in every condition to undergo what he inflicts and to wait his leisure for deliverance out of all straits Heb. 10.36 ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may inherit the promises they that would rejoyce in hope must be patient in tribulation Rom. 12.12 Rom. 8.25 7. Lastly be much in prayer unto the Lord who is the God of hope that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 and that your hearts may be filled with all joy and peace in believing and that you may be made partakers of the righteousnesse of God both imputed unto justification and infused by his spirit unto sanctification that as becometh Trees of righteousnesse of the Lords planting ye may be filled with fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God so shall ye have hope in your death and lay hold on eternal life for they which abound in such fruits of righteousnesse shall abound also in the sure and certain hope of eternal life I should now conclude forbear to speak any thing of the dead knowing that to say much in commendation of the dead is sometimes more offensive than profitable to the living but that some Scripture examples encourage me hereunto Act. 9.36.39 Luke being guided by the spirit of God makes mention of a certain Disciple at Joppa named Tabitha and publisheth it after her death that she was a woman full of good works and Almes deeds which she did and tells us of many mourning Widows shewing the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made while she was with them See what ample commendations are given of that good King Josiah 2 King 23 25. like unto him was there no King before him that turned unto the Lord with all his heart and with all his Soul and with all his might neither after him arose there any like him and Heb 11. that whole Chapter is an Encomium setting forth the commendations of men and women famous in their generations for manifesting the life of their faith by their works And in Matth. 26.7 13. the Lord Christ takes care that the memorial of that woman that shewed so much respect and good affection to him as to bestow a box of costly Oyntment upon him should not be buried with her Corpse But wherever the Gospel shall be preached in the whole World there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her However some of his Disciples might censure her rashly as being too lavish and wastfull Christ the most absolute pattern of temperance defendeth this expence in respect of the circumstances and tells them that she was so far from being blame-worthy that the memory of this act of her piety and good affection to him should live to all ages The best actions of good men and women may be sometimes misconstrued by Christs own Disciples as we see there Yet Christ who knowes the intentions of his people sets a price on their good works and defends them though men misinterpret and condemne them The memory of ought done for Christ or any of his God will not suffer to perish This womans Name was Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha as you may see Joh. 12.3 she delighed to sit at Jesus feet and hear his word Luk. 10.39 to whom Christ gives Testimony that she had chosen that good part which shall never be taken from her vers 42. she bestowed much costly ointment upon the feet of Jesus as well as upon the head and the house was filled with the odour of the oyntment such another Mary was this so affectionately desirous to sit at Jesus feet and to heare his word and so ready to any act of love and beneficence to Christ the Head or any of his members that she made and bestowed much costly oyntment and other precious cordialls even upon the feet of Christ the poorest and meanest Christians when in their sicknes lamenesse or other infirmityes she was made acquainted with their conditions The odour of her sweet Oyntments did not only fill that house where she made them but the benefit and vertue of them hath been felt to the refreshing of very many in other families of this Countrey where her memory is and will be honoured For me to speake much in Commendation of that precious Gentlewoman the 〈◊〉 of whose Corpse hath occasioned this Concourse of people and solemnity would be but as if I should hold forth a Candle to shew you the sunne she was such a bright shining light and the Graces of Gods spirit did so eminently and illustriously sparkle forth in her speeches and behaviour to the observation of such as had any acquaintance or occasion to converse with her that the Lord hath caused a great Ecclypse and Darknesse to obscure the glory of that family and this whole Neighbourhood in taking her from us Yea and much sadnes and heavines to seize upon all our spirits at our being deprived of so choice a blessing as we enioyed in her I am confident the praise and properties of a vertuous woman mentioned by Solomon Pro. 31.10 c. might as warrantably without flattery be attributed and applyed to her as to any Gentlewoman in this whole County without disparagement to any other She was a woman that truely feared the Lord therefore she shall be praised vers 30. she was very diligent and solicitous about making her Calling and Election sure and with tears trickling down her cheeks hath she often in private Conference propounded doubts and desired Resolutions and directions from me tending thereunto such as lived in that family or rosorted thither knew her to be very conscionable in observing and sanctifying the Lords day and provoking others thereunto calling her servants as well as her children to account what they could remember of the sermons they heard she began betimes like Timothies Mother Eunice and Solomons Mother Bathsheba to justruct her children in the knowledge of the scriptures and to drop