accept of a wicked account from thee who art made to serve him Vse 2 Therefore be perswaded as thou lovest thy soule to doe all things as serving of God We plough we sowe we serve Masters we provide for families in generall and children in speciall we obey Masters Governors Parents we eate we drinke we play we worke we rest we sleepe and ordinarily we do all this and more as to our selves and others either under or over us But my child learn thou to doe all things as serving God When thou eatest thy meat do it not so much to fill thy belly or to satisfie thy appetite as that in the strength of the creatures thou mayest be able to serve God When thou cloathest thy self doe it not so much to keepe thy selfe warme as that in the warmth of them thou mayst be able to serve God This is to observe that rule Whether you eat or drinke 1 Cor. 10. or whatsoever you doe doe all to the glory of God This will keepe thee from Gluttony Pride Drunkennesse Covetousnesse and every evill way Without this I shall tell thee of a fearfull discomfort which will be brought upon thee at last when thou art runne a long way and art come to the last houre of the day and it may be to the latter end of thy life God will awake thy conscience which will cry out unto thee O Friend Friend Friend thou art quite out of thy way Thou wast made to serve God and thou hast runne thus long in the service of the world and flesh Oh this will wound in the latter end Remember therefore that thou art made to serve God and doe it And next tell me 7. Q. How oughtest thou to serve him A. As he hath commanded in his lawes Herein thou sayest right also For God saith Deut. 12.32 Whatsoever I command thee take heed to doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor pull ought therefrom God would have us punctuall in performing all our service to him as he appoints Therefore as David did take notice that God had commanded to keep his precepts diligently so we must practise Psal 119.4 Remember therefore first We must seek how God must be served that thou must enquire how God must be served For naturally thou knowest not by reason of that ignorance that is in thee As a servant that comes newly to an house is a stranger to that service which will be required so art thou to the service of thy good God Yea God hath a peculiar service from all false gods and therfore Balaam said Num. 23.9 the people shall dwell by themselves and shall not be reckoned among other nations they shall have a Religion and Lawes apart Other gods will be content with service sutable to their natures but God will be serv'd above the power of nature Yea they that have performed Gods service for matter have failed in manner Esa 1. Psal 50. Esa 5. and have been cursed Experience teacheth that good meate may be marr'd in dressing and so may the service of God in performance Vse Therefore thou may'st justly lament the carelesnesse of our soules who either never or with no delight doe enquire after the service of God Most may say as those ancient Heretiques In this faith I was borne in this I will dye Most take up the service of God by tradition and custome without further enquiry But doe thou my child stand in the wayes Jer. 6.16 and behold the good old way that thou may'st learne to serve him as thou shouldest Thy soule is like water or other fluid substances which can never be at rest till it be bounded and nothing can bound it but God and his word which is thy perfect directory Marke next God must be served by his law Exod. 25.40 Heb. 8.5 that Gods service must be of Gods commanding Moses did every thing about Gods worship according to the patterne to the very pinnes and snuffers and besomes and basins And God forbids us in his worship Num. 15.39 Deut. 12.8 Ezek. 20.18 Matt. 15.9 Esa 29.13 Col. 2.23 to follow after our owne hearts and eyes or to teach his worship and fear by the precepts of men or to walk in the ordinances of our forefathers and condemns all voluntary Religion though it have a shew of wisdome and humblenesse of mind Nature teacheth this equitie that God should have that service which best pleaseth him If thou serve a Master or Mistres thou must in all of it respect their pleasures As they are best acquainted with their owne natures and dispositions so is God and because he is a Spirit he will be worshipped in spirit and truth Joh. 4. which is most sutable to his nature wherewith he onely is best acquainted Vse Therefore my child take thou heed of will-will-worship whether it issue from thy owne will or from the will of others Esa 1. Of this God will say Who hath required this at your hands Wilt thou leane unto mens directions They may deceive and be deceived in what is pleasing unto God Wilt thou follow good intentions The end of an action is not sufficient to make it good as thou may'st fee in Nadab Levit. 10.1 2. 