Heavenly your bodies in due time shall be rendred Spiritual and Heavenly also 2. If your Bodies be an Earthly house a Frail and Temporary Tabernacle then do not put your happiness on the Tabernacle state of the body Will you confine your Comforts to Minutes and Moments and not extend your hopes to Eternity Take heed that you live not by sense walk not after your Eyes indulge not your Flesh give not the Reins to Corrupt Affections You have Members on Earth Col. 3.5 and these are to be mortified and not gratified Oh do not as Esau Heb. 12.16 for one morsel of Meat sell your Birth-right do not for short and momentary Pleasures betray your Souls to Eternal Torments and Misery Forbear to give satisfaction to sensual desires put restraints on your Lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 Gen. 3.23 24. curb your Appetites and Carnal Inclinations abstain from fleshly Affections that war against your Souls God banished our first Parents out of Paradise into the Earth and World at large and shall we choose our Heaven and seek our Happiness in the place of our Exile and Confinement should we not seek after a higher state and better place for the body than this earth God hath made our dayes here as an hands breadth would not that man be counted to have a dim sight that could see no further than a hands-breadth and shall we look no further Shall all our Thoughts and Desires be confined to and all our endeavours be imployed about a life of a Hands-breadth Will you not look out of a vile Tabernacle into a World of Glory and be raised above a momentary to an Everlasting Life But I shall not stay on this but pass on to the second Doctrine Doctrine 2. That the Earthly house of this Tabernacle must be dissolved The whole Fabrick of man must be taken to pieces the Soul must part with its dear and intimate friend the Body and put off that garment of Flesh that cleaves so close unto it Thou changest his Countenance saith Job and sendest him away Job 14.20 As in the fourth of Numbers we read of the taking down of the Tabernacle after it had been set up in the Wilderness so this Earthly Tabernacle must be taken down And Ainsworth makes a Parallel between the taking down of the Mosaical Tabernacle and the dissolving of this Earthly Tabernacle In the pulling down of the Tabernacle first the Holy things were removed Numb 4.5 6 7 8 9 10. and then the Curtains Numb 4.25 and then the Boards were loosed and unpinned Numb 4.31 So in the dissolving of this Earthly Tabernacle first the Soul that is the most Holy thing dislodges and removes and then the Curtains of our Skin and Flesh are eaten and consumed by Worms and then the bones that are as the Boards and Timber-work of our Earthly house and Tabernacle are separated from each other This Tabernacle must be dissolved Death will soon Plant its batteries against this weak house the King of Terrors will storm it with Troops of Pains and Diseases and entring as a Conquerour will dispossess and eject the Soul from its house This is not a by-law that binds some few but an Universal Royal Statute that stands in forde against the whole World It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9.27 This Road to the grave is called the way of all the Earth 1 Kings 2.2 And the grave itself is styled The house appointed for all living Job 30.23 Here the Travellers must lodge yea here the Pilgrims must for a great while dwell and therefore it is called their long home Eccl. 12.5 The dissolution of this Tabernacle especially in the People of God is very remarkable if we consider these three things following 1. That though their bodies are such a curious Piece of Divine Needle-work and Architecture Psal 139.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acupictus artificiosè confectus so embellished with Veins Sinews and Arteries so drawn out into beautiful Limbs so adorned with excellent Features and Comeliness yet he that hath Raised this excellent structure will Raze it he that hath Cast and Fashioned this Beautiful Vessel will dash it to pieces he that hath laid out so much Art and Skill on this Choice Piece will unravel and undo yea spoil and mar his own Workmanship We may say as Job Chap. 10.8 Gods hands have made and fashioned us round about It is an allusion to an excellent piece of work that the hand of the Artist hath often gone round polishing and perfecting of it to the highest degree yet saith he thou dost destroy me Oh how wonderful is this that God should be so displeased with and severely turn against his own work 2. The bodies of the Saints have been the Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 Know you not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost Yet though they have entertained and harboured so glorious a Guest though the Divine Majesty hath resided and dwelt in them by a special Presence yet this will not ward off the blow or guard them from the fatal stroke of Death God dwells Christ lives in this Tabernacle by his Spirit yet it must be dissolved 3. Though the Members and Bodies of Saints have been put to a Holy Use and have been imployed as Vessels of the Sanctuary yet this will not secure them from death Though their Life hath been spent in service though their Bodies have been worn out