of thy soul that he would prepare himself a meet habitation in thy heart Chrysost in 1 Cor. 11. thou considerest the greatness of those things that are present and set forth in the holy supper and thou considerest the largeness of the divine gift thou hungrest and thirstest after righteousness Matt. 5.6 and therefore thou shalt be filled those sins shall not hurt Luk. 15.20 which please not Thou hastenest with tears to thy heavenly Father thou grievest for thy sins and thou desirest to satisfie the hunger of thy soul with this heavenly food vers 22. doubt not but that the most bountiful Father will kiss and receive thee with joy he will give thee the first robe of innocence he will cloath thee with the garments of salvation he will put a ring on thy hand he will seal thee with his holy Spirit vers 23. he will put shoes on thy feet he will direct thee in the way of peace and righteousness he will fill thee with the flesh of that sacrifice that was slain on the altar of the Cross and was offered for a sweet savour to him Lay aside therefore all fear of eating unworthily he that is most unworthy in his own eyes is accepted with God he that displeaseth himself pleaseth God he that in himself is broken with true contrition of heart is lifted up again by the most bountiful hand of God Weakness of faith Tempted Faith is altogether requisite to the wholsome use of the Lord's supper and the partaking of the promises of the Gospel seeing to the partaking of an alms there is not only required the hand of the giver but there must also be the hand of the receiver But now my faith is weak the ship of my heart being tossed with various storms of temptations totters and casts me down from the firmness of faith Comforter Weak faith is yet faith and faith does not therefore lay hold on Christ and in Christ the grace of God forgiveness of sins and life eternal be-because it is strong but because it is faith a strong faith embraces Christ more strongly yet nevertheless a weak faith also does not reject Christ but savingly lays hold on him The faithful servant of God Christ thy saviour breaketh not the bruised reed Isa 42.2 nor quencheth the smoaking flax but receiveth him that is weak in faith most bountifully Rom. 14.3 The least spark of faith is the work of the Spirit because of our selves as of our selves we cannot as much as think a good thought 1 Cor. 3.5 but to will and to do is from God Phil. 2.13 therefore God will not despise his own work which he hath begun in thy heart by his holy Spirit but will perfect and confirm it Isa 66.13 As a mother comforteth her children so doth the Lord comfort us Now a mother treats an infant far more tenderly and has a greater care of it than of the rest that are grown up so God rejecteth not one weak in faith but takes care to heal and strengthen him as one languishing If ye shall have faith as a grain of mustard-seed and shall say to this mountain Remove from hence to such a place it shall remove Mat. 16.20 and nothing shall be impossible to you saith the Truth If a miraculous faith can do so much as to remove mountains though it hardly equal a grain of mustard-seed why cannot salvifick faith do the same even remove mountains of temptations and doubts be it never so weak and feeble God's strength is perfected in our weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 see therefore thou be not cast down in mind for the weakness of thy faith but rather look upon the strength of God God can water what is dry heal what is wounded bend what is stiff foster what is cold reduce what goeth out of the way Only acknowledge the weakness of thy faith and lean so much the more on the divine word for as the word is the seed of faith so also the nourishment Pray with Christs disciples Luk. 17.5 Lord encrease our faith and with the father of the Lunatick Mark 9.24 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief The not perceiving of faith Tempted My faith is not only weak but sometimes I perceive no faith at all in my heart nor do I call upon God with that fervency of spirit as can pierce the clouds I fear therefore lest my faith be quite perished and extinct and if faith be extinct what hope or safety can there remain to me I examine my self 2 Cor. 13.5 and lo I perceive not faith in my heart I shall therefore be of the number of reprobates Comforter The spirit helpeth our infirmity as it were by putting his hand under us For as we know not what we ought to pray for nor how to pray as we ought but in the mean time the Spirit interceeds for us with unutterable groans so sometimes we perceive not what or how we believe but the Spirit cherisheth and preserves faith in our heart A spark may lie hid rak'd up under the ashes although it appear not outwardly so faith sometimes dwells in the inmost recesses of the heart though it be not perceived of our selves Wherefore though thou perceivest no faith gather not presently from thence that all thy faith is perished and dead seeing thou yet desirest longest and art willing to believe that desire that longing that willing proceeds from faith Moreover 't is one thing not to perceive we believe and another not to be willing to believe that is a sign of languishing but this of obstinate stubbornness Christ does verily dwell in thy heart by faith Eph. 3.17 although thou do not manifestly feel that indwelling of grace even as the holy Spirit that inward comforter hath an holy dwelling in thy heart although he sometime withdraw from thee the sense of that comfort As Abraham the father of the faithful Rom. 4.8 against hope believed in hope so thou oughtest to rely upon the word against thy sense As we ought to captivate every thought to the obedience of faith 2 Cor. 10.5 so do thou captivate thy not feeling of thy faith by faith that is receive the word in thy heart and firmly cleave to it The seed lies hid under the clods of the earth when it does not as yet thrust forth so much as a blade so the seed of faith lies hid in the heart although the fruit thereof do not as yet fully and plainly appear In sleep thou perceivest not faith but who will say that faith is then perished so in this temptation a certain sleep as it were has oppressed thy soul so that thou perceivest not the motion of thy faith but far be it that thou shouldst therefore suppose faith extinct An inability to believe Tempted I breath indeed after my saviour but I both feel and grieve that I cannot believe I could have wish'd indeed that I might have
