grace hath much more abounded Far be it from us then to say that the guilt derived on us from Adam extends farther than the benefit of Jesus Christ obtained for us Away with saying that the disobedience of Adam is of greater efficacy than the obedience of Christ Lastly The universal extent of the satisfaction made by Christ is attested by those Scriptures wherein he is said to have died for those that perish Rom. 14.15 Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died By the unseasonable abuse of Christian liberty the weak brother perisheth for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 12. and therefore by sinning against such an one men sin against Christ himself False teachers bringing upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 deny the Lord that bought them These are Evangelick Apostolick and divine sayings which to contradict is to deny Christ himself and to deprive himself of the fruit of Christs merit Orig. lib. 2. in Jobum Therefore believe stedfastly that the only begotten son of God descending from heaven cloathing himself in the last times with a terrestrial body from a Virgin hath done away and cleansed the corruption uncleanness and rottenness of all the world by bearing the sins of all by whose stripes all are healed Doubting about the application of Christs merit Tempted Let the merit of Christ be and be called universal yet I do not see that the benefits of Christ are offer'd and applied to me in specie and individually Many things are offered to all which yet do not belong to all Comforter Nay but the species is rightly gather'd from the genus we rightly pass from an universal to particulars Wherefore because God will have all to be saved thou maist infer rightly and most firmly that he will have thee also to be saved Whereas Christ is said to have dyed for all thou maist infer rightly and most firmly that he died on the cross for thee also and is willing to cleanse thee from all sins with his own blood And what is offer'd in the word of the Gospel to all in general is offer'd exhibited and applyed to thee in special in the word of Absolution For when the Minister of the Church does in God's name pronounce to thee the remission of thy sins thou maist be sure that it is confirmed before God in heaven For so has Christ appointed it Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Whose sins ye remit Joh. 20.22 they are remitted unto them This is that wholsome ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 which God hath given unto the Ministers of the Church these are the salutary keys that he hath committed to their trust this is that wholsome office of Ambassadours vers 20. which they discharge in the name of Christ God exhorting and as it were beseeching us by them What therefore is offer'd to thee in special make no doubt but it belongs unto thee in special When in the serious trouble of thine heart thou hearest the voice of the Minister declaring remission of sins in the name of Christ think thou hearest Christ himself whatever he doth in Christ's name that Christ doth It 's Christ that declareth unto thee remission of sins the Minister only speaks for Christ If any doubting arise in thy heart concerning this listen unto the words of Christ speaking unto his Apostles and their successors Luk. 10.16 Mat. 10.20 He that heareth you heareth me It is not you that speak but the spirit of my Father Listen unto the words of the Baptist Joh. 1.23 I am the voice of one crying It is another that preacheth and cryeth by me the ministry is mine but the force and benefit of the ministry dependeth on another Listen to the words of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.20 We are ambassadors for Christ that is in Christs name and stead as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God He therefore that despiseth 1 The. 4.8 despiseth not man but God who hath given unto us his holy Spirit Believe therefore that even now Christ saith unto thee as once to the sick of the Palsie and to the woman that was a sinner Mat. 9.2 Luk. 7.48 Thy sins are forgiven thee For there is no difference between that sentence and this which his Minister uttereth for this is not spoken by man that by Christ When therefore thou hearest the Minister declare to thee remission of sins do not imagin thou hear'st the voice of the Minister but of Christ The insubsistence of words Tempted I confess there is great comfort offer'd me in the words of absolution yet my faith wavers still and does not so firmly embrace the promise of the Gospel as to shut out all temptation for my flesh mutters They are but words which thou hearest with thine ears but thou seest not yet the good things promised with thine eyes Comforter They are words indeed but they are the words of a God most true and that lives for ever They are words indeed Joh. 6.69 but the words of the spirit and life They are words indeed but such as are more firm and durable than this heaven thou beholdest or this earth thou treadest on Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away Lu. 21.33 saith the Truth Isa 40.8 The word of the Lord our God abideth for ever saith the Prophet He that trusts in this word he that embraceth it with a true faith the same shall be saved for ever Nor hath God given thee his word only but hath added thereto his Sacraments also which are as it were a visible word Aug. tract 80. in Joh. visible signs of invisible grace and seals of the divine promises ordained to confirm and seed thy faith By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of divine grace made the son and heir of God wash'd from thy sins in the blood of Christ regenerated and renewed by the holy Ghost and in one word art truly made partaker of all heavenly good things For Christ attributes to Baptism that it is the means of Regeneration Joh. 3.5 Vnless a man be born again of water and of the Spirit he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Therefore he that is born again of the water of Baptism and of the Spirit is reckoned an heir of eternal life because it is the means of salvation Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved The Apostles ascribe unto Baptism that it is the laver of regeneration Tit. 3.6 and of renewing in the holy Ghost Mark 1.4 seeing we are baptized for the remission of sins Acts 2.38 Let every one of you be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins saith Peter and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.21 Baptism saveth us saith he in
