pleasure to looke on her he m Genes 23.3 arose from the sight of the corps he made request and gaue money for a place to burie his dead wife from his sight 6 Putrefaction and rottennesse followeth death The bodie will Rettennesse returne to the dust and bee putrified albeit the n Genes 13. 16 Physitian embalmed Ioseph and put him in a chest yet they could not preserue his fraile flesh from putrifying o Exod. 13. 15. for Moses tooke but his bones with him from Egypt 7 A dead body becommeth loathsome and hath an evill smell A evill savour therefore Marke said of Lazarus whom CHRIST p Iohn 11. 39 did raise from the graue LORD hee stinketh already hee hath beene deade foure dayes Yet notwithstanding this naturall death bringeth not wretchednesse but rather happinesse to the bodies of the godly For their bodies being deade shall q Isaiah 57. 2 haue peace and shall rest in their beds for a time They r 2 Cor. 15. 42 43. 44 will be sowne in corruption but raised in incorruption They will bee sowne in dishonour but raised in glory They will bee sowne in weakenesse but raised in power They will be sowne naturall bodies but raised spirituall bodies Now the death of sinne will bring such senselesnesse that albeit the Å¿ Prover 23.35 wicked be striken yet they are not sicke albeit they be beaten yet they know not they haue no feeling nor paine of their misery their heart is dead within them and they are like a stone 2 This death it will bring such heavinesse so that the sinner cannot lift vp his soule to GOD it will be disquieted a Psal 42. 11 and cast downe within him 3 It will bring such weaknesse that one cannot rise inwardly vnlesse hee bee lifted one cannot stand vnlesse hee bee strengthned one cannot goe forward except hee bee borne in GODS bosome one cannot doe good except hee bee helped b Iam. 4. 6 neither resist the Devill or the smallest tentation except c Ephes 6. 13 14.15.16.17 18 he put on the whole armour of GOD. 4 Coldnesse commeth by the death of sinne and no wonder for as a father saith Frigus DEI est cum deserit peccatorem nec vocat Augustin nec aperit sensum nec infundit gratiam GOD leaveth that sinner hee calles not on him neither openeth hee his senses neither infuseth grace Hee remaineth like to the Salamander who as they say walking vpon the fire doth extinguish the same And d Hab. 1. 6 albeit hee cloth himselfe yet shall hee not bee warme 5 By this death of sinne one becommeth abominable and vglie in the eyes of the Almightie The LORD cannot endure to looke vpon such a one If hunger or bodily famine will make the e Lament 4.7 Nazarites who were purer than snow and whyter than milke and rudier than the red pretious stones to haue a visage blacker than a coale and to bee withered like a stocke will not this death bring greater blacknesse and deformitie it will surelie remoue all comelinesse and beautie If DAVID said in regarde of his afflictions hee was become a f Psal 71. 7 monster vnto many surely much more a sinner in respect of his transgressions appeareth a monster in the eyes of the Almightie Hee is g Titus 1. 16 abominable and to every good worke a reprobate 6 By this death a sinner becommeth like h Isaiah 14. 16 a carkase troden vnder foote such a one i Iob 13. 24 consumeth like a rotten thing and as a garment that is moth-eaten hee is corrupt and putrified 7 Yea k Ioel. 2. 20 his stinke shall come vp and his corruption shall ascend and his l Isaiah 34. 3 stinke shall come out of his body and the mountains shall bee melted with his blood But which is worst of all this death of sinne without regeneration bringeth the m Revel 21 8 second death which is eternall death anguish and tribulation Mors prima animam nolentem pellit de corpore Augustinus Mors autem secunda animam nolentem tenet in corpore The first death thrusteth the vnwilling soule out of the body the second death detaineth the vnwilling soule within the body Mors nulla major est quam vbi non moritur mors Idem surelie there is no greater death than when death dieth not This bringeth everlasting misery and perpetuall wretchednesse the aboundaunce of all affliction the want of all consolation Ingressus humanae conditionis miserabilis progressus humanae conversationis culpabilis Hugo de vilitate humanae conditionis egressus humanae dissolution is damnabilis The ingresse of mans condition is miserable the progresse of mans conversation is culpable and the egresse of mans dissolutionis damnable Now contrariwise if thou shall bee quickened with spirituall life thou shalt surely attaine to happinesse and felicitie then thou hast o Revel 20. 6 part in the first resurrection the second death shall haue no power over thee thou are blessed and holy thou shall bee nourished in this life and glorified in the life to come Resurgat in prima resurrectione qui non vult in secunda damnari Let him rise in the first resurrection who in the second would not be condemned 2 Thus thou living the life of grace shall bee nimble light and spirituall discerning al things p 1 Corin. 