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 the doors of thine ears shut never so much Isai 61.1 Luk. 4.18 The spirit of the Lord is
that Christ thy Lord obtaineth it on a double account both by being the heir of the Father and by the merit of his passion he is content with the first the latter he bestoweth on thee from whose gift challenge it for thy self and thou shalt not be confounded The temptation of despair Tempted The Devil solicits me to despair Comforter I would have thee despair namely of thy self and in thy self because thou art a sinner but despair not in God whose grace aboundeth over thy sin Rom. 5.21 Chrysost hom 3. de poenit For no more is the malice of man to the clemency of God than a spark of fire is to the sea The sea although it be great yet it admits of measure but the mercy of God is unmeasurable Neither despair of Christ and in Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 who came into the world to save sinners whose blood avails more to reconcile God than the sins of all the world to offend him Although thy sins be great and diverse and often repeated yet they are not greater nor more grievous than thou maist obtain pardon and forgiveness for in that the goodness of God is greater than the iniquity of all men Sins as it were set with the sun but the grace of God riseth with it Sins are the works of the Devil and of man To have pity to spare and to forgive are the works of God By how much therefore God is more powerful than the Devil and man by so much is his mercy above our malice The Lord is merciful and gracious Ps 103.8 slow to anger and plenteous in mercy v. 9. He doth not always chide neither doth he keep his anger for ever v. 10. He dealeth not with us after our sins nor rewardeth us according to our iniquities v. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him v. 12. As far as the East is from the West so far removeth he our transgressions Heaven is incomparably greater than the earth which is but like a very little point in comparison with heaven but so is the mercy of the heavenly Father incomparably greater than all sins Bern. Serm. 11. in Cant. col 518. Be far then from saying Mine iniquity is greater than the pity of a merciful God Thou shalt find God more bountiful than thou art faulty Gerson de remed contra pusillan So great is God's mercy that if thou hadst all the sins of the world upon thee and wert sorry that thou hadst proudly offended so good a God by thy sins and didst firmly purpose for the future to refrain therefrom God would never condemn thee Dost thou so forget the satisfaction made by Christ that thou wilt prefer thy sins before the merit of Christ that is thy self before God Thou seest the greatness of the disease Aug. in Psal 55. and seest thou not the power of the physician Thy sins are great Christ is far greater that satisfied for thy sins Thy sins are diverse but Christ also suffered diverse things for thee God is an infinite good whom thou hast offended by thy sins but Christ is an infinite person who hath reconciled thee to God Sigh therefore unto the heavenly Father and pray in the name of the Son thy Saviour If thou O eternal God Ansh de redempt gen hum fol. 96. despisest me for mine iniquity as I deserve however for the dearness of thy beloved Son look upon me with pity Observe in thy Son what thou maist atone in thy servant Behold the Sacrament of his flesh and remit the guilt of my flesh remember what â—â—y good Son has suffered and forget what thy bad servant hath done The Temptation of Blasphemy Tempted I must needs confess I am not only solicited to despair but am also sometimes tempted with the spirit of Blasphemy for there arise such thoughts in my heart as are injurious against God himself my Creator and my Saviour I would choose to die a thousand times to be freed from this temptation Comforter These thoughts are not the actions of thine heart but rather its bitter passions seeing thou art not delighted with them but thy grief from them is more bitter than death it self They are the scourges of Satan whereby he afflicts and torments thee they will not be reckoned for sin unto thee by the Lord. And though thou have the greatest impatience of spirit from the infirmity of thy flesh yet the Lord knows thy groans and thy sighs The weight of temptations did force hard words even from Job and Jeremy which yet the most bountiful God did fatherly forgive them Thou seest by them how altogether no strength unto good thou hast from thy self that thou maist cleave unto God alone with full trust of heart This is the top and highest degree of thy fight against Satan see that thou despond not here the greatest champion will be with thee and will not leave thee destitute of his help Wait patiently and humbly till thou art freed of these fiery darts of Satan Eph. 6.16 in the mean time let the grace of God be sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 It is the flesh which so striveth against the spirit and is so ready and obedient to receive the darts of Satan the sin that dwells in thy flesh shall not be imputed unto thee if through the spirit thou mortifie the deeds of the flesh and consent not to those blasphemous thoughts Those fiery darts of Satan shall be quenched in the blood of Christ turn towards him the shield of faith and as soon as thou perceivest any blasphemous thought to arise betake thy self to prayer and so thou maist kill it as it were in the bud The particularness of the premises Tempted I perceive some comfort of the Spirit in my heart I observe some trust in my mind that keeps me from despair when I behold the mercy of God abounding over my sins and the merit of Christ which is of infinite price and value But I doubt whether the Evangelical promises of the mercy of God and merit of Christ belong to me For God is not only merciful but he is also a most just and severe punisher of sins and alas experience sheweth that all are not partakers of the benefits of Christ Comforter But look thou give not way to those seducing thoughts of the particularness of the Evangelical promises God calleth all to him desireth all will come unto him he offereth the word of the Gospel and in it the benefits of Christ unto all and that not feignedly but sincerely not hypocritically but with a mind to bestow Ezek. 18.31 32. ch 33.11 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner but that he should turn and live Here thou hast the solemn oath of Divine truth thou seest their conversion is expected and desired by God that by their own fault die in their sins
