with looking after the Mat. 24. 12. things which are comming on the world yet iniquity doth abound and the whole Earth seemeth to be filled with Gen. 6. 11. violence and wickednes and most men live as if there were neither God nor Devil Heaven nor Hell It is true these things are continually sounding in our ears and is it not as true and wo and alas that it is so they do for the most part as soon passe through the ears of the hearer as from the mouth of the speakerâ— Whence Vox audita perit Amos 6. 3. else is it that wicked men approach to the seat of iniquity but that they put far from them the evill day Whence is it that they cry peace peace and sing a requiem to their Souls with the fool in the gospel but 1 Thess 5. 3. 2. that they forget that sudden destruction is at hand and Luk. 12. 19 20 this night their soules may bee taken from themâ— whence is it that good mens hearts shake so at the present Heb. â—2 27. â—8 shaking of things in the world but that they have forgotten the Kingdome that cannot be shakenâ— whence is it that the good and bad both slumber and watch not but that they have forgotten that the comming of the Lord is nigh and he will come as a Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. Thief in the night And whence is it thaâ— there is such an overflowing of sin in the world but from hence that men think not enough of these things For the prevention and cure therefore of these epidemicall evils I have gathered and bound up together these heavenly truths as medicine made of many ingredients and give it you in writing And oh that now we could perswade you to turn aside from youâ—â—ageâ— Litera Scripta manet pursuit of earthly things and come and see what it is and try what it wiâ—l do And for this may we prevail with you to look into them and keep them as a signe upon your hands as fronâ—â—eâ—s between your eyes that you will write them on the posts of your houses and your gates or rather on the tables of your hearts that they being ever in your sight may be never out of Deut. 6. 6 7 8. your minde Remember and forget not that very shortly the grieâ—ly Serjeant Deaâ—h will aâ— rest you and clap you up in the Prison of the grave where you shal by and by heare the dreadfull voâ—ce of the last Tâ—umpâ— crying a wake ye dead and come to judgment look sometimes in at Hâ—ll gates and think of the wrath to come and at other times take a view of the Heavenly Canaan and walk a turn or two in the Paradice of God If the thought of one of these how much more shall the thought of them all make us apply our hearts to wisdome Thâ—se thoughts wâ—ll 〈◊〉 lesse much settle the hearts of Saint in this shaking time 1 Cor 15. 31. Psal 1. 1. 5. Mat. â— 15. Col. 1. 12. Deut 32. 39. make them active for God careful to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 so that they may be alwayes ready to dye able to stand in the Judgment sure to escape the damnation of Hell and to be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in heaven And oh that men were thus wise to understand this to consider their latter end Thy Christian friend W. S. Of the foure last and great things Death Judgement Heaven and Hell and the things that concern the same Of Death DOCTRINE All men must die or There is an unavoidable necessity of dying laid upon all men Hebr. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die Psal â—9 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death not a man Eccles 6. 6. Doe not all go to one place Job 30. 23. I know thou wiâ—â— bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living FOr the opening of this point we must say something to these three things First what this death whereof we speak is Secondly What necessity there is that all men must die this death Thirdly Wherefore this necessity is imposed upon mankinde and wherefore it is so For the first By death here we mean not the privation of our communion with God or the separation of soul and body from Gods favour in this world which is caused by sin and is called an alienation from the life of God or the second death or spirituall death Luke 1. 79. Ephes 2. 1 2 4. 18. or the separation of the whole man from Gods heavenly presence and glory to be punished with everlasting fire in Hell called eternall death or the perdition of soul and body in Hell or the second death And this is proper onely to wicked men and cannot touch the godly Rom. 6. 23. Revel 20. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 6. 2 Thess 1. 9. Matth. 10. 28. Rev. 2. 11. But by death in this place we intend the privation of the life of the body or the separation of the soul from the body for sin or the change of this mortall for an immortall life And this is called a bodily or worldly death or the first death And this death is common to all men good and bad Heb. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Gen. 5. 24. 35. This death is either naturall i. when a man liveth out his full daies and then dieth or violent i. when a mans death is hastened by some violent accident that a man doth kill himself or is killed by another Also it is said to be common and ordinary when it is by an ordinary or usual means or extraordinary when it is by some strange or unusuall mâ—ans Numb 16. 29. 〈◊〉 The necessity we here speak of is not absolute but limitâ—ed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For he may if he please dispense with his own Law and the penalty thereof and exempt some men from this common lot of mankind as once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is said to be translated that he did not 〈◊〉 death Hebr. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. so afterwards Eliâ—h 2 Kings 2. 11. and as again he will do with those which shall be a live at Christs comming to judgement 1 Thess 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Wâ— shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed But in an ordinary way God hath appointed to all men once to die and to this law of the King of Kings must all men young and old rich and poor without difference of necessity submit For the third thing 1. That it is so and must be so that all men must die these reasons may be given for it 1 God in his eternall counsell hath decreed it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die And his counsell standeth fast for ever and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations Psal 33. 11. Esay 46. 10. We read in â—say 28. 15. of some that had made a Covenant with death That it should not come â—igh