and manifested his will in his word that we might certainly know his will Wherefore God hath not only delivered legal promises which have annexed a condition of perfect obedience and are therefore made unprofitable to us but also Gospel promises which are free that we might rely on them with firm trust of heart Therefore it is of faith by grace saith the Apostle Rom. 4.16 that the promise might be sure Mens promises are uncertain and doubtful because all men are liars Psal 116.11 but the promises of God are sure and unmovable because God is truth it self As God is true in threatning so also in promising As out of Christ certain damnation abideth all unbelievers and impenitent persons so in Christ certain salvation is promised to all that turn to God and believe Cypr. serm 4. de mortal pag. 209. Dost thou doubt whether those things shall be that God hath promised who is true whose saying is eternal and firm to them that believe If a grave and laudable man should promise something thou wouldst believe him nor wouldst thou think thou shouldst be deceived by him whom thou knewest to stand to his word and be firm in his actings Now God speaketh with thee and dost thou unbelievingly fluctuate with a distrustful mind Observe moreover the firmness of Gods oath As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner Ezech. 33.11 but that he should turn and live Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.25 saith Christ hethat heareth my saying and believeth in him that sent me hath eternal life and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Aug. in Psalm 88. God hath said this he hath promised this if that be not enough he hath sworn it Therefore happy we for whose sake God swears Tertul. l. de poenit but most wretched we if we believe not God when he swears Acknowledge therefore the admirable and never enough praised mercy of God who willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability and immovableness of his counsel Heb. 6.17 vers 18. confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things seeing it is impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Want of due preparation Tempted All these things easily perswade me not to doubt of the firmness of Gods promises in themselves in the mean it is as yet uncertain whether they be so firm and immovable to me and whether I be in the number of them to whom God promises and offers so great things Comforter Yes because God pomiseth these things to all that truly repent and fly to Christ by faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore he hath also promised to thee seeing thou also believest in Christ Attend therefore further to the inward sealing of the holy Spirit For the Spirit witnesseth not only outward ly in the word but also inwardly in thy heart Rom. 8.16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with thy spirit that thou art the child 1 Cor. 2.12 yea and heir of God Thou hast received the Spirit which is of God that thou maist know the things that are freely given thee of God He that confirms and strengthens thee with all the truly Godly in Christ and he who hath anointed thee is God who hath sealed thee and given thee the earnest of the Spirit in thy heart Gal. 4.6 Because thou art the son of God therefore hath God sent forth the spirit of his son into thy heart crying Abba Father Believing the word of truth and the Gospel of salvation thou art sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which is the earnest of thine inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession chap. 4.30 whereby thou art sealed unto the day of redemption As the Bridegroom who hath promised his spouse marriage giveth her some token for a pledge of their future marriage so God hath betrothed thee to him in faith he hath betrothed thee in mercy Hos 2.19 Rev. 19.7 but the marriage of the Lamb is not yet celebrated therefore he giveth thee the earnest of his Spirit to assure thee of the fulfilling of the promises and a future introducing of thee to the heavenly nuptials This is the spirit of adoption because he witnesseth thou art adopted to be a son of God this is that seal whereby the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is the earnest by which the word of truth is confirmed to thee 1 Joh. 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou dwellest in God and God in thee because he hath given thee of his Spirit Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit Tempted But whence can I be sure that my heart is the temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost The blots of sin stick to me and I perceive that in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing how then will the holy Spirit who is holiness and purity it self dwell in me Comforter We receive only the first-fruits of the Spirit in this life Rom. 8.23 we expect the full measure and compleat tenths at length in eternal life there remains in this life a striving of the flesh and spirit Rom. 7.14 we are yet in part carnal and sold under sin yet never the less by means of regeneration and renovation begun we are the temples of the holy Ghost Moreover that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee thou maist know by this that thou lamentest and abhorrest thy sins Wisd 1.4 because the holy Spirit dwelleth not in a body enslaved to sins because thou believest in Christ and lovest him for he is the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 Zach. 13.9 because with serious groanings thou callest upon God and the most bountiful Father for he is the spirit of grace and of prayers and cryeth in the hearts of the faithful Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with a desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Spirit are led by him Rom. 8.14 namely unto good because thou oft perceivest a foretast of eternal life in thy heart and the kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14.17 but righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soul hath felt at any time in the secret of its conscience the Spirit of the son crying Bern. in Cant. serm 8. col 509. Abba Father let it presume it is loved with a fatherly affection seeing it feels it self moved with the same Spirit wherewith the Son is In the Spirit of the son it knows it self the daughter of the Father and the Bride and sister of the son But though all these are sometimes weak and languid yet be not cast down but beg increase
insubsistence of words pag. 43 Falling from the covenant of Baptism pag. 48 The uncertain reception into the covenant of Baptism pag. 52 The unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper pag. 57 Weakness of faith pag. 59 The not perceiving of faith pag. 62 An inability to believe pag. 65 The small number of good works pag. 67 Want of merits pag. 70 The accusation of the Law pag. 73 The accusing of conscience pag. 76 Late repentance pag. 78 Doubting of the grace of God pag. 81 Want of due preparation pag. 86 Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit pag. 89 Doubting of perseverance pag. 94 Satans wiles and strength pag. 98 The falling away of many pag. 101 Doubting of being written in the book of life pag. 104 The fear of death pag. 107 The sting of death pag. 111 The pains of death pag. 117 Untimely death pag. 119 Services farther owing to the Church pag. 122 Short life brought upon ones self pag. 124 The love of this life pag. 127 Separation from wife children kindred pag. 131 Stopping of the ears in death pag. 134 The seeming unprofitableness of Redemption pag. 137 The horrour of dust pag. 139 The incredibility of the resurrection pag. 147 The flames of Purgatory pag. 153 The rigour of the last judgement pag. 156 A prayer in sickness pag. 164 To these are added The Christians Triumph over Death pag. 169 Divine