5. 14 seeking q Coloss 3. 1 those things which are aboue While thou art in nature thou art like an egge heavie and dead Similitudo Zanchii but in and by grace hatched thou art like a birde moving seeking and flying 3 Then the loue of GOD shed r 2 Cor. 5. 14 abroad into thy soule constraining thee to doe thy duetie shall strengthen thee for thy calling Å¿ 2 Cor. 12. 9 His grace shall bee sufficient for thee thou shall bee more strong than Goliah than Milo who with a Sam. 17. 5 stroke of his fist did kill a Cow than Polydamas who trusting to their owne strength died all miserably Franciscus Patricius lib. 2 de institutione reipubl but thou shall liue most happily overcomming the Devill thine adversarie Yea in t Rom. 8. 37 al things through CHRIST thou shall be more than a conquerour u Philip. 4. 13 through him thou shall bee able to doe all things necessarie 4 When thou enjoyeth that spirituall life thou shall be warme with the heate of the holy Spirit and of the x Malach 4. 2 sunne of Righteousnesse which shall arise vnto thee wherewith thou shall bee so inflamed that the extremitie of cold shall never prevaile against thee These fourtie Martyres who that father writteth in the dayes Basilius Magnus in 40 Martyros of cruell Licinius were cast into a pond of water all the night suffering the cold Northerne wind and their bodies being frozen and almost senslesse their soules remaining hotte with the
Shame will come to these that pray not shame and disgrace will come vpon thee yea thou l Psal 109. 29 shall be clothed with shame and covered with confusion as with a cloake may not the Almightie who i Iob 12. 21 poureth contempt on Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake soone set a k Genes 4. 1â— marke of infamie on thee to thy everlasting woe and miâ—erie who hath despised the riches of his mercie Consider now of two thinges Cause of shame 1. Thou hast great reason to bee ashamed 2. That this shame is a grievous punishment thou hast cause of shame 1. For thy nakednesse 2. For thy filthinesse 3 For thy vnthankfulnesse 4. For thy wickednesse and wretchednesse 1. Our first parents were ashamed of their nakednesse m Genes 3. 8 therefore they hid themselues from the presence of the LORD amongst the trees of the Garden 2. Iacobs sonne Iudah was ashamed of his whoordome and desired rather to want his seale n Genes 2â— 3â— his cloake and his staffe then to be blotted with that note of ignominie 3 The prodigall son was ashamed of his ingratitude and vnkindnesse when hee confessed that o Luke 15. 19 hee was no more worthie to be called his sonne 4 Daniel himselfe was ashamed for the sinnes of his people and the lamentable estate vnder the thraldome and captivitie he p Dan. 9. 7 with sackcloth fasting and ashes prayed protested that righteousnesse belonged to GOD and to them open shame and confusion Thus if thou pray not to the Almightie thou q Psal 49. 12 shall not continue in honour and dignitie but shame and disgrace will abide with thee seeing thou despiseth thy GOD so vnduetifully Againe Remember that sinne Sinne it is a great plague is a great iudgement which appeareth evidently both in this life and in the life to come not only by the testimonie of godly and wise men who as Salomon saith haue r Eccles 2. 14 their eyes in their head and Å¿ Eccles 10. 2 their hearts in their right hand who t Iam. 3. 13 are endued with true wisedome and knowledge and are u Prover 8. 10 prudent to vnderstand their owne way for David himselfe did thus pray remoue x â— Cor. 4. 13 Hisp magâ—â—s Ten 3. cap. 10 Livius from me shame u Psal 119.22 and contempt and the holy Apostle with all the Sainctes did truely complaine that y wee are made as the filth of the world the ofscourings of all things Thus Origen sonne to Leonides so renowned and respected in his life for many gifts which hee hadde receiued esteemed shame more heavie and grievous than death for from his childhood hee desired to die and to losse his life for the loue of CHRIST But hee so feared and eshewed shame that rather than his chast bodie should bee defiled with a filthie Ethiopian hee chose to offer incense to an Idoll which brought great sorrow and lamentation to him afterward But also of civill Ethnicks for Cato a naturall wise man choose rather to kill himselfe than render himselfe vnto Caesars power or with shame and Tullius 1. offic ignominie looke on his face which fact Cicero labours to defend albeit with little reason yea Saul desired rather to bee killed then by his enemies z 1 Sam. 31.4 mocked Also Decius a Romane Emperour a pitielesse persecuter a cruell monster being in battell vanquished by the Sâ—ythians and fearing to come vnder the reverence of the proud Barbarians to eshew that shame hee cast himselfe into a deepe pit where hee endâ—d his miserable life and wanted the honour of buriall Againe shame and ignominie is a great punishment in the life to come for the wicked shall rise to a Daniel 12. â— sâ—ame and perpetuall contempt Fifthly If thou pray not thou art a stranger from GOD and as They are spiritualy possessed who pray not an abominable atheist will be most severely punished for GOD not only will giue b Rom. 1. 