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
conscience anew for the relapses of sin are very dangerous In this life there is yet time for pardon time for grace time for quieting conscience In this life the book of conscience may yet be mended out of the book of life But at the last judgment the books will be opened Rev. 20.12 and among them the book of conscience also in which before all the world shall be seen writ in fair letters all the sins of men that were not in this world blotted out by true contrition by faith and amendment of life Before that day of judgement come and the time of grace be past thou maist have a fair hope and sure trust that the blood of Jesus Christ Heb. 9.14 who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God will purge thy conscience from dead works to serve the living God Late repentance Tempted I am at last indeed sorry for having so wounded my conscience I do at last desire a remedy for my wounds at last I have a desire to keep a good conscience for the future but I fear lest my repentance be too late I am a fraid lest the divine grace being so oft rejected by me should also reject and forsake me Late repentance useth to deceive many Aug. de vera falsa poenit c. 17. and that repentance that proceedeth from a dying man he ought to fear lest it dye also Comforter No but there is nothing too late which is true and sincere Cypr. tract 1. cont Demetr While a man is in this life there is no repentance too late there are some who being called come into the Lords vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day Mat. 20.9 and obtain the reward of grace No delay of time prejudiceth God's justice or piety Fulgent Epist 7. Repentance is never late with God in whose sight as well past things as future are always accounted for present Behold the example of the thief on the cross who having confessed Christ with his mouth on the tip of whose lips as it were his soul was ready to depart obtains pardon of sins and a free promise of an heavenly paradise Heb. 3.13 Whilst it is called to day so long God doth earnestly will our conversion As long as the heavenly bridegroom delayeth his coming Mat. 25.5 so long the gate of grace and forgiveness is open A man's whole life even the last hour of it is granted for space to repent in Isai 65.2 The Lord stretcheth forth his hand all the day long Joh. 6.37 nor does he cast out any that cometh unto him at what time soever he come Have a care therefore that thy repentance be true and sincere and thou needst not fear it will be too late If when death approaches thou therefore repent because thou art deprived of opportunities to sin that is a false repentance for thus thou leavest not thy sins but they leave thee If thou therefore repent because thou seest the punishment of thy sins near that is also a false repentance for it proceeds from a love of thy self not from a sincere love of God It proceeds not from the hatred of sin but from the irksomness of a most just punishment Therefore that thou maist truly and heartily repent grieve for thy sins so often committed and therefore grieve because thou hast so often and so grievously offended a most gracious God by them In Christ seek for pardon of thy sins and firmly resolve to employ the remainder of thy life wholly in the service of God submit thy self to God and be humbled in thy heart before him permit to his will what and how great punishments a thousand times deserved he will inflict on thee that it may appear thou repentest out of an hatred to thy sin and not to thy punishment Such a contrite and humbled soul will be a most acceptable sacrifice to God for so he saith by the Prophet Psal 51.19 Isai 66.2 To whom will I look but to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word Doubting of the grace of God Tempted I feel in my heart indeed a deep contrition and sorrow for my sins nor do I altogether despair of the mercy of God but in the mean time my heart is shaken with the waves of doubts nor am I yet certain of the free pardon of my sins I hope well indeed but in the mean time I humbly doubt The consideration of God's mercy raiseth me up but the thought of my unworthiness presseth me down again I am turned to God and therefore I hope well I turn but late therefore in part I doubt still Comforter But I will put under thy staggering faith such strong props as whereon thou maist lean against all the storms of doubtings For that doubting is not an humble confession of our unworthiness but a dangerous opposing the faith we owe to God's promises nor is there any reason strong enough why we should doubt in late conversion and repentance seeing the divine clemency doth offer a most certain promise of remission of sins to all that heartily repent Attend first therefore to the immoveable truth of all God's promises Whosoever confessing and grieving for their sins seek for pardon of them in Christ and make a firm purpose of amendment of life to them hath God promised his grace forgiveness of sins and eternal life Joh. 13.15 Whosoever believeth in the son shall not perish but have everlasting life vers 18. 1 Joh. 5.12 Mark 16.16 He that believeth in him is not condemned He that hath the son hath eternal life He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved He that hath promised these things is God whose word is firmer than heaven and earth who is truth it self 2 Tim. 2.11 who is faithful and cannot deny himself or his word What therefore God offers with undoubted promises thou must accept with an undoubted faith and there is no reason thou shouldst object the infirmity of thy Nature which cannot embrace the promises with so great assurance of reliance for this is a fault of thy Nature which should be amended by the efficacy of the holy Spirit As thou believest not in Christ by thy natural strength but by the working of the holy Ghost so by the grace of the same Spirit thou maist be ascertained of the mercy of the heavenly Father against all inherent doubtings of corrupt nature 1 Joh. 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar As much as thou doubtest so much thou losest of thy faith thou must therefore resist that doubting which is not to be set off with the specious name of humility for humility ought to rise from the consideration of our unworthiness and yet in the mean time never the less a firmness of trust ought to arise from the meditation of God's promises Therefore hath God come forth from the secret throne of his Majesty
