promised to supply that good save from that evil Why then my soul shouldst not thou joy in hope of it or mayest thou not have hope since God hath promised it And why doth not thy hope beget joy in outward things it doth so Thou mayest see the full joyes of Heaven Christs presence Gods face perfect glory and these all enjoyed by thee all enjoyed I say by hope and that by such an hope as cannot fail Rom. 5. 5. as makes not ashamed It s sure and presents the things hoped for most sure for it hath the certainty of Faith for its ground and that is the certainty of God himself For Faith buildeth on Gods promises and they are most certain confirmed by two immutable things First The Word of God Secondly The Oath of God Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19. For men swear an oath for confirmation it is then an end of all strife God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast Yea thy Faith and Hope hath as the immutability so the fidelity and truth of God to rest upon he can as well cease to be God as not to be so good as his Word It hath also the purpose and deâ—ree of God for Gods promises are onely the expressions of his purpose and decree And as the Mercy of God so it hath also the Merit of Christ the efficacy of his Obedience Passion and Intercession And thus also its sure for Christ hath merited all good things for thee present and to come whether it be pâ—rdon of sin victory over sin subduing thy corruption the favor of God or what ever else thou wantest And it s necessitated now by Gods Justice also That being satisfied by Christ and his satisfaction by God accepted Oh why then shouldst not thou joy in hope of all these O consider the strength of all these Arguments to cause and increase Hope and Joy in thee The joy of the Lord is our strength Nehâ— 8. 10. Therefore O my soul be thou no moâ—e so cast down for time to come why art thâ—u oâ— why shouldâ—st thou be so O rouzâ— up and encourage thy self in thy God and strengthen thy Faith by meditating on the truth and goodness of these promises their excellencies sweetness and usefulness to thee and by Resisâ—ing doubtings and so stir up thy Faith in them This is the place of living by Faith therefore O my soul live thou by Faith that is finde out a promise of what ever thou wantest and â—enture on it with eâ—pectation hoping above hope and so fetch every thing thou needest fâ—om the promises O that thoâ— woâ—ldst sing that triumphant Song that the Apostle Paâ—l doth Rom. 8. 38 39. I am perswaded that nâ—ither deâ—th nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinâ—s present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate theâ— from the â—â—ve of God which iâ— in Christ Jesus our Lord. O my soul pray and strive so to do O that thou couldst say as the same Apostlâ— doth Phil. 1. 23. I desâ—re to be dâ—â—olved and be with Christ which is best of all Truly in the mean while God alone is thy portion for thou hast taken him so to be And if God alone be present with thee it s enough He were not God iâ— he were not All-sufficient Now thou hast him in Faith in pledges and earnest yea in possession why then dost thou not enjoy him why dost thou not shake off that senceless drowsiness which makes thy life unpleasant and uncomfortable as though thou hadst none of God O leave off over-heaviness to those that want God to those that either know him not or know him displeased not in Christ Thou Lord shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards bring me to glory as Psal 73. 24 25 26 28. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart â—aileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portâ—â—n for ever It is good for me to draw neer to God I have put my trust in the Lord God and â—o he answers I will not leave thee nor forsake thee no never as Heb. 13. 5. No at no time When thou art therefore in any strait or distress that thou knowest not what to do then go freely and boldly to the throne of grace in the Name through the Mediation of Christ There 's a friend that will help thee and relieve thee sustain and deliver thee When all other helps â—ail yet I say he will never fail thee do I say so nay verily of a truth it is God himself saith it by his Spirit speaking in his Apostle Therefore build on it â—â—st on it as most certain For as God is truth it self so are all his promises let them be beleeved by thee Press the Lord with his own word or promise and he will perform them even to thee Lord thou hast said that sin shall not have dominion over us as Rom. 6. 14. O let it not have have dominion over me make good that word of thine to me O when shall that time once be O that thou wouldst this day nay this very hour at once kill all sin in me Lord thou hast said Thou wilt Mich. â— 19 subdue our iniquities O Lord do thou it in me for they are too strong for me Is any thing to hard for God no sure surely thou hast power enough to do it And thou saidst thou arâ— willing O what then hinders O my God let thy Spirit come sâ—nd it with power and make its vertue to appear in subduing all sin in me and raising me up to a new a holy life such a life as thou wouldst have me live Lord thou hast said That we shall seek thee with all our hearts and that thou wilt befoâ—â—d of us Jere. 29. 13 14. O remember thine own everlasting Covenant made with thy â—ervants Jere. 32. 40. That thou wilt put thy fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from thee And thou hast said Thou wilt comfort us and we shall be comforted even as one â—hom his mother comforts Iâ— 66. 13. Lord make good these promises in which thou hast caused thy servant to trust O keep thy servant that â—o presumptâ—ous sins prevail over me And cleaâ—se me from â—y secret sins yea from all my sins of thought then shall I be â—pright and I shall be innâ—cent and free from the great transgressions Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redâ—â—mer A SERMON Composed for the FVNERAL Of that prâ—â—ious Woman Mrs ANNE SKELTON of S.