Contemplations and Soliloquies upon Death and Eternity pag. 198 Divine Poems upon death pag. 217 Divine CONSOLATIONS Against the FEAR OF DEATH And the TEMPTATIONS befalling them that draw near thereto The forerunners of Death The Tempted I Am opprest with sickness 2 Cor. 1.9 the forerunner of Death and have received the sentence of death in my self I see I must leave this life than which nothing is more pleasant this world than which nothing is more adorned the house of this body than which nothing is more dear The Comforter Thou wast not created for this miserable and momentany but for a blessed and eternal life Wisd 2.23 for God made our first Parent without corruption to immortality Nor wast thou redeemed by Christ for this fading and toilsom but for that everlasting and most happy life in the heavens for it is a certain and undoubted saying That Jesus Christ came into the world 1 Tim. 1.15 to save sinners Neither wast thou called of the holy Spirit by the word to the kingdom of Christ that thou mightst live here a little while but that thou mightst pass from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory from the Church Militant to that Triumphant from a valley of tears into a field of joy for if in this life only we believed in Christ and had hope 1 Cor. 15.19 we were of all men most miserable Wherefore seeing thou must be brought through the gate of death to that life for which thou wert created of the Father redeemed of the Son and for which thou hast been sanctified by the Spirit reject not I pray thee Luk. 7.30 the gracious counsel of God against thy self but readily obey God that calls upon thee Deaths Trident. Tempted The thoughts of Death affright me the dreadful shape of that enemy disturbs my mind it shows me its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 which is death it threatens me with its cruel three-pointed weapon while it presents to my eyes and heart the Anger of God the accusation of the Law and the cruelty of my sins Rom. 6.23 in that death is the wages of sin and by sin death hath invaded me Rom. 5.18 as it has done all the world Comforter But I advise thee that being seriously and heartily sorry for the sins thou hast committed thou look to him that died for thee on the altar of the Cross that thou mightest not be liable to eternal death Turn thine eyes from the outward shew of death and turn them to Christ who by his death hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 that is v. 15. the Devil And hath delivered us who through fear of death were all our life-time subject to bondage He is death unto our death Hos 13.14 he is a sting unto the hell we had deserved Joh. 11.25 He is the resurrection and the life he that believeth in him though he were dead v. 26. yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never die 1. Cor. 15.22 So that as in Adam that is because of sin derived from Adam upon us and of actual sins added thereto we are all liable to death and at length must die even so in Christ the captain of life and conqueror of death through faith are we all made alive Which that our Captain of life confirms with a solemn and serious oath Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life And again Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my saying he shall never see death Therefore believe Christ who is the truth Joh. 14.6 believe him promising believe him swearing Luk. 21.33 Heaven and earth shall pass away but the words of Christ shall not pass away The anguish of sin Tempted I begin to remember my sins Psal 51.7 for I was not only begot conceived and born in sin but I have increased this sum of original and hereditary debt with manifold and most grievous actual sins all my life long how therefore can I hope God will be merciful to me whom I have so oft offended how shall I conceive any comfort in death seeing death is the due reward to my sins and a beginning of a second and eternal death to them that are not reconciled to God Comforter Look unto Christ hanging on the altar of the Cross and pouring out the price of thy redemption even his precious blood for thy sins 1 Joh. 1.8 The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth thee from all sin He is the propitiation for thy sins 1 Joh. 2.2 and for the sins of the whole world For he came not into the world to be ministred unto Mat. 20.28 but to minister and to give his life a ransom and price for the sins of many And that thou mightst not at all doubt of this matter therefore from heaven which is the throne of truth by an Angel which is the spirit of truth was brought that most sweet and comfortable name of Jesus and given to this our Mediator before he was conceived for what is Jesus but a Saviour Luk. 1.31 Mat. 1.21 Joh. 1.29 For therefore was this name given to Christ because he saves his people from their sins This is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 1 Tim. 1.15 This is that Jesus Christ that came into
another place which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience or a covenant towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Be baptized Acts 22.16 and wash away thy sins saith Ananias Gal. 3.27 As many of ye as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and by faith ye are all the children of God For Christ sanctifieth his Church Eph. 5.27 cleansing it with the laver of water in the word From all which thou maist strongly conclude that Baptism is a ransom for captives Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tom 1. p. 446. Cyrill Hieros in praefat Catech. a remission of debts a death of sin a being born again a bright garment of the soul an inviolable seal a chariot to heaven the Inn of the kingdom the gift of adoption * Naziaâ—z orat in S. Bapt. p. 615. It is the brightness of souls the change of life the answer of the conscience towards God an help of our weakness It is a putting away of the flesh a following of the Spirit a communion of the word It is an amendment of the creature a deluge to sin a partaking of light a dissolution of darkness It is a chariot unto God anaccompanying of Christ the prop of faith the perfection of the mind the glory of the kingdom of heaven a change of life a taking away of servitude a loosing of bands a changing of apparel Tertul. 