is that which causeth the Saint to be so busie about the Scriptures but because they are they that testifie of Christ they prize the Cabinet for the Jewels sake what maketh the godly man so frequent at prayer surely because therein he enjoyeth Communion with his Saviour with Jesus Christ his voice to every Ordidance is Saw ye him whom my soul loveth Now this is the felicity of the Magistrate that is godly he shall be with Christ when he dieth There will be a perfect freedome from all evill when the Sun is at the highest there shall be no shadow When the Christian hath passed this red Sea he shall see all his enemies both bodily and spiritual dead on the shore There will be a full fruition of all good Psal 16. ult In his presence will be fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore The presence of this King will make a Court indeed There will be all that thine eye ever saw or thine heart ever desired or thy tongue ever asked or thy mind ever conceived yea ten thousand times more then thou canst either ask or think There will be all beams of light in this Sun all streams of water in this Ocean out of whom as out of a christal Fountain thou shalt drink down all the refined sweetnesse of all Creatures in Heaven and Earth for ever And this Condition will be eternally thus comfortable 1 Thes 4.17 We shall ever be with the Lord. O how sweet is that word Ever Ever to be happy and ever happy to enjoy Christ fully immediately and ever to enjoy him Certainly as the Word ever is the Hell of Hell * Baxter's Rest excellently so it is the Heaven of Heaven Frailty is a flaw in the best diamond of nature which abateth its price Eternity is one of the most precious jewels in the Crown of glory which encreaseth its value exceedingly What an Argument is here to incite you to live to Christ Cyprus famosa divitiis paupertatem populi Rom. ut occuparetur solicitavit Sextus Rufus why when ye die ye shall eternally live with Christ When the Gauls had once tasted the wine made of the grapes in Italy they marched eagerly desiring to conquer it I have given you a taste of Canaans grapes O use violence for the inheritance above Be constant immoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord for your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. ult Plutarch Pericles that famous Oratour before ever he pleaded would intreat his God that not a word might fall from him besides his cause Plut. in vit To conclude all It s reported that Scipio African when he had any weighty work in hand would go before day into the Capital in Coelum Jovis quasi consultans de Republica cum Jove d And also that Moses in four causes which came before him two whereof were not weighty and two were more material Caeterum tam de his quam de illis dicebat Non Audivi Of both the lighter and weightier Moses said I have not heard To wit from the Lord to shew that a deliberation and consultation as it were with God Jewish Antiq. lib. 5. cap. 6. Plato in his 6 lib. de legibus would have the Palaces of Princes joyned unto temples ought to be in all judgement before sentence be pronounced Your custome Sirs is commendable to make your supplication to God before the administration of justice to men I beseech you again and again in the bowels of Christ As ye would have your Saviour to stand by you when all your friends estates honours will fail you as ye would have your names to smell a sweet savour in the Churches of God when your bodies shall be rotten as ye would die the deaths of the righteous and have your latter end like theirs as ye would render up your accounts with joy when ye must appear at the Judgement seat of Christ Now execute justice impartially Live among your inferiours exemplarily Walk with God humbly Work for God zealously Mind the power of sanctity and know a crucified Saviour In a word let true righteousness towards men and reall holiness towards God be your work while ye live that perfect holiness among men that are good and eternal happiness in the fruition of God may be your reward when ye die For though he hath said Ye are gods and all of you are children of the most High Yet ye must die like men and fall like one of the Princes FINIS ERATA Page 2. line 13. for uJpiter read Jupiter line 21. for Evangelical read Angelical
Hell the higher their exalation is the greater and lower their damnation will be The words of the Prophet are Emphatical i Isa 30.33 Ingentia beneficia ingentia flagitia ingentia supplicia Kings saith one are fair marks for traytors to shoot at Tra. on Esth 2. Tophet is prepared of old yea for the King it is prepared The greater mens preferment is the greater their defilement and the greater their punishment 2. Others understand them of a fall by a violent death So many Princes fall In that bloody way Saul Abner Ahab and many other Princes mentioned in Scripture went to their long homes The Roman Historian observeth that the Cesars got little by their places nisi ut citius interficerentur Some mens honour hath been the Knife to cut their throats Horat. ad Licin Saepius ventis agitatur iugens Pinus celsae graviore casu Decidunt turres feriuntque summos Fulmina montes 3. A third sort Expound the words of falling as the Princes of other Nations Deodati in loc though ye are the Princes of God's people yet ye are not thereby priviledged from the arrest of death For as the sun of prosperity shineth as well on the briars in the Wildernesse as on the roses in the Garden so the frost of adversity falleth as well on the fruitfull corn as on the hurtful weeds The most notorious sinner liveth as well as the most gracious Saint and the most gracious Saint dyeth as well as the most notorious sinner Grace is an Antidote against the poyson of death but not a preservative from undergoing death 4. The words are construed thus Like the Princes that have been before you Ye know that your