take a deep impression upon all that shall read these plain truths Seriously consider and believe 1. That it is most certain that an end will be For whatsoever the Scriptures speak of Death the Grave and Hell is an infallible Truth You are to consider that every man is mortal must dye and pass into the other World and that in every one of your bodies there is an immortal and never-dying soul and that after these bodies have slept in the dust of the Earth they shall live again there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust and at the end of the World a Tribunal shall be set up before which all the World shall be made to stand And that as soon as your breath is gone the spirit shall return to God that gave it either to the Justice of God or to the Mercy of God to the place of joy or to the place of torment Our transgression natural constitution with a statute Law of Heaven have brought us under a necessity of dying Where ever this Viper fastneth it killeth certainly though not suddenly sin and death are twins sin is the great murderer that let death into the world For her house inclineth unto death and her paths unto the dead In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17. That is thou shalt become mortal As soon as Adam had sinn'd he and we in him our representative became subject or liable to death Sin like a mighty Monarch reign'd from Adam to Moses a Malefactor cast at the Bar is dead in Law though he be repriev'd for a time the Body sayes the Apostle is dead because of sin some dye in the womb some in their infancy some in their youth they that live longest dy at last Death never hurts a man but with his own Weapon it always finds Sin in us and the sting of death is sin And where ever you meet it or see it you may say of it as Abab to the Prophet hast thou found me O mine enemy Death and every death is the fruit of sin death temporal death Spiritual and death Eternal The soul that sins shall dye Ezek. 18. 20. The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Our natural constitution rendreth us obnoxious to dissolution our flesh is not the flesh of stone or of brass but frail and mouldring dust to which as to our Centre we must return Gen. 3. 19. Dust thou art and to dust shalt thou return Eccles 3. 20. All go to one place all are of the dust and all turn to dust again Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed for man once to dye Job 14. 5. His days are determined the number of his moneths are with thee thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass No shield or Buckler can fortifie against this King of terrors impartial death the great Leveller knows no faces and therefore none can be exempted If faithfulness might challenge impunity from death then Moses might have been excus'd if beauty then Absalem if strength then Sampson if sinceriry and piety then David if sultilry then Achitophel if magnanimity then Alexander if riches then Croesus if wisdom then Solomon but one event happens to them all so that when the fatal moment cometh no ransom can be given no art nor skill can keep us here Sirs were this Doctrine of the other would believed it would have a greater impression upon our hearts did we seriously consider of that future state of retribution according to our faith of which we must live or die stand or fall to eternity it would have a greater influence upon our lives 2. Consider That at your latter end all things in this World will fail you and take their leaue of you for ever All your natural indowments outward enjoyments Parts Parentage Birth Breeding Wit Wealth Crowns Kingdoms Pearles Diamonds Houses Lands Wives Children Friends when your breath is gone all these are gone Prov. 27. 24. Riches are not for ever neither doth a crown endure to all generations The glittering Sun of all outward glory will certainly set which your own experience and Scripture evidence doth clearly evince Riches have wings and they fly away Prov. 23. 5. The fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. We brought nothing into this world and 't is certain we shall carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6. 7. If a man were possessed with as much of this World as Solomon the great King of Jerusalem who had great Magnificent Buildings fruitful pleasant Vineyards Gardens Orchards and Trees of all manner of fruits variety of servants possessions of great and small Cattel heaps of Gold and Silver peculiar Treasure of Kings Musical Instruments Men and Women singers and whatsoever his eyes desir'd yet when he takes a serious view of all things he would say with him all is vanity and that a man hath no profit of all his labour which he taketh under the Sun which made the wise man even to have life Eccles 2. Since the fall there is a curse upon the Creature which indeed is deceiving vexing decaying and all our outward comforts may be compared to Pharaoh's Hosts and alive this hour and the next drown'd and dead upon the Sea-shore and though you judge they shall endure for ever Psal 49. 11. Luke 12. 19. They will deal by you as Absalom's Mule that left him in his greatest extremity What woful miseries attend Wordly riches in the getting keeping and parting with them they are snares and thorns plagues and Scorpions unto many they pierce them thorow with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6. 10. Yet here men toyl beat their brains weary their bodies tire their spirits break their sleep perplex their thoughts rack their consciences ingulf and drown themselves in cares endanger their souls dreaming of nothing but perpetuity and when they have done all like the Silk-worm dye in their work Nay many a man survives his own happiness which perisheth before he perisheth and it s the worst of miseries to outlive our own happiness therefore let not riches highten your hearts and prompt you to pride which is too common This day the rich worlding sang a requiem to his sadly deluded soul concluding he had much laid up the night following his soul is required Haman is to day the second man in the Kingdom but soon lost all and his life too Now doth Nebuchadnezzar walk in his stately royal Palace of Babel priding himself in his outward pomp but while the word was in his mouth a voice came from Heaven saying O King Nebuchadnezzar to thee be it spoken thy Kingdom is departed from thee Dan. 4. 29 30 31. Jerusalem this year is the Princes among the Provinces the next year made tributary and they that live delicately are desolate and embrace Dung-hills Lam. 1. 1. and 4. 5. Yesterday Job's Cattle might be numbred by thousands and tomorrow he is stript of all and left naked Neither is our age without a sad
prayers rich and choice experiences and love-tokens of their fathers favour the evidences for their heavenly Country This is the hidden and heavenly treasure of the godly man who only is called the man of wisdom Micah 6. 9. Besides he preventeth the worst evils viz. the guilt of sin the sting of death sorrows of hell terrours of Conscience the wrath of God the loss of God his soul and heaven This infinite and irreparable evil or loss he shall never sustain because this timely consideration of death and judgement will be a means to fit him for it They that were ready went in to the Marriage Matth. 25. 10. But for you that are careless of your immortal souls that think not of death that will not consider your latter end if infinite mercy doth not speedily prevent you will certainly dye without wisdom if you do not seasonably secure your souls make God and Christ your friends while the poor people of God lay up a treasure in heaven a good foundation against the time to come You will treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2. 5. And this is the doleful case of many worldly wise men of those too whose office and imployment is to keep if it might be others alive viz. to cure diseases and prevent death It is observed concerning Paracelsus a great Physitian a man very skilful in Chymical Experiments that he bragged and boasted that he had attained to such wisdom in discerning the constitutions of men and in studying remedies that whosoever did follow his rules and keep his directions should never dye by any disease casually he might and of age he must but he would undertake to secure his health against diseases A bold and most presumptuous undertaking But he who by Art promised to protect others could not by his art make himself a protection in the prime of his age who died before or when he had lived but thirty years Poor mortals sith that thou cant prevent death it is your wisdome to prepare for it and forasmuch as you cannot by any means power or skill keep off the stroak of death get while you may a remedy or Antidote against the sting of Death that when you dye you may not dye unpreparedly or dye without wisdom For man in honour that understandeth not is like the beast that perisheth Psal 49. 20. So died that miserably mistaken rich man who though by himself or others judged wise in the account of the only wise God was a very fool who providing only for the time of life and not for death did deserve the name of thou fool This night shall thy soul be requir'd Lu. 12. 20. a dark and dreadful night indeed in which he lost both worlds at once earth and heaven too And will you say that you are wise and not consider what your end will be The five Virgins are called foolish Virgins but why because they did not make provision for the Bridegroom 's coming and when they came to the Door it was shut upon them ah sad and dreadful disappointment Mat. 25. 10. But the diligent and prepared soul that hath gotten in his oyl and made all ready is in a capacity to look upon Death with a smiling aspect because the deadly poyson and sting is out and it can but kill the body 't is not able to hurt the soul But the sleepy secure sinner will be dreadfully surprized as Belshazzar was by the hand writing that appeared on the wall the terrifying and amazing sight of which changed his countenance and troubled his thoughts so that neither his Wine his wives or Concubines could comfort him who had lifted up himself against the Lord of Heaven Dan. 5. Sinners Consider the King of terrours is a terrible sight and none more then to those that have their heaven here it will be to such as the tearing their caul from their very hearts worse then cutting off a Member from the body for many have suffered the loss of Members to save their lives O death death death how bitter bitter is the remembrance of thee to the man that is at ease in his possession And let me tell you evils and dangers by how much the more sudden and unexpected they are by so much the more dreadful and astonishing they are What a sad and hidious cry was there in Egygt when at midnight God smote their first-born and also when the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Korah and his cursed company that went down alive into the pit insomuch that all Israel fled at the cry of them for they said lest the earth swallow us up also Numb 16. 31 32 34. And how terrible was that sudden shower of fire and brimstone upon filthy Sodom after a bright Sun-shine morning Gen. 19. 23 34 So when grim and ghashly Death cometh in a black night and draweth the curtain and looketh upon the secure sinnet it will be very formidable for who can look Death in the face that dare not look God or his own conscience in the face But the sincerely godly man fitted for death may look and live above the fear of Death and Hell and welcome Death as old Jacob did the Waggons that his son Joseph sent to fetch him down to Egypt when he saw the waggons the spirit of Jacob their Father revived Gen. 46. 27. Death though a grim Porter will open the gate of Glory to every Beleiver and let them into their Fathers house for both life and death are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil. 1. 11. Whoso is wise will observe these things These are the reasons why your latter end must be considered The application If it be a duty so necessary to mind your end I shall descend to improve it by way of Application Vse This calls aloud unto all you unconverted sinners that have made no preparation for Death and Judgement to stand and wonder or to sit down and admire at the unwearied patience the matchless and amazing mercy of the infinitely gracious and glorious God Hath the most righteous judge and sin-revenging God held your souls in life and kept you from death and Hell to this very day And will you not even to astonishment adore the unsearchable riches of grace Men commonly wonder at things above their reach or that for which they can give no reason and especially at rare singular and unmerited mercy Now stop a little and spend a few serious thoughts and consider what reason can be given that you should be numbred among the living when so many are dead that you should be in the world and so many thousands of Men Women and Children in their Graves and their precious souls you know not where Now that your bodies are not laid up in that dark and dismal prison of the Grave