4. adver Marc. p. 231. Aug. 2. cont Crescon c. 18. Paulin. epist 12. ad Sever. It is the spring of true life and true righteousness an abridged laver the Sacrament of life and eternal salvation The holy Ghost into this pool descends Whose waters by an heavenly spring are fed Which influenc'd by th' Deity forth sends An holy offspring from eternal seed For in the Baptism of Christ it was demonstrated by visible signs what the divine grace worketh invisibly in our Baptism Chemnit in cap. 17. Harm The water of Baptism was sanctified by the touch of our Lords body for whatsoever Christ promerited and obtained in the body of his flesh he deposited as it were in his Baptism He received Baptism with us sinners to testifie that we by Baptism are made his members As the eternal Father in the Baptism of Christ said This is my beloved son so at this day he adopts for sons all that believe and are baptized As in the Baptism of Christ heaven was opened so to this day by the sacrament of Baptism the gate of the heavenly paradise is opened to us As the holy Ghost in Christ's Baptism descended upon him in the form of a dove so in our Baptism the holy Ghost is present and therein doth effectually work our regeneration and renovation so that thus in Baptism concurr the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Son cleansing and the efficacy of the holy Spirit regenerating If therefore thou art baptized thou canst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternal life Baptism is the laver of regeneration where there is regeneration there is remission of sins there is the grace of God there is perfect righteousness there is renewing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption and there is the inheritance of eternal life Falling from the Covenant of Baptism Tempted I believe indeed that I was received into the covenant of grace by the sacrament of Baptism that I thereby obtained remission of sins and was writ in the book of life but I have faln from the grace of this covenant again by my sins by repeating my transgressions I have made void the aforegoing remission and have often deserved to be blotted out of the book of life Comforter No but the covenant of God is an everlasting covenant to which thou maist always return by true and hearty repentance For as God declares concerning the sacrament of Circumcision Gen. 17.13 that it is an everlasting covenant so let us not doubt but that in Baptism which succeeded in the place of Circumcision Col. 2.11 God enters into and establisheth an everlasting covenant with us I will betroth thee to me for ever saith he by the Prophet Hos 2.19 yea I will betroth thee in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies I will betroth thee to me in faithfulness Isai 54.10 The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Rom. 3.3 God forbid we should say the faith of God is made without effect by our unbelief If we give never so little belief to his words or depart from him 1 Tim. 2.13 yet he abideth faithful always the same true and constant he cannot deny himself Therefore by the sins of thy natural infirmity thou fallest not from the free covenant of God By sins committed against thy conscience thou fallest indeed from the grace of God and the covenant of grace but thou maist return to the everlasting covenant of God by true repentance The ship of Baptism splits not though we leap out of it into the sea of sins therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called secunda post naufragium tabula Hier. in c. 3. Isa v. 9. we may return again to the same ship of Baptism that we may in it be wasted to the port of eternal salvation Tertul. lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore embrace repentance as a shipwrackt person catches hold of a plank this will lift thee up when ready to be drowned in the waves of thy sins and will carry thee into the haven of Gods mercy Peter had denied his Master but being converted he notwithstanding seeks the promise of salvation in Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 The Galatians and the Corinthians had faln foully yet when they were renewed again by repentance the Apostle offers them comfort drawn from Baptism declaring that as many of them as had been baptized Gal. 3.27 had put on Christ and clearly affirming that they were washed 1 Cor. 6.11 12 13. and by one spirit were baptized into one body namely mystical whence it clearly appears that the efficacy of the Baptismal covenant is extended to the future and is not quite enervated and abolished by mans fall but on God's part remains continually a firm and established covenant When Paul therefore says Aug. 1. de nup. concup c. 33. that Christ cleanseth the Church in the laver of water in the word it is thus to be understood that in the same laver of regeneration and word of sanctification all the sins of regenerate men are cleansed healed not only those by-past all which are remitted in Baptism but also those which are contracted afterwards by humane ignorance and frailty Not that Baptism should be
Joh. 5.10 that Christ prayed for thee also which prayer whether it was heard of the heavenly Father how canst thou at length doubt The son Joh. 1.18 that is in the bosom of the Father shall not he be heard of the Father The son Mat. 3.17 in whom the Father is well pleased shall he be rejected with his prayers Away away Rather in the days of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications with strong cryes and tears he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 Christ therefore prayed for thee he prayed and obtain'd that thou maist live with him hereafter and partake of heavenly glory Satans wiles and strength Tempted I hope indeed that I shall be kept as a faithful sheep in the hand of my shepherd but yet I am afraid of the wiles of Satan 1 Pet. 5.8 who as a roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour I am afraid of his power seeing he is a bold strong crafty diligent and unwearied enemy one that wants no gins and is most skilful in combate how can I escape his wiles and avoid his power He assaulteth and persecuteth me sometimes openly and violently sometimes secretly and treacherously always maliciously and cruelly Comforter None Joh. 10.28 saith Christ shall take my sheep out of my hand therefore neither that hellish wolf be he never so treacherous and able to hurt Joh. 14.29 The Prince of the world came and had nothing in Christ therefore neither shall he have anything in them that by faith are in Christ Eph. 3.17 and in whose hearts Christ dwelleth by faith It is Christ that fighteth in thee and for thee believe I say believe that the Devil shall not be stronger than he Christ was tempted of the Devil Matt. 4.2 and stoutly overcame him The victory of the Lord is the triumph of the servants Heb. 2.14 Christ by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil he spoiled Principalities and Powers Col. 2.15 he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself With the sword of the Cross as an heavenly David he overcame the infernal Goliah this fight this victory of Christ bringeth salvation to all the Church whereof this is the Triumphal song Rev. 12.10 Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ because the accuser of our brethren 〈◊〉 cast down which accused them before our God day and night vers 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony Therefore in this victory of Christ let all the assurance of thy trust and the glorying of thy hope be Resist the Devil in the power of Christ and he will flee from thee Jam. 4.7 As oft as thou resistest thou overcomest the Devil Bern. in medit devotis c. 14. col 1201. thou gladdest the Angels and glorifiest God for he exhorts thee to fight he helps thee to overcome he beholds thee contending in the fight he relieves thee when thou failest he crowneth thee when thou overcomest Greg. Nys lib. de beatit p. 68. He is the President and Moderator of the combatants and the crown of the triumphers Eph. 6.10 Be strong therefore in the Lord