instill into her little ones the Principles of Christianity and to train them up in the way that they should goe she was not only carefull that duties of Religion might be attended on daily by those of her family but was also conscionable and frequent in closet-dutyes She was adorned with a meek and a quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price And in her behaviour to her Hushand her chast conversation was coupled with Reverence Love and Obedience a true Christian Yoke-fellow helpfull to him in bearing the yoke of Christ and tenderly regarding the good of his Soul as well as discreetly managing the affaires of the family She was of a sweet winning courteous affable disposition to all very ready to succour and releive any that were poore or sicke whose wants were made known to her whether strangers or neighbours she was so farre from placing any confidence in the flesh or resting upon any thing in her self or her own performances that though she was in high esteem among us for her adorning the Gospell with an holy and unblameable Conversation yet she was very vile in her own eyes and groned much under the sense of her own corruptions her Soul panted so earnestly after Jesus Christ that she counted all but losse and dung that she might win Christ and be found in him In my last conference with her after the discovery of some conflicts betwixt faith and doubting it pleased the Lord so sweetly to come in to the releife of her drooping spirit Nehem. 1.11 and the quieting and satisfying of her Conscience after some musings on Mal. 4.2 that he enabled her to glorify his free Grace and to set her seale to his Testimony concerning Christ in so much that with much vigour and alacrity of spirit she expressed her Resolution in these words I am resolved through Gods Grace to cast my self into the armes of Jesus Christ and rely wholly upon him who I trust will not suffer me to perish Indeed that family and this Parish was adorned with a very precious Jewell whiles that we enioyed her but the Lord judging us all unworthy of her hath taken her hence to weare in his own bosom in heaven whereby we are all deprived of a singular spurre to Piety and help to Devotion I shall adde no more concerning her but make one request to you all that you will not only learn by this sad warning of our Mortality to be prepared for death by following after Righteousnesse that you may have hope in your death and follow her into Glory but that you will expresse your love and respect to her sorrowfull and disconsolate 〈◊〉 fellow and motherlesse Children in praying that 〈…〉 improovement may be made by him of this sad 〈…〉 him and his family and that the children may 〈…〉 Graâ—e as 〈◊〉 years They being now deprived of any furthâ—◠〈…〉 of their mother let me desire you to be in 〈…〉 much in prayer with the Lord that Christ may be framed in them and that they may hereafter be blessings to that family and their Countrey and that this Ancient family of the Morleyes may continue to be eminent for yielding good Patriots and men of publike spirits ready to honour God and serve their Countrey in succeeding Generations FINIS
this place was a Bochim Judg. 2.5 yea as Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon where the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem mourned for the death of Iosiah Zach. 12.11 2 Chron. 35.25 I dare say there hath not been a Gentle-woman living in this County so few years whose death hath been more generally bewailed and lamented over all Sussex But I know you make use of better considerations and grounds of comfort than this And that you are throughly apprehensive of the Lords hand in this sad stroke whose will hath been done by him in this event and quiet submission of our wills to his ought to be yielded by us the examples of Aaron Levit. 10.3 4. of Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 of David 2 Sam. 15.26 and of Iob 1.21 are worthy of your observation and imitation herein The Lord knows how to cause all things to work together for good unto his people and he is the God of all comforts who can comfort you in all your tribulations and fill your hearts with joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost that Christ may be in you the hope of glorie and that his love being shed abroad in your hearts by his spirit given unto you you also may have hope in your death Thus prayeth Glynde October 4. 1656. Your Honours Humbly devoted to serve you in all Gospel-duties Zachary Smith LIFE in DEATH OR The living hope of a dying Saint Proverbs 14.34 The righteous hath hope in his death IN this verse Solomon shews the different state and contrary condition of the righteous and the wicked 1 of the good and bad of such as fear God and such as fear him not when they come to die and that in two distinct Propositions 1. The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse as Chaffe driven away by the winde Ps 1.4 2. The Righteous hath Hope in his Death I shall insist onely upon this latter Proposition as the Doctrine to be handled at present and speak something of the former when we come to make Application The Righteous hath hope in his death IN handling this Point these Particulars are to be considered 1. Who is to be understood by the subject of this Hope here spoken of The Righteous 2. What is here affirmed of the Righteous hath Hope where consider 1. the Nature of this Hope 2. the Object of it 3. When the time of actuating this Grace in his Death 4. Proofs that it is so 5. Grounds and Reasons why it is so and then Apply it The Righteous who is he 1. Who The righteous is sometimes understood Civilly Morally for one that is just in his dealings with men sometimes 2. Theologically for one that orders the whole course of his life according to the will of God which is the rule of righteousnesse So again in a Scripture-sence one may be said to be righteous 1. Legally so Adam was righteous before the fall Eccles 7.29 and Christ since a righteout branch Jer. 23.5 who sulfilled all righteousnesse and is called the Sun of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 Rom 3.10 but none else among the Children of men can be said of themselves to be perfectly righteous according to the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Evangelically righteous so believers are said to be righteous in regard of a twosold righteousnesse 1. of Justification 2. of Sanctification the former by imputation the latter by infesion and inchoation Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 4.5 6. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works This is that righteousnesse which Paul so highly esteemed and desired to partake of Phil. 3.9 the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Believers are also made partakers of inherent righteousnesse by the infusion of sanctifying Graces into their hearts and the renuing of the holy Ghost Act. 15.9 purifying their hearts by faith and thus they that were unrighteous may become righteous 1 Cor. 6.9 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God so they are said to be righteous who walk in their unrightnes Isa 57.1 2. Job 27.5 6. till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousnesse I hold fast will not let it go Tit. 2.12 so that by the righteous in the Text we are to upderstand such as believing in Christ walk uprightly doing just and righteous things though impersectly 1 Joh. 3.7 he that doth righteousnesse is righteous thus Noah is said to have been a just man and perfect or upright in his generation walking with God Gen. 6.9 and God gave him this testimony Gen. 7.1 Thee have I found righteous before me What what is here affirmed of the Righteous 2. He hath Hope here consider 1. the nature of Hope 2ly the object of his Hope Hope in commonspeech signifies a bare likelyhood a probable conjecture a groundlesse fancy but in scripture phrase an undoubted certainty Hope is a patient expectation of the accomplishment of that good whereof we receive assurance by faith Rom. 8.24 25. We are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth be yet hope for But if we hope for that we see hot then doe we with patience waite for it Gal. 5.5 we through the spirit waite for the hope of righteousnes by faith There is the Hope of the Hypocrite 1. and the hope of the Righteous Job 8.13.14 Bildad tells Job the hypocrites hope shall perish whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spiders web First the object of his hope shall fail him i.e. those benefits blessings accommodations and comforts which he looked for in the Profession of Religion these shall fail him and prove false hopes He shall not enioy the things hoped for Secondly the Act of his Hope shall fail his hope shall die being so long deferred Hypocrites may be full of hope for a time but their Hope will deceive them at last and to lose our Hope is the Utmost of Evills Mr. Caryl on Job 8.13 14. as Mr. Caryll well observes on Job 8.13 14. All that an hypocrite hopeth for or expects shall be utterly taken away and cut off from him his worldly comforts will be gon and heavenly comforts will never come he shall finde that he hath been in a golden dream as one that is hungry who dreames that he is eating but when he awaketh his Soul is empty Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his soule Their hope is a groundlesse
therefore it s of undoubted truth and asserted by the spirit of Truth that Gods people are in a blessed condition after death Not only such as die for the Lord who were put to cruell torments and to suffer death by Antichristian Persecutors for not complying with them in their idolatrous worship but such as die in the Lord are blessed i.e. such as were effectually called unto fellowship with Jesus Christ and united to him by faith as members of his mysticall body are happy in their death Death puts a period to all their troubles and labours and brings them to the enjoyment of rest and peace and to receive the reward of their works Here are no purgatory-torments mentioned to be endured by them after death but a perfect cessation from all labour and a full enioyment of rest and blisse To give instance in some examples of Gods people who have had hope in their death we finde that Jacob when he lay on his Death-bed professed his hope of salvation and enioying a better life Gen. 49.18 I have waited for thy salvation O Lord so Abel Enock Noah Abraham Sarah Heb. 11.13 These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them a farre off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers on earth declaring plainly that they expected a better Countrey that is an heavenly Thus Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward and endured as seeing him who is invisible vers 25 26 27. Job's spirit was upheld from sinking into despair under all his pressures losses and afflictions and he professeth his hope even in death Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Job 13.15 as if he had said if God should take away my life yet would I in the midst of death expect a better life from him So David Psal 23.4 Though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil And Psal 73.26 my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever his hope of being received into glory after death encouraged him to go on in the wayes of righteousnesse whatever afflictions he underwent in his life time Paul in time of his imprisonment at Rome lest the Philippians should be discouraged