COMFORTS Against the fear of DEATH Being some short Meditations composed by that precious Gentle woman Mrs. Anne Skelton late of Norwich Wherein are several Evidences of the work of Grace in her own Soul which were the Stay of her Heart against the fear of Death From which may be discerned the â—â—able of a true Christian spirit To which is added some short Notes of a Sermon preached at the Burial of that choyce Servant of God in St. Andrews in Norwich By JOHN COLLINGS M. A. and one of the most unworthy Embastadors of Jesus Christ for the preaching of the Gospel in the said City Phil. 1. 21. For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Ver. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a 〈◊〉 to depart and to be with Christ which is far 〈◊〉 London Printed by I. M. for Nathaniel Brooks and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Corhnil 1649. TO My truly honored Friend WILLIAM SKELTON Gent. Increase of Happiness and Comfort SIR IT is my happiness that I can be acquainted a little in her writings with her with whom God was pleased to give me so short a time of acquaintance in this life Sir though I could not deny my worthless labors as my last piece of service to her yet had it not been to tempt out this little piece into the world I should have denyed this Sermon any further publication then the Pulpit in which it was preached I need not excuse it to you Sir who know enough what impar opus humeris constantly lies upon my shoulders that I had neither time to compose it not yet since to enlarge or refine it but have sent you my own Notes totidem verbis as the first day written I shall beg Sir That her Notes may be prefixed to the Sermon I shall be a little covered under so sweet a shadow and the Readere expectation will be satisfied before his eye reacheth my Sermon But Sir without a Complement which is but the folly of excuse the Sermon holds out something of Christ his name is precious Reading Rhetorick c. are but the poverty of the Creatures endeavors In her writing you will be a Spectator to a pitcht battel sought betwixt her Soul and Death My Sermon will present you with the Conqueror singing Triumph we sight but Christ conquers nay to speak truth he both fights and conquers too After I had seen her upon her death-bed so fully triumphing over the King of Terrors I could not but at her Funeral rejoyce concerning Death with crying O Death where 's thy sting O Hell where 's thy victory It hath often pleased my secret thoughts to remember her over-looking Death when the pangs of Death had taken hold of her Ah Sir how sweet is it to have an assurance of Christs love What a nobleness of spirit is there in the true Christian that can call Death and Hell cowards It is no marvel to see a profane beastly wretch whose conscience the Lord hath feared to damnation dying quietly but to see a knowing Christian of an awakened conscience to dye triumphingly and make an holy-day of leaving all Creature-conteâ—â—nents O this is the mighty Conquest of the Soul through the great work of him that hath led Captivity captive Sir methinks it should comfort you to think how willing she was to part with you though before more dear then her own life to her It argued no want of love to desire Christs company more then yours Alas Sir you never dyed upon the Cross for her Let it refresh you Sir to think how much you were beholden to the Bridegroom of Glory that he would trust you with his Bride so long a time The enjoyment of such a Saint thirty years Sir is a great piece of Heaven Is she gone No Sir only restored Where she is she is in good keeping and as well-beloved as she loves You have resigned her Sir And it was but Justice that the Lord Jesus should have his Wife when he sent such a messenger for her as would not be denyed Ah! Sir let us follow she is gone before It should seem her Mansion was ready before ours or which is most probable her Soul was fitter for it then ours She was first drest and therefore is first gone to take her walk in the Paradise of God Sir let us blush and get ready how long shall her glory antidate ours But it will be some comfort to think that though she hath got the start in Heaven before us yet she will be walking there till we come It is a rare walk that wearres not the feet of he Redeemed ones Here we wall upon stones there we shall have a gardes-walk and legs that cannot be weary â—ut yet let us make haste there 's odds betwixt Earth and Heaven what ever our enjoyments here be This Sermon â—â— rather her own prefixed Meditations may mind you of her Sir who now is before the Throne and is satisfied with the likeness of him who is the brightness of his Father's glory I beseech you Sir as it minds you of her so let it quicken you after her So shall God have the glory your Soul the comfort and he the answer of his prayers who is Sir Your most unworthy Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus JOHN COLLINGS From my study in Châ—plyfield house in Norwich August 26 1648. TO THE CHRISTIAN AND Ingenious Reader Especially such as fear Death for want of assurance of Christs Love Christian Reader I Here present thee with a copy after which I would have thee to write some few Meditations of that precious Saint of God Mistriss Anne Skelton I need not speak for her as those parents said of their child so I shall say of her She is of age let her speak for her self Of age she is for she hath taken up her inheritanes in Glory what her life was let her books speak It was not her course to triffle away her time by sleeping or dressing as the most of her quality use to do God had given her another Spirit viz. to strive to go as fast to Heaven as most gallants do to go before each other in â—all I was acquainted with but a few of her last days but it was easie to discern by the honey the laboriousness of the Bee Her reported practise was to have made Heaven her â—say and the necessary things of this world her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if her time allotted for worldly affairs would allow her any minutes for God she would improve them of they would do her no good she was resolved they should do her no hurt by committing sacriledg upon her religious hours if her Kitchin would lend no time to her Closet yet she would be sure it should steal not a minute from it For her worldly imployments as she was consciencious in her relations so she was refreshed when she could wash the pitch from her fingers and
