Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	death_n	sin_n	wage_n	4,184	5	11.8525	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88578	A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four texts of scripture, viz. Christ's prayer the saints support, on Iohn 17 15[.] A divine ballance to weigh all doctrines by, on 1 Thes.5. 21[.] A Christians great enquiry, on Acts 16.30, 31[.] A description of true blessedness, on Luke 11. 28[.] By that faithfull messenger of Jesus Christ, Mr Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence-jury, London. Whereunto is annexed The saints rest, or Their happy sleep in death. As it was delivered in a sermon at Aldermanbury, London. Aug. 24. 1651. By Edmund Calalmy. B. D.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Calamy, Edumnd, 1600-1666. Saints rest.	1653 (1653)	Wing L3147; Thomason E1434_3-4; ESTC R209589	82,542	242

asleep while they were stoning of him When he died he prayed and while he prayed he died But what made Stephen die thus quietly Read the 55 verse and you shall see the reason of it Being full of the Holy Ghost he looked stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing at the right hand of God Behold saith he I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man slanding at the right hand of God This made him die with such a sweet quiet and calm temper he saw Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive his Soul and that made him die with such an extraordinary quietnesse of minde Death in Scripture especially the death of Gods children is often compared to a sleep It is said of David that he slept with his fathers And it is said 1 Thes 4.13 I would not have you ignorant concerning them which are asleep that is concerning them which are dead And 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many are weakly and sickly among you and many sleep that is many die This expression is a metaphorical expression and will afford us many rare and precious instructions about Death And therfore the grace of God assisting me I desire to spend the rest of the time in the opening of this Metaphor Doctrin The Observation is this viz. That when a child of God dies though his death be never so unnaturall and violent yet it is nothing else but a falling asleep Or The death of a child of God though stoned to death though burnt to ashes though it be never so violent unnaturall is nothing else but a falling asleep When he had said this he fell asleep Somnus est mortis imago Sleep is the image of Death There are many notable resemblances betwixt Sleep and Death some of which I shall speak to at this time 1 Sleep is common to all men there is no man that can live without sleep a man may live long without meat but no man can live long without sleep So it is true of death death is common to all it is appointed for all men once to die and therfore David said he was to go the way of all flesh Statutum est omnibus semel mort Omnibus est calcanda semel lethi via All men must sleep the sleep of death or else be changed which is a metaphoricall death 2 As sleep ariseth from the vapors that ascend from the stomack to the head tie the sences hinder their operations so death came into the world by Adams eating the forbidden Fruit and by the poisonfull vapor of sin that brought death upon him and all his posterity By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Had Adam never sinned Adam should never have died but in illo die said God in that day thou eatest the forbidden fruit thou shalt die the death Sinne brings omnimodam mortem all kindes of death it brings death temporall death spirituall and death eternall Now because all men are poisoned with the poison of sin therfore all men must sleep the sleep of death it is sin that hath poisoned all mankinde 3 As a man when he goeth to sleep puts off his clothes and goeth naked into bed so it is with us when wee come to die We came naked into the world and we must go naked out of the world As we brought nothing with us into the world so we must carry nothing with us out of the world And therefore Death in Scripture is called nothing else but an uncloathing of our selves 2 Cor. 5.4 Death to a childe of God is nothing else but the putting off of his cloaths The body of man is animae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vestimentum it is the souls cloathing and death is nothing else but the unclothing of the soul it is just like a man going to bed putting off his cloaths St Peter cals it The putting off our earthly tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.14 Our bodies are the souls tabernacle and death is the putting off of this tabernacle Beloved when we come to die we shall be stript naked of three things 1. We shall be stript naked of all our worldly honour riches and greatnesse 2. We shall be stript naked of our bodies And 