each falleth in one after the other a first second and third drops down the rest not discerning the danger runs the round I shall thus apply it This day or hour a Swearer tumbleth down to hell The next a drunkard This evening or morning the pale horse mounteth one it may be a cursed Atheist or a malitious bloody persecutor or a filthy Adulterer or an idolatrous worldling and carrieth him to the place of Darkness The next day he receiveth his Commission to fetch some more of them those their brethren in iniquity that are lest behinde keep and continue their course and dance about the pit not considering they so must die and come to judgement How little do the living lay to heart this great business of their Mortality insomuch that when they would deny a thing with greatest confidence they will commonly say they thought no more of it then of their dying day as if death were not a matter of any moment but rather a meer toy or trifle not to be regarded She remembred not her last end Lam. 1. 9. You self destroying sinners Do you know that you must dye and leave the world for ever and are you so stupified and mad as not to think of Death in many dayes together yea hardly to entertain a serious thought of death and judgment at a house of mourning in the very sight of the dead you can be vain frothy jest pot pipe feast discourse of the world a sad proof that men do not consider their latter end Some at that solemn and sad season seem a little serious but as soon as the dead Corps is removed and the Grave and Coffin out of sight Death is no more remembred To make you sensible of this folly let me reason with you in a few plain hints What no thoughts of death you that have been under a sentence of death and brought to the very pits brink looking into Eternity Oh how sad is it to think how quickly those thoughts and impressions of your mortallity have worn out and past away Sinner remember and forget not those secret vows promises and engagements you then made to God viz. that you would part with sin leave your wicked company set loose to the world live godly and make it your business to be religious and loose no more of your precious time and opportunities for your soul If you have forgotten it the all-seeing and heart-searching God remembers it Know and consider in thy heart that death that did but warn thee then by sending his summons will shortly come himself Forgetful of Death and made of dust born of a woman and under a Decree not to be revoked by men or Angels Heb. 6. 27. Job 14. 3. As for man his dayes are determined the number of his months are with thee thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass Not mind your death you that have sickly weak diseased bodies full of paines and aches that are so many partial quotidian deaths yea a dying daily What put off the thoughts of death thou that hast been at so many Funerals heard so many passing Bells or Knells seen so many Graves Skuls and Coffins before thine eyes Forget your death and yet sinners and sinning daily carrying the cause and sting of death in your bosoms mors in corpore the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 11. Thy body is but a body of death sin hath kill'd it the sentence is past Gen. 3. The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 1. The soul that sins must dye Ezek. 18. 20. What put off this evil Day and dead in part old and cold having one foot in the grave viz. feeble knees trembling hands wrinkled faces gray or bald heads the grave being ready for you What no more serious thoughts of death and so many pieces and parcels of your selves gone before to this long home so many Relations and Children now a sleep in the dust of death are they buried in perpetual oblivion never to be remembred any more What Sinner What not think of Death and Death at thy very heels and before thine eyes whither can you direct your eyes and not see that which preacheth or representeth Death all the Winter Death is on the Trees in our Gardens in every flower At your Table every day you feed on the flesh of dead Creatures to tell you that you must die and is not death in your beds every night what is sleep but the picture and image of cold Death and your beds but the representation of your dark graves O careless besotted sinners not consider of death and have precious souls that must live or die be saved or damnted to Heaven or Hell to bliss or burning to God or Devils to Saints or cursed Reprobates as soon as the breath is gon which may be the next day or hour this pale horse death hath the red horse Hell following him Rev. 6. 8. Lastly what not think of and prepare for Death and called Christians that profess you beleive the Resurrection of the body and life everlasting a happiness beyond the Grave For in this life only saith Paul wt have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. Poor hardned sinners that now forget God and this great and mighty concern of your eternal souls what will you do in the day of Visitation when your iniquities shall compass you about and no friend in heaven above or in earth beneath that can stand you in stead and when conscience like a bold sturdy Sergeant shall take you by the throat and summon you in the Name of the great Judge to come and stand at or before the judgement seat Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise Psal 94 8. to understand this to provide for your latter end 2. This blames the ignorant pettish and considerate soul who in an angry fit or passion wisheth for death out of a base end viz. as a writ of ease or out-let to present pain poverty sickness and other worldly troubles and perplexities not rightly considering how terrible death is or what are the dreadful consequences of it Now that we may be convinced of this sin and folly give me leave to tell you that between the worst longest and deepest miseries and calamities of this life and those after death there is no proportion but an exceeding distance Poor deluded souls what is the bite of a flea to the sting of a Serpent or a scratch on the hand to a stab at the heart what 's the heat and smart of a little candle to a hot fiery furnace or a devouring flame What 's a drop of gall to a Sea or Ocean of poyson or what is pain forture or anguish for an hour to intollerable misery time without end into which to the unconverted death will certainly be the door and are you so mad to imagine that there is nothing in the other world to be
and voluntary slaves they were in time and thy prisoners in chains of darkness they shall be eternity to be tormented day and night for ever Rev. 20. 10. 6. What think you of eternal banishment and separation from God Christ Angels Saints Heaven This is the punishment of loss and the worst of hell Matth. 25. 41. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels O terrible terrible to be doom'd or sentenc'd to lye under the wrath and hatred of the infinitely great and dreadful God for ever and ever as long as God shall live whose being is to eternity as long as there is a Devil to torment or to be tormented shall their plagues last The fearful and unbeleiving and the abominable Murderers Whoremongers Lyars Dogs Sorcerers carry all their sins down to hell with them the fuel that feeds the wrath of God so that the Oyl of sin causes the Lamp of wrath to burn flame everlastingly The debt of sin can never be paid justice never satisfied for the damn'd soul remains impenitent and God implacable so that there can be no hope of pardon The sentence is strict unchangeable irreversable eternal O eternity eternity this stings plagues and augments and aggravates the most intollerable punishment of the damn'd After an innumerable thousands of years they shall think it but the beginning of their sorrows and shall be so far from an end as if they had been in hell but an hour It will be everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power 2 Thes 1. 9. In comparison of which all the rendings rackings tearings torturings of mens bodies here by the most exquisite torments upon racks gibbets wheels grid-irons boyling lead boyling oyl and other bloudily invented engines and instruments of amazing cruelty are but a flea-biting Sinners 't is hell hell that will make the sadly tormented soul seek death wish and long for that which shall never be Rev. 9. 6. And will you desire and wish for the woeful day God forbid now your condition may be changed then it will be stated Wo wo unto you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you The day of the Lord is darkness and not Light Amos 5. 18. A day of glosminess a day of clouds and of thick darkness at which the people shall be much pained and all faces shall gather blackness the inhabitants of the Land shall tremble for the day of the Lord is very terrible Joel 2. Now therefore do not wickedly wish it but wisely consider and prepare for it And blessed is that servant whom when his Lord cometh findeth so doing 3. It reproves the selfc-onfident and presumptuous who conclude upon a fitness and preparedness for death and judgment upon very slight and unwarrantable grounds namely because they separate from the notoriously wicked are not prophane make a profession shew some legal sorrow for sin run the round of duty though carnal and heartless enough in those duties from hence they easily perswade themselves that all is well viz. That they are the Children of God in a state of grace and going to Heaven and as fit to dye as the very best How many thousands are there in the Christian world that securely sleep and dream of an interest in Christ that hope and promise themselves a future and glorious felicity who are but meet moral men and worse or rotten painted Hypocrites at the best having only a form of Godliness restraining counterfeit or common grace Such were the Scribes and Pharisees the foolish Virgins yet confident to the very last they came to the door with a Lord Lord open unto us They had blazing Lamps but no oil in their Lamps or Vessels no real union with Jesus Christ no precious faith no sincere love or evangelical repentance the root of the matter was not in them You that have a name to live take heed you be not deceived if you are not truly united unto Jesus Christ he will certainly disown you The Lord Jesus tells us of such sadly deluded souls that shall stand up at the last day and challenge a reward in Heaven to whom he will protest I know you not Matth. 7. 23. they never savingly knew him had never any union or communion with Christ in the world Many are called but few chosen the Children of the kingdome saith Christ shall be cast out And I must tell you who-ever comes to heaven will miss many there which they thought to find and find others there they little expected The Sinners in Sion are more then a few the Goates more then the Sheep the Tares more then the Wheat more reprobate silver then pure tryed gold The pure in heart and truly godly man that mourns and bleeds for sin that loves God and prizes Christ above the world is many times full of feares and doubts about his soul and the eternal condition of it O what would he not give to be assured that all is well between God and him to know that God and Christ is his that he is fit to live or die because a mistake here is very dreadful and of an infinite consequence But on the contrary the foolish disobedient and that are deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in sin and alienated from the life of God having no hope and without God in the world are highly confident and strongly perswaded that it shall go well with them in the world to come I knew a poor ignorant prophane wretch being told on his death bed and but a little before he entred into eternity that death was come replied where is it I 'le go forth and meet it putting his legs over the beds side in a little time gave up the Ghost Therefore in this great soul-affair let none be so fool-hardy as to trust without tryal But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another for every man shall bear his own burthen Gal. 6. 4 5. Quest If the consideration of our latter end is a matter of such moment why do men and women that have immortal souls think no more of it Answ 1. The great cause is from that horrid cursed atheism and unbeleif which is deeply rooted and riveted in mens minds and hearts They do not credit that wonderful and astonishing Doctrin of the other world according to the beleif of which they must live or die to all eternity If we should take a serious prospect of endless eternity of those great things men seem to beleive namely that they must dye that in every mans body there is a never dying soul that there will be a different and unchangeable estate of men after death and that without holiness real holiness of heart life no man shall see the Lord and compare the lives and practises of those that