1 Sam. 15.15 Judg. 8.27 Rom. 8.7 and Abihu Saul and Gedeon Wilt thou leane unto thine owne wisdome It is not onely an enemy but enmitie against God Wilt thou follow thy affections That which is done without Gods warrant is not of love for love is the fulfilling of the law Gal. 5.14 Rom. 12.9 Therefore let all thy service be reasonable that is such as whereof thou canst give a reason from Gods word then shalt thou do it of faith and with good comfort Now take a short sight of how farre we are come and to this end tell me Q. What is God A. He is that Almighty one who maketh and governeth all things Q. What doest thou meane by Almighty A. One mighty to doe all Q. Wherein doth his Almightinesse stand A. In skill in will in power Q. How in skill A. In knowing all things Q. How in will A. In willing all things that are good Q. How in power A. In doing all things according to his will Q. How hath he shewed himself to be Almighty A. By making and governing all things Q. What is it to make all things A. To give all things their being Q. What is it to governe all things A. To guide all things and actions to a good end Q. Wherefore did God make you A. To doe him service Q. What is it to serve God A. To doe his work Q. How ought you to serve God A. As he hath commanded in his lawes Q. Why must you thus serve him A. Because not we but he knows best what will please him Thus my child we have briefly summ'd the three last Questions and Answers now let us proceed Tell me therefore 8. Q. Which are these lawes of God A.
thou doest not record truth as it is found Thou mayst sinne against truth and charity privately either against thy selfe or others Against thy selfe when thou dost not regard thine owne credit or thinkest either too basely or boastingly of thy owne person Against others when thou praysest them above deserts or praysest mens vices or givest not them their due truth by scorning backbiting slandering or the like Vse Thus my child maist thou sinne against truth but take heed God would have truth precious with thee and all men Therefore discerne it as cleare as thou canst honour it by not withholding the truth in unrighteousnesse and maintaine it in thy selfe and others that justice may flourish It is true that many times truth breeds hatred among men but beleeve God who saith that he that deales truly is Gods delight 18. Q. What is the tenth Commandement A. Exod. 20.17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his oxe nor his asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Here thou art at the very foot of the ladder and from hence thou mayst rise to the highest pitch of morall vertue What is required in the tenth commandement or of sinne against it If thou have this coveting after that which is thy neighbors thou wilt not spare falshood to get it If thou canst once out-face truth then have at thy neighbours goods for thy profit thy neighbours honesty for thy pleasure yea thy neighbours life rather then thou wilt misse of either and next have at thy neighbours honour that thou mayst have none to punish thee and then have at thy God in all disobedience for if thou sinnest against thy neighbour whom thou seest thou wilt much more sinne against thy God whom thou doest not see but in his word and works Therefore God requires in this Commandement such an evennesse of spirit that nothing that is thy neighbours doe trouble thee Hath thy neighbour better house better wife better servants better cattell better any thing then thee thy eye may not be evill because Gods is good If thou have God it is enough it is all things nothing that is thy neighbours must trouble thee This Coveting is call'd Evill concupiscence Col. 3.5 and is an inordinate motion of thy soule soliciting to evill against thy neighbour This is of two sorts originall and actuall Originall referred to neighbours is part of thy flesh which by pronenesse poysoneth thy soule and moveth thee to injustice Actuall are ill motions rising from thence in thy mind by foolish fansies thoughts and judgements and in thy heart by affections wishes and desires inordinately carried after pleasures the lusts of the flesh profits the lusts of the eyes and honour the pride of life This Coveting must not be carried in speciall after things without life as thy neighbours house nor after things with life which are reckoned according to their honour as thy neighbours wife servants oxe or asse nor in generall after any thing that is thy neighbours that so thou mayst know that nothing is to be excepted These home-bred broyles and covetings are the causes of all evils when they are yeelded unto therefore God hath set them at the lower end of this Ladder Vse Be carefull my child to watch with all care and diligence in thy soule about these covetings Have such a quiet resting in God and all that he gives thee be it little or be it much that nothing that is thy neighbours trouble thee If thou doe not thou wilt trouble thy selfe and thou wilt be provoked to hurt and trouble thy neighbour and to rise higher to a more direct sinning against thy God Thus have I given thee fit for thy capacity I hope a short summe of these Ten Lawes of God now look back and let me see what thou hast observed Thou hast told me that God made thee to serve him as he hath commanded in his Lawes Q. Where are these Laws set down A. In Exodus and Deuteronomy Q. How many of them are they A. They are ten in two Tables Q. What doth God require in the first A. My having the true God onely to be my God Q. How canst thou have God A. By cleaving unto God by Covenant Q. How must that be A. By knowledge faith love hope feare confidence patience prayer and vowes Q. What doth he require in the second A. My giving of God his owne worship and service Q. How canst thou doe that A. By abhorring the will-worship of Idolaters and