3. Which is above all we shall be stript naked of our sins And that is the happinesse of a childe of God he shall put off not only his mortal body but the body of sin 4. In the fourth place observe As no man knoweth the time when hee fals asleep a man fals asleep before he is aware So no man can tell the certain time when he must die There is nothing so certain as that wee must die nothing so uncertain as the time when we shall die Death comes suddenly even as sleep comes upon a man before he is aware 5. Observe As children and infants because they do not know the benefit of sleep are very loth to go to sleep many times the mother is fain to whip the child to bed even so it is with most of Gods people because they do not study the benefit of death that death puts an end to all our miseries and sins and opens a door to let us in unto everlasting happinesse and that we shall never see God or Christ before we die I say because Gods people do not study the benefit of death therefore they are like to little children loth to die loth to go to bed And therefore death is called The King of terrors Death is terrible to many of Gods children because they are but infants in grace and because they do not know the benefit of death 6 Observe As when a man is fast asleep he is free from cares and free from troubles Let it thunder as it thundred not long since as you know yet a man that is fast asleep while hee is asleep hee hears it not Let the house bee on fire while the man is asleep he sees it not neither is be troubled at it So it is with the death of Gods children when Gods children sleep the sleep of death they are free from the thunders of this world they are free from all cares from all troubles they goe to their graves as to their beds and rest in quietness and are not sensible of any troubles that are in the world For Abraham knew us not Isa 63.16 So 2 King 22.20 Thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place When a childe of God sleeps the sleep of death hee doth not feel nor is he sensible of any of the calamities or sad providences of God upon the Earth 7. When a man goeth to sleep he goeth to sleep but for a certain time in the morning he awakes out of sleep So it is with the sleep of death

A CHRISTIANS Duty and Safety IN Evill Times Delivered in severall Sermons upon four Texts of Scripture viz. Christ's Prayer the Saints support on Iohn 17 15 A Divine Ballance to weigh all Doctrines by on 1 Thes 5.21 A Christians great Enquiry on Acts 16.30 31 A Description of True Blessedness on Luke 11.28 By that faithfull Messenger of Jesus Christ Mr CHRISTOPHER LOVE Late Minister of Laurence-jury London Whereunto is annexed The Saints Rest or Their Happy Sleep in Death As it was delivered in a Sermon at Aldermanbury London Aug. 24. 1651. By EDMUND CALAMY B. D. LONDON Printed for E. Brewster and George Sawbridge at the sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill near Fleet-bridge 1653 TO The Christian READER ALthough God had blessed Mr Love with great abilities yet such was his humility that he judged few or none of his Sermons worthy publique view as hee often sayd to his friends after he had received the Sentence of death yet it is admireable to consider what good entertainment all those pieces have found which have hitherto been published As by this providence God putteth much honour upon the name and memory of this good man so upon this account his deare widdow and friends are prevailed with by importunity to yeeld unto the printing of more Sermons though they bee neither so full nor exact as doubtlesse they would have been if they had come abroad from the Authors own Pen. The matter is wholsome seasonable and profitable much savoring of his gracious spirit who preached them and manifesting unto the world the workings both of his heart and life being zealously devoted unto the service of Christ and Christians soules hereby this faithfull Minister of Christ Jesus though dead yet still speaketh And although he hath finished his Testimony upon earth yet hee is still by his workes serviceable in the land of the living Endeavor in good earnest to make a spirituall improvement of these and such like Helps put by divine providence into thy hand and let the Lord be magnified in thy conversation for all that soul-advantage which thou mayst receive Labour to bee well rooted in the Truths of the Gospell bear up couragiously against the evill of these declining times and because multitudes do shamefully disgrace their Profession by their carnall selfe-seeking and apostacy therefore doe thou the rather hold forth the power of godlinesse in waies of selfe-deniall and faith unto the honour of Christ In him we are Thy Friends and Servants SIMEON ASHE EDM CALAMY JER WHITAKER The Contents of the following Sermons Text. Iohn 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World But that thou shouldest keep them from the evil The context opened page 1 Four things Observable in the Prayer of Christ Page 2. 