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
of but the sorrow of the world worketh death For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge In all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Tenthly If the sick person needs or desires instruction how to demean himself in his sickness such Scriptures will be useful as direct us to 1. Contrition for sin Job 42.2 5 6. I know that thou canst do any thing and that no thought can be withheld from thee I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Psal 19.12 Who can tell how oft he offends O cleanse thou me from my secret faults Psal 32.1 c. Blessed is the man whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile I will acknowledg my sin unto thee and mine unrighteousnes have I not hid Psal 34.17 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble spirit Psal 38.1 c. Put me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure For thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin For my wickednesses are gone over my head and are like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear I truly am set in the plague and my heaviness is ever in my sight For I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin Hos 7.2 They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all 2. Humility and Patience in affliction 2 Sam. 15.25 26. And the King David said unto Zadok carry back the Ark of God into the City if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him Job 2.10 What shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil In all this did not Job sin with his lips Chap. 34.31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach thou me If I have done iniquity I will do no more Psal 27.16 O tarry thou the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart and put thou thy trust in the Lord. Lam. 3.25 26. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Mic. 7.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Luke 21.19 In your patience possess your souls Heb. 12.7 If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sons Jam. 1.2 3 4. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing 1 Pet. 5.6 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time 3. Reliance upon God Deut. 33.26 There is none like unto the God of Jesurun Vers 27. The Eternal God is thy refuge Vers 29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency 1 Sam. 12.22 The Lord will not forsake his People for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Psal 5.13 Thou Lord wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast never failed them that seek thee Psal 22.10 I have been left unto thee ever since I was born thou art my God even from my mothers womb Psal 23.4 Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Psal 33.17 Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and upon them that put their trust in his mercy Psal 37.40 The salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord which is also their strength in the time of trouble Psal 62.1 My soul truly waiteth still upon God for of him cometh my salvation Isa 30.15 Thus saith the Lord God the Holy One of Israel In returning and rest shall ye be saved in quietness and confidence shall be your strength Lam. 3.25 26. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 4. The Benefit and Comfort of Prayer Isa 26.8 9. In the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness Job 42.10 The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble So will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me Psal 55.17 18. As for me I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me In the evening and morning and at noon day I will pray and that instantly and he shall hear my voice Psal 65.2 3. Thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful unto our sins Psal 69.13 c. Lord I make my prayer to thee in an acceptable time Hear me O God in the multitude of thy mercy even in the truth of thy salvation Take me out of the mire that I sink not Oh let me be delivered from them that hate me and out of the deep waters Let not the deep flood drown me neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the Pit shut her mouth upon me Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindness is comfortable turn thee unto me according to
two immutable things in which it was 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 1 Joh 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Fourthly His encouragements and promises to the penitent 1. In the Law Levit. 26.40 41 42. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their Fathers with their trespass which they trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary to me And that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and will remember the land Deut. 4.27 29 30 31. The Lord thy God shall scatter you among the Nations But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul When thou art in Tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou come to the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice for the Lord thy God is a merciful God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the Covenant of thy Fathers which he sware unto them Chap. 30.3 The Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the Nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee In 2. The Prophets 1 Sam. 12.20 22. Samuel said unto the People fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People Isa 1.18 19. Though your sins be as red as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wooll If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land Cha. 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins return unto me for I have redeemed thee Chap. 57.16 17 18. I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the souls which I have made For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners Jer. 3.1 13 14. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord. Only acknowledg thine iniquity that thou hast transgrest against the Lord thy God Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you Chap. 31.19 20. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even consounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Chap. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon aâ—l their iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye dye O house of Israel In 3. The Gospel Mat. 1. 21. Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Chap. 18.11 The son of man is come to save that which was lost Luke 15.10 There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth John 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Heb. 4.15 16. We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Chap. 7.24 25. This man Christ Jesus because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Wherefore he is also able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Chap. 8.12 I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Fifthly The performance of those promises in several Instances of mercy Judg. 2.18 When the Lord raised them up Judges then the Lord was with the Judg and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the Judg for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them Chap. 10.15 16. The children of Israel said unto the Lord we have sinned do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee deliver us only we pray thee this day And they put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel 2 Sam. 12.13 David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David the Lord also hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye 1 King 21.29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me because he humbleth himself before me I will not bring the evil in his days but in his sons days will I bring the evil upon his house 2 Chron. 33.12 13. And when he Manasseh was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers And prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom Nehem. 9.31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies sake thou didst not utterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and merciful God Jonah 3.10 And God saw their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them and he did it not Mat. 18.26 27. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him saying Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all Then the Lord of that servant came moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debt Luke 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for
thoughts and intents of the heart Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do James 1.25 Whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed Rev. 3.1 2. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye for I have not found thy works perfect before God Verse 17. Thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Fourthly Calling upon God for assistance 1 Sam. 16.7 The Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart Psal 139.23 24. Try me O God and seek the ground of my heart prove me and examine my thoughts Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me and lead me in the way everlasting Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Chap. 17.10 I the Lord search the heart I try the reins even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings James 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him The examination and Trial of his State must be governed by such rules of Scripture as relate to the consideration First Of his life past with respect First To the Law of God as it is opened and expounded by our Blessed Saviour in the 5th 6th and 7th Chap. of St. Matthew Secondly The duty of furnishing his soul with Divine graces and habits of virtue Psal 45.14 The Kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought Gold Jer. 31.33 34. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Mat. 5.3 to 13. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Chap. 13.12 Whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that he hath Chap. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven 2 Pet. 1.5 to 11. Besides this giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg And to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness And to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall Thirdly The Performance of particular duties in his several Relations and Profession Acts 13.36 David after he had served his own generation by the will of God fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers Rom. 12.4 5 6 7. As we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith Or ministry let us wait on our ministring Or he that teacheth on teaching Ephes 6.1 4 5 6. Children obey your Parents in the Lord. Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters Not with eye-service as menpleasures but as the servants of Christ Masters do the same things to them 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake Chap. 3.1 7. Wives be in subjection unto your Husbands Likewise Husbands dwell with their Wives according to knowledg giving them honour as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life Secondly His present condition in reference to their duties 1. Of Restitution and Satisfaction Gen. 43.12 Take double money in your hand and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks peradventure it was an oversight Exod. 22.5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten and shall put in his beast and shall feed in another mans field of the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard shall he make restitution Levit. 24.18 And he that killeth a Beast shall make it good Beast for Beast Nehem. 5.9 10 11. It is not good that ye do I likewise and my brethren and my servants might exact of them money and corn I pray you let us leave off this usury Restore I pray you to them even this day their lands their vineyards their oliveyards and their houses also the hundred part of the money and of the corn the wine the oyl that you exact of them Then said they we will restore it Isa 61.8 I the Lord love judgment I hate robbery for burntoffering Mich. 2.1 2. Wo unto them that devise iniquity They covet fields and take them by violence and houses and take them away So they oppress a man and his house even a man and his heritage Hab. 2.6 Wo unto him that increaseth that which is not his Zech. 5.1 3 4. I looked and behold a flying Roll. This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth and it shall enter into the house of the thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my Name and it shall remain in the middest of his house