work were done and finished 'T is the grand business of your life timely and truly to prepare for death and judgment It were better that all your concerns in the world were wholly neglected namely Husband wife Children buying selling seed-time harvest omitted let all run to ruine then to hazard lose and undo your souls for this will certainly ruine body and soul for ever O seriously mind how little you have done in the time of your life past and how uncapable you will be to do any thing at the end of time when you come to take up your lodging in a grave O remember the dayes of darkness they will be many Eccl. 1. 18. They that have been in the Grave a thousand years have done nothing neither can you when you come there Eccl. Now for you that have lived some twenty thirty forty fifty or threescore years and done nothing in order to a preparation for your everlasting state it is high time to begin the work The most of you are so sensless as not to consider or entertain a thought of death till you hear the Bell or see a Grave or Coffin or till death comes within your walls and knocks at your beds head when you see a Friend a Child a brother a Husband or Wife gasping and dying till you see him bedewed with his cold sweats and groaning with dying pangs till your eyes thus affect your hearts your hearts are seldom affected with the sence of your mortality Now sith it must be done and done suddenly resolve in spight of men and devils and all the world to set about the work Motive 2. Consid It may be done you are in a capacity to do it adored for ever be free grace 1. Time and opportunity is yet before you The Torch burns the Sun shines yet it is day though not morning some sands are behind though not a whole glass Some of you are old lame deaf but not dead others weak sick langishing but alive If the Sun were set the Candle out the Glass run farewell all hope of heaven or of altering your condition for ever They that are gone down to the dead and among the damned may and do reflect with torment upon the opportunitiesonce offered to make them happy but can call back none that 's impossible 2. God is willing to help if you go to him Thine is the power and he gives it to them that have no strength Isa 40. Duty is ours assistance and success is Gods That God who hath given you a considering season can also give a considering soul go to him upon thy knees and beg as for thy life his a speedy aid say as the woman to David Help O King or as the Father for the distressed Son Mark 9. 22. If thou cansts do any thing help us Christ did help 't is his promise seek and you shall find But it cannot be said so of separated souls because time and meanes from them is gone for ever Then in the name of the Lord quit your selves like men Wisemen that are endued with precious rational considering souls that difference you from bruits Let that noble faculty of reason be exerted in considering your latter end For consideration is a serious eager lively act or exercise of the understanding about things to be done or not to be done furthering or impeding the execution of them as it sees good It is the exercise of the mind and heart these are at work in this divine consideration Contemplatioâ— as one observes looks upon things as the eye upon the object Judicium discerneth things whether good or bad but meditation or consideration is a further inquisition into the truth Set consideration at work and not like bruits suffer your eyes ears lusts and senses to be your guides but commune with your heares consider your wayes reflect upon your actions look to your end which if you did you would not be so sensual so sinful as you have been and are Isa 1. 3. Motive 3. Consider the omitting or neglect of it will render you the worst of fools If the doing of it be your highest wisdom the not doing must needs be the greatest folly this will make you like Ephraim a silly Dove without an heart Do you know that you must die and die but once and will you not indeavour to do that well which cannot be done the second time As Luther said to his adversaries You can kill me but once ye are not able to raise me to life again and kill me the second time So say I to thee O thou seeuer sinner when thy breath is gone it will return no more O consider with a trembling heart how much depends upon this dying once namely the gaining or losing of thy dear precious soul the gainingor loosing of the favour of God the fruition of God the joyes of heaven or the torments of hell hangs upon it When death comes your eternity is cast the very next moment after you have shot the black a mazing gulf you shall see know what you shall be and where you shall be to all eternity And will you judg the men of the earth or worldly wise men the wisest men who take care for the body and neglect the soul that make provision for time but none for eternity O Sirs if you would but trace them to a sick bed a death-bed from thence into eternity and to Gods dreadful tribunal you might easily determine Ier. 17. 11 Luke 12. 19 20. Luke 16. 22 23. Rev. 6. 25. Mot. 4. In a every little time you present powerful and awakening helps and advantages to excite and put you in mind of the other world will be past and gone And these are cheifly three viz. 1. Awakening Ordinances 2. Awakening Providences 3. Awakening Convictions 1 Awakening Ordinances will have an end The faithful powerful Ministers of the Gospel that watch for your souls and whose office it is to fire the Beacons and give the alarum will we know not how soon finish their work These Boauergeses and Embassadours of the Lord that preach the dreadful and amazing Doctrine of death and judgement and that with loud and earnest cries tears and fervour of spirit to make you sensible of your sin and danger will shortly be called home Moses that great Prophet after he had compos'd this excellent Song of which my Text is a part was gathered to his Fathers Noah that Preacher of Righteousness after he had for many years together warned the old world was called into the Ark and they had never a Sermon more till the wrath of God came upon them and there was no remedy 2 Pet. 2. 5. Be not therefore as your Fathers unto whom the former Prophers have cryed saying Turn ye from your evil wayes for they have not long to cry The Prophets do not live for ever Zech. 1. 4 5. You cannot rationally expect alwayes to hear the pleasant noise of Aarons Bells or the sound of
world be assured it shall go well with them in the other world Art thou in astate of grace at odds with fin and truly in love with Christ and holiness Be of good chear go thy way and eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for the bitterness of death is past The king of terrors that had the power of death is conquered by the Lord of life Terrible death that rides on the pale horse is dismounted by thy dear Lord that rides on the white horse under whose bloody Cross thou mayest see him disarmed wounded and dead death that raigned from Adam to Moses is now swallowed up in victory Isa 25. 8. I will ransoms thee from the power of the grave I will redeem thee from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction The beleiving soul is dead with Christ while he lives Rom. 6. 8 and is delivered not only from the damnation of sin but the dominion of sin and there is hope in his death When he dyeth he shall die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. he shall sleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4. 14. his end shall be peace Psal 37. 37. This made the Apostle after his sad conflict Rom. 7. to triumph over the last enemy death 1 Cor. 15. 55. Motive 7. If you should not prepare for death yet you will wish you had as many do when it is to late You that are for making provision for the flesh and so eagerly pursuing the world When you shall be cast upon the bad of languishing you will wish in the very torment of your minds and flames of horrour that I had parted with my sin O that I had been careful to please and honour God and to get an interest in Jesus Christ then should I have now dyed the death of the righteous but this I wholly slighted I prosecuted the world with might and main and got so many thousands for my Posterity I liv'd a merry and jovial life but for my soul for my eternity things of infinite worth I have done nothing I forgat my soul Now here 's the Messenger of death come for me to imprison my body in the Grave the Chambers of darkness and to carry my soul I know not whither I fear to hell O that I had been wise to under stand this to consider my latter end What would I now give to live but a few years more to make provision for this soul that must now enter the gulf of endless eternity Motive 8. Consider the gaines will be exceeding great As will appear by these following particulars Would you haue sin as hell and be more truly holy Consider your latter end This is most certain that all the evil antecedents and dreadful consequences of death spring and grow out of this bitter root what is it that wounds stings paines and kills what is it that brings Diseases threatens death that murders the body and that damns and burnes the soul What is that doth necessitate the to make use of Physick Physicians whilst alive and bringeth thee to a Coffin and Grave when thou art dead is it not sin which thou embracest in thy bosom You poor blind deluded souls as little and as lovely as sin looks in your wanton eyes it is the Mother and Nurse of all your miseries hacht in hell the Devils spawn or excrement He that committeth sin is of the devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. This is that evil thing and bitter that hales death and hell at the heels of it yea that arms death devils and hell against us Were it not for this black ugly fierce ouer and bloudy adversary Law or Justice could not condemn us Death could not kill us Devils could not torment us Hell could not burn us Sin is the Traitor and Murderer of your immortal souls and those nails that will shortly dig your Graves will you hug hide and hold it fast Will a woman put that knife into her bosom that hath kill'd or murder'd her dear Child or Husband no by no means it must be broken and cast away for ever Now Sirs if sin be the enemy use it as an enemy or murderer kill it take the sacrificing knife and cut the throat of it or strike the heart vein and let it bleed until it dies Deal by it as Samuel by Agag cut it in pieces Did you think seriously of death and hell you would hate it to purpose and say away to hell with it from whence it came and it would put you upon a desire and earnest endeavour after holiness Being expos'd to a dissolution what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11. But if you forget death you will make dreadful work namely your accounts greater and hell the hotter you will increase your sin and God will heap up wrath against the day of wrath And if ever God shâ—w mercy it will cost you dear your souls must mourn your hearts must break and bleed for sin for unless you repent you will certainly be damned Luk. 13. 5. 2. Would you speedily call off your hearts from the world lay up treasure in heaven Remember your latter end In the greatest affluence of worldly prosperity alwayes consider that you must die Poor worldlings that make gold your hope whose plottings and ploddings are for earth If death and eternity were more in your thoughts you would let go that in your affections which you cannot hold in your possession and love that but a little that will be lost and which you cannot love long Riches have wings and they will be gone Consider how little the things of the world will stand you in stead in the evil day your gold and silver cannot keep you from diseases while you live nor from hell after you are dead Prov 11. 4. Psal 49. 6 7. It falleth out with many of the great storers of this world as it doth with a Sumpter Horse who all the day carrieth a great treasure on his back but at night it is taken from him and he thrust into a foul Stable So many wealthy worldlings that tire them selves to get and carry worldly treasure when death cometh it s taken from them and they for their ill getting or ill using of it are thrust down to hell the rich man dyed and in hell lift up his eyes And if you would deaden your hearts to this empty earth and look after a treasure above a happiness beyond the grave that shall last as long as your souls shall last think often of death this would divert your worldly cares and projects Remember from this day to your last day cannot be long your Journey or Voyage is short and a little Provision is enough neither Poverty nor Riches but food convenient is the desire and choice of a Citizen of Sion Converse more with death and be often looking into eternity and thou mayest here as it