at his sufferings professeth his earnest expectation and hope of salvation and that he was not any way afraid of death but rather desirous of it in regard of the gain and benefit he should reap by it Phil. 1.21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is Christ is my life here by grace and hereafter by glory he is both the Authour and end of my life and if I be put to death that shall no way endamage me but rather bring me great advantage in regard that thereby I shall exchange and gain Heaven for Earth and an happy eternal life for this miserable and mortal life and vers 23 I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better And again 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8 giving notice of his approaching death and that the time of his Martyrdom was now at hand he professeth his hope in his death I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but unto them also that love his appearing and again 1 Cor. 15.19 If we have hope in Christ in this life onely we are of all men most miserable Cyprian speaking of the nature of death to believers saith It is Janua vitae victoria belli portus maris The gate of life the victory of war the haven of the Sea death to Gods people is as the Angel was to Peter to fetch him out of prison and set him at liberty Act. 12.7 c. and as Pharaohs Messenger was to Joseph to remove him out of the Dungeon into Pharaohs Court Gen. 41.14 where he was highly advanced to Honour and Dignity The benefits which believers hope to be made partakers of by death are either such as concern their Souls or their bodies The Souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holinesse Heb. 12.23 and brought to the spirits of just men made perfect Death abolisheth sin and corruption in believers and brings finalem gratiam the perfection of grace that may make them capable of glorie as sin brought death into the World so death drives sin out of Gods peoples natures Rom. 6.7 he that is dead is freed from sin there is not so much as any remnant of sin that cleaves to a believing Soul after death but it is presented unto Christ without spot or wrinkle void of all sinfull infirmities Here the best of Gods Saints grone under the burden of their corruptions 2 Cor. 5.4 and cry out with Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death before death the best Christians complain the good that I would I do not but the evil that I would not that I do Rom. 7.19 but now after death the least in the Kingdom of Heaven saith the evil that I would not I do not and the good that I would I do 1. By death they have full discharge from all possibility of offending God Death is a loosening to the Children of God here they are as it were tyed to a stake to be baited by Sathan and his instruments death is the breaking of the Chain and the Soul escapeth as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler as the fire burnt the bonds of the three Children and so procured their liberty so death is a Goal-delivery to the Children of God That one happy pang which pulls away the Soul from the body doth also pull away sin both from the Soul and body Greenham Byfield Hieron Hildersam c. to this purpose many of our English Divines have written excellently to comfort the surviving friends of deceased Saints to cure them of the fear of death So Polan Syntagm 342. Mors electis credentibus non est pro peccatis satisfactio sed peccati abolitio transitus in vitam aeternam By death believers are freed from all occasions of sin Temptations to sin Power and dominion of it yea from all dregs and remainders of sin This made the Martyrs so willing to endure any kinde of death that Tyranny could devise that they might be rid of their sinfull bands and this corruptible burden which presseth down the Soul that looks
faithfullnes towards them which they have had in time of their life confirmes their hope of obtaining what good things he hath promised them after death Vers 4. experience worketh Hope So that believers in greatest straits may argue as David against Goliah 1. Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lion and out of the Paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine and as Paul 2. Cor. 1.9 10. We had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 6. Lastly Because of Gods bounty towards others in this life The Lord bestows liberal portions of outward blessings upon many that regard not to serve and honour him but go on in wayes of Rebellion wicked men prosper and abound in worldly comforts sometimes when good men want them surely then this argueth that he hath reserved better things in store for his own Children after death Psalm 31.19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee This consideration David made use of as a ground to confirm his hope in death of enjoying happinesse after this life Psal 17.14 15. the men of the World have their portion in this life whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure As for me I will behold thy face in righteousnesse I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse he professeth his resolution to go on in the wayes of God expecting a gracious yea a glorious issue out of all his dangers and persecutions q.d. I will not live wickedly as they do but righteously and then I shall enjoy thy favour here and Heaven hereafter I shall view thy face and see thee plainly and perfectly and stand in thy presence where is fulnesse of joy when I awake i.e. from the sleep of death when I am raised out of the dust I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse having thine image upon me and thy glory fully manifested unto me in Heaven this beatifical Vision shall so abundantly satiate and solace my Soul that it shall