and feest it more and more vile judging thy self miserable because that which is contrary to Gods will prevails over thee And so thou dost overcome sin though oft soiled by it that which yet may stand with grace though it abide to death in thee Now my Soul dost thou not mourn under this Pray earnestly and rest withal on Christ for help and assistance of his Spirit to enable thee to overcome all thy corruptions still striving against them thou darest not deny it And with unfeigned purpose never entertaining any known evil with full consent of will but coâ—â—ially embracing the contrary grace and command longing after more grace out of the fence of want of it This is an infallible sign of true grace as Math. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled Therefore my Soul apply this by faith Bless God with humility and take the comfort of it that so thou mayst walk the more thankfully and love him more who hath so loved thee and be more careful of all thy ways Another evidence or mark of true Grace is thy resolving in the sence of Gods absence yet then to stick to and rest on his mercy through Christ even unto death by his assistance Psa 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me Verse 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation So still continue thou testing on Christ alone as to work in thee all grace both to will and do so to strengthen and perfect it to the day of Christ as Philip. 1. 6. And begging of God his Spirit who is the Spirit of Grace to help and enable thee it being the sap to make thee fruitful for of thy self thou canst do nothing pleasing to God but all thy services as of thy self are an abomination in Gods presence But now if they come from Christ and the Spirit then God is well pleased with them and accepts them And remember God hath promised to give the Spirit to them that ask it Mat. 21. 23. Whatsoever we ask in Christs name if we beleeve we shall receive And Luke 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more then shall yourâ— heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Let that comfort thee this was as argument to David of grace in him let it be so to thee Another evidence of Grace is thy confident resting on Gods mercy because of his prorâ—isâ— it 's that upholds thee knowing he is most faithful as he cannot be deceived so he will not deceive any that trust in him So David did Psa 119. 81. My Soul sainteth for thy Salvation yet I wait for thy Word When David heart fainted this very thing stayd him namely that he trusted in Gods Word Psa 34. 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord. Psa 2. 12. Blessed and all that trust in him Psa 3. 18 Blessed are they that wâ—lâ— for him Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord. And dost not thou my Soul still seek wait pray hope and with on humblâ— dependency desire still to trust in God always though with much opposition Yea when thou feelest no sensible evidence of Gods love and savor to thee yet even then Gods Word comforts thee thou hast given me more joy of heart then they have whose outward comforts abound as Psal 4. 7. So thy Word comforts my Soul in the midst of great doubtings distress and trouble yet thou my Soul hast still some hope by casting thy self on thy God when other hopes stil as David Psal 142. 2 3. I poured out my complaint before him though my spirit was even over whelmed Yet Vers 5. Even then said he I cryed unto thee O Lord and said thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the living Now Oh my Soul is not God thy portion also Indeed he is Hast not thou taken him so to be Yes truly even to be thy All and thou hast I hope with a cordial resignation given up all thy interest to the Lord and his service at least desirest and endeaverest so to do in thy resolutions Good Lord put forth thy mighty yea almighty power and give me thy Spirit that may reach me and enable me to walk as becometh such a one as hath given up himself to serve thee That I may in the remainder of my lâ—st express all sincere and humble obedience to the Word delivered O that I could Another evidence of Saving Grace is Thou dost often afresh renew thy faith and confidence in Christ and resigne and give up thy self wholly to Christ to be guided and instructed by his Word and Spirit and this purpose is firm in thee And dost thou not in bitterness of soul bewail end grieve for thy exceeding unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such sweet precious and powerful ordinances as thou hast so long a time enjoyed and implotâ— the throne of Grace for the Spirit to shew forth its present vertue to make them become life and power to thee and thou usest them with hope in Christ And since that the way to make them more profitable is to be more sensible of thy particular wants and to prize the ordinances very highly as the very brests from and through which God conveys all nourishment to his Therefore quicken up thy self O my soul to use them with what care and diligence thou canst and rest on Christ rest not in the ordinance but on God Consider what God can and will do for thee expect dayly help and strength from him in the use of his ordinances and especially in that of the Sacrament act faith and reject all discouragements for they hinder the growth of grace as frosts do tender fruits Oh when shall the time be that the ordinances shall be so powerful and efficacious as to kill all my corruptions that I may 〈◊〉 the vertue of Christ his death killing the body of sin in me and the power of his resurrection raising me up to newness of life that holy frame of heart that hath been in other the servants of God Sure there hath been such a changing quickening raising comforting power attained from God in the use of his ordinances both to beget and so to strengthen and encrease Grace therefore I will never 〈◊〉 the Lord alone until he make them â—â— to me seeing he hath promised Heaâ—â— maketh shall receive Ok and it shall be given seek and you shall finds knock and it shall be opened unto you Math. 7. 7. Lord I ask I seek I knock let me obtain Lord it s thine own free and gracious promise though free thou wert not any way tyed to make it yet Lord it 's now thy promise that thou wilt give Grace to them that seek it and ask it and hunger after it Lord I