theâ— But God tels them v. 18. That he would disaâ—â—ull their Covenant for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to â—ought and maketh the devises of the people of none â—ffect 2. Mans sin hath deserved it Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou â—â—test thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin â—ntred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adâ—m all die i. sin and death came upon all men 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corruptable as the Trees as therefore these however some of them as Oaks and the like live longer then others yet do all of them in time by age wither and die and none of them live for ever because they are of a dying nature so it is with men though some of them live longer then others yet experience shews uâ— that they all dye at one time or other Eccles 6. 6. 7. Though â—e live a thousand year◠〈◊〉 Do not all go to one place 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven which the present body cannot doe As therefore the seed which is â—own is not quickened unlesse it die so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them which are bodies with new qualities 1 Cor. 15. 37 39 40 c. It is â—own in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowâ— in dishonour raised in glory sown in weaknesse raised in power sown a naturall raised a spirituall bodie The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound and of a nature that cannot corrupt glorious and comâ—ly without any deformity powerfull that is able to continue without the humane helps of meat drink and cloths without which they cannot new be kept they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely â—obes of immortality and life 2. And thus God will have it and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifestation of his own glory the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin the glory of his Truth in making good his word and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men Io. 9. 3. 11. 39 40. It is needfull that we answer one objection ere we go further If death be Object the wages of sin and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people how comes it to passe that they die To this we answer 1. This objection may be made against all the afflictions Answer of Gods people 2. Christ never promised by his Word nor intended by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death but fâ—om the evill and hurt thereof onely and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing a token of Gods love and means of mans good Christ as he took not away sin it self but the guilt thereof so he took not away death it self but the sting thereof Revel 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth 15 〈◊〉 56. If any man shall ask now when he must die We must answer him that we know not when for as there is nothing in iuest Qâ—â— Answer the world more certain then death so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die this God hath kept in his owne hands This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long for mans age is but short Psal 9. 5. As a hand breadth and as nothing before God Iob 14. 1 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of â—ew dayes c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not Psal 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal 89 47. Remember how short my time is Iob 7. 6 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay 48 6. All flesh is grasse Psal 90 10. Isa man liâ—â— to 〈◊〉 or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how much of this in thy life is spent already But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes for men like sheep die of all ages Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live 1 Thes 5. 3. Luke 12. â— 20. This pâ—ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it Vse 1 And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things and this two wayes First as having reference to our owne death Secondly as having reference to the death of others As having reference to our owne death it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things First to beleeve it let us beleeve it that we must die and that of all this world of men women and children now alive there will not after a few yeares one be left Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone So it is of men one generation passeth and another commeth Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly to think of it let us meditate and consider of this that we must die For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse perswasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die and every man will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought and who doth not so Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against â—oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey Doth he that makes no provision for a new beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old that makes no provision for new cloathes Doth the Thâ—â—fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gallâ—wes for Theeâ—es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for another life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life Can it be that the profane Scorner cruell Oppressor licentious Epicure or sâ—â—â—re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die and after death come to judgement Hath he not rather with them in Esay 28. 15. made