Ancestours who were as high in honour and as great in power as your selves yet submitted to death so must ye doe as they have done Etiam muta clamant cadavera Their graves amongst you do read a Lecture of mortality to you The term whereby the Spirit of God describeth death is considerable it s called a fall and fall like one of the Princes * Rom. 14.13 Sin is called a fall and so is death Death is the first-born of sin and therefore no wonder if the Child be called after the name of its Parent Death is to every man a fall from every thing but God and godliness Ye that are Magistrates fall more stairs yea more stories then others the higher your standing while ye live the lower your falling when ye die Death to some is a fall from Earth to Hell to all from the society of men to the company of worms To you that are great men it will be a fall from your richest treasures from your delightful pleasures from your stateliest possessions from your loveliest relations Job 7.7 from whatsoever is called the good of this world Your eyes shall no more see good Hor. ad Posth Linquenda tellus domus placens Vxor neque harum quas colis arborum Te praeter invisas cupressos Vlla brevem Dominum sequetur Death is called an uncloathing 2 Cor. 5.4 because it will strip you of all your places of honour of all the ornaments of nature As ye came naked into the World Job 1. ult so ye must go naked out of the World Nothing will follow you when ye die but your works Rev. 14.13 When the good Magistrate dyeth that hath been zealous for the Lord's honour and studious of his souls welfare his works follow him through free grace into an eternal weight of glory When the evil Magistrate dyeth who hath been careless of his Conscience and unfaithful in his calling his works follow him through divine severity into a boundless Ocean of endless misery Doctrine After this brief Explication of the words I proceed to the doctrinal Observation That Magistrates are mortal or they who live like gods must die like men the most potent Emperour must take his leave of this life as well as the poorest beggar Death is called * Josh 23.14 the way of all the Earth because all flesh on Earth go this way Is the greatest road in the World never without many travellers of all sorts ranks and degrees The grave is the Inn or resting place whither this way tendeth and Job telleth k Job 3.19 us that The small and the great are there The mortal sythe of death is Master of the royal Scepter and moweth down as well the Lillies of the Crown as the grasse of l Isa 40.6 7. the Field At one end of the Library in Dublin was a Globe at the other end a Skeliton to shew that though man were Lord of all the World yet he must die All flesh is grasse and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field The grasse withereth the flower fadeth As Athanasius speaketh of Julian so I may say of the greatest King in the World Nubecula est quae citò transibit Do we not find by experience that the greater Candles consume and burn out as well as the lesser And that the boysterous wind of sickness bloweth down and rooteth up as well the tall Cedars of Lebanon and the strong Oaks of Bashan as the lower shrubs and weaker trees of the Vallies We Ministers that preach the Word of life must ere long submit to m 2 Cor. 4.7 death ye have the Heavenly treasure in earthen vessels And you Magistrates that are the Bulwarks of the Countrey under God to preserve us from the shot of a violent death must necessarily your selves undergoe a natural death Ye are called n Psal 47.9 Scuta terrae sunt terrea scuta the shields of the Earth yet ye are but Earthen shields Ye are called the o Isa 44.18 As at a game at chess when done not only pawns but Kings Queens and Knights are tumbled into the bag so when the race of life is finished noble as well as ignoble are tumbled into their graves shepherds of the people but this Wolf of death will seise as well on the shepherd as on the sheep I shall not stand to prove it any further at this present there is not one of you either Judge or Justicâ—s that hear me this day but within a few days shall be the proof of the text I shall only give you the causes of the Doctrine and then make some Use of it But why do the gods die like men There are three Causes of it as they are men * Grounds of Doctrine 1 Ethicall cause of death is sin Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6. ult Stipendium peccati mors First the moral or meritorious cause of death is sin Sin and death like Jacob and Esau were brought forth at one birth they were twins and came into the World together As the thread followeth the Needle so death followeth sin Wherefore as p by one man sin entred into the World and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that
Claudian of Pomp. Mag. Cyrus therefore did fitly cause this Epitaph to be engraven on his tomb O man whosoever thou art that shalt come hither know that I am great Cyrus that first erected the Persian Monarchy therefore envy me not this little Earth that now covereth my body From it you may learn That your greatest care should be to fit your self for your last hour your main work is to doe your last act well The Roman Gladiators appointed to death were very solicitous how they should contrive their bodies so as that they might fall handsomely and die modestly Your business is so to furnish your soul that you may die piously Å¿ Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae simul cum naufragio enatent to get such riches as will swim out with you in a shipwrack to be t Luke 22.21 rich towards God u Jam. 2.5 to be rich in faith to be rich * 1 Tim. 6.18 19. in good works Alas how poor is that 〈◊〉 who hath no other riches then what are at the courtesie of the thief moâ—â— and death hereby you will lay up a good foundation against the time to come and lay hold on eternal life It will