more and thou shalt have more Grace that is the only way to obtain it And remember Mr. Archers Answer once to thee concerning this particular Dear Sister Let not that make thee doubt thou christ no truth of â—ence which is an Evidence or effect of Grace and is not until Grace be â—t is no sign thou hast not Grace but their thou hast Grace These things which make thee doubt added to the former make me assumed of the goodness of thy state Satan ever makes that to be feared and doubted that is true and good These be conflicts of corruption Satan which company Grace These be that smoak that argues fire and Christ will not by 〈◊〉 the smonking Flax They be effects of Sanctification therefore be comforted here with I beseech you Another sign of truth or Grace is Thy very fear and jealousie of thy own unsoundness and deceitfulness of thy heart this acquits thee of hypocrisie and justifies thy sincerity this is a holy jealousie fear of falseness to God and that thâ—se are not in sincerity in thee For first These dispositions in thee desires and endeavors being signs or Grace must of necessity be granted to be signs of sincerity since that that is no grace in truth that is not sincere Secondly thy diligent search and inquiry into thy self and jealousie of thy self is an evident argument of the sincerity of thy heart and that thou wouldst not deceive thy self with flattery false or vain hopes Another signe of true Grace is thy putting thy self upon tryal of others that thou didst not rest satisfied with thine own tryal of thy self but desiredst Gods Ministers whom thou didst judg most sincere strict and faithful much pressing them to deal truly plainly and freely with thee without any flattery as they will one day answer it to the great God of Heaven And they bear witness to thee my soul from Gods own Word of the much of Grace in thee Thou didst not account thy own poor weak endeavors â—o search and try thy self sufficient although thou didst it to the utmost of thy power and ability apprehending that they might be more able to discover some deceit of thy heart that thou couldst not finde out There follows another signe of saving grace that is yet farther Thou hast put thy self upon the Lords own tryal How often hast thou in secret gone to thy God on thy knees and earnestly intreated and beseeched him to search thy heart and reins thy most secret sins and intimate corruptions and that he would shew thee thine iniquity and cleanse thee from thy sin not willing to hide any one from him so David Psal 39. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me And the Lord hath at sometimes made answer to thy heart That he is thine and thou art his shewed some little glimpse of his love and favor to thee as it were at 〈…〉 which hath been more joy of heart to thee then if thou hadst a thousand worlds Therefore O my soul praise thou this God of love and all that is within me praise his holy name as Psal 103. 1. Oh magnifie his free-grace mercy and love that he hath given thee some love-tokens as pledges of more hereafter Oh my soul raise up thy self to sound out the praises of the Lord and all that is within me bless his great and glorious name For truly he hath delt bountifully with thee Oh how can I how shall I express my thankfulness unto him Surely I will tell others what the Lord hath done for my poor soul that they also may trust in him For truly it s never in vain to seek and wait and trust in the Lord. Therefore O my soul do not be no more cast down and so disquieted within me Trust in God for I shall that is he will give me cause to give him thanks he is my present help and my God As David said so say I. Oh that I could chide my soul out of its unquiet condition seeing I cannot I will complain to God of it and desire him to do it for me as David did Psal 43. 6. O my God my soul is cast down do thou raise and comfort it for thou art able to do it Though I cannot I know thou Lord art able to cheer and revive my drooping spirits and thou wilt cause me to taste how good thou art that I may set forth thy ravishing sweetness unto others acquainting them what great and unexpressible goodness the Lord hath manifested to me O dwell my soul a while here suck more sweetness out of this love of God O how great is this love of God that pardons all thy sins of nature and custome oâ— long continuance as well as later great as well as smaller of omission as well as commission sins of ignorance and knowledg secret sins and more open sins sins in thought word and act sins of thy youth and â—â—per age He blots them out all as a creditor that takes his pen and blots out all debts leaves none to condemn O the greatness of this infinite love of God O stand still and behold what love the Father hath shewed wonder and be amazed and ravished with this love of all loves O the riches of this love of God to thee O admirable superabundant surpassing love O excellent precious sweet unheard of love O wonderful indeed rare unspeakable unutterable unexpressible incomprehensible love O love everlasting one dram whereof is better then life it self much sweeter then the hony and the hony comb Another Evidence of Grace is the sweet intercourse that hath been betwixt God and thee my soul Sometimes thy praying to him his answering thee Gods upholding and quieting thee sometimes in greatest dangers so Job and David Therefore stir up thy faith and live by it for time to come Thou hast humbled thy soul and God hath comforted thy soul Now he hath this communion with none but his own children Another Evidence of Grace is Thy hearty sorrow and grief for thy sinning against mercies and unthankfulness for them and not profiting by them arising from the consideration of Gods goodness to thee whom thereby thou dost offend These are undoubted signes of Grace Psal 51. 3 4 5 6 10. I acknowledg my transgressions and my sin is ever before me Against thee thee onely have I sinned and done evil in thy sight that thou mighâ—est be justified when thou speakest and be cleared when thou judgest Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Psal 19. 12 13. Cleanse me from my secret sins keep thy servant also that presumptious sins raign not over me Rom. 7. 14 15 22 23 24. For we know that