say I have enough So Ps 49. when in death worldly men leave their wealth to others and are like the beasts that perish i.e. dying without hope of any further happinesse yea in a worse condition for death shall feed on them vers 14. yea the second death shall have power over them and they shall lye in Hell-torments then saith the righteous even under the pangs of death vers 15. But God will redeem my Soul from the power of the grave for he shall receive me Selah Where Selah is added not onely as a bare Musical Note for raising of the voice c. but it calls for elevation of minde and more than ordinary attention pointing at a clear Testimony for the immortality of the Soul and for a better life after this the hope whereof fills the hearts of the godly with comfort and triumphant joy even under the pangs of death For he shall receive me whensoever the fatal hour shall come that body and Soul must part God will receive my spirit into Heaven So again Psal 73.24.26 against all the discouragements which he met with in the wayes of God from the present prosperity which the wicked enjoyed and the manifold afflictions that himself under-went he comforts himself in certain hope of eternal life and being received up into glory and hereupon resolves still to follow the conduct and direction of Gods word and spirit Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel in this life and after this life ended wilt receive me to that glory which thou hast promised me Thus have I made good the truth of the Doctrinal Proposition The righteous hath hope in his death and confirmed it by shewing you several grounds and reasons and should now come to make application of it but I desire first to remove one objection that seems to lye in the way Quest If the righteous have such hope in their death how comes it to passe and why is it that some good Christians are so fearfull of death and so unwilling to die Why are they not rather desirous to die having such hope of future glory happiness Answ It is true there may be in the dearest of Gods Children an unwillingnesse and fear to die Jeremy petitioned King Zedekiah that he might not be sent again to the house of Jonathan the Scribe lest he should die there Jer. 37.20 if he were shut up close prisoner in that nasty stinking Dungeon so our Saviour forewarning Peter of the manner of his death tells him he should be carried whither he would not Ioh. 21.18 and some of the Martyrs have sometimes found fear and unwillingnesse in themselves to die Latymer in a Letter to B. Ridley writes thus Pray for me I say pray for me for I am sometimes so fearfull that I would creep into a Mous-hole c. as Lot lingred when God would take him out of Sodom so there is some backwardnesse and unwillingnesse in the Saints of God to leave this world and to die And the reasons of it may be 1. Death causeth a parting of two most dear inward and ancient friends the dissolution of Soul and body one from the other is unpleasing to nature old friends are loath to part when David and Jonathan were to depart one from another O how grievous was their parting 1 Sam. 20.41 But the Soul and body have been more inward and ancient friends than Jonathan and David were no marvel therefore though they part so unwillingly The untying of the Marriage-knot between Soul and body is unwelcome to nature though grace may bid it welcome which suggests another reason 2. The best of Gods Children believe but in part and are not perfectly rid of sin and corruption till death They have flesh remaining in them as well as spirit Gal. 5.17 and though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 The spirit saith to death as to Christ Come but the flesh saith Go The flesh saith its good being here though the spirit saith it s better being in Heaven and it may be believers do not stir up their graces nor read over their Evidences nor consider seriously of their Priviledges by and after death Yet lastly I answer Though there be some unwillingnesse in the best to die yet they know it is their fault and sin to be unwilling and they chide themselves for it and overcome this unwillingnesse in the end many who in their life-time have seemed unwilling to die and afraid of death yet when it hath come to the point have been suddenly strengthened beyond expectation willingly and cheerfully to lay down their heads on the block yea to yield up their bodies to the flames and have bid death welcome though it hath seized upon them with
instruments of cruelty and tormenting pains as old Hilarion encouraged himself to die Egredere anima mea noli timere go forth O my Soul be not afraid to die However though some let the aqua vitae Bottle hang by and use it not when a qualm comes yet such as actuate their faith and renue their repentance dayly and exercise themselves in having a good conscience may rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and be above dismaying fears though they walk in the Valley of the shadow of death I hasten now to the Application of the Doctrine seeing the Righteous have Hope in their Death The uses hereof may be of 1. Confutation 2. Information 3. Examination 4. Exhortation Use 1. Vse 1. Of Confutation of that grosse cursed opinion of the Mortalists who deny the immortality of the Soul hold that mans Soul dies with the body that whole man is a compound wholly mortal and that the present going of the Soul to Heaven or Hell is a meer fiction with much more such unsavoury stuffe which hath been published of late better becoming Professours of Epicurisme than of Christianity whereas the Scripture teacheth us that the Soul of Man is the spirit of life breathed in by God and made immortal that it cannot die at the separation from the body Genes 2.7 Math. 10.28 And that the spirits of believers and just men in their separation from their bodies passe immediately to Heaven to be and live with the Lord Math. 22.32 2 Cor. 5.4 8. Phil. 1.23 In that 22. of Matth. 