shew you how absolutely necessary an experimental knowledge of a crucified Christ is to a dying Christian that no weapon is more requisite for us to have and use when we enter the lists and encounter with our last enemy then the shield of faith O how cheering and comforting to a dying body will the warm blood of the Lord Jesus be being applied by a true lively faith to the soul He and he only may look on the King of terrours without fear that hath first looked on the King of Saints with the eye of faith It will acquaint you that a saving work of grace must be wrought upon the heart before death can be a passage to the weight of glory A Painter may paint fire but he cannot paint heat A person civillized may attain to the outward actions but cannot to the inward affections of a sanctified Christian That all the godliness of an unregenerate man will die with him That the lamp of profession which shineth gloriously whilst a man liveth if it be not fed from oyl in the vessel true grace in the heart a renewed nature the image of God stamped on the soul it will go out in a stink when he dieth and not advantage him at all And therefore Christians should not like some Tradesmen live altogether upon their credit with others but labour to find some testimony within them that there is a real change wrought upon them It will tell you that it highly concerneth you to be laborious for your soul for your Saviour now you live because you must rest when you die That you should be much in thinking highly of God in speaking humbly to God in acting vigorously for God * 1 Cor. 15. ult That you should abound more and more in the work of the Lord. Saints must not * Josh 10.12 13. Falsi illi sunt qui diversissimas res expectant ignaviae voluptatem praemia virtutis Salust Non incepisse sed perfecisse virtutis est Aug. ad fratr in erem like Joshua's Moon stand still much less like Crabs goe backward no not like the Snail creep forward but like the Sun rejoyce to run his race The path of the just must be like the shining light that shineth brighter and brighter to perfect day Prov. 4.18 Truth of grace is ever followed with growth in grace though perfection be the honour and reward onely of the Saints in Heaven yet it is the desire and endeavour of the Saints on earth That you should persevere and encrease both by your pattern and precept in discouraging the bad and encouraging the good That you should improve all opportunities employ every talent your honour riches power life health strength relations interests all you have are or can be to the utmost in his service and for his for glory who I hope hath loved you and washed you in his blood Gen. 47.6 Pharaoh would have active men to be his servants the great King of heaven is a pure act and he loveth most and liketh best those servants that are most active for him Hereby you will please the most high God though hereby you will displease prophane men The world indeed whom the Spirit of God compareth to e 2 Pet. 2. ult His speech savoured more of wit then grace who counselled his friend not to come too nigh unto truth lest his teeth should be beaten out with its heeles dogs if a man go softly will be quiet but if he ride a pace in the way to heaven they will bark exceedingly yea and bite if they can do but hinder their progress in sin and like waters stopt at a bridge they will roar and make a noise to purpose But surely the favour of God will bear up the heart against all the anger of men Those persons which the wicked besmear with calumny and those actions which ungodly men speak of with scorn and contempt God will entertain with an Euge and reward with glory f Matth. 25.21 Well done good and Faithfull servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many Cities enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Sir My hearts desire and prayer to God for Rickmersworth is that it might be saved And I hope the Divine providence wil ere long put a greater price into your hands then ever yet you had wherein you may manifest your fear of his Majesty your zeal for his glory your hatred of iniquity and your real love to the place of your Nativity which that you may faithfully discharge at this day and comfortably account for at the last day and that you and yours 2 Cor. 5.1 when these earthly houses of your tabernacles shall be dissolved may have a building of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens shall be the prayer of him whose desire is to be Rickmersworth June 1. 1657. Your faithful servant in the work of your faith GEORGE SWINNOCK The GODS Die like MEN OR MAGISTRATES are Mortall Psal 82. v. 6 7. I have said Ye are gods and all of you are children of the most High But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the Princes ONe a Ambr. Offic. lib. 1. cap. 32. of the Fathers resembleth the whole Bible to the visible Heavens wherein saith he the Psalms are like the Sun whose beams shine brightly and rays warm comfortably An English Divine compareth all the Scriptures to the body of Man Luther calleth them parva biblia summarium utriusque testamenti and the Psalms to the heart the most Pathetick part the seat and center of sweet affections Nay as one observeth the very Turks that disclaim both Old and New Testament in general yet will swear