hath respect to two times First to all the time of amans life Secondly to the time a little before his death First all the time of a mans life Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still and 〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good dayâ— work whilst he doth live for he that lives well cannot do amiâ—s and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for First peace with God in Christ and peace in our own Consciences Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet 3. 14. Secondly the saving knowledge of God in Christ Ioâ— 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit and word Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall and it is begun here the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life is the beginning of eternall life Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things First let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord i. in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive i. As by Adam sin and death came over all so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers 2 Pet. 3. 14. â—uke 2. 28 29. Now let thy â—ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation i. I doe willingly and chearfully leave this present life Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the â—â—tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a beâ—â—r dwelling 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. c. Secondly let us pray continually that God will fit us for death say with Moses Psal 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes so as to apply my heart to wisedome Thirdly let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily for here in lyeth the strength of death 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it be humbled for it cry to God for pâ—rdon of and power against it and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of the grave and receive us Psal 19. 15. Fourthly let us enure our selves to die by little and little that is not only live every houre as if we were dying but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death 1 Cor. 15. 3â— I die daily i. I am not only in danger of death daily but I doe thereby enure and prepare myself to die daily By undergoing a lesser we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Fifthly let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular by our death that is shaking of security as we would shake of sleep let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan and looking always for death be in a dying posture and live every houre as if it were our last houre Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come Luk. 2. 25. Motives 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch 2. It will be very dangerous for us to neglect it See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into Seventhly let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it for by how much the more we love by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things First to God-wâ—â—d Secondly to man-ward To God-ward â— If sicknesse goe before death we are the◠〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer so David Psa 32. Psal 38. Psal 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others when we be sick we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people who are able to help us herein Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health 2 King 20. 7. Luk 1â— 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order i. to make our will if it be not made before and give direction what we will have done after our death 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5 6. 4. We are as much as we may to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neighbours with whom we are at difference Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of against the fear of death 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self or being about to die we are to give up our souls to God i. to his care and keeping being his by redemption Psal 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. â—6 59. died in the embracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. â—0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉 in faith 2. Charitably so Stephen Acts. 7. 20. Lord â—ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉 forgive them 3. Patiently 2 King 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt Phil. 〈◊〉 defecta 〈◊〉 c. 2 8. Rom.
14. 7 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God and gratious speeches to men So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this pâ—â—nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death but when we see our time is come to die let us resolutely patiently and willingly undergo â—t A naturall and moderate fear of it as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉 be chaâ—ged as an evill upon us being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉 hâ—â—rt of Christ Jesus but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear of it is to be avoyded of all Christians And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell wherein we have these considerations 1. That there is a necessity of it and it cannot be avoyded Psal 49. 7. 2. It is sanctiâ—ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing a passage a departure a change of roomes a going out of a worse place into a better 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it And to speak properly the beleeving Christian doth not die he lyeth down to sleep in his bed for his death is but the bodies going to bed and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past at the morning of the râ—surrection to everlasting life and no sâ—oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof Esay 57. 2 3. The righteous are taken away c. he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shal s be gathered to thy fathers inâ—eace Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing as the body of a beaâ—t is but it is only resolved to earth again where the â—otting of it is only to refine it that as the Corne which first diâ—â—h it may arise more glorious 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall but of the body only nor perpetuall but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living beleever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead but of the living i. his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God but brings us home to him 7. God hath the power of death and the grave and his providence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it and to turn it to his good and he wâ—â— not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death i. power to keep from or deliver to death Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wiâ—â— not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thiâ—â— holy one to see corruption Heb. 2. 