in Labour and wasted in sufferings for God yet they must be dissolved That Tongue must be struck dumb that hath praised God those Eyes must be closed that have been spectators of the glory of God in the Frame of Heaven and Earth and have read the wisdom power and goodness of God in the Pages of this great Book Those Members that have served God and ministred to his Saints must yet be bound with the fatal bonds of Death and be given up to rot and putrify in the dust this seems hard and harsh in the eye of Sence and Carnal Reason that the Sacred Lamps of the Sanctuary should be put out and those that have been most devoted to God should be delivered over to Worms and Corruption and the sheep of Christ be pen'd in Deaths Fold Quest But what is the Cause of this Severity why is the Creator so displeased with his Creatures why doth his Anger smoak against the very sheep of his Pasture Answer I Answer All Men have sinned in Adam and therefore die in him Rom. 5.12 1 Cor. 15.22 in him we contracted guilt in him we became liable to Penalties and Punishment We descend from a Traytor and Rebel against God and have derived from him a Corrupt and Rebellious Nature It is but Righteous that they should be broken to pieces that broke off themselves from God Mans Soul by its Fall was divided from God its Life and thereby deserved to be turned out of the Body as its Habitation Sin is the Worm
The FAITH of the SAINTS As to a Future HOUSE and HAPPINESS in the other WORLD Set forth in A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of that Worthy Servant of CHRIST Mr. WALTER MARSHAL By S. TOMLYNS M.A. LONDON Printed by John Richardson for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1680. To the Honourable the Lady Anne Constantine and to the truly Religious Mrs. Mary Fiennes the Author wisheth increase of Grace and the enjoyment of Glory through Jesus Christ Madam Mistress IT hath pleased the Lord to afflict and exercise you both with Bodily Distempers and every Fit of a Disease every Paroxism of Pain is a blow that contributes to the Felling of the Tree these Van-curriers of Death do undermine the Vigor and strength of Nature and help forward the Ruin of a frail Tabernacle As there are Flowers that blow and wither in the Spring as well as others that flourish and fade in the Summer and Autumn so many of Mankind do fade and die in the Spring of Youth as well as in the Summer of Riper Years and in the Autumn of Old Age. God can make our Night and Deaths Harvest to come whenever he pleaseth our Sun may set when we think it is not yet Noon Deaths Harvest may come when our Spring seems not yet to be past Our Breath is in our Nostrils and may soon pass out the Judge stands at the door and may quickly enter in It concerns us therefore always to be ready for the coming of our Lord that he may not surprize us as a Thief in the Night but may Visit us as a Bridegroom that we have long looked and waited for It is or should be the work of our whole Week-day to prepare for the Everlasting Sabbath As by your Bodily Distempers the great Landlord warns you out of your Earthly Tabernacle so the Text I insist on teaches you whither Saints must Remove and what a House God hath built to entertain the separated Souls of Believers I have therefore thought fit to Tender this small Treatise to you as a Testimony of my Respect and Observance towards you if it may in any degree prove a Light to your Feet a Lamp to your Paths a Staff to your Faith and a Cordial to your Souls it will be very acceptable to him who is Your Obliged and Humble Servant S. T. To my Well-beloved Friends the Inhabitants of Gosport in the County of Southampton the Author wisheth Grace and Peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Christian Friends IT hath seemed good to the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth to make a Breach upon you by snatching away from you a faithful and laborious Servant of Christ who fed you with his Doctrine and edified you by his Example He wooed for Christ in his Preaching and allured you to Christ by his Walking Though the Seedsman be dead yet the Doctrine he preached is Incorruptible Seed the Word of God that lives and abides for ever And though his service by vocal preaching among you is past yet your Account for your profiting by and growth under his Ministry is to come Look therefore diligently to it that the Word of God dwell richly and root deeply in your souls that it be the sword of the Spirit to slay your lusts a spiritual Mould to fashion your hearts aright and Bread to feed and nourish you up to everlasting Life Walk while you have the light and work the works of him that sent you into the World while it is day build up your selves on your most holy Faith and walk in love towards each other as Christ hath loved you Your souls came into this World on a Trading Voyage to buy Gold tried in the Fire white Rayment and Eye-salve Neglect not your spiritual Traffick the longer the Merchants ship stayes out the richer Lading should it bring home Lade your selves with Treasures that Death shall not spoil you of Adorn your souls with Ornaments that it shall not strip off It will be sad if any of you should go out of the World and carry nothing away with you but