1. The time when he made this Frayer pag. 2 Observation It is warantable and commendable for Ministers to pray after their preaching page 2 Observation Christians should then have most holy and ardent affections in their breasts when they are even leaving of this World page 4 Christs practise should be our pattern p. 5 2. The Gesture he used pag. 6. 3. The Manner of his praying pag. 7. 1 He aimed at Gods glory page 7 2 He prayed to God his Father ibid 3 He prayed for his Disciples page 8 4. The matter for what he prayed pag 9. The words of the Text explained page 10. Two Reasons why Christ would not pray that his Disciples might be taken out of the World page 12 1. Doctrin It is not warrantable for any to wish for death because of persecutions or afflictions which they sear or feele pag. 13. Three Reasons of the point 1. Because our lives are great blessings pag. 14. 2. It is more commendable to pray for a sanctified use of Affliction then for deliverance from it p. 15. 3. There is much honour to be gained by a patient bearing of affliction p. 15. Use for Reprehension of such as wish for the day of their death page 16 2 Doctrin In some cases it is lawfull for a man to wish for death p. 19. 1. When he desires it not because of sufferings but because of sin pag. 19. 2 That he may thereby have a more full enjoyment of Christ p. 20 3 Doctrin It is not the desire of Iesus Christ that any of his servants should die so long as he hath any work for them to doe in this Wortd p. 21. Three Uses 1 For Counsel that you would desire to live no longer then that you may serve God and do good to others page 22 2 For Reproofe of those who are hastening to the grave and yet have not begun the work for which God sent them into the World page 26 3 For Comfort when you have finished your work then you shall goe to receive your wages page 31 4 Doctrin No man dies but God doth take him away page 33. Were our lives in owr own hands we should live to long were they in our enemies hands we should die to soon p. 34 5 Doctrin It may be a great comfort to the people of God that they have the prayer of Iesus Christ to keep them from evill whilst they live in the World page 35 Two questions resolved for the clearing of this Doctrine page 36.37 The efficasy of Christ's Prayer continues for ever page 38 Six practical Inferences 1 Christs Prayer should not exclude our prayers p. 40. 2 Christ is praying for us before the Devil is tempting of us p. 42. 3 The remembrance of Christs prayer should check sinfull Motions in us page 43. 4 Christ prayer must not lessen our care page 44 5 There is a pronesse in our nature to be defiled with the evil of the times p. 45. 6 Every man by nature is unable to keep himselfe p. 45 Five Directions how to accomplish the ●rayer of Christ 1 Avoyd all disputing with the Devil page 47 2 Avoyd all occasions unto sin p. 48 3 Consider the Al-seeing eye of God page 49. 4 Chuse suffering rather then sin p. 50 5 Flee to Christ for refuge p. 51 Text 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things Hold fast that which is good The context opened p. 53 VVhat is meant by prophesying p. 54 Doctrine From the Conrext viz. Those that have attained unto the highest perfection of grace and knowledge that it is possible for men in this life to attain unto are not to despise or neglect the Ordinances of Iesus Christ page 57 1 Reason Our Sanctification is not perfect in this life page 59 2 Reason Sin lyes hidden in the secret corners of the heart page 60 The words of the Text explained VVe must hold fast the truths of the Gospel in judgment that we run not into error page 63 In practise that wee run not into sinne page 64 Doctrine It is the duty of all hearers of the Word to try and prove all Doctrines which they hear page 65 Four Cautions about trying of Doctrines 1 People must not

may also glorifie thee v. 1. The End of Christs Prayer was the glorifying of his Father so the End of our prayers should be the glorifying of God Many men will cry Lord give me glory when they do not with pantings of heart say Lord let me give glory to thy name Christ said Hallowed be thy name expressing his respect to the honouring and glorifying of the name of God that was the first peticion in Christs Prayer to shew that the glorifying of the name of God ought to be the first and cheifest thing in our prayers Christ prayed O my father 2. Christ prayed to God his Father to teach you that you must not only pray with an awful apprehencion of God but also with fiducial confidence in God Heb. 11.6 11. Heb. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God for he that comes unto him must beleive that he is and that be is the Rewarder of them that diligently seeke him You must never come to God to ask doubtingly but you must come with fiducial confidence as a Child to a Father 3. 