14 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him 1. either God will preserve them from wicked hands or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it or its love to Christ Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sepâ—rate us from the love of Christ Shall death c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soule c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he â—â—usted us with and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may snake whose sting â—â— pulled out 1â— The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven Luke 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed â—evel 20 v. 14. â— Câ—rinâ—h 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more for then death shall be swallowed up into victory and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity for the soul being loosed out of prison the body may not be kept in prison 2 Cor. â— 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14 15 16. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word death to the beleever makes a happy change and doth infinitly better his condition for it â—reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good It â—reeth him from the evill of sin and punâ—â—â—ment felt and feared present and to come and puts an end to all his cares fears teares labours griefs combats with sin the world and the Devill for in death he gets beyond and above them all It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty the return from a banishment to his own Country and home the comming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is â—yred and weary It is a going from corruption to incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from death to life from earth to heaven from a miserable to a happy life It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes to put on princely robes It is a loosing from the shore and a lanching out into the main to take possession of a Kingdome It is the
things yet farther in some particulars As the misery of Hell so the happinesse of Heaven doth 〈◊〉 of two parts 1. in â—â—exemption and 〈◊〉 of all â—â—â—ll 2. In a fruition of all good The righteous in heaven shall be freed from all manner of evill from evill spirituall for they shall not they cannot sin that which makes the holy man here to cry out O wretched man that I am c. Rom. 7. 24. they shall be freed off the Conscience shall not be unquieted any more corporall for there shall be no more offence to the body by hunger thirst cold wearines heat â—â—ame sicknes death nothing shall annoy either soule or body it shall neither feel nor fear disturbance Otherice blessed condition that is so exceeding happy and whose happines is so infallibly secured Revel 21. 4. Esay 5. 8. It is said of this estate And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain c. And again Revel 7. 14 c. These are they which came out of great tribulation and they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat For the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes And again Esay 57. 1 2. it is said The righteous are taken away from the evill to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds And in Matth. 11. 29. Come unto me all yee that are 〈◊〉 laden c. you shall finde rest to your Soules of this time and state it is that Christ speaks Mat. 22. 30. They neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven Hebr. 4. 9. There remaineth a rest for the People of God the which was signified by the rest the Jews had in the â—â—nd 〈◊〉 Canaan Psal 95. 11. This is that also the whol creation waâ—teth for Rom. 8. 22 23. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together till now And not onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit 〈◊〉 we ourselves grâ—â—n within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit for the Redemption of our body Nay then shall do 〈◊〉 self be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. So that the triumphant â—oulin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus 〈◊〉 So that here we see 〈◊〉 immunity and freedom from 〈◊〉 for Death and the 〈◊〉 shall be abolished and that last enemy shall be destroyed Coll. 3. 3. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law Christ hath taken away the sin satisfied the Law and obtained eternall freedom for his own They are never to return into bondage oâ— to feel evill any more They are no more to come into this place for they are to dwell on high where no evill can reach them The Devil shall be shut up in chains of darknes in the prison of Hell Rom. 16. 20. no wicked persoâ— or thing shall be in Heaven for there dwelled righteousneâ—â— there shall be therefore perfect freedom without any possibility of returning to bondage The second part of the happines of heaven is in the fruition of all good corporall and spirituall and albeit this doth consist of many particulars yet all these seem to be intended and contained in those three words in Rom. 2. 10. Glory Honour and Peace in opposition to the â—â—ame Contempt and Trouble by which the misery of Hell is described The glory oâ— the Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉 wherein a part of then happines shall consist shall be in these things 1. in their bodies which being glorified shall be most beautifull and excellent either as it springs out of the blessed beauty and excellency of the soule or as it is indâ—wed with an heavenly excellency originally implanted by God in it self For the Spirit of God and glory shall thou rest aboundantly upon them 1 Pet 4. 14. The body beâ—â—â—s the freedom that it shall have from all the evils thereof as lamenes mis-shapenesse sicknes hunger nakednes wearines cold and the like it shall be gloriously endâ—wed with many positive and wonderfull excellencies as 1. Immortality for it can never possibly die 1 Corinth 15. verse 54. but it shall live as long as God doth live so that herein their condition is a thousand times more happy thâ—n it was in the state of innocency in Paradise 2. Incorruptiblenes for every glorified body shall be for evâ—r utterly impossible with any corruptive quality action or alteration and cannot be subject to any inward decay or dissolution 1 Cor. 15. 