have liberty to go sit with her God Her Closet work was no chambering and wantoness but a serious study to make heâ—â—â—â—lling and election sure To this end she reads with understanding observing and carefully transcribing the promises she had gathered up her Bonds and knew how much God was in his Word an accomptant to her Soul and was never in want but she had a Bond to put in sute knowing that he was faithful that had promised She was a consciencious attender upon God in his Ordinances and it was her practise not to hear as one that looks his natural face in a glass that presently goeth away and forgetteth what manner of man he was She would observe mater al passages and upon her retirements record them with her pen if in any thing â—â— doubted she ceased not till she was satisfied And whereas it is the too blame-worthy practise of Christians to seek cavils against themselves striving by their cavillings to unsettle their spirits she rather stadyed to make it her work to find what interest God had in her Soul then what she might have to say against her self nor in this was her labour without fruit Thou shalt read here what a writing she had drawn for Heaven to make it sure to her Soul and 〈…〉 had striven so the Lord had crowned her Souls endeavours with such an assurance as failed not her Soul in her dying hour It was my happiness to be a witness to the latter end of her life It pleased God to continue her holy day to the last hour in such a measure that Death had not an ill look from her There mightst thou haue seen Christian what a conquest Christ had made over Death and Hell Death had in her truly lost his sting and Hell was cheated of its victory Captivity was led Captive I shall commend to thee this little piece penned with her own hand by which thou mayst disâ—â—â—â— with what an excellency of Graces as well as Gifts the Lord had crowned her I commend it to thee not to be read only but that as by a true touchâ—â—one thou mayst try thy own Soul by it and find whether thou beest ready to dye or no. Thou shalt find this choice Servant of God dealing truly with her own heart neither presumptuously flattering nor unwarrantablâ— dejecting her own Spirit For what of â—â—ine is added I beseech thee take the goodwill that he that offers it bears to thy Soul I acknowledg there is nothing of a Schollar in it if there be the more of Christ let God have the Glory thy Soul the benefit and the Author thy prayers who is Thy true Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus John Collings From my study Aug. 27 1648. Infallable Signes OF Saving Grace Each one an Evidence for Heaven each Evidence an Antidote against the Fear of Death Death being to the Soul endowed with Grace only Heavens Gate to enter in by or through it to Eternal Glory and Happiness IT is a â—rrevokable decree of Heaven that all men must once dye yea it is the Law of the God of Nature and must be obeyed no avoiding it The Scripture faith it is appointed to all men once to dye Therefore oh my Soul seeing there is no escapâ—â—â— Death thy only way is to prepare for in get the sting of it taken away so shall it not hurt thee nor be terrible to thee no cause then to fear Death for it shall be but a messenger sent from God thy Father to fetch thee home to him and free thee from all sins which is thy greatest burden and all sorrows and miseries that sin occasioneth and carry thee to Heaven to Happiness and Glory to thy Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ to raign with him for ever in Heaven Now the only way to make Death thus to thee is to clear up thy evidences for Heaven Wherefore on my Soul get thee more Interest in Christ make that more sure to thy self that Christ is thine and thou art his and then no cause at all for thee to fear death As it is certain that Death will come even to thee as well as to others so is it most uncertain the time when it shall come Therefore my Soul defer it not for it stands thee as much upon as thy life may as thy eternal well being for evermore to make that sure to thy self even now while it is called to day and that upon good grounds that thou hast a sure title to Heaven art an heir of it and hast an Interest in Christ then it shall be well with thee after Death that shall be a happy change for thee no cause then to fear it Therefore oh my Soul why art thou so cast down And why art thou so disquieted within me And why fearest thou Death so much Hast thou not some Evidences of Truth of Saving Grace to prove thou art in Christ Darest thou deny it Thou canst not Oh therefore now clear them up view them well again meditate on them seriously bless God for them and let them support and comfort thee against the fear of Death at all times in all extremities or distresles whatsoever may befall thee Consider seriously with thy self hath not God promised to support thee in and deliver thee out of all afflictions and distresses in the best time and mean while that all shall work for thy good Therefore trust thou in him for he never fails any that trust in him rest thou on his promise and he will make it good to thee The first ground work of Grace in thee â—s this God hath given thee the sight of thy self thy sinful wretched and miserable yea damnable condition by nature thy sins both many and great as well thy inâ—â—nd corruption of which David complains Psalm 51. 5. As also thy continued actual transgressions all thy life along which are the fruits of that bitter root either outward or inward to wit thy natural aversness to all good pronness to evil perversness of heart rebelliousness of will disorder of affections and distemper of thy whole Soul in every part not as a meer natural disturbance only but as a spiritual disease a wicked and wretched disposition evil in it self of it self displeasing to God and deserving his curse and damnation of thy Soul and body although it should never break forth into any actual excess And now my Soul hath not God also in some measure humbled thee and broken thy heart too for thy sins Are they not a burden too heavy for thee to bear Wert thou not once in thirte own apprehension in a most desperate condition ready to sink under the load of them Therefore oh my Soul â—o Christ calleth thee to come to him and promiseth he will ease thee Mat. 11. 28. There is a promise for thy faith to rest on apply it to thy self to support thee Dost thou not confess thâ—â— to God bewailing 〈◊〉 with great grief and sorrow of heart