3. Christ prayes for his Disciples with great enlargement Christ prayes with great enlargment for the good of his Disciples I doe not read in above 3. or 4. verses that Christ prayed for himself all the rest of the prayer was for his disciples that God would keep them in unity truth and glorify them and all other beleivers with himself in heaven Here then behold the wonderful affection that Jesus Christ beares unto his Church and people that when he was to die he should pray more for the saveing of their souls then for the saveing of his own life o herein the superabundant love of Jesus Christ is manifested who when he was in expectation to die a painful shameful accursed death under going the wrath of God due unto our sins yet that then he would remember his elect servants in whose stead he stood and for whose sins he died with such enlargement of heart in prayer The fourth Circumstance considerable in this prayer of Christs is the matter for what he prayed 4. Circu The matter for what Christ prayed And that is layd down 2 wayes 1. Negatively who should not be the subject matter of his prayer I pray not for the world v. 9. This is a good argument against those that plead for universal Redemption If Iesus Christ would not spend his breath to pray for them then surely he would not spend his precious bloud to purchase heaven for them Then it is layd down Affirmatively whom he prayed for I pray for them that thou hast given me for they are thine you that are elected you that are regenerated I pray for you He makes many requests unto his Father in the behalfe of his Disciples that God would keep them that they might be one with him v. 11. That God would sanctify them v. 17. That they might come to heaven and be with Christ v. 24. And as in the text I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil The words you see are set down two wayes The words explained 1 Negatively what Christ did not pray for in the behalfe of his Disciples I pray not that thou should est take them out of the world 2. Affirmatively what Iesus Christ did pray for I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world Questiō It may be demanded why Christ sayd these words That he would not pray that his Disciples might be taken out of the world Jesus Christ knew that his end was at hand Answer that his houer was comeing that he should depart out of the world 13. Iohn 1. Now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto his Father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end when the Disciples heard this they thought thus with themselves Lord if thou wilt leave this world what will become of us when thou art gone we shall be in the world as a ship without a Pilot as sheep without a Shepard and therefore they prayed that they might die with Christ Iohn 11.16 Ioh. 11.16 Then said Thomas which is called Didymus unto his fellow Disciples Ioh. 13.37 let us also goe that we may die with him And 13 Iohn 37. Peter said unto him Lord why cannot I follow thee now I will lay down my life for thy sake The Apostles were all on fire to die for Jesus Christ Now Christ seeing them so willing to die therefore to check this impetuous mocion he tells them that he would not pray that they should now die but saith he I will pray unto my Father that when I am gone and you remaine behinde me in the world he would keep you from the evil of the World Now if you should aske me what especial Reason there was why Iesus Christ would not pray that they might be taken out of the world Reasons why Christ would not pray that his Disciples might be taken out of the world I Answer 1. If the Disciples had dyed when Iesus Christ dyed then peeple would have thought that they had bin sharers 1. Reason or co-partners with Christ in purchaseing our Salvacion Esa 63.3 Hence it is sayd that Christ did tread the wine-presse of his Fathers Wrath alone and that there was none with him Christ will have the sole honour of our Salvacion There were two common theeves two unworthy persons that dyed with Christ that the world might see that it was Christ's death alone that merited Salvacion for men A second Reason is this 2. Reason Christ did not pray that the Disciples might be taken out of the world because he had further work for them to do here in the world As if he had sayd I have the Gospel for you to divulge and propogate souls for you to convert mine Elect to gather in therefore I will not pray the Father to take you out of the world but to keepe you from the Evil of the world though I will not pray to keep you from the evill of Afflictions and Persecutions which for my namesake ye must expect to meet withal in the world yet I will pray to keep you from the evil of sin that you fall not into sin through the allurements or frownes of the world the malicious temptations of Satan the suggestions and inclinations of your own corrupt hearts when I am gone I will pray that my Father would keep you from the evil of the times and places in which you live 3. The words thus explained I shall draw five Conclusions from them First from Christs refusing to pray to his father to take the Disciples out of the world they desireing to die with Christ for feare of persecution Thence observe Doctrin That it