and in the power of his might 11 Put on the armour of God that thou maist be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil 12 For thou wrestlest not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesses in high places 13 Wherefore take the whole armour of God that thou maist b◠able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 14 Stand therefore having thy loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousness And thy feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace 15 Above all things take the shield of faith 16 wherewith thou maist be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the helmet of salvation 17. and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God In this armour appear for single combate and thou shalt most certainly return a conquerour Christ fought and overcame for thee the same shall fight and overcome in thee and shall set a crown of glory upon thee The apostasie of many Tempted But how many of Christ's souldiers could I reckon up who being circumvented by the wiles of the Devil have returned from this battel not conquerours but conquered How many could I reckon that begun well but have afterwards fallen from the grace of God and the reward of eternal life Therefore I fear the hidden counsels of God and considering his secret judgements I tremble all over in soul and body Comforter Thou dost well indeed that thou workest out thy salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 being conscious to the weakness of thy flesh and knowing the power of Satan that lies in wait for thee and throughly considering the examples of those who sliding into sin have faln from grace but look thou do not seek or place the cause of this apostasie in any absolute decree of God reprobating For God is not mov'd of himself and by any absolute decree or hatred again to forsake and suffer to perish those that have been endued with a true faith for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 but whosoever being endued with true faith do afterwards fall from the grace of God and eternal salvation they perish by their own fault and not by the necessity of any absolute reprobating decree namely because by their free will they turn themselves again from God For these are always and nearly conjoin'd Faith Christ the grace of God the holy Spirit an endeavour after holiness eternal life As long as any one of those that are born again abides in faith so long he abides in Christ he that abides in Christ abides also in the grace of God he that abides in the grace of God the holy Spirit dwelleth in him and where the holy Spirit is there also follow the fruits of the Spirit But they that cast away the endeavour of holiness and begin to indulge sins against their conscience they shake off the holy Spirit lose faith and make themselves unworthy of eternal life Therefore be thou in spirit so sure of the gift of perseverance and the reward of eternal life as yet not to bemade carnally secure The infallible promises of God free thee from doubting the exhortations and threatnings of God disswade thee from carnal security Aug. in Psal 99. I dem 2. d bon persev c. 13. There is no where security in this life but only in the hope of the promises of God In this life which is full of temptation he that seemeth to stand let him take heed lest
death by the help of thine heavenly Father thou maist raise upthy self so as to say with Job Job 13.15 Although the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him Ps 91.15 16. I am with him in trouble saith the Lord I will deliver him and honour him With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation Rom. 3.39 Neither life nor death nor any creature can separate or pull us from this love of God seeing it is in Christ Jesus who is our eternal King and Saviour for ever The accusation of the Law the deformity of sin and the temptation of eternal casting off maketh the shew of death terrible seeing the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law 1 Cor. 15.55 but call to mind the consolation that was before opposed to these monsters and that outward shew of death that is terrible to look upon will vanish and will be changed into a most pleasant sleep The sting of death Tempted By sin death entred into the world and is the due wages of sin how then should I not dread death Comforter Truly in and of it self death is the wages of sin and the revenging scourge of an angry God but to those that believe in Christ it is changed into a most sweet sleep For although those that are born again and believe in Christ as yet carry about remainders of sin in their flesh Rom. 8.10 whence also their body is dead that is obnoxious to death because of sin dwelling therein yet the Spirit is life because of righteousness that is because by true faith in Christ they are justified from sins and by the Spirit resist the lusts of the flesh therefore that sin as yet remaining in the flesh is not imputed to them but is covered with the shield of divine grace Greg. Nyss in orat de morte Therefore by death the true and spiritual life of the soul doth not end in them but rather begins whereto death is made to be as it were the midwife Thence flow those sweet appellations whereby the holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth doth describe the death of the godly For those who in the eyes of fools seem and are said by them to dye those the holy Spirit says are gathered or congregated unto their people Gen. 25.8.35.29.49.33 that is into the company of the blessed and triumphant Church in heaven where they come to those that died before or rather went before That which we call death is a travelling Tertul. lib. de patient p. 12. Cypr. de mortal p. 214. Chrysost hom 45. in Gen. col 375. Hilar. in Psal 140. it is not an exit but a transit not so much an emigration as a transmigration from worse to better an ablation of the soul and a certain most happy translocation not an abolition for the soul is requir'd again and translated into a place of rest not killed It is a transcension and ascension to true life Ambr. de bon mort c. 10. 