42. 54. 3. Power when to the Souls native strength there shall be an addition of glorifying vigour and Gods mighty spirits more plentifull habitation and it shall also put on a body which brings with it besides his own inherent power an exact ablenes and readines fitted to the Souls highest abilities how incredible mighty may we conceive a Saint in Heaven to be 1 Cor. 15 43. 4. Spiritualnes 1 Cor. 15. 44. The glorified body shall be more of the nature of the Spirit i. more active not needing food c. and more subject to the Spirit and be more fully possessed with the Spirit 5. Beauty and a shining amiablenes 1 Cor. 15. 43. The glorified body shall have an exquisite feature and stature a welfavoured and comly proportion and mutuall correspondency of all the parts thereof a sweet and amiable colour and a bright shining splendor of celestiall glory and a chearfull lively lightsome aspect and all this preserved in perpetuall freshnes with new supply of heavenly activenesse by a more glorious Soul yea the very nakednesse now the shame thereof shall be then the glory of it Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious bodie A glimpse of which we have in Christs Transfiguration Matth. 17. 2 13 43 2 4 2. A second part of this glory shall be in the soul wherein 1. The understanding shall be abundantly and comfortably enlightened and enlarged to the uttermost that the creature can reach unto in all naturall things that may delight and especially in heavenly things as in Gods word the glorious misteries of the holy Trinity The union of Christs natures the union of his elect unto him Gods eternall councell in election and reprobation and the like 2. The will shall be conformable to Gods will 3. The memory shall still keep what it knowes 4. The affections shall be according to the perfect pattern And all this shall be in perfection 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. For when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away And it must nâ—eds be where there is so much grace there should 〈◊〉 to much Glorie
13. 2 Cor. 5. â—9 1 Pâ—â— â—â—0 Esay â—8 14. Rom. 10. 14. They That call upon the Lord shall be saved 3. The steps of this way it self are in generall the conformity of a mans ways in righteousnes and holines to the will of God doing good and avoiding evill or a walking in holines and righteousnes before him Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of Heavens but he that doth the will of my Father in Heaven Matth. 7. 2â— They thâ—â—efore for whom this place iâ— prepared and that shall be Inhabitants of this heavenly Jerusalem are said to be the righteous just Saints c. Eâ—ay â—7 1. Righteous men are taken away from the evill to come Mat. 25 46. The righteous shall go into everlasting life Mat. 1. 43. Then shall the just shine as the 〈◊〉 the kingdome of their Father and heaven it self Col. 2. 1â— It is called the inheritance of the Saints of them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. Hebr. 12 14. Revel 21 27. For it is but reason that they that would have the wages of eternall life of God hereafter should do his work here Hebr. 12. v. 28 If yet you dâ—siâ—e to see this branched out further in 〈◊〉 we may observe it to be noted out unto us to â—ivers gracious works of Gods Spirit in us and by us as 1. In Sanctification that is the peculiar work of Gods Spirit creating in the elect converted souls that new quality of holinesse whereby they can in some measure truly hate their own sins with firm purpose to leave them and love Gods Law with resolution to do it in some good measure For al those those alone that are sanctified here shall be saved hereafter And this sanctification is one part of the will of God that must be done of all that will be saved 1 Thess 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification Rom. 8. 3. Whom he will glorifie he will sanctifie And this we know doth comprehend two things Mortification of sin and a quickening virtue to goodnes And the first or rather the Spirit in the first worketh by these degrees 1. it doth make a man labour to finde out his sin especially rooâ—-sin 2. It makes him loath it and be weary of it and desirous to be rid of it 3. It maketh him to fetch power from the death of Christ in the use of all the means of grace to kill it 4. It maketh him to apply this power as a corasive to proud flesh to eat out his sin The second worketh thus 1. It maketh a man labour to find out that righteousnes which God retquireth 2. To strive for a willingnes of heart â—o perform it 3. And that he may so do to fetch power from Christ in the use of all the means of Grace 4. A love to all good persons and things And by these pure motions as streams the fountain is known to be pure Io. 4 14. 5. A pure and a holy life sheweth the heart as the fruit doth the Tree to be good 2. In Regeneration That work of Gods wonderfull power begetting the Elect again to himself by the Word and Spirit thereby making them the children of God through 〈◊〉 in Christ who were the children of wâ—â—th by 〈◊〉 which is one of the first steps in the way to salvation And all those and those onely that are regenerate here of God by his Spirit and Word by a spirituall birth and by that means made new creatures shall come to this happy place Iohn 3 3. Christs own words Verily verily I say unto thee except a 〈◊〉 be born againe he cannot see the kingdome of God Joh. 1. 13. 1 Pet 1. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 3. who hath begotten us again to a lively hope c. To an iâ—herâ—tance c. For flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Jo. 1. 14. And this work where it is wrought doth shew it self thus 1. by the change their hearts are changed their stony heart is turned into a heart of flesh c. and their lives are altered they are other men as Paul and Manassah they have new thoughts words and works Gal. 1. 22. 2. They desire after and delight in the means of Grace 1 Pet. 2. v. 2. 3. They know how to work and do work in the work of God 3. In Repentance a fruit of sanctification which is where a man is sorely displeased with himself for his sins because they are offensive to God and against his Law and a true hatred of all sin a setled constant desire and endeavour to order his life by Gods Word For those only that turn from all sin to God in heart and desire and labour to shew the same by eschewing all manner of evill and doing all manner of good shall be saved It is called repentance unto life Acts 11. 