is not warrantable for any to wish for Death because of persecutions and afflictions which they do feele or feare Ionah 4.3 This you finde was the fault of Ionah ch 4. v. 3. Now therefore O Lord I beseech thes take away my life from me for it is better for me to die then to live This he said in a pettish humour being displeased and angry that the Ninevits were spared thinking that therein he should be accounted a false prophet Because of affliction or reproach in the world to desire death is a thing that the Scripture doth not warrant 1. Reason why we should not with for dea●h And the Reasons thereof are three 1 Because your lives are great blessings and you doe vallue them at too low a rate when you thus rashly wish for death It is true there are some men that doe vallue their lives at too high a rate and they are such as will not lay down their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ his truth and peeple when they are called thereunto Others there are that doe vallue their lives at too low a rate and they are such as wish to be taken out of the world because of troubles and afflictions that they meet withal in the world Now this is a sin this is an undervaluing of your life which is the greatest of all temporal blessings A second Reason is this 2 Reason Because it is a more commendable thing to pray that God would in his due time remove trouble from us then to cry out Lord remove us from trouble to pray that God would sanctify our hearts paciently and thankefully to beare those crosses that he shall be pleased to exercise us withal rather than deliver us from trouble by taking us out of the world for God hath ten thousand wayes to free us from trouble besides laying us in the grave he can put an end to our troubles and yet lengthen out our lives 3. There is more honour to be gained by a patient bearing of our burden then by being delivered from it 3 Reason The Souldier never growes famous for his vallour until he comes to bear the brunt of the Battel in the Field And the Christian never shines in grace untill he comes into the fire of afflictions especially if he suffer in bearing witnesse unto the truth of Christ Therefore we should be content yea rejoyce in our sufferings and not desire death to be rid of the troubles of this life If it be so Vse of Reprehension that it is not warrantable for any man to desire death because of any Affliction he feares or feeles Then hence I draw a Use of Reprehension to many sorts of men in the world But cheifly to you that are of such passionate and peevish spirits froward and distempered soules that if God doth but lay upon you any affliction if he doth but mingle any crosses with your comforts any gall and wormwood with your pleasant things so that it may be your estates are taken away your persons imprisoned and your worldly comforts taken from you oh then in a peevish mood with Ieremy you curse the day of your birth And with Ionah you wish for the day of your death Now this is sinful It is true Good men have failed herein as Job chap. 6. v. 8.9 Iob 6 8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing I long for even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his hand and cut me off Here you see Iob wisheth for death yea even longs for death wooes as it were destruction and is an importunate and earnest suiter for the grave and all this was because Gods afflicting hand was sore upon him And we finde him expressing the same distemper in the name of others Iob. 3.2 Job 3 21. Which long for death but it cometh not and digg for it more then for hid treasure There is a sharpnesse and bitternesse in bodily death yet some are so afflicted in body and so oppressed in spirit that they account the very bitternesse of death to be sweetnesse the gall and wormwood of Affliction makes death to such as sweet as honey and as much longed for as the honey comb And they doe not onely long for it but they dig for it and that not in an ordinary way but they dig as for treasure yea as for hidden treasure which shewes the earnestnesse of this desire after death This distemper also seised upon the spirit of the Prophet Elijah ● Kings 19 ● 1. Kings 19.4 He himselfe went a dayes journy into the wilderness and came and sa●e down under a Iumper Tree and he requested for himselfe that he might die and sayd it is enough now O Lord take away my life for I am not better then