serving him according to his owne will Q. What doth he require in the third A. My worshipping of God in his owne manner Q. How must that be done A. By observing not onely the matter of his worship but the manner that it be done well Q. What doth he require in the fourth A. My worshipping of God by his owne meanes upon that time that is appointed by him Q. What are his means to advance his worship now A. The Ministery of the word of God Q. What is the appointed time A. The seventh part of time as the Sabbath was in the old World so the Lords day in the new Q. What doth he require in the fifth Commandement A. Superiours and Inferiours with their severall duties Q. Whom doe you meane by Superiours A. Those that are in state of excellency above us Q. Whom doe you meane by Inferiours A. Those that are in severall orders under them Q. What is it to honour them A. According to their order above us to have reverence obedience feare and thankfulnesse Q. What doth he require in the sixth Commandement A. The preservation of our owne and our neighbours lives Q. May none be killed A. Yes upon a just cause by a just person in a just order and with a just mind Q. What then is murder A. An unlawfull hurting of the life of any man in thought word and deed or inclination Q. What doth he require in the seventh Commandement A. The preservation of our owne or neighbours chastitie Q. What doe you meane by adultery A. Properly the abusing of anothers bed Q. What doe you meane by it here A. All unchastity in nature preparation or thought word and deed Q. What doth he require in the eighth Commandement A. The preservation of our own and neighbours goods Q. What is meant here by stealing A. A close conveyance away of our owne or our neighbours goods Q. What is comprehended under it A. All hurting of our neighbour in his goods either in nature or thought word or deed Q. What doth God require in the ninth Commandement A. The preservation of our owne or our neighbours truth Q. What doe you meane by false witnesse A. Any testimony by word or deed which is either against truth or against truth and charitie Q. What doth God require in the tenth Commandement A. Such an evennesse of spirit that nothing that is my neighbours trouble me
errours Lord cleanse me from my secret sinnes Where is considered 1 A disease about which 2 1 A concession we have many errours 2 A confession we cannot know them yet we may know more then we do by meanes propounded in the Sermon 2 A remedy flying to God by prayer About which 2 1 The Object secret sinnes which are 1 Demonstrated by the severall eyes 1 Of God 2 Of the world 3 Of a mans own conscience 2 Discovered by five meanes applied in the Sermon 2 The act or work against them prayer confessing their pollution as well as of other sinnes Matth. 13.45 46. The Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant-man seeking goodly pearles who when he had found a pearle of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Whence is discovered 1 The worth of the Gospell which is valued 1 By the place where it is In the Kingdome of Heaven 2 By the person that trades for it A Merchant-man 3 By the commodities of it Pearles a pearle of great price 4 By his invincible diligence about it he seeks till he finde it 2 What a good Christian will bid for it He sels all that he hath which is demonstrated 1 Negatively what he doth not sell 2 Positively what he doth sell for the enjoyment of Christ this pearle Psal 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Where is discoursed 1 Davids confession of God 1 For soveraignty to be his Lord 2 For the signe of it Thou hast redeemed me 3 For his veracity God of truth 2 David's profession for himselfe where he presents 1 The nature of his soul a spirit 2 The Castle of his soul into thy hands 3 The Care for his soul I commit it unto thee The summe of all is 1 Secret sinnes discovered 2 Christ exalted among men 3 The Soul secured To his Worthy and Noble Friends 1 Mrs ELIZABETH NORTON wife to Colonel NORTON Esquire 2 Mrs KATHERINE MAY wife to JAMES MAY Esquire 3 Mrs HONORIA ELIOT wife to JOHN ELIOT Esquire 4 Mrs MARY NORTON All daughters to the Noble Lady Honoria Norton of Southwick in Hantshire my much honoured Patronesse Robert Abbot doth dedicate these three ensuing Sermons as a testimony of my dearest respects to that Noble Family and doth humbly pray for their souls and bodies happinesses to Eternall Glory MY Noble Friends God hath joyned you together by bloud and marriage and I durst not separate one from the other It is all your goods I ayme at and therefore I resolved not to make one beholding to another for a gift but all to bee thankefull to that Noble Mother who set me on work On my part I can do nothing that may deserve a publike eye but if others think otherwise I cannot help it If they tell me that I have a talent I have known that a long time If they tell me it may profit by way of preaching I must put that to the successe which Gods blessing will give it If they tell me it may profit by writing here onely I stick I am altogether ignorant what I can do in this kinde I have nothing to direct me but others opinions and desires and if they be no sure Cards and Compasses to sail by into this censuring world I may suffer shipwrack Howsoever it fall out I must now take my Lot and if with Jonas