2 Pet. 1.15 Joh. 5.24 It is an Exodus because by it the godly pass from the bondage of sin to true liberty even as the Israelites heretofore out of Egyptian bondage into the land of promise The godly are said by death to enter into peace Isai 57.2 and to rest in their beds namely because they come from that daily warfare upon earth to a place of peace from the troublous sea of this life unto the haven from the toilsom prison of this world to a place of rest They are said to be dissolved and to come to Christ Phil. 1.23 because they are brought out of the Inn as it were of this present life to an heavenly country and from a crew of wicked men to the blessed company of Christ in heaven by death they are loosed from their bodily bands for as oxen having laboured all the day are let out of their yoaks at length towards evening and as prisoners are loosed from their chains so the godly are by death freed of the sad yoke of the labours and pains of this life and from the dark dungeon of sin and by a sweet change are translated to a better life They are said to pass out of the land of their pilgâ—image by the dissolution of their earthly tabernacle Heb. 11.5 2 Cor. 5.8 and to be present with the Lord namely because they come from the ruinous cottage of the world to an heavenly palace from an house of clay to a city not made with hands eternal in the heavens from the tabernacle of an earthly body to the heavenly Jerusalem and the blessed company of Christ inhabiting it Cypr. serm de mortal pag. 208. It is his part to fear death that is unwilling to go to Christ It is his part to be unwilling to go to Christ that believes not to begin to reign with Christ They are said to rest from their labours Rev. 14. Ambr. de Bono mortis c. 2. for not the godly man but his misery dieth If this life be full of burden surely its end is ease now ease is good and death is the end therefore death is good 1 Cor. 15.38 They are said to be sown in the ground or the field of the Lord by death and buryal in that the bodies of the godly like precious granes of wheat shall spring up hereafter again to life That crop which from deceased Stigelius bodies springs Immortal glory to the body brings As under clods the wither'd granes do lie Which you would think were clearly cast away Yet in a while sprung up you may espy And unperceiv'd grow taller every day Even so our bodies that entombed were First raised then in glory shall excell What death had swallow'd up shall trophees bear And in eternal light with God shall dwell The bones of the godly shall flourish and wax green Isai 66.14 2 Sam. 7.12 Isai 26.20 Dan. 12.2 Mat. 9.24 when the spring of everlasting life shall come Lastly they are said to fall asleep For as in sleep we rest from our labour regain our wasted strength our soul in the mean time performing her operations so by death being brought from all the labours and dolours of this life to rest we gather new strength of mind and body the more readily and perfectly to perform those works for which we were created in the beginning and redeemed by Christ the soul in the mean while living and rejoicing in heaven As in our sleep we mind not what is done about us nor are troubled with the crowds of humane businesses so those that die in the Lord rest without all care and anxiety and are no longer subject to the evils of this life As again we are awaked out of sleep so death will not be a perpetual sleep but the time will come in which we shall hear the voice of Christ calling us out of the grave we shall again go forth
life appears a precious nut outwardly but if it be opened with the knife of truth nothing will be found within but vanity and emptiness If there be good in this life that is eminently yea incomparably better in the other Aug. tract ult in Joh. That is in faith this in view That in time of Pilgrimage this in an eternity of mansion that in labour this in rest that in the way this in the country That in the work of action this in the wages of contemplation That declines from evil doth good this hath no evil from which to decline and hath a great good to enjoy That fights with theenemy this reigns without enemy That is stout in adversity this feeleth nothing of adversity That bridleth fleshly lusts this is spent in heavenly delights That is solicitous with a care of overcoming this is secure with the peace of victory That is helped in temptations this is rejoyced in the helper himself without any temptation That succoureth the needy this is there where it finds none needy This pardons other mens trespasses that its trespasses may be pardoned this suffers nothing which it may forgive nor does it any thing which it should desire to be forgiven it That is scourged with adversity that it may not be exalted in prosperity this wants all evil with such a fulness of grace that without any temption it cleaves unto the chiefest good That discerns good and evil things this sees only those things that are good Chuse that life therefore which is to be preferred Lay aside the inordinate desire of a flitting life that thou lose not the inheritance of a permanent one So possess the things of this world as that thou be not possess'd by them let what thou hast be under the dominion of thy mind lest whilst thy mind is overcome with the love of earthly things it self be more possessed of its injoyments Cypr. serm de mortal Why hastenest thou not to better things Heavenly things succeed earthly great things little and eternal things transitory Separation from wife children kindred Tempted I must leave my sweet children I must leave my loyal wife I must leave my pleasant kindred who shall provide for my wife and children who shall be their righter and patron Comforter God it is that calleth himself a father of the fatherless and a judge of widows Pal. 68.6 commit them to his protection and defence It is God that is thy God and who will be the God of thy seed also Gen. 17.7 Thy children are not thine only but God's also yea rather God's than thine seeing he hath bestowed more upon them canst thou doubt then of God's Fatherly care of them The Prophet of the Lord saith he had been young and now was old Psal 37.25 yet had he not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread The generation of the upright shall be blessed Ps 112.2 God hath promised thy children heavenly treasures he will not suffer them believe me to perish with hunger He hath given them life he will not deny the sustenance of life he hath given a body that which he hath wonderfully formed he will also bountifully sustain But take heed thou be not so solicitous about the bodily welfare of thy wife and children as in the mean time to neglect the care of thy soul Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me saith Christ and hateth not his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my disciple which he explains in another place Mat. 10.37 Whosoever loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me Behold God calleth thee by death see thou love not thy wife and children so as therefore to refuse with a ready heart to follow God calling of thee Ambr. in cap. 12. Lucae p. 111. The love of the heavenly Father is to be preferred before the love of children the love of Christ the bridegroom before that of thy wife the benefit ought not to be loved above the benefactor What should I speak of kindred if thou lose them that are dear unto thee Bern serm 26. in Cant. col 569. Aug. Epist 6. ad vid. hereafter thou shalt receive them more dear For we hope on a most true promise that from this life from whence being about to pass we have not lost those of our friends that have already passed but sent them before we shall come to that life in which by how much they will be the better known to us so much the dearer and more amiable without fear of any dissension will they be If thy kindred are dear to thee let Christ be more dear to thee who is thy brother If it be pleasant to thee here to converse with thy kindred let it be more pleasant Heb. 12.22 23. that thou goest to mount Sion and the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels To the Church of the first-born which are written in heaven to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect