thee Vers 19. And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes 2 Pet. 1.12 c. I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance Seventhly If the sick Person seem willing to dye the Minister may prudently endeavour to discover whether his willingness to dye doth proceed from some good and laudable motive or no for it may arise out of either As 1. From a desire to be freed from the troubles and persecutions Men undergo in this life Numb 11.13 14 15. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this People for they weep unto me saying give us flesh that we may eat I am not able to bear all this People alone because it is too heavy for me And if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee out of hand if I have found favor in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness 1 King 19.4 But he Elijah himself went a days journey into the wilderness and came and sate down under a Juniper-tree and he requested for himself that he might dye and said it is enough now O Lord take away my life for I am not better than my Fathers Or 2. To be freed from pain Job 3.11 c. Why dyed I not from the womb why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly Vers 13. For now should I have lien still and been at quiet I should have slept then should I have been at rest Vers 17 18. There the wicked cease from troubling there the weary be at rest There the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Vers 20 21. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures Chap. 6.8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his hand and cut me off Jon. 4.8 It came to pass when the sun did rise that God prepared a vehement eastwind and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted and wished in himself to dye and said it is better for me to dye than to live Or. 3. Out of ignorance of man's estate after death in respect of rewards and punishments Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the judgment 2 Cor. 5.10 11. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrours of the Lord we perswade men Mat. 25.31 32 33 46. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he be set upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from the other as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats Then shall he say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed Children of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Luke 16.22 c. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the rich man dyed also and was buried And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Or 4. Patient submission to Gods will 1 Sam. 3.18 And Eli said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Luke 22.42 Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done Acts 21.14 And when he Paul would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done Phil. 4.11 I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content Or 5. Well-grounded hopes of Salvation Job 8.20 God will not cast away a perfect man Psal 37.38 Keep innocency and take heed to the thing that is right for that shall bring a man peace at the last Rom. 5.1 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4.13 14. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Tim. 7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also which love his appearing Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end To each of these fit applications of these or such-like passages of Scripture are to be made For neither willingness nor unwillingness to dye simply considered are tokens of good or bad estate but in relation tâ— the ground or cause from whencâ— they proceed Eighthly When the sick Person complains of the want of sensible joy and inward comfort of the Spirit such passages of Scripture are to be set before him as describe 1. The state of our spiritual warfare Mat. 10.35 38. I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 5.11 12 13. Put on the whole armour of God
grave in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same Isa 26.20 Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Chap. 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Rev. 14.13 I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 4. The Joys to be revealed hereafter Psal 16.9 12. I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore Psal 36.8 9. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light Isa 51.11 The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Chap. 64.4 Since the beginning of the World men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Dan. 12.1 3. At that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Luke 16.25 Abraham said son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Phil. 1.21 23. To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palmes in their hands And cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. 5. The presence of God with his hildren in all conditions Psal 41.3 The Lord comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed make thou all his bed in his sickness Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Chap. 43.1 2 3. Fear not I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation Sixthly That such spiritual remedies may do good the Minister must endeavour to understand and consider from whence that unwillingness to die proceeds and to the several causes thereof his applications of Scripture must be suitable If 1. It be from that aversation which every Creature naturally hath to dissolution the best men have not been altogether free from that fear Joh. 21.18 19. When thou wast young thou girdest thy self and walkest whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not This spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God To this must be opposed 1. The conquest of Death by Christ Heb 2.14 15. Forasmuch as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 1 Cor. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Vers 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2. The pattern of a true Christian temper of mind 2 Cor. 5.1 c. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building with God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whil'st we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord For we walk by faith not by sight we are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Secondly If from love of this World The vanity of all earthly things and the danger of such love of the World must be considered Eccl. 2.4 c. I made me great works I builded me houses I planted me vineyards I made me gardens and orchards and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees I got me servants and maidens and had servants born in my house also I had great possessions of great
Ephraim to go taking them by the Arms but they knew not that I heal'd them I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Jonah 4. Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repentest thee of the evil Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy He will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Malac. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Eph. 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Secondly His incomprehensible love declared in giving his Son to dye for the sin of the World Isa 52.9 10. Break forth into joy sing together ye wast places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his People he hath redeemed Jerusalem The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all Nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God Chap. 53.4 5 6. Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Chap. 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Chap. 61.1 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they might be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Ezek. 34.22 23 24 25. I will save my flock and they shall be no more a prey And I will set up one shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their shepherd And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince amongst them I the Lord have spoken it And I will make with them a covenant of peace Malac. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall Luke 1.76 77 78 79. Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways To give knowledg of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace Chap. 4.17 18 19 21 And when he Jesus had opened the Book he found the place where i◠was written The Spirit of the Lord 〈◊〉 upon me And he began to sa◠unto them this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Joh 1.29 John seeth Jesus comin◠unto him and saith Behold th◠Lamb of God which taketh awa◠the sin of the World Chap. 3.16 17. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Chap. 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his Friends Act 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 3.23 24 25. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 5.8 9. God commendeth his love towards us in that whilest we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins Rev. 5.9 And the Elders sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and people and tongue and Nation Thirdly His faithfulness in keeping his promise Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands thy walls are before me continually Jer. 33.20 21. Thus saith the Lord if you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night and that there should not be day and night in their season Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne Joh. 10.28 29. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater than all And no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed is God Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Heb. 6.17 18. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath That by