much brokeness of heart confess his sins pray and plead with God in Christ for pardon even to the wonder and amazement of those Ministers and Christians who where present And he being asked how often he prayed answered five or six times a day and it was with such meltings and multitudes of teares that did move the very bowels of the Auditors and as they said turned them into tears Thus you see how a powerful conviction of death and judgement may prevail upon the heart to make them cry to God that never prayed before As for you that can lye down at night rise up in the morning and go about the world without secret or family prayer I must tell you that you have but slight if any thoughts of death and eternity and no sence of or regard of your everlasting condition which is a sad symptom of a Christless state 6. Would you do good to others to their bodies and to their souls consider you must dye for after death you will be utterly incapacitated of doing any thing The wise man speaking of the season of doing and of the vicissitudes of mans life namely that there is a time to be born and a time to dye and he having observed the issues and changes of providence that hath made every thing beautiful in its season concludes that it is best for a man to do good in his life Eccles 3. 12. As we have therefore opportunity saith the Apostle let us do good to all men Gal. 6. 10. When it is in the power of thine hand to to do it Prov. 3. 27. Sirs the real thoughts of death will prompt you to give a portion to six and also to seven and that in season for when death comes all is gone then it s no more in power of thine hand to do Did you now beleive and consider that you must dye and give an account to God the great Landlord and Donor of all your good things great Reciepts having great accounts you would not contract your hearts and shut up your bowels against those many miserable objects who are so often in your view Now that you may be like sheep and not like swine be good in your life and let your acts of mercy be distributed in the morning the fittest season to sow this seed therefore speedily draw out thy soul to the hungry before death separate thy soul and body for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Isa 58. 10. Heb. 13. 14. 7. Would you get and keep sincerity a precious Pearl indeed think often of death and judgement Then it will be tryed then it will stand you in stead Sincerity the Scripture persection is the best of a Christian the grace of every grace for faith unfeigned and love in sincerity are the very nerves sinews of Christianity The next best to the precious blood and righteous of our glorified Redeemer to plead for us at the hour of death and in the Court of Heaven is truth in the in ward parts Isa 38. 3. To be a mourner in Sion is matter of solace and real comfort but to be a sinner in Sion is sad and it will be a matter of torment A Judas among the Apostles a Devil in Samuel's Mantle is a Devil indeed The sinners in Sion are afraid and cause enough for to live and dye a hypocrite is most dreadful because hypocrisie will certainly bring you down to hell yea the hottest place of that devouring fire and everlasting burning shall be the Hypocrites portion Isa 33. 14. Mat. 24. 5. 8. Lastly would you redeem your time and be greedy of getting grace in the day of grace for the present spiritual and eternal salvation of your souls think seriously of your end You sleepy secure souls did you consider that the night of death will come certainly and may come suddenly you would work while it is day and not be so mad as to put off beleiving repenting and soul afflicting-work self-trying and approving work until the evil day of old age a sick bed or dying pangs seize upon you Consider a death-bed repentance is seldom had and seldom good or a sick-bed repentance is seldom a sound but often a sick repentance Now if you would imitate your Lord to work while it is day remember you must dye John 9. 4. Directions and helps to consider of your latter end Direct 1. Search diligently to find out what it is that keeps you and the serious thoughts of death and eternity at so great a distance and cry mightily to God and speedily to remove it If it be either Ignorance Atheisme Unbeleif Sensuality Earthly-mindedness or Security be deeply sensible of it and set Prayer to work pour out thy very soul to God with greatest fervour and importunity Say as Meses Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Psa 96. 11 12. Sirs 't is spiritual wisdom will cause you to consider then cry after knowledg and lift up thy voice for understanding Prov. 2. 3 4. For she is thy life Prov. 4. 13 it s as much as thy life and soul is worth Then enter into thy Closet and fall down upon thy knees and pray to God in the name of Christ for spiritual wisdome we must seek it Ezek 36. 37. And god will give it James 1. 5. Beg more then for thy life for a truly wise and awakened heart withou which the great concerns of God and thine Immortal soul be for ever neglected Direct 2. Diligently and faithfully use and improve the most awakening means which have a tendency hereunto 1. Set your selves under a powerful faithful and soul-searching Ministry who make the conversion of souls their main business A lazy sleepy minister is nor like to waken a secure sinner the conviction and conversion of souls is not the mark they shoot at Resolve to hear have countenance and encourage those that grapple most with the conscience and earnestly endeavour to drive and draw soules to Jesus Christ by setting the blessing and the curse life and death before them Conviction leads the way to conversion as the needle to the thread what 's a plaistâ—r worth where there is no wound 't is the broken bones cry out for help the whole need not the Physitian General overly preaching is like the sword in the scabbard that doth not cut or wound or like Physick in the bottel that doth not penetrate or work but plain particular convincing preaching such as Nathans to David or Peters to the Jews 2 Sam. 12. 7. Acts 2. 36. is like the sword in the bowels or Physick in the body that will pain to purpose Those Preachers that have no faculty of reproving and convincing sleepy secure sinners are like a company of drone Bees that have lost their sting being good for nothing But they that have the charge of so many Golden Fleeces
cannot live without him or be absent from him Having tasted of the Grapes of Eshcol he must go to Canaan to see the good Land that goodly Mountain A foresight or glimps of the sweetness beauty and glory of the Lord Jesus will cause most vehement longing to be with him Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation For this we groan earnestly And O how confidently quietly and comfortably may such a soul entertain the thoughts of death that hath sincerely repented of all sin and to whom sin is so greivous a burden that he would dye to be rid of it And whose soul is â—â—l'd and fraughted with grace and assured of glory and his heart sent as a Harbinger to Heaven before him And indeed a serious and hearty consideration of our eternal state would provoke us to press earnestly after all this To close up all let me ask you as in the presence of the great Judg of quick and dead at whose dreadful tribunal you must all shortly stand these following Queries Quer. 1. First Whether a seasonable preparation for death and Judgement viz. how you may escape Hell and come safe to Heaven be not the most urgent and important business that you have in all the world Let your conscience judge and determine Quer. 2. Are not they in a very happy condition that do believe repent and turn to God with their whole heart who by living a life of grace are truly prepared for death and out of the dreadful hazzard of loosing Heaven Rom. 8. 1. Psal 37. 37. Quer. 3. Is it not possible that you being yet on this side the Grave and Hell may prepare for this evil day were you resolv'd upon it would be done you have often intended it promised it when shall it be none but the Devil and your flesh will stop and hinder you Quer. 4. Do you firmly beleive the things here will fail that death will come that sin that accursed thing will sting and that the impenitent sinners case at the hour of death wil be sad and very desperate Let me say to all such there is not a night you lye down upon your beds but you run a very great hazzard If death should call and you not ready you must go though you be ruin'd to eternity Matth. 25. 10 11 12 16 22 23. Quer. 5. Have you so liv'd as to be fit to lye down in a Grave to rise again and stand before God who is a consuming fire Do you know your selves in a state of grace that you are new born that your evidences for heaven are clear and certain is your work done do your Lamps burn and have you a well-grounded assurance that you are in the Number of those to whom death will be a priviledge Phil. 21. Quer. 6. Can you chearfully and without dread entertain the thoughts of a dissolution and of leaving all your earthly and sensual delightes Suppose the dreadful Judge should at this instant send death into this place with the names of five or six of you in his writ or forehead and death should say you and you this man and that woman must go along with me I have received a comand from the great and terrible God who hath the power of death and of hell to bring you young man young woman this day or night before the Judgement seats I have often warned you by sending my Deputies and and that this ten twenty or forty yeares every Coffin every dead Corps or Grave you have seene was so many intimations of my coming Now saith death I am come look here upon my commission see my dart and my sting This dart must kill the body and send thy soul unto eternity I command thee this moment to bid adieu to and take thy leave of Friends Relations Houses Lands pleasures of sin once for all Thou shalt never see or jnjoy them more Luke 12. 19. 20. O how can you think of your dying the worlds burning the trumpers Sounding the deads rising and staunding at the Bar and not fear and tremble You Sons and Daughters of pleasures did you consider what horror and astonishment dogs you as the heels which will inevitable come upon you as travel on a woman with child you would not say unto God depart and treasure up wrath lay up scoorges and scorpions for your distressed souls against the last day Quer. 7. Let me ask you that pass for Saints and hope for Heaven whether your consciences in secret do not tell you that you have made poor preparation for it yea it may have done less for Heaven then many that are now in hell You say you must dye and come to judgement but how stands the case as to the other world If you look downward to this world it s well but how is it within with your precious soul Do you beleive that Atheists Unbeleivers Drunkards Swearers Murderers Thieves Persecutors Lyars Sabbath-breakers Adulterers worldlings are going swiftly to hell Do you beleive that Christs flock is little and not fear your selves Do you think that Esau Judas Ahab Agrippa Herod Simon Magus the foolish Virgins are in hell and yet confident of your going to heaven These have out done many of you Esau wept and cryed for the blessing Heb. 12. 