I be cast into the Sea it is because I have obeyed and not because I have rebelled It is possible for a man to know when he is called to do any work though it be a work of hazard He is called surely when he hath a voice from heaven to designe him as Paul had and when he hath a particular instinct of spirit as many worthies in the first ages and when he hath the prophesies go of him as Timothy had and when he hath the approbation and imposition of hands of the Eldership as ordinary servants of Christ for the benefit of the Church Pastours and Teachers have or lastly when he hath the engagement of the hearts of Gods people attending upon his dispensing of the mysteries of grace and pressing the publike use of what he doth more privately As I have had long ago and ever since some comfortable approbation at and since the imposition of hands so have I had some closing of the hearts of the godly for the bringing into the publike of what I have done in this service in the private This I have accounted an invitation to do something by the pen as well as in the Pulpit As I would not be so running out as to make all my diviner thoughts visible to the Sunne because there are many that can do it better so would I not be so bound up as to be unwilling to profit some in this way though others may think it not worth the looking on That which is as gold to some may be as brasse to others and that which is as silver to some is as lead to others and yet variety of spirits may be helped according to various touches and impressions of fancies judgements conceptions and opinions from the spirit of Christ I therefore being emboldened to do something in this kinde was not long to study to whose hands to present it first and thence to have it derived to all English hands and hearts that we are willing to receive it To you therefore my noble friends is it come onely craving your acceptance according to the worth of the matter not of the person that exhibits it unto you I am a poor old man clogged with many infirmities who have been tossed and bandied up and down in the world who yet want nothing but a fuller measure of Jesus Christ to dwell in my soul by faith I have learned you the fountains of secret sinnes and the means how to discover them in your selves that it may bow you before the God of heaven to make you fit to hold Jesus Christ It must be an hollow vessel which must hold water and an hollowed heart that must lye under the fountain of David for sin and for uncleannesse to carry away the water of life to the soul I have taught you the worth of the Glorious Gospel that you may be willing to hunt after Christ and when you have found him to part with all that is yours for his embracements And because your precious souls are in much danger in these distracted dayes both by prosperity and adversity I have learned you from the best assurance office in the world to secure your souls that while you enjoy them you may have faith while you have faith you may have Christ and while you have Christ you may have the love of God for your eternall good I must confesse that if ever Christian souls were in danger they are in danger now We are faln into the last and perillous dayes wherein while the Drum and Canon are the best musick and
Commission is given to the sword to cut off not a few and to guild the Land with crying bloud the Enemy sowes tares to an aboundance at home to the hinderance of Reformation and to the disjoynting of many a good soul Some of the ancient exploded heresies are revived and such wide ruptures are made that a devout soul can scarce tell at which dore to go in to Christ my heart bleeds to see with what daring and violence private opinions are maintained I beleeve that I may have some private opinion of my own but I will rather bury it within my breast then suffer it to make a publike disturbance If others would do so too we might it may be have been wafted to our wished for haven before this day But alas all cry up the ways of Christ the ordinances of Christ the Kingdome of Christ but when it comes to be examined it is found to be nothing but self opinions and self practises Some look upon the Law as a School-master unto Christ and when they have learned him they would walk in Christ not onely by beleeving but by doing such holy charitable duties as the Law propounds and commands Some would have no use of the Law among Christians but pin all upon faith as if faith did not work by love Some look upon Baptism as unusefull in our Infantery though the beginning of it cannot be concludently grounded but from the Apostles and the practise of it was never opposed till this last age Some are for the grafting of it into the place of Circumcision because it can be no other then that was A signe and seal of the righteousnes of faith and God who caleth things that are not as if they were calleth by vertue of his Covenant Infants of Christians Believers much more thē infants of Jews Some again are for Congregationall Churches onely as if Christ had given any such precept or as if there were any such practise according to undoubted rule Others will have Classicall Churches under sweet and amiable subordination to help the Communion of Saints as in the dayes of Timothy and Titus Some would have excommunication in the power of the whole Body some in the power