my fathers The reason of this pettish desire in Elijah was because Iezebel who had slain many of the Lords prophets did threaten also to take away his life It may bee many of you to whom I speak have lost your estates your tradeing now are in poverty and lie under disgrace and therefore you are apt and ready to wish that God would take you out of the world but know that this is a very sinful frame of spirit to long for death only to be freed from the troubles of this life to desire to lie down in the bed of the grave only to ease our bodies and rest our outward man If we think life not worth the continuing in this world unlesse we enjoy our outward comforts ease plenty and prosperitie honor wealth and friends we do hereby much undervalue the great blessing of life This at the best is an infirmity and this Christ here rebuked in his Disciples Again because Christ would not pray for his Disciples to be taken out of the world they desiring death fearing persecution 2d Doct. When it is lawfull to with for death Here it may be intimated That in some cases it is lawfull for a man to desire to die as First when he desires it not because of sufferings but because of sins when a man doth desire to shake off a body of flesh that he might be rid of and freed from a body of sin this is commendable This was Pauls prayer 2. Cor. 5.8 We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2. Cor. 56. To desire death not because it doth kill thy person and ease thy paine but because it doth kill thy corruption and put an end to thy sining not as a postern gate to let out thy temporal but as a street door to let in eternal life in this case it is lawful 2. It is lawful to desire death that thou maist thereby have a more full enjoyment of Jesus Christ This the Apostle sets down Phil. 1.23 Phil. 1.23 I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart

and to be with Christ which is far better For a man to desire to be dissolved that he may be without crosses is a sin but to desire to be dissolved that he may enjoy Jesus Christ is a grace Oh thou that sayest I desire to die that I may have the enjoyment of God more perfectly and grace more compleatly not because thy winding sheet shall wipe away all tears and afflictions but because thy winding sheet shall wipe away all sins and pollutions this is a gracious desire We are not to wish for death because our comforts are lessened but that our communion with Christ might be compleated not as a doore to let us out of troubles but as a doore to let us into heavenly mansions But thus briefly passing these things I proceed to another Observation from these words I pray not that you might be taken out of the world why would not Christ make this prayer The cheif reason was because hee had more work for his Disciples to doe in the world Hence observe That it is not the desire of Jesus Christ that any of his servants should die 3d Doctrin so long as he hath any worke for them to doe in this world Not onely your dayes are numbred not only is the number of your Months with God but likewise the work that ye are to doe which he hath cut out for you Sayes God to a Minister thou shalt preach so many Sermons convert so many souls gather in so many of mine Elect and when thy work is done thy life shall be done Thou godly Christian untill thou hast ended thy work thou shalt not end thy dayes This may bee of great comfort unto all that fear God doe not fear Death it is not Christs desire to take you out of the world untill ye have done that work for which God sent you into the world The Use of this is threefold First for Counsel Secondly for Reproofe Thirdly for Comfort 1. A Use of Councel unto you all 1 Vse for Counsell 1. That you would desire to live no longer then that you might doe the work for which God hath sent you into the world Doe not desire to live that you may give the swinge to your lusts and doe that which is right in your owne eyes But desire to live no longer then that you may serve God and doe good to others 2. It should teach you who may be useful in the world that you are bound to desire of God that he would not as yet take you out of the world Luther I remember Luther upon this text hath this note That it is the duty of a Minister more especially then of any man in the world to desire that his life may be prolonged that so he may convert more soules unto God And it was the saying of an old Minister when he lay upon his Death bed Lord if I may be useful to thy people let me live longer I will not refuse more labour and more paines if thou hast more work for me to doe Any of you who may bee usefull in the world are bound to begg of God that hee would lengthen out your dayes and that you may live to doe more good in the place wherein God hath let you 3 Hence let me Counsel you That though you suffer much evil from the world yet if you can doe much