Stopping of the ears in death Tempted I am afraid lest my ears waxing deaf in the agony of death I be deprived of all comfort of heart and too much dismayed with the terrors of Satan Comforter The inward consolation of the holy Spirit is more effectual than all outward consolations Rom. 8.16 The holy Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God the same Spirit raiseth our spirits when we begin to struggle with death Joh. 15.26 and be straitned in heart for he is the true and highest Comforter When thy eyes grow dim in death the holy Spirit will give the illumination of heart when thy ears wax deaf in death he will bestow on thee quickning comfort of soul Where humane consolation will end there will divine begin Behold the examples of the Martyrs how ready and prepared they were for the most exquisite torments Wheels did seem unto them Roses flames of fire spiritual bracelets iron chains golden crowns torments ornaments two-edged swords beams of heavenly light who wrought this in their hearts who comforted them in their griefs but the holy Spirit His consolation is more effectual than the accusation of the whole world yea or of the Prince of the world Thinkest thou that the holy Spirit does only chear our hearts in the course of this world and is idle in the agony of death thinkest thou the dwelling of the holy Spirit is destroyed when the tabernacle of thy body is destroyed Gal. 2.20 Eph. 3.2 Psal 45.9 Christ liveth in thee and dwelleth in thy heart by faith grace is poured into his lips the fragrancy of this grace will chear thy heart if thy hearing be lost never so much his speech will reach thy heart be
they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation Mar. 25.46 The blessed shall go into everlasting life and the cursed into everlasting torment And that this immediate separation of the godly and ungodly shall not only be made in the last day but is made also presently after death the example of the rich glutton teacheth us Luk. 16.23 whose soul is thrust down to hell and of holy Lazarus whose soul is carried by Angels into paradise the example of the converted thief teacheth us the same Luk. 23.43 to whom Christ promises that he shall enter into paradise on that very day whereon he was to dye the Spirit of truth confirms the same pronouncing that from henceforth blessed are the dead in the Lord. Rev. 14.13 There is no other purgation or expiation of sins save in the blood of Christ that washeth us wholly from all sins 1 Joh. 1.7 Isai 53.5 The chastisement of our peace was upon him that he might be peace unto us Therefore he that believeth in him Rom. 5.1 1 Joh. 3.14 Wisd 4.1 is justified and has peace with God He is translated from death unto life and he need fear no torment after death The rigour of the last judgment Tempted I fear the rigour and terrour of the last judgment Above will be a severe Judge below a gaping hell within a gnawing conscience without a burning fire on the right hand accusing sins on the left affrighting Devils round about good Angels to drive me to hell and bad to draw me thither Satan will accuse me my sins will accuse me my conscience will accuse me Bern. in rythm I much dread the face of a severe Judge from whom nothing will lye concealed by whom nothing will remain unrevenged None shall be able to escape his power to deceive his wisdom to bend his justice to repeal his sentence Comforter If thou believest on the Son Joh. 3.18 thou shalt not be condemned namely with the severe and condemning rigour of judgement Joh. 5.24 If thou hearest Christ's word and believest it thou shalt not come into condemnation thy cause shall not be examin'd in that rigorous trial of judgement seeing Christ hath delivered those that believe in him from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 The day of judgement is to be dreaded indeed of bad men Aug. in Psalm 100. because of punishment but to be loved by good men for a crown to those it will be a day of anger and revenge to these it will be a day of grace and large reward Lift up your heads Luk. 21.28 saith the Son and know that your redemption draweth nigh The Bride dreadeth not the coming of her Bridegroom now by faith thy soul is betroathed to Christ at the day of judgment he shall appear to that end that he may introduce it as his Bride to the heavenly marriage Rev. 19.7 What place therefore can there be here for fear or dread That day shall be a day of deliverance because it shall throughly free us from the miserable captivity of sin and death into the perfect service of Christ it is a day of deliverance because it shall ease us of all burden of evils and weight of calamities it is a day of deliverance because it shall wholly redeem us from that daily lusting of the flesh and dangerous warfare It is a day of refreshing Acts 3.20 because it shall bring us thirsty and panting from the scorching heat of calamities into a place of rest to a fountain of living water Let Christ our Bridegroom therefore come Let every soul that is a true spouse of Christ that is sealed by the Earnest of the spirit that is drawn with a true love of Christ say Come Lord Jesus Rev. 22.20 Aug. in Psal 147. If we truly love Christ let us then also desire his coming It is perverse to fear his coming whom thou lovest to pray Thy kingdom come and fear lest thou be heard But whence is thy fear because the Judge shall come what is he unjust is he malevolent is he envious is he expecting to know thy cause of another that perhaps he whom thou hast intrusted should either deceive thee by collusion or not be able to set forth the imperfect good of thine innocency with eloquence enough None of these Who then shall come why dost thou not rejoyce Who is to come to judge thee but he that came to be judged for thee Fear not thine accuser of whom thy Judge hath said The Prince of this world is cast forth Fear not an evil Advocate for he is now thine Advocate who shall be thy Judge He will be both thy self and thy cause the pleading of thy cause the testimony of thy conscience Whosoever therefore thou beest that fearest a future Judge now correct thy conscience There is no reason then that thou shouldest fear thy future Judge He shall be thy Judge that shall be thine Advocate He shall be thy Judge that hath given a promise to his Sains that by their testimony and example they shall judge the world He shall be thy Judge in whom thou wert elected unto life from eternity He shall be thy Judge who is also thy King how shall a King lose his people He shall be thy Judge a true member of whom thou art by faith how shall the head destroy his members Who shall accuse God's elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who shall condemn It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again that sitteth at the right hand of God and intercedeth for us how shall he destroy them whom he hath taken into his patronage for whom he came into the world that they might not be lost Rom. 2.16 Christ shall judge according to the Gospel Now they that believe have not rejected it but received it with a true faith They have listened to the voice of Christ inviting to conversion Matt. 11.18 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest therefore they shall also hear the voice of him inviting to the possession of the heavenly kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world He shall be the Judge before whose face go grace and truth grace hath abolished the sins of believers truth hath given them the promises of eternal life Nor is there reason thou shouldst fear the horrible destruction of heaven and earth Luk. 21.33 Isai 40.8 Heaven and earth shall pass away but the words of Christ shall not pass away The word of the Lord abideth for ever if by true faith thou cleave unto this word thou shalt also abide for ever Thou hast lost nothing where thou hast possessed nothing with inordinate love thy treasure is not the riches of this world but the delights of the heavenly kingdom Let the world burn it is enough for