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
of the Spirit Luk. 11.13 2 Tim. 1.6 for the Lord will give the Spirit to them that ask him Stir up the gift of the holy Spirit that is in thee namely by praying seeking knocking meditating on the word and resisting naughty desires There is no perfection here but a continued way to perfection Besides this inward sealing and witnessing of the holy Spirit God hath given thee the sacraments which are the seals of his promises the conveyers of the benefits of Christ and the means to beget feed and strengthen thy faith that thou maist be assured that the benefits of Christ belong to thee in particular By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of Gods grace in the holy supper thou art fed with the body and blood of Christ in private Absolution thou art pronounced free from the chains of sins Cypr. serm de mort pag. 209. Being confirmed with these seals certainly and undoubtedly believe the word of the Gospel Why dost thou doubt and waver this is not to eat thy Saviour at all this is to offend Christ the Master of believers with the sin of unbelief this is for one that is placed in the Church not to have faith in the house of faith Attend moreover unto the infallibleness of the audience promised thee God hath promised even with his oath added that he will hear our prayers and give unto us whatever we ask according to his will Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you Mat. 18.19 If two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done unto them of my Father which is in heaven 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in God if we ask any thing according to his will we shall obtain it He that hath promised us hearing hath bid us ask remission of sins what place therefore can there be left to doubt of remission of sins How would Christ have bid us to add the word Amen unto our prayer if he would have us doubt of audience Attend therefore lastly unto the property of true faith as by which we have access into that grace wherein we stand and boast of the hope of glory promised by God Heb. 4.16 by which with confidence we come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace by which through the power of God we are kept unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 by which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 by which we are most firmly perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come vers 39. nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Considering all these things let thy weakness encourage it self Aug. in Psal 148. let it not despair let it not chafe it self let it not avert it self Christ hath promised thee that thou shalt be there where he is What hath God promised thee O mortal man that thou shalt live for ever Believest thou not believe believe that is more which he hath done already than that which he hath promised what hath he done he hath died for thee what hath he promised that thou shalt live with him It is more incredible that he who was eternal should dye than that a mortal should live eternally Now that thou art sure of that which is more incredible why dost thou doubt of the other God hath promised thee heaven he hath given thee his Son who is a greater gift than heaven and earth Doubting of perseverance Tempted I no wise doubt but that an access unto God lieth open unto me by Christ the Mediator I trust I am in the grace of God in the mean time I am made to doubt of perseverance I know that perseverance alone is crowned I hear that only they that persevere to the end shall be saved Mat. 10.22.24.46 Aug. Serm. 8. ad fratr in Eremo It is vertue not to have begun but to have perfected nor is the beginning but the end required in Christians Hieron in Epist ad Furiam Judas begun well but ended ill Paul begun ill but ended well Without perseverance neither he that fighteth obtaineth the victory Theol. myst Harph. c. 34 nor he that conquereth the palm I hear our Master of combats crying Rev. 3.11 Hold fast what thou hast lest another receive thy crown I hear and fear I fear and doubt I doubt and throw away trust of heart Comforter Consider three things wherein all thy hope consists the dearness of adoption Bern. serm 3. de sep frag miser col 183. the truth of the promise the power of performance Let thy foolish cogitation murmur now as much as it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merits dost thou hope to obtain it and do thou confidently answer I know whom I have believed and I am sure he hath adopted me in great tenderness that he is true in his promises that he is powerful in his performance This is a threefold cord that is hardly broken which being let down unto thee out of our country into this prison lay firm hold on it I pray thee that it may raise thee up that it may draw thee to the view of the glory of the great God This is a most firm anchor of thy hope these are those three pillars whereby thou maist bear against the waves and storms of doubtings namely the good-will of God adopting the certain faithfulness of the promiser and the immense power of fulfilling the promises The good God hath promised good things he hath begun to work that which is good in thee he that hath begun Phil. 2.13 will also perfect according to his good pleasure The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is faithful and true he will not suffer thee to be tempted above thy strength 1 Cor. 10.13 but with the temptation will give an issue that thou maist be able to bear it 2 Tim. 1.12 The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is able to fulfil his promises Be thou confident therefore that he can keep his pledge until the day of judgement Joh. 10.28 29. None shall take Christ's sheep out of his hands The heavenly Father that hath given them to the Son is greater than all and none can take them out of the Father's hands Christ the only high Priest of the new Testament hath prayed for all that by the word were to believe in him that they may be with him Joh. 17.20 and may behold the glory that is given him by the heavenly Father Wherefore seeing thou also believest in Christ thou hast the witness of God in thy self 1