24 thee vp to thy hearts lust but also will deliuer thee to the Devill to bee if not Augustin bodilâ— yet spiritually possessed Qui â—ult possidere terram videat ne â— ter ra possideatur A judicious father adviseth men to bee circumspect lest they bee possessed of the earth as it is certaine that the estate of that man who was c Math. 9. 32 dumbe and could not speake to man being bodily possessed by a devill was verie miserable but the case of that caâ—ine who is inwardly dumbe and can not speake to GOD being possessed by a devill spiritually is farre more pitifull lamentable thinkâ—st thou that bodily possession is very fearefull and a great plague assure thy selfe that spirituall possâ—ssion by the evill spirit is farre more grievous and fearefull Punishment for barrennes Sixtly If thou pray not thou art a fruitlesse corrupt d Math. 7. 17 tree and sâ—relie thy imminent judgment shall bee great and terrible iâ— shall bee inevitable and remâ—dilesse First Thy punishment will be very grievous much more heavie indeed then thou conceivest for the LORD hath a scepter c Psal 2. 9 of iron to crush thee hee f Isaiah 27. 1 hath a sore and great and mightie sword to smite thee Yea he g Math. 3. 10 hath an axe to hew thee downe Yea he h Ieremi 18. 7 will speake suddenly against a Nation or against a Kingdome to plucke it vp or to rootte it out If thou pray not he hath a i Revel 21 8 lake which burneth with fire and brimstone where he will for ever toâ—ment thee hee will not so deale with thee as he dealeth with the godly who doe incall vpon his name and pray to his Majestie for he will chastiâ—e them with a fatherly affection Though for k Isaiah 58. 7 a litle while hee forsâ—ke them if for a little season or for a moment he hide his face from them yet with great compassion hee will gather them and with everlasting mercy he will pâ—ttie them Certainly There l Ieremi 30. 12 bruising is not incurable their wounds are not for ever dolorous GOD will apply a plaster and there are medicines and helpe for them He will m Iere. 30. 11 correct them by judgement and not vâ—terly cast them off Hee will n 2 Sam. 7. 14 chasten them with the rod of men but his mercy shall not departe from them Secondly If thou neglectest this exercise of prayer thy punishment which is great wiâ—â— come vpon thee suddainly for iâ— thou o Genes 4 7 doest not well sinne lyeth at thy doore If p Luk. 3. 9 thou bringst not foorth fruite worthie of amendement of lyfe the axe is laide to the roote of the tree Nadab and Abihâ— were incontinently destroyed a q Levit. 10. 2 fire went from the LORD and destroyed them Nebuchadnezar r Daniel
naturall men civilie or morally righteous were fearfull to some verie neare to themselues in â—egard of their strict severitie and just rigour for they punished such whom nature would haue spared in the highest degree of justice Such was the famous Tiâ—us Manlius Torquatus who caused kill his victorious sonne overcomming Stephanus his proude provoking enemie because against his commandement and the manner of militarie discipline hee hadde foughten Againe that same man because his sonne Decius Syllaâ—us Valerius max. lib. 5. cap. 8. had received money from the Roman confederates he therefore being judge adjudged his sonne vnworthie of the common-wealth or of his familie and commanded him to depart out of his sight incontinently Also an other renowned Romane Mar. Scaurus Eras lib. 7 Apopth because his sonne had fled the battell and left the Conâ—ull Câ—tulus hee forâ—ade him to looke him in the face any more or to come in his presence and with greater sort of severitie Suetonius Gallus did repudiate his wife because shee came out of her house vncovered her face being naked hâ—e had more skill in astronomie than in governing his wife and familie for he comforted the Souldiers of Pub. Aemilius who were Plinius lib. 12 cap. 2. Cicero 1. offic cast downe and discouraged for the eclipse of the moone by telling them the naturall cause thereof Hast not thou oftentimes beene found a Å¿ Act. 5. 39 fighter even against God yea thou hast t Act. 7. 51 resisted the holie Ghost thou hast done wrong not only to the LORDS servants but also thou hast u Mal. 3. 8 spoyled GOD even this whole Nation verie many are guiltie of this abomination yea thou hast x Ezech. 