desire it more then my appointed food thou Lord sure I trust will be prevailed with Seeing the unjust Judg was so through importunity shall not the just and righteous yea merciful God be prevailed withall when importuned for that which he promiseth to give Yes surely he will most certainly make good even that promise to thee my soul in particular Do but trust in him and press him with his own Word nay more it 's a part of that new Covenant that God hath made with his servants that he will take away the heart of stone that is all that hinders Grace and he will give them a new heart and put his Laws in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be his people Jer. 31. 33. and Ezâ—ek 36. 25 26 27. And that he will put his Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his statutes beleeve so and it shall be so to thee Be encouraged and wrestle still for thou shalt obtain in the end Hath God said it Build thou on it Only go on in use of his means limit not the holy one he is a free Agent he may work when and how he pleaseth he delights to hear his children beg and cry oft to him and remember how prevalent prayer in Faith hath been with God how great things it hath obtained of God for particular Servants of God as that of Peters delivery by the prayers of the Church Acts 12. when condemned to dye the next morning and no way or means that he knew â—t to escape And so for Nations too Doth the Lord then say seek my face Oh let my heart Answer Lord thy face I do I will still seek and wait till thou Answer Another Evidence of Grace is Thy earnest desire to serve the Lord in sincerity with an upright heart above the desire of Life it self so far as thou canst search and knowest ought by thy self this must needs be an infallible sign of true Grace for nothing but truth of Grace can possibly desire this Another sign of true Grace is Thou fearest at some times that thou hast no true Faith or at least that it is decaying dying with thee when as no true Grace either stands at a stay or decays which makes thee full of discouragements and disquietness of spirit fearing thy estate is not good but what ever change is in thee O my Soul of seeming decay in Grace or increase of corruption yet thou canst not but be sure in the main for wher there is a sense of sins evil and a groaning under it a high Valuation of Christ and Grace and longing after it with a self-emptiness a desire and purpose to hang on Christ as thou darest not deny but 〈◊〉 in some measure in thee there is ground of comfort and therefore apply it to thy self else thou wrongest thy self and the spirit also Thou fearest falling into sin let it make thee more watchful and trust more and more carefully in Christ the view of thy wants should not discourage thee but abase thee in thine own esteem quicken thee to use the means and press thee to go to Christ and rest on him who can and will help all that thus repair to him Therefore fear not falling off for God hath promised to put his Fear into the hearts of his that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. Apply that promise to thy self by Faith Having once true Grace it can never be lost why therefore O my Soul art thou so cast down and why art thou so disquieted within me Trust stil in God for I will or shall yet give him thanks he is my present help and my God Psalm 42. 5 11 verses Or art thou thus disquieted because thou art often foiled by sins that thou resolvest against Oâ— consider thou hast an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ who is thy Reconciliation he sitteth at the right hand of God and there he plead thy cause for thee Or is it because thou art still full of fears that thy Grace is not true Thou didst once beleeve it was true and that upon good ground Therefore question not that ground-work now that were to go about to rip up or undo all that work of Grace that God hath wrought in thee Why then is it O my Soul because of those inward corruptions within thee that rebel against the Law and Will of God and such effects of them as thou canst not be rid off with whatsoever care and caution thou canst use Or such sins slips and oversights as thou art unwillingly overtaken withall or dost inconsiderately slip into For thou dost not allow thy self in any known sin For this remember what was once my Cozen Gatakers Answer hereunto to wit consider S. Paul his case read but what he saith of himself Rom. 7. from vers 15. to vers 24. That which I do I allow not for what I would haâ— do I not but what I hate that do I. If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not For the good that I would that do I not but the evill which I hate that do I. I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man but I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members And if you can say more of your self then he there doth of himself I much marvel if not you may conclude your estate to be no worse then his was God indeed hears the prayers of his but yet he doth not presently give in kind the thing prayed for The Apostle Paul was heard when he prayed to be rid wholly of some corruption and temptation that he was anoyed and often foiled with 2 Cor. 12. 7 8. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the Abundance of the Rovelations there was given to me a throne in the flesh the massenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Remember Gods Answer to him vers 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee So shall it be my Soul to thee if thou rest on his Word it shall be so But mark he was not presently freed from it but upheld in it Or is it out of the sense of thy want and great need of more Grace Oh let not that discourage thee indeed thou hast the more need to go to Christ by Faith who is the Fountain and Spring of all he hath enough and so fetch vertue and strength from him beleeve
the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin For that which I do I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my minde and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 2 Cor. 7. â—â— Godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation not to be repented of Lord give me more of that sorrow Now God reckons not thy failings nor imputes thy corruptions to thee as thine as by his Apostle and his Spirit speaking in him he assures thee Rom. 7. 16 17. If then I do that which I would not I consent unto the Law that it is good Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me But God accepts thy person and performances in his Son as he did Paul there though never so poor and imperfect he regardeth not so much what thou art or dost as what thou wouldâ—â— be and do Another evidence of Saving Grace is thy hearty and true love to the children of God for Grace-sake meerly for the good thou seest and beleevest to be in them even those who otherwise thou couldst not love this the Apostle John makes to be a signe That we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren as 1 Joh. 3. 14. Therefore as it gives attestation for thee my Soul so take thou the comfort of it from Gods own Word and bless God with humble thankfulness for it so David Psa 119. 