17. Ahab humbled himself 1 Kings 12 29. Herod did many things and heard John joyfully Mark 16. 20. Agrippa was almost a Christian Acts 6. 28. The Scribe was not far from the kingdom of God Mark 12. 34. The foolish Virgins were not prophane they took care to trim their Lamps and knock at the door Now what sins have you lest what grace have you exercis'd what duties have you performed and how Take heed you be not deceived Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Quer. 8. 4. You having so many warnings time and means to prepare for death judgment and will not who will pity you when you perish God will not Prov. 1. 26 27. Christ will not Luke 19. 27. Angels Saints Ministers will not all will say away with them let them be damn'd And O what a killing and amazing sight will Christs coming in the clouds be to all that either denied his coming or who would not prepare for it His incarnation was terrible Matth. 2. 3. His Crucifixion was more terrible Luk. 23. 44. 45 47. 48 But his being on the tribunal will be most terrible Then shall the tribes of the earth mourn Math. 24. 3. And men cry to the rocks and mountaines to fall on them Rev. 6. 15 16. When they shall see so many thousands and millions of men and women dragged down with all the Devils of hell to that burning lake of fire and brimstone How will they then mourn for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit and with bitterness of soul wish they had never heard of Christ that they had been born among the Heathen or never had a being or enjoy'd a life of pleasure upon the Earth How will the wretched sinner beat his breast pluck off his hair tear his bowels crying out when he sees all hope is gone O that I had now no soul or that this immortal soul were mortal that I might now dye and breath no more or that my sentence might be but to lodge with Devils in this burning lake ten thosand years that so I might not remain in a state of banishment from the face and presence of God to all eternity O then pray that serious thoughts of death may be alwayes upon thine heart and whethere thou goest let them go and where thou lodgest let them lodg that thou mayest speak of it to thy Children and Family when thou sitttest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up O let these great things of death and judgment be bound as a signe upon thine hand and write them upon the posts of thine house and on thy gates that they may be always before thine eyes and for thy good alwayes that thou may'st beware least thou forget the Lord thy God and the everlasting concernments of thine immortal soul and gods anger be kindled against thee and destroy thee suddenly with a mighty destruction Consider now what I have spoken and the Lord give thee understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2. 7. Which is that God wisheth in the Text O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider thrir latter end FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tempus spatium temporis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est opportunitas Qui quid atotiis retro est mors tenet Sen. in Epist Prov. 22. 6. Luke 13. 24. 1 Cor. 9 24. 25. Eph. 6. 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Schola crucis est Schola lucis Luth. Ps 94. 12. Math. 4. 16. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Ezek. 13. 8. Rom. 5. 8. Isa 61. 1. John 6. 16. Tempus acceptum or tempus acceptabile Bez. in loc Quodoffertur gratia ex gratia Dei est qui sua contuit rebus omnibus momenta ut oblatam occasionum arripiamus The youth that lately was hang'd for murdering his Fellom Servant confess'd that his Sabbath breaking made way for all his other prodigious sins Tempus non potest Deo consecrari nisi quo modo redemptum Calvin in loc * Punctum est quod vivimus puncto minus Nonexignum temporis habemus sed multum perdimus Sen. Enigua pars est vitae quem nos vivimus
God gasping and panting after the Lord Jesus Christ Psal 42. 1 2. O labour for such a frame of heart and bewail a narrow and contracted spirit Do not perform duties for duties sake so as to make duties the end of duties but as the medium by which thy soul may draw nigh to God and meet with him The countenance and presence of God in a duty is the very Suburbs of glory yea the very gate of Heaven Gen. 2â— 17. Let this be in thy thoughts and the very purpose of thy heart and expect it vehemently in every access to God Let thy soul follow hard after God and say One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life Psal 27. 4. Psal 84. 2. Duties are only the outward Court but the form shell and carkass of Religion as Pipes without Water Breasts without Milk as Sails without Wind or as a Body without a Soul that hath no life The encrease of your grace and holiness depends upon your acquaintance and communion with the God of grace It was Mose his being in the Mount that made his face to shine and the Kings being at his Table that caused the Churches Spikenard to send forth the swell thereof Cant. 1. 12. The presence of the glorious God on a Sabbath the presence of God in prayer or at a Sacrament will be unto thy soul as marrow and fatness and that which will make thy hands to drop with Myrrh and thy fingers with sweet-smelling Myrrh Thus it was with the Spouse when her Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door Cant. 5. 4 5. 6 By improving every Providence every Comfort every Cross for Gods glory and our own spiritual advantage God doth nothing in vain for he hath a peculiar respect unto the good of his people in all his dispensations he doth time measure and order every dark and afflicting providence for his Churches advantage Jer. 24. 5. Rom. 8. 24. Heb. 12. 10 11. God's chastning and teaching commonly go together therefore it is we must hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Mic. 6. 9. The Rod hath a Voice Beasts may feel the rod but the believer hearts the rod. God's rod should make us like Aaron's rod bud blossom and to bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness Heb. 12. 11. Now if you would be bettered by affliction endeavour to do three things 1. To understand the meaning or mind of God in them for what sins committed or duties neglected they are sent Afflictions are Gods Messengers and we should never be quiet till we know their Errands Job 10. 2. 2. See the hand of God in all those afflictions So did David Psal 39. 10. and holy Job 1. 11. Hos 6. 1. 3. Labour to answer the end of God in your straits and troubles that you might be made more humble more holy more heavenly before that we may say and find that it hath beed good for us to be afflicted We have as much reason to seek unto God for a blessing upon our daily Rod as upon our daily Bread 7. Time must be redeemed by casting up your accounts every day and so to make even with God and not get further into his debt This will be the way to get an acquittance to procure a pardon before you are called and forced to an account Secret duties if well done are the sweetest duties and yet sadly neglected by Saints themselves You should retire every night and spend a little time in self-examination and when you sit alone commune with your hearts and call over the passages and actions of the day past We read Gen. 24. 63. That Isaac went out in the evening tide to meditate a precious duty but rarely practised Christians should spend void spaces of time in ejaculatory Prayer and holy Meditation And O how hard it is to ascend this Mount of heavenly Meditation 'T is very easie and delightsom to think of the World the pleasures of Sin Friends Riches Worldly business but to Meditate on God Heaven Eternity the insufficiency and vanity of the creature the bitterness of sin the certainty of death and judgement the very inwards of Religion is very difficult Before you lye down upon your beds at night call your selves to an account by such questions as these 1. I have lived many years in the world What have I been doing all my days have I answered the end of my being 2. Have I had a holy awe of God in the midst of my Worldly business this day What thoughts of death and Judgement have I had Where hath my heart been 3. How have I performed duties this day What hath been the sins of this day the mercies of this day that I may beg the pardon of the one and bless God for the other 4. What assistance and communion with God have I had this day in the duties of his worship have not God and my soul been strangers this day and many days together 5. What have I done or spoken for God and his Glory this day in my Family or else-where have I demean'd my self like a child of God this day this is to make Religion our business or to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day 8. Improve your time by endeavouring to order every days work with reference to your last day The end of every duty and the great reason of redeeming time lies here namely that we may be fit to dye and stand before God Therefore must we glorifie the infinitely holy God and make him our friend Hence it is that we must secure our souls and speedily get into Jesus Christ and grow in grace do good to others call our selves to an account and clear our title unto heaven that all our work may be done up while it is day and none left to do let death call when it will The reasons why our precious time must be redeemed are 1. Because the days are evil 2. Because 't is a considerable part of our Christian wisdom Reas 1. Because the days are evil This is the Apostles own argument to enforce the duty Precious time and evil days run parallel therefore no part of a little time must be lost I shall instance in a few particulars to make it appear 1. The Tares of false Doctrine or Diabolical Blasphemous Damnable Opinions do abound How do the Devils Agents endeavour to raise and undermine the very foundations and principles of the Christian faith Those old and damnable heresies that have been condemned and expunged out of the Church of God are greedily embraced and swallowed down by more then a few 2 Tim. 3. 1. and 4. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 12. Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye knew these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 2 Pet. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 1. 13. 2. Mens flagitious