16.26 committed fornication with others and encreased thy whooredomes thou hast done shamesullie and foolishly thou hast played y Hos 2. 5 Adulter serpens antiquus Aug. the harlot with the world and with impietie and with the devill a filthie and a cruell enemie Is it not a great matter then for thee to appeare personally in the presence of so righteous a judge who may justly condemne thee even in the presence of thy owne husband who may justlie repudiat thee and consume thee for the LORD destroyeth them all that goe a whooring from him Remember that when the LORDS Priests Nadab z Levit. 10 i 2 and Abihu because they offered strange fire before the LORD which he had not commanded them therefore a fire went out from the LORD and devoured them so they died even in the LORDS presence If a 1 Pet. 4. 18 then the righteous shall scarsly bee saved where shall the wicked and sinners appeare If then the holy Prophet Ezechiel b Ezech. 1. 29 at one sight of the glorie of the LORD fell vpon his face If the holy Apostle beloved of CHRIST St. IOHN shall see a vision of Christs Majestie shall c Revel 1. 17 be afraide and astonished and fall at his feete as dead how will thou bee able to come before him so dreadfull and righteous that the vngodly will wish d Revel 6. 17 hils and mountains to fall vpon them to hide them from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne The fourth worke which must bee done in true prayer is yet more hard and diâ—ficill Namelie speach with GOD a duetifull and familiar conference or communication with the Aâ—mightie For it is vsuall and easie for a meane man of good behaviour and having honest apparrell to come within a Kings palace yea in his sight and presence in his chamber of State to looke to him at dinner or pastâ—me But to speake pertinently and wisely to discourse discreetly and pleasantly it is a Simit rare thing of greater dâ—fficultie also as it is an easie thing to speake of a King but not so easie to speake to him so is it easie to speake of GOD but not to GOD in regard of his eternitie wisdome power and glorie and of thy owne ignorance vnworthinesse and infirmitie First he is e Dan. 7.9 the Ancient of dayes before f Psal 90.2 the mountains were made before the world was formed from everlasting to everlasting If g Iob. 32.6 Elihu a wise noble man young in yeares was afraide to speake before old men much more may thou bee to speake before the eternall GOD whose h Psal 102. 27 Aeternitas dei neseit tempora August yeares shall not faile without beginning or ending who liveth and reigneth for ever whose eternitie is his substance which hath nothing mutable nothing bygone nothing to come Againe If thou shall thinke diligently of the vnsearchable wisdome of the Almightie who is so replenished with knowledge and wisdome Behold h Iob. 4 1â—.19 he found no stedfastnesse in his servants and bee charged his Angels with follie how much more them that â—well in a house of clay whose foundation is in the dust and die without wisdome Now if that wise man Agur thus protested of himselfe saying Surely i Prov. 30. 2 I am more foolish than any man and I haue not the vnderstanding of a man in mee It is most certaine that wee are inferiour in any sort of knowledge or Heavenly wisdome to that most humble and prudent man And it is of veritie if GOD most k Iob. 9. 3. 14 wise in heart and mightie in strength will dispute with thee that thou could not answere him one of a thousand how much more lesse shall thou find out thy workes with him Secondly Consider diligently of this great power of the Omnipotent GOD which is l Math. 10. 2â— able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell and thou shall confesse it is an hard and fearefull matter to conferre with his glorious Majestie For if the Patriarch Iudah in regard of Iosephs power did estâ—eme it a hard matter to request his vnknowne brother as appeareth plainely by his preface saying O m Gen. 45. 18 my LORD let thy servant now speake a word in my Lords eares and let not thy wrath bee kindled against thy Servant for thou art even as Pharoah What more patheticallie more humbly and with more reverence and feare can bee said may thou not much more vpon the due consideration of the infinite power of the Almightie thinke it a wonderfull difficill and a fearefull matter to speake frequently and to conferre familiarly with the supreame divine Majestie the GOD of all power and glorie And also on the other part let a n 1 Cor. 11. 2â— man examine himselfe of his ignorance and want of knowledge and then hee will say So o Psal 73. 22 foolish am I and ignorant I am but a beast before thee as did the royall Prophet yea worse than a beast for the p Isaiah 1. 3 oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his masters crybbe but I haue not knowne GOD to honour and serue him duetifully Thou will find that thou cannot