18. Ezech. 18 21 Mat. 18. 3. Christs own words Verily I say to you except you be converted and become as little children yee shall not enter into the kingdome of God Acts 3. 19. Amend your lives therefore and turn that your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And this repentance if it be true hath these things in it 1. a hearty grief chiefly because we have offended a gracious God that hath been so good to us Psal 51. 4. 2. An unfâ—â—ned hatâ—ed and detestation of all sin especially of that we have loved most Psal 119. 104. 3. A groaning under the burthen of it Luke 15. 17. he to whom sin is a burthen shall come to this rest Mat. 11. 28. Acts 3. 9 4. A constant resolution against all sin especially our own sin Psal 119 57. 5. An earnest striving all our life time against all that we know to be evill 6. A practise in some measure in now obedience Luke 1. 6. sin begins to be left corruption begins to work out 7. A daily examination of our selves judging and humbling of our selves for our sins Psal 32. Rom. 7. 8. A quick apprehension of Gods word against it self Acts 2. 37. 2 Kings 22. 19. 9. A love of the word of God and Ministers thereof as that by which we have had our healing as a man will doe the Physitian and Physick that cured his body 4. In an effectuall or inward calling the speciall and free work of Gods spirit singling and drawing the elect from the reprobates making them that they were not before Saints c. for they and they onely who are inwardly called by Gods Spirit as well as outwardly called by Gods Word out of the state of nature ot the state of grace to faith and repentance shall be saved And all such as are delivered into the â—ingdome of his deare Son Col. 1. 13. This calling is a sure signe that one is ordained to everlasting life Rom. 8. 30. Whom the Lord hath called them he hath also glorified For these
stand Rev. 6. 17. And then shall hee send his Angels with this great sound of a trumpet to gather together his elect from the foure windes Mat. 24. 31. And then shall all flesh appear before his judgment seat 2 Cor. 5. 10. Who is the judge of quick and dead Acts 10. 42. And he shall sit whose garment shall be white as Snow and the haire of his head like pure Wool his Throne like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire a fiery stream shall issue and come before him thousand thousands shall miniâ—er unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand shall stand before him the judgement shall be set and the Books shall be opened Dan. 7. 9 10. Jude 14. And before this Judge for his knowledge is infinite his courage in comparable his uprightnes incorruptible these wicked Catifs shall have a most just and equal tryall and be convinced by more then a thousand witnesses and being separated as Goats from the Sheep of Christ hear that dreadfull sentence Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels which shal be speedily effectually and eternally executed in the state place we have before spoken of And what will yee do in the time of visitation and in the desolation which shal come from far and to whom will yee flye for help and where wil lyee leave your glory oh consider this all yee that forget God least he tear you in peeces and there be nonâ— to deliver you Esay 10. 3. 4. Psal 50. 22. In the third place if Hell be such a miserable condition then how much thanks do they owe to God that are delivered and preserved from this estate that are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ Had a man been taken captiveby the Turks and there being appointed to die and another man no way obliged to him of whom the captive had deserved no good but evil should ransom him at a great rate all men would say that this captive was infinitely bound to give thanks to this redeemer But alaâ— what is this to the work of redemption by the Lord Iesus Christ surely nothing at all then are we much more bound to God who hath translated us from darknes to light and from the power of Satan to God Col. 1. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 57. Ps 16 9 10 11. 1 â—et 18. 19. In the fourth place if Hell be such a miserable condition and there be no perswading of us to keep our selves from it yet let us be perswaded not to further others towards this misery as all men do that by wicked councell or example provoke perswade and draw men to sin or dishearten or drive them back from good a monstrous and barbarous cruelty yet common in most yea frequent in Parents to children but rather let us pity them that are under this misery and do what we can to keep others especially these that are neer us from it If we saw another one of our children especially ready to fall in the fire or water do we not should we not do our best to save and preserve them even nature teacheth it much more then let us so do in this case by Councel Prayer and Correction also where we have authority Iude 22 23. And have compassion on some in putting 〈◊〉 other save with fear pulling them out of the fire And to move us hereunto let us consider 1. that he that converteth a sinner from going astray out of the way shall save a soule from death and hide a multitude of sin Jam. 5. 20. 2. H. this turneth others to righteousnes shall 〈◊〉 the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. 2. 3. Otherwise we shall seem to be worse then the damned in hell for Dives would have Aâ—â—â—ban to send to his brethren to 〈◊〉 them that they might not come into this place Luke 16. 27. 28. 4. hereby God is glorified much In the last place since it is so that there be degrees of torments in Hell and that the wicked man will thither say what we can O that we might yet perswade him not to sin so much if he will to hell and there be no nay hee would aâ— least provide that his torments in hell may not be in the most extream degree But if none of all this will do to perswade him then have we no more to say to him but the words of the Holy Ghost Rev. 22. 1â— He that is unjust let him be unjust still And be which is filthy let him be filthy still Finis