and dreadful instance viz. famous London on the Lord's day standing by Wednesday burnt and laid in ashes and thousands of the Inhabitants housless and harbourless therefore if riches encrease set not your hearts upon them they are uncertain cannot satisfie cannot profit will perish and that for ever O then let those precious dear everlasting jewels laid up in your mouldring decaying dying bodies be cared for What can it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 16. 26. 3. Consider How soon all the present pleasures of sin will be gone and leave nothing but a sting Old age weakness sickness will make a great change in the whole outward man as to beauty strength natural vigor liveness of senses and all whereby a man might take any pleasure in the world or in his lust When sickness old age deaths fore-runner cometh it will make a strange change in the most comely countenance corporal comeliness and beauty is soon stain'd sickness will not only fade it but deface it You that are endowed with comely proportion sparkling eyes well-favouredness amiableness of colours of white and red with straitness agility of body with a cheerful aspect when old age cometh it will plow deep forrows in those fair faces and yet many ignorant of their foul souls and filthy hearts are proud of their fair faces and comely features so that they grow wanton by reason of it and to set out their beauty and whiteness of their skins not being contented with Creators curious make will add painting patches powdering crisping curlings artificial hair and what not Know that old age will not onely whither your beâ—… which is but skin deep but aâ—… outward strength natural vigor liveliness of senses and all whereby you may have any worldly pleasure Old age is Solomon's evil day when the Sun Moon and Stars will be darkned the keepers of the House tremble and the strong men bow themselves and the grinders cease and all the daughters of Musick shall be brought low and fear shall be in the way when the whole outward man is decayed viz. eyes dim or dark Ears deaf Teeth rotten Gums bare Head bald Breath corrupt Hands and Feet weak and trembling an evil day indeed in which you shall find no delight in your former dalliances for the Grashopper will be a burden and desire shall fail Eccles 12. But the beauty of Grace withers not under the greatest declinings of natural beauty for grace is the Oyl in the Lamp that never goeth out but shineth more and more The Kings Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45. Godliness which is Gods likeness casts a lustre that is very lovely in the sight of God and Man Thou art all fair my Dove and there is no spot in thee Sinners you that now taste the sweet of Sin rejoyce to do wickedly that spend your time in riotous Drunkenness Chambers of wantonness lye upon Beds of Ivory and stretch your selves on your Couches and eat the Lambs out of the flock that chant to the sound of the viol that drink Wine in Bowls that are uot grieved for the afflictions of Joseph that put far away the evil day Know that the fire of sin will burn and that your sweet morsels are but for a moment those sweet morsels and delicate dainties will cost your dear Hear now this you that are given to pleasure that feast your selves in doing evil 't is but a little time and you will see and say that all your delights hopes joys are past and gone and that you shall never see or taste them more only the gravel gall guilt and sting will remain You that love this Hellish banquet of sin the stoln Waters that are sweet and bread eaten in secret that is pleasant don 't know that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Hell Prov. 9. 17 18. Sin is a sweet poyson pleasant in the acting but bitter in the end For the soul that sinneth shall dye Ezek. 13. 20. And will you spare it and keep it still within your mouth hide it under your tongue untill it becometh the gall of Asps within you Job 20. 12 13. Consider also that your secret wickedness committed in the dark in corners that is mask'd and close kept is known to God The infinite Holy and heart seaching God marks them Job 10. 14. Hos 7. 2. Watcheth them Job 14. 16. Sealeth them they are down among his Tresures Deut. 32. 34. and they will find you out Num. 32. 23. If not truly and deeply repented of and pardoned they will lye down with you in the Grave and follow you into the other World and meet you at Gods dreadful Bar and be discovered in the sight of the whole world evil shall pursue the Sinner This evil thing and bitter bred in the womb not buried in the grave nor extinguished by the fire of Hell shall pursue the sinner unto Hell Sinners this is most certain unrepented sins will never leave you but lye down and rise with you your bones are full of the sins of your youth which shall lye down with you in the dust Job 20. 11. Sin is a bad bed fellow and a worse grave-fellow and if it sleep with you it will awake with you when the dreadful Trumpet shall sound Arise ye dead and come to jndgement The damned in Hell have all their sins about them that which was the cause of their being cast into Hell will be their everlasting campanion there and will you take these Vipers and Scorpions into your bosom that will be always gnawing upon your hearts Know this your posting Sun of all sinful sensual delights will set in the dreadful Ocean of endless easeless and remediless sorrow 4. Consider That only which is eternal will stand you in stead when you come to dye viz. when you shall shoot the vast Gulf and lanch out into the infinite Ocean of Eternity that hath neither bounds banks nor bottom Immortal souls Do you see any thing that hath Eternity engraven upon it There are variety of objects both of persons and things that present themselves to your view Lift up your eyes to the vast Heavens that are bespangled and beautified with a glorious Sun Moon and glittering Stars that have been there for some thousands of years see whether eternity be there No they had their beginning and must have their Period Gen. 1. 1. Heb. 1. 10 11. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heaven are the works of thine hands They shall perish they shall wax old as doth a garment but thou remainest The day is coming wherein the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into blood The Stars of Heaven shall fall and the Powers of the Heavens shall be shaken the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the Earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt up Matth. 24. 29. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Moreover
Eternity O let not London nor England forget that and other tremendous judgments which our sins have called for lest a worse then any yet should come upon us The forgetting of our latter end is a deadly and provoking sin and that which will hasten judgement Her filthiness it in her skirts she remembred not her last and therefore she came down wonderfully she had no comforter Lam. 1. 9. 8. Consider That where death cometh to strike the stroake your souls are stated your Eternity is cast without change for ever Then your immortal souls are for salvation or damnation for an eternal life or eternal death for an eternal heaven or an eternal hell You sadly besotted souls know and remember while you have a day before the golden threed of life be cut that if you be found without Christ Faith Repentance Holiness but a moment after death you are undone to Eternity After death all means and hopes fail there is no work or device in the grave Eccles 9. God will be then irreconcilable sin unpardonable heaven not attainable and your souls lost irrecoverably And then the Devil your bloody adversary will have his designe upon you he knoweth that if you be his in life and death that you are his forever and that he and you shall never part Sinners this is certain as the tree falleth so it lyeth as is the seed so will be the harvest if you do the Devils work you must have the devils wages if you march under the command and conduct of the Prince of Darkness and suffer him to lead and hurry you hither and thither at his will whil'st you live you will be his prisoners and slaves in that dreadful dungeon of dismal darkness after you are dead Consider the Land of darkness is no place for service there 's no repenting in the grave no Lord have mercy on us written upon Hell Gates no Sabbaths no Sermons no Ministers there 'T is in the time of life that you are to labour and make preparation for life eternal because according to your work and choice in this world will be your everlasting lot in the world that is to come It is appointed for you once to dye and after death the judgement Heb. 9. 7. The pale horse death goeth before and hell followeth after Rev. 6. 8. there will be no change of your condition the eternal ruine or eternal welfare of your precious souls depends on those few minutes this swift stream of mans life after it once turneth or declineth ever runneth with a perpetual ebb never floweth again so that all that you leave undone now will be undone for ever If you die unbeleivers you will be unbeleivers for ever if you dye under the guilt and power of sin and wrath of God you will remain under the guilt of sin and wrath of God for ever but if you dye holy humble mortified sincere souls you will remain holy heavenly and in the favour of God for ever Rev. 21. He that is filthy will be filthy still and he that is holy will be holy still but the inpenitent unpardoned sinner though he live a hundred or a thousand years in satisfying his lust will be accurst at last Poor sinners that read this little Treatise let me beg you to up and be doing while it is day the night will come wherein you not no man can work John 9. 4. Then to your work with might and main while your candle is burning your Sun shining will you yet loiter and see your glass running your Sun setting your selves dying and your souls perishing O seek the Lord while he may be found Isa 55. 5. in an acceptable time 2 Cor. 6. 2. before the day pass as the chaff before the decree bring forth before the evil day cometh before they that look out of the windows be dark and the keepers of the house begin to tremble before the doors be shut in the streets and the silver cord be loosed or the Pitcher broken at the fountain before you are gone to your long home and the spirit return'd to God that gave it Consider with your selves are your fit to grapple with this mighty Monarch death are you fraughted for this long Voyage and ready and willing to pass through this dark Entry take heed and feare lest you be found unfit Think on the sadly deluded Virgins that had their Oyl to buy when their Lamps should burn and so came to the door but found it shut think upon poor Esan that was hunting for Vienson while he lost the blessing Poor perishing souls what do you intend to do if you will work it must be now or never Are you resolved to seek and secure the Kingdome of God first Mat. 6. 23. whilst it is called to day or will you bestow nothing but dregs and snuffs of rotten old age upon God and your immortal souls O that you might know in this your day the things which belong to your Peace before they be hid from your eyes 9. Lastly consider That it is the most dreadful and amazing sight on this side hell to see a Christless unbeleiver breathing out his last There are other sad sights viz. to see a man starving for want of bread or dying for want of a physitian or drowning for want of a boat or to see a man dead a dead corps a body without a soul but ah how sad and astonishing a spectacle is it to see a man near the coasts of Eternity viz. to behold a wretched sinner in his cold sweats and dying groanes with his precious immortal soul standing on his pale cold quivering lips and death the great Conqueror and the King of terrors marching furiously with his Writ of remove in one hand not to be reverst and his deadly dart and sting in the other hand conscience on the rack barking biting and tearing him like a Lyon the Devil Gods Executioner looking on and standing by the heart under dejecting and sinking despair the eyes dim and fixed his heart-strings ready to break with anguish his Wife Children Friends at the bed-side weeping sighing crying wringing their hands beating their breasts the Wife crying out alas my Husband the Child crying out alas my Father The poor perishing soul all this while looking backward upon his mispent time and by-past sins inward upon his own heart a dreadful sight where he seeth no Christ no grace no purity nothing but sin guilt death darkness Then looking upward to that God that hath been provoked to that Christ that hath been rejected to that Heaven and Eternity that he hath lost and looking down-ward to that dark and dreadful pit that must be his place and portion with a fearful looking for of judgement seeing the Devils come and ready to seiz upon him O what a dreadful out-cry and shriek will the soul make when it departs perceiving it self sinking down down to the burning lake and bottomless pit where he must take up his lodging with devouring