the guilt of Sin and the fear of punishment a bitter remembrance of past iniquity and a dreadful expectation of Wrath to come Death is called the way of all the Earth 1 Kings 2.2 and in this way you must shortly tread and by it depart from all Friends and Enjoyments below O look up to and take fast hold of Christ that is the Ladder that reaches up to Heaven and so is the way to the best Country and Inheritance You cannot decline the way that will carry you off from all Earthly Relations Pleasures Possessions O be sure that you enter into and walk â—n in that way that will carry you to an invisible World of Happiness and Glory Time hastens days post away and will you stand idle You are carried a-pace down the River of Time towards the Ocean of Eternity and will you not as spiritual Racers press forward towards the Mark for the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus Let not by business divert you from your principal and most noble work Mary chose the one thing necessary David desired one thing Paul saith this one thing I do Read those three Scriptures Luk. 10.42 Psal 27.4 Phil. 3.13 14. This argues sincerity and fervency iâ—deed when you choose desire and do one thing as Necessary and are Conversant about other matters but as indifferent things Be watchful against the old man that stoops you towards this Earth beware of Satan that wrestles with you to throw your minds and â—earts down to this World Lay not those snowy-creatures in your bosomes that will not only melt away themselves but also chill your Hearts to better and more Noble Objects Be not guilty of such folly to magnifie what you are but Stewards of and to despise what you may be Heirs of Take hold of the Hope set before you and then when others shall be put away as dross you shall be made up as Jewels and shine for ever in the kingdom of your Father This Sermon as it was Preached at your desire so now it is Printed with some enlargement at the Request of some of you the Lord accompany it with the teaching of his Spirit and the efficacy of his Grace that it may conduce to your spiritual Good which is the carnest desine and Prayer of Aug. 23. 1680. Your affectionate Friend and Servant for Jesus sake S. T. The Faith of the SAINTS 2 COR. 5.1 For we know that if our Earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens THE Words of the Text are a reason of somewhat discoursed and asserted by the Apostle in the foregoing Chapter in the 2 Cor. 4.16 he saith we faint not And in the 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at the things that are seen but at
all yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 2. Christians come to know this by inspection into themselves and spiritual Experience of a saving work wrought on themselves Heb. 10.34 they knew within themselves that they had in Heaven a more induring Substance By looking into themselves they might espy such a Divine Nature such a supernatural Life sprung up in them as did evidence they were intituled to and designed for the Heavenly Inheritance As Mark 29.33 the Poor Woman healed by Christ felt it in her Body and verse 33. She knew what was done in her viz. that she was healed of that Plague So Christs spiritual Patients may know within themselves what excellent cures this Heavenly Physician hath wrought in and on them and thereby fitted them to Converse in the True land of the Living The very senses that an infant hath do shew that it was designed for an higher life and larger Place than still to be imprisoned and penned up in the Womb its Eyes Ears Smelling and Tasting were to be exercised on Objects in this large World so the Spiritual Senses of the Souls of Saints do speak them to be designed for the invisible and Eternal World They can see things invisible they can taste spiritual dainties they can smell the Odours that come from the Mountain of Myrrh and the Hill of Frankincense they can scent the spices of the Heavenly Canaan Moses his Parents did observe his rare and admirable Beauty and seem from thence to conclude that surely he was chosen and designed by God for some extraordinary service Heb. 11.23 And is not the Church of Believers the fairest among Women Cant. 1.8 and doth not this wonderful and rare beauty evince that Christ hath set his love on her and that she is called to the Marriage Feast and designed for the Bride-chamber of the Son of God Ignatius one of the most Ancient Fathers in his Epistle to the Romans saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The living water that did spring up in him did say to him within Come home to thy Father Christ hath written a living Epistle in their Minds and Wills The Life and Law of God as a byass on their Hearts inclines them to another Country and World They have the first Fruits of their Inheritance the earnest of the bargain the beginnings of Everlasting Life abiding in them already Job 14.23 1 Cor. 3.16 that glorious Company that they shall converse with for ever are now come down to sojourn in their hearts here below The Father and Son dwelled in them by the spirit and surely such Royal guests will in due time remove the Souls that entertain them to their own glorious Habitation 3. There is the Mysterious Testimony of the Holy Spirit Rom. 