63. I am a companion to all them that fear thee and keep thy precepts Another signe of Grace is this Thy joy and hope and love is fixed and set not on things below but on things above in heaven this argues that thou art risen with Christ and is that which may well be a pledg and earnest to thee that thou shalt one day appear in and enjoy Glory with him See Col. 3. 1 2 3 4. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Yea thy present dis-esteem and undervaluing of all worldly honors profits preferments or greatness in the height of them accounting them vain and of small value to thee And indeed let worldlings hunt and scramble for them that have no better portion in heaven But thou my Soul I bless God seest better sweeter and more precious and durable riches spiritual things that last for ever that will satisfie the Soul The love and favor of God Heaven and Glory everlasting that shall never perish and peace of conscience and pardon of sin these indeed are well worth the desiring and laboring for Alas the other cannot afford one jot of comfort nor satisfie the conscience when troubled for sin or when death cometh Oh then nothing but Christ will serve the turn or stand in stead I Therefore now labor to get Christ to be thine and then he will not leave nor forsake thee no not when thou comest to dye and hast most need of him when friends and all creature-comforts will leave us And truly the greatness of the world doth oft steal away our hearts These are bâ—â—â—s and snares both worldly credit and profit I mean that take many a soul in their nets by means whereof many come to lose their souls ere they are aware of it because they have no 〈◊〉 or else no hearts to look after their precious Souls that must last for ever after these bodies with all the fading comforts here below are gone and perished We do or may see how fleeting and uncertain all creatures and all comforts here are every day sounds it in our ears and continually our eyes may see it in the corps dayly carryed to their graves and how riches take their wings fâ—â—e away as Prov. 23. 5. I am sure within these few last years God hath abundantly shewed and fulfilled that Scripture How many thousands not only of the meaner sort but of the great ones of the world even now in these our days worth very many hundreds a year now have not bread for their families Men get goods that many times know not who shall enjoy them But I will seek the Lord for at his right hand are joys and pleasures for ever more that shall last to all eternity My Soul this thy setled resolution is a pregnant testimony of thy love and affection to God As also that God hath created a new heart and put a new spirit within thee and thou therefore art become a new creature Again That change which God hath wrought in thee is not always alike not at all times so lively Neither yet again at all times alike cold dead and dull not always dejected not always comforted because as there is something in thee spiritual so also there is a part of flesh in thee that wars against the Spirit so is it with Gods Saints with the Apostle Paul so with David and the rest and when thou confessest thy sins to God in secret thou bewailest thy sins of thought which never trouble Hypocrites or other sort of sinners Another signe of Gods love to thee is this Though thou hast had sore conflicts of long continuance yet hast thou not been overwhelmed nor overcome but upheld and that thou usest in them spiritual weapons arguments from the power of God and from the all-sufficiency and goodness of God and thine own experience of the same having found the presence of the Spirit of God in power so supporting thee that thou hast not fallen away nor sunk under them but resolved still to trust in God by his assistance though he should kill thee as Job did Job 13. 15. at that time when thou hast had no present comfort Another sign of true Grace is Thy searching and earnest inquiry for what sin God layeth his hand of affliction upon thee and thy mourning that thou art no more bettered by afflictions for that is Gods end in afflicting his yea that thou desirest to be draw'd nearer to God by them that thou mayst say that it was good for thee that thou wert afflicted And before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep thy word As David Psalm 119. 67. Lord make good to me that promise That all things shall work together for good and therefore afflictions to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. Lord I would fain love thee The desire of my Soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my
nothing of what he did was too little nor any thing too much there could have wanted nothing and there was nothing redundant if he had not dyed he had not merited deliverance from Spiritual Death if he had not risen he had not conquered Natural Death if he had not ascended he had not led all Captivity Captive Let every action of Christ comfort thee who did all that he did for thee Thirdly From hence we may be instructed why so many are afraid of death Temporal Death I mean The cause may be double either a want of Christ or a want of Faith 1. Wicked vilâ— wretches they are afraid to dye Oh that that cup might ever pass from them they know not how to think of that day and parting hour and truly no great marvel death with its sting in it will fear the stoutest man in the world For a poor wretch to be ready to dye and cry out Now goes out my poor soul to answer for all my oaths and blasphemies for all my Sabbath breaking and profaness now must I take my leave of all comforts friends wife children all adieu for ever If death be not kil'd it self it kills the heart of the stoutest the poor wretch cannot see that Christ hath redeemed him from the power of the grave 2. Gods own dear children may fear death through a want of faith not applying with such a confidence as they ought the merits and vertue of Christs death to their souls Those now that the Lord hath given a perswasion to that they have an Interest in Jesus Christ those dye without fear they know their Redeemer lives and this was the happiness of this precious Saint of God that he hath now taken from us She had comforted her self against the fear of Death that she could say O death where 's thy sting Therefore in a book she had composed and written for her own use to Her book â—s annexed to this Sermon comfort her against the fear of Death She makes it her work to prove her interest in Christ and did it by several marks which made her dye without giving death an ill word or countenance death came but