul with such noble faculties of Mind Will and Conscience and Affections capable of knowing loving injoying God with fears and hopes of a future state and all this in vain Can we think the holy just good wise righteous God will always promote the wicked and punish the godly and not right these things in the next world Hath Christ come into the world to no purpose What would become of his Birth Life Doctrine Death Resurrection Ascention Intercession coming to Judgment if there were no life of future retribution What would become of the precepts promises threatnings motives means helps to an holy life here and to attain eternal life hereafter if there were no such thing Can we imagine that the great God governs the world by a lye Are Heaven and Hell bug-bears or meer imaginations of brain-sick fools Is there not a reality in Satans temptations to draw or drive us from God and future happiness Or are there no Devils or Spirits and so by consequence no God Away with these wild conceits contrary to the sentiments of all Mankind 2. Then it follows that assurance is attainable not only objective assurance that there is a glorious inheritance and that God will give it to some but subjective also that this is mine that its for me I have a title to it else how could persons thank God for making meet for this inheritance This assurance ariseth from actings of Faith and produceth rejoycing in hope of this glory of God Rom. 5.1 The gospel is a gospel of peace not of fears and doubts Assurance may be had not only by divine revelation but in the use of ordinary means I know in whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 Read on and you 'l find not only his assurance of his present state but his perseverance and future felicity and it s not his peculiar priviledge but common to other Believers 2. Cor. 5.1 It s true God is a free Agent and may bestow it on whom and when he pleaseth Some have it most clearly at first Conversion as Bernard for a time after his Conversion remained as it were deprived of his Senses by the excessive consolations he had from God Cyprian saith He thought before his Conversion it was impossible to find such raptures and ravishments as now he found in a Christian course Many a close walking Christian can set his seal to this truth only it ordinarily comes in after hard conflicts with temptation wrestlings with God much experience and exact walking with God There is Salvation and there is the joy of Gods Salvation Psal 51.12 This saith Mr. Latimer is the sweet-meats of the feast of a good Conscience There are many other dainty dishes at the feast but this is the banquet This is better felt then expressed but must be endeavoured after prayed for Ask saith our Lord and ye shall receive that your joy may be full Joh. 16.24 3. That the work of thankfulness is the great duty of a Christian This this is the proper character and imployment of a Christian God commands it priviledges call for it gracious Souls have been much in it it is comprehensive of mans whole duty Vrsin entitles the practical part of his Carechism de Gratitudine of Gratitude Oh that Christians were more in it Praise is comely for the upright This is the Epitome of Religion the Emblem of Heaven the proper Air in which a Christian breaths It s most acceptable to God creditable to Religion and profitable to the Christian Mr. Fox tells us the City Zurick ingraved the Year of their deliverance from Popery upon Pillars in Letters of Gold for a lasting Memorial And have not Christians cause to thank God for grace and glory The Heathens could say Call a Man ingrateful and you cannot call him worse Hezekiah brought wrath on himself Judah and Jerusalem for not rendring to the Lord according to benefits done to him 2 Chron. 32.25 Oh Sirs you little know what an evil ingratitude is you fill your Souls with guilt you too much resemble wicked men whose character is unthankful 2 Tim. 3.2 That sin makes hard times yea it makes you like the worst of Heathen for which sin God gave them up Rom. 1.21 24. you act disingenuously as those that have served their turns of God and then disown him How can you own God in the next strait that are so much in arrears Will not your mouth be stopt and Conscience fly in your face Do you not daily depend on God for new Mercies And is not thankfulness a natural duty Is not gratitude for Spiritual Mercies a great evidence of your interest in them And is not every Mercy sweetened by thankfulness Nay is not this a mean to continue them The more thankful any have been the more eminent they have been Their graces have shined and glistered like Pearls and Diamonds Yea once more the more thankful you are and the more cause of thankfulness you will both have and see Thankfulness for what you are sure you have will produce a fuller evidence of that you are doubtful of The Lord humble us for our gross ingratitude which is as one saith a Monster in Nature a Solaecism in Manners a Paradox in Divinity and a parching Wind to damme up the Fountain of Divine Favours You 'l say Oh Sir I could be thankful with all my heart if I knew I were fit for Heaven and that my Soul shall at death enter into peace but alas as long as I am doubtful and at uncertainties how can I be thankful Conscience would check and condemn me and indeed I have more cause to be humbled and ashamed for my unmeetness then thankful for any meetness I find in me for Heaven Ans 1. There may be grounds both of humiliation and thankfulness in the same soul and subject Let the best Saints do the best they can and attain to the highest pitch imaginable they shall have cause of humiliation for their defects 2. Holy jealousie fears cares do well in Gods Children to keep them humble and indeed as grace increaseth fight of imperfections increaseth and sense of short-coming the more discoveries of Gods holiness the viler will the Christian be in his own eyes as Job and Isaiah Job 42. Isa 6.5