of the Presbytery some in the power of a mixt Presbytery some of an Eldership of Ministery which seemes to be the rightest way and some would have none at all though happly if excommunication be not a delivering over to Satan yet it may justly be a wary casting out and removing stones of offence till they are humbled and reformed Some would have all punishments in the power of the Magistrate some would have none but for such faults as clash against Publique Peace of the Common-wealth though it cannot be denied but that the sword of a good Magistrate for vertue and against vice is a back of Steele to a good Ministery Some are for admittance of members of the Church by I know not what Covenant because it is variously practised Others know no covenant but that of grace made in Baptisme and renewed in the Supper of the Lord except voluntary Covenants and according to the Rules of Christian libertie Now my much honoured friends when these digladiations are sharpned amongst good men great men will it not be a beame in the eye of many a good soul even to hinder them from walking with such a steady foot in the wayes of Christ as were to be wished I know no better way to help all then to follow Melancthons counsell to his Mother when she was troubled with the controversies of her time that she stick to her old principles of saving doctrine and practise and for the rest to wait the issue of Gods providence This is my humble and hearty counsell to you all Look upon the goodnesse of every good man and so far as you see Christ in them so far honour and succour them but for other opinions engage you not It will be more unseemly at last to cast out an errour upon further triall then not to admit it at first God hath his mighty work in these stirrings for the cleering of some truths yet more confusedly known When this is brought unto an issue it will more sweetly content you then a present engagement in the premises of many stirring spirits who do too much trouble themselves and others This is all I ayme at and therefore present you with old quiet grounds of faith and practise as well becommeth me who am the servant of Jesus Christ and under him From my Study in Southwick Feb. 8. 1646. Yours to serve you in the Gospell ROBERT ABBOT Secret Sinnes discovered OR A Sermon of secret Sinnes preached at a Publike Fast UPON PSAL. 19.12 Who can understand his errours Lord cleanse me from my secret sinnes WE are come to an humbling day and this is an humbling Text. It points at an infinite company of sinnes but it laments prays against secret sins Every Pulpit all the Town words it against open sinnes and if we amend not it is not for want of light but for want of love to piety but if we can make some discovery of Secret sinnes it makes us suspect the more those that are known and it may be casts us upon a bed of sorrow for all because our secret ones are so many and so bad David sues here to God for two blessings justification and sanctification The motives to set him on are the glory God hath by the Creatures and by the word By the creatures he is wonderfully glorified V. 1 2 3 4 c. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shewes his handy-work They glorifie God by working according to the Law which God hath put upon them and by bearing forth impresses of Gods Majesty wisedome and goodnesse By the word God is more glorified yet Vers 7 8 9 10 c. It is his law his testimonies his statutes his commandements and his fear It is perfect it is sure it is right it is pure it is clean it is truth and righteous altogether It converts makes wise rejoyceth enlighteneth and is everlasting It is desirable above the best Gold and sweeter then hony yea it brings great reward along with it David was so in love with the glory that God had both these wayes that no doubt he was heartily wishing that all men would honour him too But for himself he sets himself earnestly upon it and because he cannot do it without a Pardon of sinne and power against sin Ver. 12. he prays first for justification Lord cleanse me next for sanctification Ver. 13. Keep back presumptuous sinnes let them not have dominion over me and lastly for the fruit of both let my words Ver. 14. and meditations be acceptable in thy sight He knew that praise is not comely for the mouth of a sinfull fool He would not therefore care how farre he were from it even from the whole body of it that he might glorifie
rule over him bring him forth and slay him before me FINIS THE SOVL SECVRED OR A Sermon preached in Covent Garden upon PSAL. 31.5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth BOth upon humbling dayes and upon joyfull dayes it is ever good to Secure our souls In humbling times if we do it not we will be swallowed up of sorrow If we do it not in joyfull times we will be swallowed up of sinne Therefore we living in both these times times of sorrow under the burthen of publike calamities and times of joy when God flings in varietie of particular mercies to be as the first fruits of a larger harvest it is our duty to engage our souls to seek their own security without which we perish And that we may do it it is a comfortable thing to know where our strength lies Sampson knew the hair of his Nazariteship Hares know the thickets and Conies the stony rocks so wee must know some place of safety or else we are in ill case Look therefore upon David He was in fearfull troubles and he knew that his life was kept by committing it to God Hence he beats upon it again and again in prayer in this Psalm as if he were never weary of asking the same protection from his good God This David doth not out of Poverty of spirit Matth. 