he had lost his sting Christ had been its plague A second Use may be of Consolation to comfort the children of God against the fear of death Lift up your heads O ye righteous be glad ye upright in heart All your enemies are trodden under foot fear not sin death nor hell Death hath lost its sting Hell hath lost its victory 1. Fear not spiritual death Sin shall no longer have dominion over your mortal bodies for Christ hath died to free you from the guilt of it and to deliver you from the power of it It may live it shall not reign it may fight against it shall not conquer you 2. Fear not temporal death Consider the Wasp hath lost its sting What hurt can it do thy soul It is not thy ruine Christian It is thy perfection Luke 13 32. I do cures saith Christ to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Thou art not perfected here Christian there is a crown of glory that the Father will set on thy hâ—ad with the black hand of death Who fears the Serpent that hath lost its teeth the Bee that hath lost its sting O death Christ hath been thy death Though thou mightst be afraid to take up death when it was a Serpent yet see its turned into a rod. What is thy life Christian is it not full of frowns are not all thy days almost tears and sorrow Doth not the wicked world look a squint upon the Saints of God is not suffering an hereditary disease that runs in the blood of Mighty Jesus that every Saint is born to inherit the Cross and through Golgotha to take his way to glory what should wed thee to the world Christian not thy desire of life and sure it cannot be thy fear of death Death hath nothing formidable in it Say to it Christ is dead O death where is thy sting then Much less can they fear eternal death for they are passed from death to life and the second death hath no power over them I have but a word more and that is of Exhortation First To all to get an interest in Jesus Christ Thus prepare your selves for the day of dissolution It is a statute in the Records of Heaven That all men should once die and afterwards come to judgment Death is a bitter cup to those that know nothing to sweeten it Learn here to get a part in the Lord Jesus Christ a title to him an interest in him He hath taken out the sting of death he hath been its plagâ—e but not for all see therefore for thy interest in him Hic labor hoc opus est Christians here is your work you spend else your time for nothing and your labor for that which will not profit Work out your salvation give all diligence to make your calling and election sure This is your land-work Saints and while it is done you will never be prepared to go to Sea to set sail for eternity he will never be satisfied with time and days that hath not some grounds to hope for eternity O that you would labor to make this work your work You spend your days in labor and sorrow and when you die you will lie down in sorrow Believe it you that spend your strength for that which will not profit you will see the day when your souls will be troubled for the hours lost in dressing vanity in the following the lusts of the eye and of the flesh O make this your work to get a portion in Christ and believe him who though he knows but little knows that you will finde it a difficult work a work that will be enough for the time and for the strength you have to spend If you have Christ you are well if not you die a slave to death and will be a gally-slave to Satan in Hell for ever O that you would be wise and consider your latter end before you come down wonderfully This was the work and constant work of this precious Siâ—â—er of ours whom God hath now taken from the evil to come It was her practice to hasten over the business of her family as a thing to be done yet not her great work and then to apply her self to the great work of making her calling and election sure In which her pains were as unweariable as others are in vanity That she hath lest behinde her several Books written which are as the Câ—ronicle and Annuals of her life collecting those promises on which her soul rested framing the objections of her own spirit and seeking out satisfaction from Gods Word If in any thing she doubted she â—nquired at the lips of them that should preserve knowledg and pens down their answers observes Gods ways with her self and her own frame towards him and from all gathers up a posie of such evidences of saving Grace as she could finde in her soul to comfort her in her latter hour And if any asks what profited this labor I could onely have wished that such persons had been as I was a witness to her dying happiness to have seen with what a peace of Spirit what a fulness of assurance what hope what joy she entertained her last affliction the messenger of death There they should have seen this promise made good the grave destroyed the Saint delivered hell troden under foot death desired conquered despised this song sung O death where is thy fling O hell where is thy victory Be exhorted O ye that have a portion in Christ be exhorted to tred under foot your conquered enemy What is there in death that is terrible or bitter to those that have a portion in the Lord Jesus Christ Why are you afraid to be made perfect there is no taste of hell in the cup. The prison doors shall not be lockt the bolts are broken off the bitterness of death is past O desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Love the winding-sheet that wrapt up your Saviour the stones and gravel of the grave have nothing in them that is hard or harsh Christ hath been the plague of death and the destruction of the grave I heard a voyce from henceforth saying Blessed are they that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors Lastly From this Text may those that mourn for the dead in the Lord be comforted Hast thou lost a believing friend Weep not for her weep for thy self Not that she is gone but that thou art here Death hath our friend in his hands but not in his power It is Christ that hath said I will redeâ—m you from the power of the grave Is not Christ dead is not he risen again and ascended hath he not led captivity captive why mournest thou then for a Saints freedom is there any thing of bitterness in the cup that thy and her Father hath given her to drink Triumph because she triumpheth rejoyce because all tears are now wiped from her eyes shew a faith in Christs death Resurrection Ascension conquest over Sin Death and Hell The work of Righteousness is peace and the â—ffect of her Righteousness quietness peace and assurance for ever FINIS