in your hearts will put life into your hands This life is all your day of working death is the night of resting * Rev. 14.13 the dead rest from their labours When ‖ Psal 104.23 the sun of mans life ariseth he goeth forth unto his labour until the evening of death The heavenly bodies are ever in motion though the earth stand still and the more pure any being is the more active it is Deus est actus purus Fire is the most active of creatures without life Angels of creatures that have life O shew your selves to be as Angels amongst men by walking humbly with God the Angels vail their faces in his presence by working diligently for God Angels are ever employed in the service of God Work industriously in your general callings as Christians John 12.35 yet a little while the light is with you walk while ye have the light The task of Christianity is great the time ye have is little the time ye have lost is much O now bestir your selves in redeeming time and improving every opportunity to the best advantage of your souls How fervently should ye pray as not knowing but that every prayer ye pray may be your last prayer that ye may never have another season to beg mercy in for your souls for your relations for the afflicted members of the Lord Jesus How attentively and how hungerly should ye hear the word of life even as for life How carefully and how conscientiously should ye keep the Sabbath considering ye may be very neer your eternal Sabbath How sedulously should ye hang on every Ordinance as Bees on Flowers never leaving them till ye have sucked some honey Praecipita tempus mors atra impendet agenti some sweetness from them Ponder this there can be but a few days and ye shall never pray more never hear more never sanctifie Lord's day more never enjoy Ordinances more I that am now Preaching and ye that are now hearing must shortly be carried on mens backs and laid in the belly of the earth and can we do too much in so little time especially in a work of such infinite weight Rev. 12.12 The Divel is the more busie because his time is short and therefore striveth in a quick dispatch of the works of darknesse to out-wit the children of light The time is short therefore be indifferent about earth 1 Cor. 7.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.29 the time is short therefore be diligent about Heaven the word is The time is rolled up it 's a Metaphor from Mariners the Sails that were spread before when they draw nigh to the Haven are then rolled up You know not how soon the sails of your lives may be rolled up how nigh ye are to your eternal haven O bestir your selves carefully ply the Oars diligently that the vessels of your souls may not miscarry eternally Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do Eccles 9.10 do it with all thy might for there is no work nor knowledge nor device in the grave whither thou goest Work industriously in your particular callings as Magistrates because ye must die Be active for the punishment of iniquity for the encouragement of piety Let the practise of Christ be your pattern John 9.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 8.9 Phil. 2.6 I must work the work of God while it is day the night cometh when no man can work To work a work noteth the strong intention of his spirit about the work Christ though he was rich and for greatnesse the Lord 's equall yet did not as many rich and great men do play his work he did sweat at work yea he sweat drops nay clods of blood Luke 22.44 Now be ye followers of Christ as dear children Magnarum rerum tarda molimina and think you can never do enough for that Saviour which hath done so much for your souls How sad is it that great bodies should move so slowly How many talents hath God committed to you Nothing more sads the heart when a man comes to die then his neglect of such opportunities which God's providence or his own place have put into his hands of doing or receiving good nor is there a sharper corrosive then the reflection upon those days that have passed over him Male aliud nihil agentem Vines Ess Fun. p. 19. Phil. 2.7 when others have one ye have ten A talent is any thing that a man is betrusted with to glorifie God and it 's called a talent because of the great price that is in the least opportunity to honour God Ye have many such talents ye may hinder much wickednesse further much holinesse be a great terror to evil doers a great praise to them that do well let it not be said of you that ye do the work of the Lord negligently Did not Christ humble himself for you Magistrates are custodes utriusque tabulae Socrates was adjudged to death by the Athenians for a dishonorable speech concerning their gods and shall you think it below you to search Alehouses those head quarters of Hell to enquire into mens observation of God's day to use all means whereby ye may know mens prophanation of God's name by hellish oathes and cursed blasphemies and abuse of God's creatures by drunkennesse that so they may be severely punished Alas a few dayes will come and the best of you shall have no such opportunity to discover your love to God for his abundant mercies Plut. in vit Nici Vid Lev. 24.16 Job 31.26 27 28. your thankfulness to Christ for his precious merits do therefore now act to the utmost of your power for the glory of God and your Saviour Be not like the tallest trees which bring forth either no fruit Matth. 25.26 30. or that which is only for Swine Remember God puts no difference betwixt nequaquam nequam an idle and an evil servant the unprofitable servant is for utter darknesse Do but consider the time of your departure may be at hand and should not this resolution be in your hearts to act vigorously and strenuously for God The neerer ye are to your centre the faster ye should move The setting Sun shineth most brightly The dying Swan sings most sweetly The approaches of a Needle are so much the more quick by how much it draweth neerer to the Loadstone The Rivers run with a stronger stream Oportet imperatorem stantem mori Vespa when they are about to empty themselves into the Ocean Ye are neerer death then ever be quicker in your motions for God then ever that it may be said of every one of you how young soever ye may die as one said of Juel Diu vixit si non diu fuit 5. Mind the power of godlinesse Fifthly Must ye die and would ye prepare for death labour to find some inward work of grace wrought upon your hearts be not contented with forms but mind the