infirmity I am lighter than water that runneth away apace I beseech thee therefore O my God who sittest upon the floods of water and art a King for ever to send the heavenly dew of thy grace upon me who am part of thine inheritance to refresh my wearied soul Let every herb that I behold cause me to contemplate my own estate that I shall one day be cut off like the green herb and shall wither away like the grass let the Sun that shines over my head lift up my heart to the Son of righteousness to that light which lightens the Gentiles and the Glory of the people Israel Let the Moon that rules by night make me call upon thee the father of light to illuminate me while I sit in darkness and in the shadow of death in whom is no variableness nor change as there is in the Moon finally let the beasts the birds the fishes yea the very flies and insects which seem to be the very scorn of nature let them all by the shortness of their lives remind me of the brevity of my own and since it is thy blessed will O dear Saviour let me be contented and rejoyce therein for ever III. O Lord the life of my life and the God of the spirits of all flesh make me willing to dye since it is thy ordinance and appointment for all things serve thee let me not forget thee nor behave my self frowardly in thy Covenant make me willing to die and to say with old Sin can Lord now let thy servant depart in peace and with St. Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and because my spirit is willing and my flesh weak raise it and quicken it with thy free spirit by bringing to my remembrance thy promises and comforts to me on every side and since it is thy holy pleasure I should die and not live I am satisfied therewith for thy law is within my heart therefore make no long tarrying O Lord my God IV. How long O God shall I live to sin against thee for as long as I live in this earthly Tabernacle I can do nothing but sin to will is present with me but I find no strength nor ability to perform for I find a Law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind making me captive to the law of sin and death so that the good which I would do I do not but the evil which I would not do that do I. Deliver me therefore dear Lord from this body of death that I may enter the gates of life and go to the Angels and Saints and be one of them and continue with them to all Eternity my soul thirsteth for God even for the living God make hast therefore O Christ and deliver me V. Let my Conversation in this world O Lord be such that I may neither be ashamed to live nor afraid to die I know that to the natural man death is very fearful and terrible but let me be thine by thy grace strengthen me in my greatest weakness be present with me with thy consolations even to the last moment and compass me about with songs of deliverance and then though I walk through the vally of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy left hand is under my head and thy right hand doth embrace me why should I be afraid in the evil day or why should my soul be disquieted within me for death will then be to me advantage let me therefore sigh and groan in being desirous to be delivered from this burden of the flesh and to be thereby made partaker of immortality and of those unutterable joys and pleasures which thou O my blessed God and Saviour dost enjoy for ever let my faith O Lord scatter all my fears and let my soul long for thy salvation deliver my soul out of Prison and take me to thy everlasting mercy put an end to my sins by the end of this life that I may live with thee without end VI. Set a watch O Lord before the doors of my heart and so order my thoughts that I may always set thee before me and in the midst of life let me so remember death that when my days in this world are at an end I may return unto thee my rest let not the flight and departure of this my Spirit from my body be on the Sabbath day that is in the rest and tranquillity of my sins nor in the winter or frost of my hard heart nor in the midnight of my security when I least look for it let not this dangerous thief of carelesness and security break into my soul nor hinder me from a serious and continual meditation of death and of the heavenly habitations If I forget Jerusalem in my mirth let my right-hand forget her cunning those thoughts that are imployed about my death are my best teachers teach me therefore to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness Morning evening and at mid-day let me wait for the coming of my blessed Saviour who shall turn my night into day my darkness into light my heaviness into joy my labours into rest when death shall be swallowed up into victory where the serpent shall sting no more and where the second death shall never hurt me VII Guide thou O Lord my God the ship of my soul through the sea of this world by the direction of thy holy word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust let me sayl so safely that by the winds and waves of temptations I may never be driven either upon the Rocks of Presumption or Despair but that I may happily arrive at the haven of the promised land of thy heavenly Kingdom While I behold thee O Lord in thy justice I am afraid and am ready to despair and while I look upon thee in thine infinite mercies I am subject to presume Let thy hand therefore so support me that I may be defended by thy fatherly goodness as with a shield that I may not be cut off by the course of thy severe justice as with a sword I must confess that in justice I have incurred thy wrath and deserve condemnation but through thy manifold mercies O Lord I long and look for thy salvation I am the workmanship of thy hands destroy not therefore that which thou hast made but bless it and bring it to a perfect end thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth and therefore I promise to my self that I cannot be lost if I sincerely put my trust in thee for then thou hast promised me salvation in thy word and thou hast bound this thy promise with an Oath and sealed it with the blood of thy Son and that before the best witnesses in heaven or earth thy holy spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I am a child of God Now upon such considerations as these I fix and ground my faith and am perswaded that after