8.16 17. The Spirit himself beareth witness with or to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs c. Surely some very high Evidence and Assurance is intended by these words whether mediate or immediate I shall not now determine The spirit himself beareth witness this phrase imports that the Spirit himself excellently appears in this Testimony and will it Testifie and can it not make Souls to understand its voice to perceive its meaning to embrace its Testimony and acquiesce in its Evidence Shall any question or doubt whether men may know themselves to be the Sons of God when it is one Office and great work of the Holy Spirit to make them understand it and to assure their Souls of it Is the Testimony of the Spirit Dark Intricate and Ambiguous doth it leave Souls in hovering suspence and wavering uncertainty when it comes to give its evidence can it not decide and determine the Controversie and make an end of strife in an unbelieving Heart And if the Spirit doth clear up our Sonship may we not know we are Heirs All Gods Children are Heirs every Son hath the Rights Priviledges and Inheritance of a first born Vse 1. Oh be Exhorted Stirred up and Quickned to seek and obtain the sweet and comfortable knowledge of what is provided for you in Heaven Strive to assure to your selves that you have a house built a City prepared for you above Oh how uncomfortable is it to be at uncertainties whither we shall go how we shall be disposed of and where we shall be fixed for Ever We know we must remove from hence but how will this damp our spirits when we know not whither we shall remove We know what we must part with but how will it Chill and Deject us when we know not what we shall possess in another World Our love cannot be so Fervent our Joy so Strong our Praises so Hearty and Affectionate if we know not that God is our Father that he will divide a Rich Portion to us and settle a glorious Inheritance on us The knowledge of what is reserved for us in Heaven will have great influence on our Holy Calling and will both Quicken us in doing and support us in Suffering the Will of God Use therefore all diligence to attain the full assurance of Understanding of Faith and of Hope all which are mentioned in these following Scriptures Col. 2.2 Heb. 10.22 Heb. 6.11 These three do make an excellent and comfortable Syllogism the full Assurance of Understanding as to the Terms and Tenders of the Gospel maketh the Major the full Assurance of Faith believing and applying this Doctrine to our selves makes the Minor and the full assurance of Hope is the sweet Conclusion that results from these excellent Promises O Christians why are you contented to live at so low a Rate why are you so held in doubts and suspence about your Everlasting state why are you so lost in an intricate Wilderness and entangled in such uncomfortable Labyrinths why is there yet so dark a Vail on your minds that hinders you from looking with Joy and Comfort into another World Doth not the Gospel dispensation under which you live afford grounds for high Faith and strong Consolation Are we not told that God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their Trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.19 that Christ hath made an end of sin destroyed Satan overcome the World abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to Light Dan. 9.24 Heb. 2.15 Joh. 16. last 2 Tim. 1.10 Is not Heaven purchased and Possessed for and bequeathed in Christs Testament to the Heirs of Promise Are not all that fly for Refuge to take hold of the hope set before them accepted and allowed to be Heirs of this glorious inheritance Heb. 6.18 Is not this sentence not exceeding full and comprehensive God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Joh. 3.16 and is not this Testimony clear and express that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Eternal Life is in his Son and he that hath the Son hath Life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. This Life
that kills the gourd of this Natural Life Rom. 8.10 The body is dead by reason of sin the Plague of Spiritual Leprofie infects this house and provokes God to pull it down The heavenly Husbandman is displeased with that Soil that will still nourish and feed Satans Tares The Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth is resolved and bent against the old Frame of Nature he will pull it down and destroy it and that in his own and best People God hath ingaged in and is pursuing of a most gracious and excellent design and hath drawn an exact draught and idea of the New Creation viz. Rev. 3.14 Jesus Christ to which all the Saints must be conformed This Natural Frame was destroyed and utterly abolished in his own Son by Death and God will not uphold that in the Members which he hath taken down and abolished in the Head The Spiritual and Glorious Body of Christ is the great Pattern and Example according to which all the Bodies of the Saints must be Framed and Fashioned Vse 1. Information From hence we may learn Gods Hatred of and Severity against Sin God threatned the first Adam that if he did offend and transgress he should surely die and he will not repeal his Sentence or reverse his Decree The Righteous Judge is fixed in his