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
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
Though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no Evill for thou art with me thy r … thy Staff they comfort me Psa 23 O Death where is thy sting Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory c. 〈◊〉 Cor 15. Divine Consolations Against the FEAR OF DEATH In a DIALOGUE between a Minister and a Tempted Christian Writen by John Gerhard the Author of the Meditations To which is added The Christians Triumph over Death with Divine Contemplations Ejaculations and Poems thereupon London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the George over against the Stock 's Market at the Lower end of Cornhill 1680. The Authors Epistle Dedicatory to his brethren in the Ministry IF any my honoured friends and reverend brethren in Christ will accommodate Plato's definition of Philosophy That it is the meditation of death unto the true divine doctrine of Christianity in so doing I think he will not go against truth seeing in a manner the All of it consists in a meditation of death But by Death I understand as well Christ's death as our own The death of Christ and his suffering is the summ of Christianity 1 Cor. 2.2 thence the Apostle judged that among his Corinthians he would know nothing save Christ crucified and dead By Christ's death is made an expiation of our sins a destruction of Satan's power a confirmation of the new covenant and a lessening of those terrours that are wont to accompany our death The meditation of the death of Christ therefore ought never to depart out of our memory But neither in any time of our life let us forget our own death As death awaits us every day so let us on the other hand expect it every day Hieron Epist ad Paulin. He that every day remembers he shall dye easily slighteth all worldly things prepares himself for a happy death by a true and serious conversion labours after sincere godliness patiently endures adversity and heartily burns with an ardent desire of eternal life Teach us O Lord Psal 90.12 to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom was Moses his prayer a great part therefore of Christian wisdom consists in a constant meditation of death We must long learn that which that it be once done well concerns our eternal salvation It is appointed for all men to dye but to dye godly to dye in Christ to dye happily is not every ones lot therefore the mind is be prepared to that blessed immortality and to be guarded with the shield of the word and prayer For if at any time surely in that last time of our life doth our treacherous and subtile enemy lay wait for our salvation and with all his might endeavou◠to deprive us of the possession of it wherefore some of the ancients say that the infernal serpent is said especially to bite the heel for he knows very well that all is sure on our part if he be overcome by us in that last conflict but on the contrary that it will be to our everlasting disgrace and damage if all the other parts of our life as of a Comedy having been well acted we behave our selves uncomely and cowardly in this last Catastrophe Hence are those various temptations wherewith as with battering Rams he assaults our heart in sickness and in the agony of death hence those fiery darts which he casts at us with all his strength hence that horrour and anxiety which we feel when we approch the gates of death Blessed is he that overcometh here blessed is he that is faithful unto death Rev. 2.3 he shall he partaker of all those good things which are promised in the Revelations to the stout Souldiers of Christ What is this life 't is death death life doth end Our life and death do both the same way tend But Christ of life's the Captain and the door Our death doth conquer'd lye by his deaths power On him alone His hope ought to relie That would not of eternal deaths wound dye But this our hope most bitter storms do drive When in the confines of death we arrive This is the toil these storms to overcome Lest that instead of life death be our doom Wherefore seeing some while ago I have endeavoured by an explication of the History of the passion and death of Christ to instill into the minds of the Godly the meditation of Christ's death I thought it would be worth the while if to such persons I should also propound the meditation of our death for which end I writ these divine consolations to be opposed to the terrors of death and to temptations in the agony of death for my own private use only for I carry about a sickly body a brittle vessel and besides death not long ago made a lamentable destruction in my own house and there are many reasons for which I fear my own life will not be long therefore I would betimes prepare and fence my mind for this last agony and being incompassed with so many domestick evils I bestow'd some days on the pious meditation of this little book which meditations of mine seeing perhaps they may be useful to others also I was not unwilling to publish them But this I would advise in the beginning of this Treatise that I writ not for secure impenitent and hard hearts but for contrite broken and bleeding consciences Exhortations to true godliness belong to another place this discourse is wholly spent in consolations to be opposed to death and temptations in death Whosoever therefore desires to receive this oil of consolation let him bring the vessel of a contrite heart for what doth comfort belong to him that is not yet contrite and made sad And I have dedicated this Manual unto you most dear friends and reverend brethren in Christ to give a publick testimony of that near friendship and brotherhood we are linked together in And you your selves also carry about you a body subject to diseases and there cannot but daily arise in your minds the remembrance of death I do not at all therefore doubt although your faith needeth not these props which for my own and others use I have collected in this little book but that notwithstanding the reading of it will not be unpleasant to you epecially seeing it comes from a friendly and candid mind I pray our Lord Jesus will every where bless us and the labours of our ministry by his grace and spirit John Gerhard An Index of the Temptations THE forerunners of death pag. 1 Deaths Trident. pag. 3 The anguish of sin pag. 5 The remembrance of actual sins pag. 8 A doubt concerning the application of the benefits of Christ pag. 12 The false persuasion of faith pag. 16 An insufficient sorrow pag. 19 The weight of sorrow pag. 22 Despair pag. 26 Blasphemy pag. 29 The particularness of the promises pag. 31 The absolute decree of reprobation pag. 34 The application of the merit of Christ pag. 40 The