feared or felt worse then outward pressures perils pains which are but bodily miseries and that but for a moment This sin not only the prophane world are guilty of but some of those that profess the Name of God Rebecah said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the Daughters of Heth Gen 27. 46. Rachel cryes out give me Children or else I dye Gen. 30. 1. Elisha being threatned by Jezabel said O Lord take away my life 1 Kings 19. 4. Jonah for the loss of a poor gourd said it s better for me to dye then to live and told God to his very face that he did well to be angry even unto death Jonah 4. 9. The Israelites when they wanted water wisht they had died in the wilderness These and the like wicked wishes are in the mouths of many poor ignorant discontented persons who long to be out of this wretched world Now by way of conviction I shall lay down these following particulars 1. What think you of these inward and soul-straits and conflicts with which Gods poor afflicted people are sadly exercis'd And were you but sensible of the guilt and weight of sin a wounded spirit the wrath of God and those everlasting burnings it would quickly swallow up your outward miseries though never so many This is evident in the example of the Jaylor who for the loss of his prisoners was so tormented that he would have kill'd himself before he was convinced of the dreadful state of his soul that was in danger of ruin Act. 16. 27 28 29 30. Then he fell and cried out Sirs what shall I do to be saved 2. To wish for death because of the evils attending this life is very wicked and dangerous interpretatively and in effect it is to wish your souls in hell Consider and mind this also that your present sorrowes crosses troubles of what kind or degree soever they be are the fruits of your ill-doings and fatless then you deserve for its a wonder you are not in hell and will you dare to be so audacious as to flye in the face of your faithful Creator when you should be deeply sensible of your horrible wickedness and humble under Gods hand and accepting of the punishment of your sinye should repent and turn to God take away the cause and the effect will cease 3. You can please and gratifie the Devil your deadly adversaty in nothing more you wish for death so doth the devil too if you are his now you must be his then his here and his for ever He waits and longs that your breath were gone your souls separated therefore he would have you poyson hang drown starve or stob your selves that you might be dead damn'd and burn'd with him in hell 4. Moreover if you were dead you would suddenly repent and change your mind and if it might be give the world to be alive again with all the wants pains and greif you now endure Had you but a peeping hole into hell to see and here what they endure you would confess your sins judge your selves and close with Christ before you dye that so you might not come into that dreadful place of torment Now that you may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly Let me ask you 1. What think you of the sting and bitterness of death when a man comes to dye Conscience being awakened roaring like a Lyon death the King of terrours standing by when the guilt of past-sins and loss of precious time will be as so many fiery darts and stinging scorpions biting and gnawing on the heart What think you it will be to dye unconverted to dye in a state of sin and wrath a Trator to God in a state of unbelief and impenitency the soul-damning sins to dye with an evil heart an accusing conscience self condemn'd cast in your own breast to dye which is worst of all 2. What think you of the sadness and amazing terrour of approaching judgment the second death when a man comes to take a dreadful view of the other world and begins to reflect and think Wherefore was I born what have I been doing are all these my sins O where shall I leave them or how shall I be rid of them now I am dying whither am I going what will be my company where shall be the place and how near am I to it what must I endure and how long how long and conscience will answer to all eternity misery without end This will amaze confound and overwhelm the soul with fear and perturbation when it sees that heaven is lost and that it must down down to the Region of darkness and company of Devils in that state of everlasting wo. The killing thoughts of which made a great man wish that he might live though bur the life of a Toad 3. What think you of the impartiality of the Judge that will not spare the guilty must and will Judge and sentence according to the fact and reward every man according to his works He would not spare the Angels that sinn'd but cast them down to hell 2 Pet. 2. 4. not Adam but cast him out of paradise and set a flaming word against him neither will he spare any impenitent sinner in the day of his wrath justice obliges him to justifie the righteous and condemn the wicked 4. What think you of the impossibility of having any appeal There will be no Moses to mediate no mediator to plead no Daniel Noah or Job to intercede or to stand in the gap not an Intercessor in Earth or Heaven to be found to speak a word There can be no appeal to God his Calls and Councels have been refused his Interest opposed his Enemies countenanced his laws violated his Anger will burn like fire No appeal to Jesus Christ his Government hath been slighted his Grace and Person rejected or to the Holy Ghost he hath been quencht and greived or to angels or Saints all will be against you 5. Whar think you of the resignation of soul and body to the executioner and tormentor the red dragon 't is sad to see a poor malefactor committed to the Jaylor or Hangman but O how much more dreadful will it be for ever-living souls in the face of men and Angels to be delivered into the hands of that raging roaring Lyon the Devil When God the righteous Judge shall say in sight of the whole world here are the men that brak my Statutes prophaned my Sabbaths that hated my Saints that served the Devil in the satisfying their Lusts the open and professed Adversaries to my Name and Interest that would not though I often intreated them come at my call accept of my love receive my Son or endure a life of holiness or by any means be drawn and perswaded to think of and prepare for death and judgement though they had time and opportunity enough Now take them devil and away to hell with them for my soul abhors them Thy Covenant servants
pretend to beleive these things we may see them as busie as a company of Ants in a sunny day and that the general course of men hath no tendency towards this end but indeed a sad and woeful incongruity 2. The second cause is want of spiritual and divine wisdom It was for want of that wisdom which is from above that the Israelites did not consider O that they were wise said God They are a Nation void of counsel neither is there any understanding in them Deut. 32. 28. If men were wise for their precious and eternal souls they would consider what is here to be done and what is like to be their condition in the other world The prudent man fore-seeth the evil or considereth the evil and hideth himself When God by the mouth of Moses threatned to plague the Egyptians by the Pestilence Haile and Fire he that beleived and feared the word of the Lord amongst the servants of Pharoah made his servants and cattel flee into the house and were preserved Exod. 9. 20. So the soul that is truly wise to consider of the danger of beingdestroyed by the grievous hail and fire of Gods wrath will flee into the hiding place viz. under the wing of the great and glorious Mediator where alone there is true succour But he that did not fear or consider of the danger left his servants and cattle in thâ— field and were destroyed Exod. 9. 21 25. 3. The third hindrance is sensuality worldly pleasures and cares these carry away the heart from the true consideration The Israelites confluence of creature-comforts caused them to forsake and to forget God Deut. 32. 14. 15 16 17 18. The old world was eating drinking marrying and giving in marriage not considering of their danger till the flood came and took them all away Matth. 24. 38 39. The men of the earth do so mind earthly things that their hearts are surfeited and drunken with the care of it Luke 21. 34. And while mens minds and thoughts are carri'd so vehemently after the world to make provision for their life they can think but little of their death Luk 12. 15 16 17 18. 4. The fourth obstruction is a plague upon the heart and desperate security proceeding from it No bonds next to death are so strong to keep men under as security and senslesness of Spirit So dead a sleep possesseth more of the ungodly world that they are past feeling and become so stark dead that the voice of God in the dreadful threatnings of his word and the alarum of his amazing tremendous judgement and desolating providences prevail not to awaken them The Lord hath poured out upon them the spirit of a deep sleep and hath in judgement closed their eyes that they can sin in the very face of the Judge at the very brink of hell at the very mouth and entrance into that great gulf of Eternity 5. A fifth hindrance to mens consideration of their latter end is a strong delusion of heart or satanical suggestions The old serpent and desperatively deluded hearts make them dream that God is all love that they shall have a long life that preparation for death and Eternity is a short work and that it may be done at any time namely when they have done with the world when they are old or lying on a sick bed They say in their hearts 't is but beleiving or repenting and saying Lord have mercy upon me let me die the death of the righteous Under this deadly delusion they dream of heaven and go laughing to hell 1 Thes 5. 3. And that which doth much encrease this stupidity may be the want of or neglect of a powerful and soul searching ministry whose office as watchmen is to foresee the danger and to warn and awaken secure sinners crying aloud to them in the name of the Lord Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes 5. 14. But som cannot endure that Ministers should be so severe plain and peircing in their Doctrin so as to thunder and lighten in the eyes and ears of sleepy souls They are well contented to sit under those that daub with untempered mortar and who sow pillows for their arm holes under whose ministry they may take a nap and sleep it out But they hate him that reproveth in the Gate that galls cuts and wounds their Consciences just like the gall'd-backt horse that bites and kicks at him that would heal him A person of no mean quality speaking his opinion of several ministers said such a man I can hear and such a one I can hear very well but for the third he mentioned that was wont to lay the ax to the root of the Tree and grapple with the heart I cannot endure to hear him for he alwayes grates upon my conscience 6. Men do not consider their latter end because they are afraid to do it 1. First to wanton sinners the remembrance of death is a bitter Pill that will not suffer the pleasures of sin to go down so sweetly Therefore they say to the thoughts of Death as the Governour to Paul Go thy way for this time when I have a convenient season I will send for thee Serious thoughts of death and Judgement to come as the hand-writing on the wall will damp the spirits and mar the mirth of the greatest Prince or gallant in the world 2. They fear to think of death because they have made no preparation for it viz They have not believed repented liv'd a life of holiness so as to make God their friend A bankrupt that oweth many hundred pounds more then he is worth is afraid to cast up his Accompts so poor and impenitent sinners that are indebted to God that owe him ten thousand talents are unwilling to think of death because death will say unto them come give an account of your Stewardship for you must pay the utmost farthing 3. They are afraid to think of death by reason of the dreadful consequences of death as it relates to both worlds The change that death makes as to this present world is very amazing 1. It brings unavoidable dissolution or separation of soul and body these two dear companions that have lived and converst together and sin'd together for many years must then part and a living man will become a dead Carcase fit for nothing but a grave and the soul must have another habitation Job 17. 13 14. Job 19. 26. Well might Death be called the King of terrours 2. It is matter of fear to leave this world that hath been so pleasing and delightsom and for which we have toyl'd and labour'd so many years in one night to loose it all For when the departing hour cometh you may take a view of all your comforts which you have had under the Sun and helps for heaven viz. Husbands Wives Parents Children Kinsfolk Friends jolly Companions Gold Silver Houses Lands sweet and delicate Banquets pleasing Bargains