determinations and inexorable as to the Doom he hath passed on the Natural bodies of sinners As Numb 14.29 30 31. God sware against the old Men that came out of Egypt that they should die in the Wilderness but the New and Young generation they should enter into and possess Canaan So God hath resolved that the Old Man shall Perish 1 Cor. 15.50 that Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God it is the New Man that shall enter into the heavenly Canaan and be heir of the Eternal inheritance Vse 2. If this House and Tabernacle must be dissolved reckon upon it and expect it The Master will shortly take away your Stewardship your great Landlord will warn you out of this Earthly house The Lord of Hosts will call you to March out of this into another World live in expectation of that fatal word Return you sons of Men to your earth and dust Ps 90.3 Isa 38.12 13. Hezekiah says that he had as a weaver cut off his Life and that he reckoned that God would shortly make an end of him Consider you are upon the brink of the Pit and on the borders of Eternity Is it not past high-water with some of you doth not your strength and vigour Ebb do not your Lamps burn dim doth not Death make its near Approaches to you and begin to seize on the Posts and Out-works of your Senses is it not entred already at your Eyes and Ears as Posts did run to tell the King of Babylon that his City was taken at one end so Jer. 51.31 may I not say that this City of the Body is already taken at one End hath not Death already invaded and possessed the Cinque Ports of your Senses and shall your thoughts settle and your affections Centre on that place from whence you are removing will you not provide a better habitation being warned out of this house of Clay will you not seek out a New World to plant and settle in are there not numerous Colonies of healed and sanctified Souls already seated in it and will you not desire a Lot and Place among them you have no abiding City here and will you be wholly destitute by neglecting to seek one to come are you setting in the Horizon of Time and will you not make sure that you shall Rise and Shine for ever in the Horizon of Eternity Send out Faith as a Spy into the Heavenly Canaan Labour to enter into Rest Lay hold of the Hope set before you Improve Time before the spiritual Market is done before the Ladder that joins Earth and Heaven be drawn up and the door of the Bride-Chamber be shut for Ever Doctrine 3. When Saints depart out of their Earthly House they have a Building of God a House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Two things I shall here insist upon First What this house is Secondly What grounds there are to conclude that departing Saints have and shall enjoy this House First Quest What is to be understood by this house I Answer these two things I. The glorious Place * Of this place I did speak before but I shall now speak something of the state as it is comprehended in the word House and blessed State of the Souls of Saints separated from their Bodies II. This house comprehends the Recovery and Happiness of their Bodies 1. By this house we are to understand the glorious Place and State of the Soul it shall mount up to the highest Heavens and dwell there with God and Christ 1 Thes 4.17 We shall be for ever with the Lord. The glory of God is as a Covert and House over the Spirits of Just men Rev. 22.3 it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall dwell with them but Rev. 7.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall dwell or tabernacle over them Oh what a happy change is this to go out of a vile Tabernacle of flesh into a Place where the excellent glory of an infinite Majesty will be as a Tabernacle or Tent over us The immediate Presence of God will be as a Tent and House to guard us and keep off all Evils and as a living Fountain to derive all good to us Rev. 7.15 17. 2. This house takes in the Body and its happy State Saints do groan earnestly and desire to be clothed upon with their house from heaven and by a house from heaven the Apostle means the Recovery and Resurrection of the Body when the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 shall beget it from the dead When by the arm of the second Adam stretched out from heaven it shall be plucked out of the Jaws of Death The Soul shall not live still as a naked ejected Spirit as dis-seized of its habitation but it shall be housed in the body and seated in its former and ancient dwelling Though Soul and Body be divorced yet they shall be joined together again these two Friends though long parted shall have a joyful meeting The grave is a Womb that must Travail and bring forth the bodies of the Saints their seed-time shall be followed with a harvest Death shall vomit up its Morsels this Whale shall spue out God's Jonah's and then it shall itself be swallowed up for ever The body that lies in the lowest grave shall sit in the highest heavens that which dwells for a time in darkness shall dwell in glorious Light for Eternity that which fed Worms shall feast with Angels on the delicious Fruits of the heavenly Paradise and though this was to be accomplished at the distance of some hundreds if not thousands of Years yet the Eagle-Eye of Faith seeth it as