6.7 which brings forth these idle repetitions condemned by Christ Matth. 26.42 but out of aboundance of spirit as Christ did in time of the hour of darknesse to shew the excellent use of repetitions in this case and to clear fervency of spirit when a man would settle and assure any good to the soul Amongst other things commended to God Davids soul hath a chief place in this verse read In which be pleased to consider 1 Davids confession of God 2 Davids profession for himself His confession is his foundation and his profession is his building upon it We cannot build upon God except we know him David through the mercy of God knew him and thence makes use of it in confessing him 1 For soveraignty to be his Lord Redemptoris jus 2. 1 Propinquitatis 2 Proprietatis 2 For the signe of it thou hast redeemed me for he had the right of propriety to him Masters might redeem their servants and Lords their vassals 3 For his veracity O Lord God of truth thou hast promised to deliver me and thou hast been as good as thy word Hence I might discourse unto you of Gods Lordship over his people and therefore that they must walk before him with fear and trembling as those that must give an account unto him of all their doings I might discover more fully the use that God makes of his Lordship not to tyrannize but to deliver poor captives which is an excellent president for those in high places I might presse the condition that Gods people are subject unto to be in bondage to miseries and the footing we have in God for our rescue that he is a God of truth and will be as good as his word without exception But I passe these things and onely pitch upon Davids profession for himself into thy hands I commit my spirit From whence I present three particulars 1 The Nature of the soul 2 The Castle of the soul 3 The Care of the soul For nature you learn that the soul is a spirit The nature of the soul It is a spirit If you refer the word Spirit unto a man it signifies sixe things in the Scripture 1. The hid man of the heart as when it is said Joh. 3.6 that which is born of the spirit is spirit that is is the new creature the spirituall part of man 2. It signifieth Conviction as when it is said of reprobates that sinne unto death that they are made partakers of the Spirit Heb. 6.4 that is they are convinced of the truth of the Gospel 3. It signifies Sanctification as when David prayes Psa 51.11 renew a right spirit within me that is give me a sanctified soul that I may go right in thy way 4. It signifies Extrordinary graces as when it is said of Stephen that he was filled with the Spirit that is Act. 6.5 he had extraordinary gifts and graces 5. It signifies the Gospel 2 Cor. 3.6 as when we are said to be Preachers of the Spirit that is of the Gospel which brings life to the soule 6. It signifies authoritie as when Paul saith when ye are gathered together and my spirit 1 Cor. 5.3 that is by vertue of my authoritie But among the rest it signifies the soule as when Christ saith Father Luk. 23.46 into thy hands I commend my spirit and Peter saith that Christ by Noah 1 Pet. 3.19 that Preacher of righteousnesse preached unto the spirits that are now in the prison of hell Heb. 12.9 and the Apostle to the Hebrews calls God the Father of spirits In all which places the word spirit signifies the soule Ob. You will say then it may be that the soule is God because God is a spirit Joh. 4. Sol. But it follows not because the soule is a created spirit but God is uncreated God is a simple spirit without all mixture but the soule is compounded of a present being and a possibilitie not to be if God please Yet for all that the soule is the more excellent for being a spirit as God is because in it it resembles God in his Immortalitie for time to come A parte post Gen. 2.3 whereof there are three arguments in the creation of it That it was as it were breathed by God into man and therefore more heavenly and that it was breathed for the breath of lives Lives is spoken dually to signifie the life of it hereafter as well as here Therefore Christs convincing argument makes for it Mat. 22.32 that God is not the God of the dead but of the living therefore though Abraham Isaac Jacob be dead in body yet they live in spirit Domus viventium in which respect the grave is called the house of the living Use 1 Hence give me leave to make a threefold exhortation unto you If the soule be a spirit provide spiritually for it Joyne it to him that is spirit and thinke of a better place for it then here First provide spiritually for it If a child aske a father bread Matth. 7.9 10. will he give him a stone If he aske him a fish will he give him a serpent will he not provide for him according to his nature Deale you no worse with your soules and it will be the better for you I read of an usurer who loved his bags so well that when he died he chewed and swallowed and being asked the reason he said that he was eating up his mony and when he saw that he must dye he offered all to his poor soul to stay with