should sever the Wheat from the Chaff the Sheep from the Goats the precious from the vile and in so doing we shall be as God's mouth and free from the blood of all men O then let this dreadful and amazing Doctrine of death and judgement be more frequently and effectually preached that souls in peril near run may see their sin and danger and flye to Christ as the only refuge knowing the terrour of God we perswade men 2 Cor. 5. 11. Mat. 3 7. 2. Converse with the best Christians viz. them that are grave sober solid savoury and sound in faith Such as make Religion their great business who love to speak of God and of the world to come and by whose counsel and example you may be stir'd up and perswaded to repentance and holiness to consider of death and judgement These were Davids excellent ones in whom he did delight and made his companions Psal 16. 3 119. 63. 3. Read the best Books and those that treat of death and judgement but especially the word of God There are the pure Chrystal streams and richest Mines in this field you will find the Pearl Let the word of God dwell in you richly be not ignorant of any part of it but be sure to accquaint thy self with those Scriptures that speak of the shortness of life the certainty of death and judgement heaven and hell Read the Book of Job and the twelfth Chapter of Ecclesiastes Psal 39. Psal 90. And let me desire you to be often urging upon your hearts some of those Scriptures that set forth the dreadfulness of that place of torment that will be the portion of all that forget God and make no provision for their precious souls Some few I have here set down which I desire you would all consider and apply Vpon the wicked he shall rain fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup Psal 11. 6. We be unto the wicked it shall go ill with them Isa 3. 10. He shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth Matth. 13 42. Isa 33. 14. 66. 15. Matth. 25. 41. Luk. 16. 25 26. 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Rev. 6. 8 16 17. Direct 3. Make conscience of setting apart a little time every day on purpose to think of your latter end Do it so frequently until death and you become familar ever and anon put thy self into a posture of dying converse with thy winding sheet Coffin Grave let thy great change be so upon thy heart that thou may'st every morning or evening walk a turn or two with death Remember however it be with thee now thou mustere long be gasping and groaning for breath upon thy dying bed and grapple with the King of terrours and in a moment go down to the Grave and shall come up no more Job 10. 21. If thou shouldst affect thy heart with thoughts of thy latter end go down to Golgotha and think upon those dry bones putrified bodies and there revive the memory of your departed Relations Husbands Wives Children Friends Neighbours and look beyond the Chambers of the Grave converse with those miserable departed souls give the prisoners of the pit a visit Meditate on the raging furious flames that dismal darkness smoak and stink of the botomless pit the screeking of the damn'd and roaring of the devils the heart piercing complaints for water to cool their scorching tongues And when thou dost think upon those millions of souls that are hanging up in hell reflect upon thy sels and expect thy turn speedily Suppose every day thy last every meal thy last every journey thy last every duty Sacrament Sermon thy last And when the Lords day cometh think with thy self this will be the last spiritual market that I shall have to buy the spiritual Oyl of grace and to provide for the Bridegrooms coming after this day is ended I may never more hear the Lord Jesus speak to me by the mouths of his faithful Ministers never be invited to come to Christ or to beleive repent part with sin and accept of a pardon more and so demean thy self every day and in every duty as if thou should'st be called to Gods Bar and give up thine account at night In all thy thoughts words and actions say to thy self would I do thus and thus viz. would I eat drink sleep converse buy sell preach hear pray or worse if I certainly knew this day would be my last O let that Motto Memento mori which some carry in their Rings be engraven on your hearts it being the great concernment of our lives This is that which God people and some of the heathen too have been careful to remember King Asia made his Sepulcher in his life time 2 Cron. 16. 14. and some in their Gardens and places of solace and delight as Joseph of Arimathea John 19. 41. And some of the Heathen were wont to walk among the Graves to put them in mind of death some have had their Graves alwayes before their Gates other a dead mans skul presented every day at their Tables and shall we that beleive the doctrine of the other world put off the serious thoughts of death Solomon adviseth us to go to the house of mourning telling us it is better because the living will lay it to heart When you hear the tidings of the death of your Friends relations or Neighbours go thither though not personally yet contemplatively in your minds thoughts go and put your selves in their stead And think thus a living man or woman is become a dead Corps or cold clay the soul is gone to its everlasting habitation but to what place whether to be comforted or tormented who can tell If he were a godly man he is certainly gone to heaven if thou art such a one thy soul will shortly be with him but if an ungodly man he is certainly gone to hell and now among the Devils and if thou art such a one thou shalt erelong be there too 'T is true the dead can have no thoughts of the living but the living saith Solomon know that they must die And you that are young when you hear of the death of a lively lusty young man or alovely beautiful young woman stop reflect and consider may not this be thy case O man woman or child in a very little space I shall say no more by way of direction only desire you to review the particulars before mentioned and you that are Parents and Masters of Families who make conscience of looking to the souls of those committed to your charge may cause your Children and Servants to learn by heart the particulars I here set down 1. That it is most certain an end will be 2. At our latter end all things in this world will be gone for ever 3. All the pleasures of sin will be gone and leave nothing but a sting 4. That only which is eternal wil stand us
and your dear never-dying souls bound fettered and chained in that direful painful prison of hell is matter of the greatest wonder in all the world Have you not cause to doubt that many of your neighbours relations and sinful companions accquaintance are gone down thither it may be some of those you least suspect And you know not how many are now in flames for the very same sins that you stand guilty of if not less sinners then your selves O admire and bless God with your whole souls that you are yet on this side the grave and not gone down into that place of torment you enjoy many opportunities for your souls and are still exhorted to part with sin to turn to God to accept of Christ to think of death and hell that so you might never see it or feel it for there is much more in the paines of hell and wrath of God then ever you heard or can imagine According to thy fear said Moses so is thy wrath Psal 90. 11. Poor sinners you are still the living Monuments of infinite kindness and therefore let not the living man complain Suppose you had dyed when death seemed neer when you were sick and weak ready to give up the ghost or when those many thousands dyed by the Plague or Sword in what a miserable condition had your souls been to be shut up with Devils and damned spirits in that Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone And will you still maintain your enmity encrease iniquity and even dare God to damn you Sinners are you not besides your selves yea stark mad to make God that should be your best friend your worst fo for if his anger be kindled but a little it will burn to the lowest hell and none can quench it or stand before it Can thine heart endure or thine hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee Ezek. 22. 14. Who can dwell with devouring fire who would saith the Lord set the bryars and thorns against me in battel I would go through them I would burn them up together Isa 27. 4. O when will you come to your selves and throw away your arms and consider your souls or will you not be saved when shall it once be why will you dye Let these cords of love draw you and cause you to say Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Consider others dreadful ruine hath been your warning that are now lockt up in that dark dungeon and shall come up no more and whom the Devils are now tormenting the worm biting and the fire burning You are at present free from that boyling Chaldron and in the Land of the Living O praise praise the Lord for his long-suffering you being but as it were under a repreive O prize and improve your life and timely prepare for death for if thy life were ended thy soul seperated and not peace with God made thou wert an undone soul There 's no place for repentance in the Grave no Christ or pardon to be obtained in hell Bless God your glass runeth your Lamp burneth the day of grace is yet continued your dear Lord is upon the Mercy-seat therefore there is hope Vse 2. This justly reprehendeth all that flight or neglect this great duty but especially these three sorts neither of which do seriously consider their latter end Viz. 1. The insolent Atheistical Sensualists 2. The Ignorant and considerate 3. The Self confident presumptuous 1. It condemneth Atheistical sensualists that put the evil day far from them Amos 6. 3. and who drown or banish the awful thoughts of God Death and Eternity out of our minds and hearts They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ and say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes Job 21. 12 24. God is not in all their thoughts Psal 10. 14. They are resolved for a short life and a merry what ever the dreadful issue They chant to the sound of the Viol and drink wine in bowls and eat the Lambs out of the flock and stretch themselves upon their Couches saying in their hearts as that wretch Luk. 12. 19. take thine ease eat drink and be merry they will satisfie their lusts injoy the pleasures of the flesh walk in the wayes of their heart and in the sight of their eyes and hereby they make the breach wider and themselves seven times more the children of the Devil though at last they sit down in everlasting sorrow Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye You poor desperately deluded souls did you beleive what you have read and heard of the other world or what the Scripture of infalilble verity speaketh of the infinitely holy great and terrible God who will in no wise clear the guilty you would quickly change your Course did you now consider you must dye and be judged that in a very little time you which hear me this day must stand before the dreadful God would you sin so freely love the world so immoderately mock at a Deity jeer at serious piety neglect your Duty trifle away your time forget eternity and hazard those your precious souls as you have done and do Such Rake hels and devils incarnate the Apostle speaketh of 2 Pet. 3. 10. Know this first i. e. before the end of the world There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lasts and saying where is the promise of his coming Nevertheless these Vipers vile miscreants and monsters in mens shape think that they are wise when indeed they have no understanding Wise they are but it is to do evil to cavil against the truth dispute against the life of holiness but to do good they have no knowledg Jer. 4. 22. This was Jerusalems great sin immediately before the fierce anger of the Lord came upon them and this is the sad and dreadful case of many yea thousands in the world and in these Nations notwithstanding all those awakening desolating providences and amazing spectacles of mortality their eyes have seen There are but a few that look upon themselves as concerned at all just like a company of simple sheep in a fat pasture The Butcher cometh and fetcheth one to Day another to morrow the rest feed on and take no notice of what is become of their lost companions 'T is as if a company of condemned persons reprievd for a time should be appointed to be executed one after another within the space of so many Dayes This Day the first in order is brought forth and executed the day following a second yet all the rest that are to take their turnes fall a Drinking Carding Singing Swearing and so continue to the very last until they be all Hang'd Dead and Damn'd We may compare this mad deluded world to a company of poor blind men dancing about the brink of a very dangerous deep pit but do not perceive it or see how