31 32. Christ proves against the Sadduces the Resurrection of the body by an argument drawn from the immortality of the Soul and maintains it that Abraham Isaac and Jacob were then living in regard of their Souls though their bodies were in the dust They whose God the Lord is must needs be in being and living But the Lord said long after their death Exod. 3.6 I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob It is well observed in our English Annotations on Math. 22.32 He doth not say the Lord of Abraham for he is Lord of livelesse things also Math. 11.25 the Lord of Heaven and Earth but the God of Abraham i.e. in Covenant with him Now seeing this Covenant of God was with the bodies of these three Patriarcks as well as with their Souls as appears by their Circumcision it follows that as their Souls were then alive so their bodies must needs be raised from the dead and be made eternally happy Mr. Burroughs in the beginning of his Gospel-Conversation notes that Phil. 1.23 is a notable Scripture to prove the immortality of the Soul for certainly if the Soul did die with the body it could not have been better for Paul to have been dead than to live it were better that Paul had lived even to the day of Judgement than to have died and so to be nothing and turned into dust but he saith that when he died he should be with Christ which was better for him therefore he knew the Soul doth not die with the body So Zanchy observes two arguments in that desire or wish of Paul Phil. 1.23 to prove the immortality of the Soul 1. in that expression to depart be dissolved or loosed Death is no destruction but a dissolution onely or taking asunder the parts of which we are composed that is a separation of the Soul from the body Solutio a corpore declarat animam esse substantiam per se subsistentem 2. to be with Christ which cannot be unlesse the Soul be a substance subsisting by it self Animae sanctorum exutae corporibus migrant in coelum sunt cum Christo So Psal 49.15 is a clear testimony for the immortality of the Soul and for a better life after this without which assurance we might say with the Apostle in the language of Epicures 1 Cor. 15.32 Let us eat and drink for to morrow we die which Athiestical speech of theirs the Apostle reproves in the words following and fully confutes their Opinion in that chapter 2. Vse Of Information in 2. Branches 1. It informes us of the Gaine of Godlines if the Righteous have such hope in their death then surely the mystery of Christianity is a most rich and gainfull Profession if it be followed and improved by us aright 1. Tim. 4.8 Godlines is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come so 1. Tim. 6.6 7. Godlines with contentment is great gain Death will plunder and bereave us of all our worldly gain and prove a trap-dore to let our soules drop down into hell if we have busied our selves in the pursuit of worldly riches with the neglect of godlines as the Apostle shews vers 9.10 and therefore he calls off Timothy from following after worldly gain too greedily yea he bids him flee these things and exhorts him to follow after Righteousnes Godlines that so he may lay hold on eternall life vers 11.12 and Paul tells us Phil. 1.21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain Death is gainfull to such as live to Christ so Solomon Prov. 11.4 shewes us what is more profitable and gainfull than Riches namely Righteousnesse and when and also wherein it will appeare so even in the day of wrath and houre of death when riches will not profit then Righteousnes will stand us in greatest steed and prove most advantagious to us Riches profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousnes delivereth from death Death is the King of terrours Hells stalking horse the feare of it keeps men in bondage most men look upon it as their greatest enemy not to be resisted nor avoided by them But now Righteousnes delivers from it The righteous hath a wonderfull victory over it and receives wonderfull gain by it as I have shewed at large before therefore Righteousnes is better than Riches 2. I hasten now to the 2. Branch of the use of Information which is to shew us the truth of that Proverb The Righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Pro. 12.26 and wherein it doth appeare viz in this that the Righteous hath hope in his death Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace However the wicked and ungodly may vilify and despise Gods people counting them as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things while they live thinking meanely of them as a company of silly fooles and mad men yea speaking evil of them because they will not run with them to the same excesse of riot yet when believers come to die then it will appeare that they are the excellent of the earth in so much that even Balaam wished that he might die the death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23.10 Yea as the saints are the most precious and excellent in the