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
there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust 1 Cor. 15.53 This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 2 Cor. 4.14 We know that he that raised up the Lord Jesuss Phil. 3.20 21. shall raise us up also by Jesus Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 1 Thes 4.14 If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Rev. 20.12 13. John saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them These sayings of Scripture writ as it were with the sun-beam are seconded by strong reasons For so the Apostle concludes If Christ be risen 1 Cor. 15.12 Tert. de carne p. 33. we shall al so rise again teaching us that the resurrection of Christ is the key of our graves and the example of our hope 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ was made the first-fruits of them that sleep Therefore as by God's appointment the harvest followed the offering of the first-fruits Exod. 23.19 Lev. 23.20 so shall the harvest of the universal resurrection follow the first-fruits of our Lord's resurrection Christ is our head Aug. 20. de trinit c. 17. what went before in the head shall follow in the members and thence the Apostle confidently affirms Eph. 2.6 that we are raised up together with Christ and placed in the glory of the heavenly paradise Maxim in Serm. de res For the flesh blood and portion of every one of us is in Christ-man Where therefore our portion reigneth there we believe to reign where our blood ruleth we perceive our selves to rule and where our flesh is glorified we know that we are glorious 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Moreover as by one man namely the first Adam came death so by one man namely the second Adam came the resurrection As in Adam we dye so in Christ we rise again Adam's fall was available to bring in death shall not Christ's resurrection be able to obtain our rising again unto life Christ in his glorious resurrection shew'd himself a conquerour of all his enemies then surely of death also which at length he shall utterly abolish Christ is the eternal King surely therefore he will raise from death the citizens of his kingdom that they may live for ever with him Christ freed not our foul only but our body also from the yoke of sin and ordain'd it to an inheritance of eternal life therefore it shall be raised out of the dust that it may go to the possession of this life obtained for it by Christ Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. p. 77. From all which it clearly appears that Christ is as it were the surety and pledge of our resurrection 1 Cor. 3.16 Moreover our bodies are the temples and tabernacles of the holy Ghost he will not let this his temple lie hid in dust and rubbish but he will build it again and hereafter will make it far more illustrious than it was in this life Even as the latter temple of Jerusalem had greater glory than the former Hag. 2.4 In Solomon's temple there were unfading palm-trees 1 K. 6.32 so the bodies of the godly shall not be liable to eternal corruption seeing they are the dwellings of the eternal Spirit Nay seeing our bodies are sanctified by the body and blood of Christ Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. in the salutary use of the Lords supper how can they abide in the grave How shall that flesh be said to come into corruption and not to partake of life which is fed by the body and blood of Christ As that bread which is of the earth after consecration is no longer common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heavenly so our bodies also partaking of this Eucharist are not corruptible having hope of a resurrection Christ's flesh is enlivening meat Joh. 6.54 whoso therefore eateth this flesh hath eternal life Lactant. lib. 4. instit c. 48. and Christ will raise him up at the last day Moreover seeing the soul in this life works by the body and with the body whether good or bad whilst it is in the body therefore divine justice requireth that those that are joyned in the work should be also joyned in the wages those which are joyned i◠the fault should be joyned also in the punishment thence and therefore we shall all be made to appear before the judgement sea◠of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in his body whether they be good or evil Tert. in Apolog. c. 45. p. 337. Tert. de re sur p. 44. Lact. 6. div instit c. 18. The soul did not deserve without the body in which it did all Lastly besides these strong arguments there are the examples of those that have been raised whom Christ by his own power the Prophets and Apostles by a divine power have recalled to life for a testimony of the future resurrection which as Candidates of immortality and eternity they give to us who by faith and confession are joyned to them The incredibility of the resurrection Tempted The Article of the resurrection is very much against the nature of our bodies and humane reason whence the hope of the resurrection also is sometimes not a little weakened with the storms of various cogitations in my heart Comforter The foundation of our faith are the oracles of the holy Spirit not the dictates of our reason We believe the resurrection of the dead 2 Cor. 10.5 to the obedience of this faith we ought to bring all reason into captivity Eph. 3.20 God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think * Philo. lib. de decal p. 477. If therefore thou find God doth promise thou shalt find he will perform whatever God saith they are not words but works Let us suppose that God can do any thing which we confess we cannot tell how it can be done and therein the whole reason of the work is the power of him that sayes he will do it †Aug. ep 3. Bern. serm 4. de nativ col 43. It will be easie for him by whom his mother her self lost not incorruption of flesh by bringing forth to cause that this corruptible should put on incorruption by rising again Nay in Nature there are set forth divers resemblances of the resurrection 1 Cor.