seek to be inherently holy Col. 1.5 6. for the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven whereof ye heard before in the Gospel which bringoth forth fruit in you c. vers 27.28 So Col. 3.1 2 4 5 from the consideration of their hope of future glory with Christ he exhorts them to heavenly mindednesse and to mortify their earthly Members c. So Titus 2.11 12 13 14. The grace of God teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope c. Try by these marks whether your hope be such as will not make you ashamed but stand you in stead to afford you comfort in the hour of death or whether you be in the number of those that are in danger of being driven away in their wickednesse and so apply comfort or terrour accordingly but I must hasten to one Use more and so conclude 4. Vse Of Exhortation in 2. Branches 1. To the surviving friends and relations of dying and deceased Saints to moderate their grief and sorrow for their Christian friends when they die seeing the righteous hath hope in his death and by death is made partaker of so many priviledges and enjoyes the possession of what we yet desire and hope for let not Christians sorrow as men without hope for them which are asleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.13 14. He forbids not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our Plants for our deceased friends as one expresseth it but not drown them It is good that we should lay to heart the death of the righteous and take notice of Gods hand in it and our losse and danger thereby so as to mourn and be affected with sorrow for it the Lord blames them for their stupidity and regardlesnesse who laid it not to heart when the righteous were taken away Isa 57.1 but we should not suffer our hearts to be overwhelmed with grief but moderate our sorrow considering their gain and benefit by death they are taken away from evil to come and enter into peace Our Saviour perceiving the hearts of his Disciples sadded at the thoughts of his departure from them tells them Joh. 14.28 if ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father See how David moderated and asswaged his grief and sorrow when he understood that his Childe was dead by considering that God had now revealed his will by his work whereunto his people must patiently submit their wills and that it would be bootlesse 2 Sam. 12.23 and in vain for him to afflict his Soul further with grief in regard of his Childe whom he could not restore to life being now dead and further he considered his own mortality and his Childes happy estate by death which David also comforted himself in hope of attaining unto I shall go to him c. Consider how willing and ready Barzillai was to part with Chimham and glad to have him preferred in the Court of King David 2 Sam. 19.37 and shall not we be content and willing to part with our dearest friends and relations for their good when the King of Heaven sends for them to live in his Court and to stand in his presence where is sulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more The 2. Branch of this Use of Exhortation is of more general concernment to exhort all so to redeem their time and to improve their talents whilest they live that they may have hope in their death and that their hope may not be cut off and make them ashamed to this purpose observe and practise these 8. Directions 1. Renounce all confidence in the flesh and lay your mouths in the dust sit alone consider your wayes look into the glasse of the Law to discover and take a view of your spiritual spots blemishes and deformities so as to loath and abhorre your selves yea to despair in your selves by reason of your sin and misery Lam. 3.28.29 2. Close in with Christ get interest in him by faith Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory but without Christ without hope Eph. 2.12 Fides est fundamentum spei Faith is the foundation of true hope Gal 5.5 John 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the Resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 3. Renue thy repentance dayly 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope must purifie himself they that hope to appear with Christ in glory must mortifie their earthly Members Col. 3 4 5. Die dayly to sin lest thou die in sin and so perish for ever The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse such as look for that blessed hope must deny ungodlinesse Tit. 2.12 13. sin deadens and destroyes hope 4. Follow after righteousnesse 1 Tim. 4.8 6.11 12. seek righteousnesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 2.3 saving hope is called the hope of righteousnesse Gal. 5 5. Walk uprightly Isa 57.2 Add to your faith vertue c. for â—o an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Be abundant in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. Ult. This consideration afforded succour and relief to the drooping spirit of Hezekiah when he received the sentence of death from the Lord against himself that he had walked before the Lord in truth and done that which was good in his sight Isa 38.3 5. Sit loose from the World in your hearts and affections and be heavenly-minded having your conversation in Heaven Paul tells the Philippians that their end is destruction who minde earthly things and they that look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to come from Heaven to change their vile bodies and that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body have their conversation in Heaven Phil 3.19.20 21. So 1 Tim 6.8 9 10 11. directing them how to lay hold on eternal life he adviseth them to moderate their affections towards the good things of the World and to be content with necessaries because of the danger of covetousnesse and inordinate desire of riches whereby men have been drowned in destruction and perdition and have pierced themselves through with many sorrowes 6. Be well grounded in the knowledge of the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Col. 3.16 Psal 130 5. I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his word do I hope Study the Promises the Tenour of them and to whom they are made that so thou mayest be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in thee 1 Pet. 3.15 7. Labour for a patient submissive frame of spirit