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
thee that Christ thy treasure liveth Let the frame of heaven and earth perish flee pass away thou hast the most faithful promises of a new heaven and a new earth Isai 65.17 2 Pet. 3.12 Behold I create new heavens and a new earth saith the Lord in which shall dwell righteousness so that none any longer remembreth the former Rev. 21.1 Let the tabernacle of thy pilgrimage fall the mansion of the heavenly countrey abideth ever Nor is there any reason thou shouldst fear the accusation either of Satan or the Law or thy sins thy sins are thrown into the depth of the Sea namely into the abyss of Gods mercy God hath thrown them behind his back Mic. 7.19 Isai 38.17 Ezech. 18.24 so that he will remember them no more hereafter Satan believe me shall not fetch thy sins up out of the sea nor shall dare to bring them into the sight of the Judge Thy sins are * Psal 32.1 Psal 51.1 forgiven covered blotted out they shall not be brought again into judgement The Devil will in vain accuse the godly because the blotting out the hand-writing by the blood of Christ shall be turned to him Col. 2.14 His accusation for sin shall be to no purpose because the forgiveness made through Christ shall be alledged against him Vain shall be the accusation of the Law because in this life there preceded reconciliation with God through faith Lastly thou hast no reason to fear Christ's sudden coming again to judgment for though the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5.2 yet God hath not appointed us to wrath 9. but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ Who died for us 10. that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him The judgment day is not to be feared by them for whom the heavenly kingdom was prepared from the beginning Mat. 25.34 Eph. 1.4 who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Commit therefore into the faithful hands of God the precious pledge of thy soul he will keep it in death and in judgement and he will introduce it being joyned to the body into the palace of heaven to everlasting glory A Prayer in Sickness HEar me O God thou giver and restorer of life in whose hands life and death health and sickness are Hear me not according to the desire of my will but according to the good pleasure of thine own will If thou wilt thou canst heal me say but one word and I shall be whole Thou art the length of my dayes in thy hands my lots are but if now thou call me to the heavenly country by the way of death first mortifie in me all inordinate love of this life give me strength of spirit that I may overcome the pangs of death and in the midst of the darkness of my dimm eyes kindle and encrease in me light of heart with thee is the well of true life and in thy light shall I see light Thy death O good Jesus is the remedy of my death and the merit of eternal life I embrace thy word with a faithful heart therefore I am sure that thou dwellest in my heart by faith I will not let thee go out of my heart until thou bless me and chear me with thy enlivening consolation Thou hast said He that believeth in me shall never die my heart presents this thy word before thee and with this faith I come to the throne of grace thou wilt not cast out nor reject him that cometh unto thee Let thy precious blood wash me from my sins let thy wounds hide me from the anger of God and the rigour of judgment I will die in thee thou shalt live in me I will abide in thee thou shalt abide in me thou wilt not leave me in death and dust but wilt raise me to the resurrection of life Thou hast fought and overcome for me fight now and overcome in me let thy strength be perfected in my weakness My soul cleaveth to thee I will not suffer my self to be plucked from thee Let thy peace that passeth all understanding keep my heart and senses into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth Take my poor soul which thou hast created redeemed wash it from sins in thy blood sealed with the earnest of thy holy Spirit and fed with thy body and blood thine it is thou gavest it me take what is thine and remit the guilt of my sins wherewith I have stained it Let not the fruit of thy passion perish in me nor let thy precious blood be unfruitful in me O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Amen FINIS THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH With some Divine Contemplations Soliloquies and Poems thereupon LONDON Printed by Margaret White for Nath. Crouch 1679. THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH CONTEMPLATIONS On 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where is thy sting UPright Adam was made Immortal but sinful Adam begot all his sons mortal even as he had made himself Adam therefore is dead and all the sons of Adam do but live to die the sentence of death past upon us all in him we are born to see this sentence executed upon our selves and as Adam himself dyed the same day he sinned that is brought himself into a necessity of dying though as to the time of his death he was reprieved for nine hundred and thirty years after that day So we in Adam came under the same necessity though it be some thousands of years after before the sentence be executed upon us As a Malefactor is a dead man in Law at that instant when the sentence is pronounced against him though his execution be respited for some few days after So according to Gods law and decree we are all dead in Adams doom though it please God to prolong these days of ours wherein we must live to die according to his irrevocable doom A Malefactor is not executed sometimes one two three four five or six days after judgment past so likewise we were all adjudged to die before we were born but God with whom a thousand years is but as one day hath appointed the first second third fourth fifth or sixth thousand year of the world to be the day of our execution There is more necessity of our dying than of our being born It is not so necessary that he who is not should be as that he that now lives should once die the former may be supposed but the latter is fully expressed It is appointed for all men once to dye Heb. 9.27 There is alwayes a greater necessity of the end than the means death is the end of life not only in the execution of it but in the intention Morti nati sumus we are born to dye and we dye from the time we are born The day of our birth what is it but the beginning of the day
Jesus standing o' th right hand of God And then think earth too mean a place for thee Whom he redeem'd with his most precious blood Sweet Jesus Thouwast pleas'd to buy me come I 'm not the worlds but thine then fetch me home If in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.29 THE world presents thee Ophir gold but stay Lose not thy Interest in God for Clay The world presents short pleasures to thine Eye Thy God presents blest Immortality Be circumspect the world 's a crafty Cheat And sells its Vanities at too dear a Rate Thy Soul 's more worth than all the world enjoys Exchange it not for Fooleries and Toys Which to thy fancy may seem precious things Yet are but Adders Poyson Serpents stings Wounding the dying soul that cannot die Nor live less than to all Eternity Consider him who said My soul take pleasure Go eat and drink thou hast abundant Treasure Laid up for many years That very night This wretched soul was stript of all delight And hurried hence amidst its chiefest joy By furious Ghosts Triumphing in their prey There are but few that solid wisdom prize And search Eternity with sacred Eyes Of saving faith Imploring not to miss Grace here below in Heaven Eternal Bliss Let thy Redeemer in thy heart be fixt So shall no sorrow with True joy be mixt Nor tempting vice thee from his precepts draw Omit no time fulfill his Royal Law With son-like fear and thou shalt have no less I' th end than everlasting Happiness The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.23 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.1 SAid I not Lord that I would sin no more Yet sin again hath got me on the score Pray I not without ceasing to be free From sinful thoughts yet sin abides in me When I awake sin seeks to gain my heart Contending for precedence by desert Of Birth-right from the womb and would controul My holy thoughts and close besiege my soul That matchless gift of thine what shall I do Comply with sin and be its Captive too Who arms the Creatures with enticing smiles And with deceitful arguments beguiles Unstable Souls no I will shun its charms Thy strength my God to shield me from its harms I do implore else I am lost undone O let me find redemption in thy son The son of thy dear love who 's freely bent To bath my soul and make it innocent With his pure crimson streams whose mighty power Trampled on Death and Hell that dreadful hour The Graves restraint he vanquished at length By his victorious and triumphant strength The Temple Veil he rent in open view And gave himself to Gentile and to Jew A sacrifice for sin He is that Lamb Foretold and Typified in Isaac's Ram. The builders Scorn yet the chief Corner-stone Ezekiels Shepherd Daniels Holy One My Rock my only confidence my stay Forsake me not but guide me in thy way I am the Jonah I did cause the Rout To beg a Murtherer and cast thee out I stript thee of thy cloaths and of thy skin And my transgressions tortur'd thee within My sins thy sharpest sufferings contriv'd My sinfulness thee of thy life depriv'd Drew down thy fathers wrath which none could bear But only thee my Lord my Life my Fear Uphold me yet a little to endure Sins Buffetings the victory is sure Faith tells me so and patience bids me wait And I shall gain a conquest to the height Of my expected hope I shall but die And then shall go to immortality To live with perfect souls in perfect bliss Discharg'd of such a Nothingness as this Then wait my soul with patience for thy rest Prepar'd from everlasting to invest Thy nakedness with purest white array Free from the Moth and power of times decay While with incessant pleasures thou art fed A Crown of glory shall begirt thy head Perpetual Halelujahs shalt thou sing Unto thy God thy Saviour and thy King The souls Longing COme Lord my head doth burn my heart is sick While thou dost ever ever stay Thy long deferrings wound me to the quick My Spirit gaspeth night and day O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee II. How canst thou stay considering the pace Thy blood did make which thou didst wast When I behold it trickling down thy face I never saw thing make such hast O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee III. When man was lost thy pity lookt about To see what help i' th earth or sky But there was none at least no help without The help did in thy bosom lye O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee IV. There lay thy Son and must he leave that Nest That hive of sweetness to remove Thraldom from those who would not at a feast Leave one poor Apple for thy Love O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee V. He did he came O my redeemer dear After all this canst thou be strange So many years baptiz'd and not appear As if thy love could fail or change O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee VI. Yet if thou stayest still why must I stay My God what is this world to me This world of woe hence all ye clouds away Away I must go up and see O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee VII What is this weary world this meat and drink That chains us by the teeth so fast What is this Woman kind which I can wink Into a blackness and distast O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee VIII With one small sigh thou gav'st me t' other day I blasted all the joys about me And frowning on them as they pin'd away Now come again said I and flout me O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee IX Nothing but drouth and dearth but bush and brake Which way so'ere I look I see Some may dream merrily but when they wake They dress themselves and come to thee O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee X. We talk of Harvests there are no such things But when we leave our Corn and hay There is no fruitful year but that which brings The last and lov'd though dreadful day O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee XI Oh loose this frame this knot of man unty That my free soul may use her wing Which now is pinion'd with mortality As an intangled hampred thing O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee XII What have I left that I should stay and groan The most of me to Heaven is fled My thoughts and joys are all packt up and gone And for their old acquaintance plead O shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee XIII Come Dearest Lord pass not this Holy season My flesh and bones and joynts do pray And even my verse when by the rhime and reason The word is Stay sayes ever Come Oh shew thy self to me Or take me up to thee Vpon Death WHy should we not as well desire our Death As sleep No difference but a little breath 'T is all but rest 't is all but a releasing Our tyred limbs why then not alike pleasing Being burthened with the sorrows of the day We wish for night which being come we lay Our body down yet when our very breath Is Irksome to us we are afraid of death Our sleep is oft accompanied with frights Distracting dreams and dangers of the nights When in the sheets of Death our Body's sure From all such evils and we sleep secure What matter Doun or earth what boots it whether Alas our body 's sensible of neither Things that are sensless feel not pains nor ease Tell me and why not worms as well as fleas In sleep we know not whether our clos'd eyes Shall ever wake From Death w' are sure to rise I but 't is long first Oh is that our fears Dare we trust God for nights and not for years Conclusion THe God of love my Shepherd is And he that doth me feed While he is mine and I am his What can I want or need II. He leads me to the tender grass Where I both feed and rest Then to the streams that gently pass In both I have the best III. Or if I stray he doth convert And bring my mind in frame And all this not for my desert But for his holy Name IV. Yea in deaths shady black aboad Well may I walk not fear For thou art with me and thy Rod To guide thy Staff to bear V. Nay thou dost make me fit and dine Even in my enemies sight My head with Oyl my Cup with wine Runs over day and night IV. Surely thy sweet and wondrous love Shall measure all my days And as if never shall remove So neither shall my praise FINIS