good in the world let your doing of good rather provoke you to desire life then your suffering of evil provoke you to desire death We should rejoyce in suffering much evil provided that by suffering much evil we can doe much good Cesaar When Caesar said I have lived long enough whether I respect Nature or Honour Tully Tully answers Sir though you have lived long enough for your selfe yet you have not lived long enough for your Country Art thou a man that dost good in thy generation Acts 13.36 Art thou a useful man though thou art an old man and the infirmities of age abide on thee yet let not this make thee weary of thy life though it may be thou hast lived long enough for thy selfe yet thou hast not lived long enough for others for the good of the Church or Common-wealth in which thou livest Let this Counsell sink into your hearts seeing every mothers Child of you is sent into the world to doe something for God oh Labour therefore that when your dayes shall end your Consciences may tell you that you have done that work which God sent you into the world for to doe It is the commendation of David Acts 13.36 Acts. 13.36 That after he had served his owne generation by the will of God he fell a sleep and was gathered unto his fathers He did his work and then he died O Beloved there is nothing in the world will be a greater solace to your souls when you come to die and we must all sooner or later drink of that cup then this that your consciences can tell you I have served my God in my life I have done my work and the last work I have to doe is to die when it may be thy eye-strings are fallen thy mouth is shut and thou canst not take any cordials to refresh thy decayed spirits then this will be a cordial for Conscience to tell thee that thou hast done thy work which God sent thee into the world for to doe and now thou hast nothing to do but to die and goe to heaven It is an observable expression Iob 5.26 Iob. 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age as a shock of Corne cometh in his season You know that if a man ●hould reap a shock of corn when it is green and but newly eared that corn would be of no use for bread but if he cuts down a shock of corn when it is ripe then it is fit for bread Death cuts off many men when they are green corne unfit unprepared for death unripe for heaven unripe for glory Psal 127.6 when they are like grasse upon the house top that withereth before it is cut down or like the seed which fell on the stony or thorny ground which never came unto perfection But now saith God to the good man thou shalt goe to thy grave when thou art ripe for heaven ripe for God when thou hast done thy masters work then shalt thou goe to thy Masters mansions thou shalt come to thy grave like a shock of Corn in its due season Oh what comfort and solace of heart should this be to you who have done the work for which God sent you into the world The next Use shall be for Reproofe 2 Vse for Reproofe Is it so that Christ doth not desire that any of his servants should die until they have done the work for which God sent them into the world Then this may reprove the wicked of the world who come to die before they begin to do that work for which

not that you might be taken out of the world Hence observe That no man dies but God doth take him away Were our lives in our own hands we should live too long and were our lives in our enemies hands wee should not live a day longer but our lives are in Gods hands and therefore wee cannot die but God must take our lives away And this may shew a Christian his shelter under divine protection a wicked man cannot thrust thee out of the World before thy time God must take thee out of the World It may be enemies may beare thee a grudge and those that hate thee may wish thee a thousand deaths yet here may bee thy comfort thou canst not die before God doth take thee out of the world In Scripture language when men die they are said to be gathered unto their fathers thou shalt live untill God shall think fit to gather thee to himselfe having made thee fit for glory And thus I have opened the first Branch of the Text I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world Now I come to shew what it is that Christ doth pray for in the behalfe of his Disciples But I pray that thou wouldest keep them from the Evill that is I doe not pray that thou wouldest take them out of the world but that thou wouldest keep them from falling into sin from falling finally away from thee here is my prayer that thou wouldest keep them from the Evill of the world Hence observe 5 Doctrin That it may be a great comfort to the people of God that they have the prayers of Iesus Christ to keep them from the Evill whilst they live in the world Though Jesus Christ doth not pray for you that you should be taken out of the world yet hee doth pray for you that you may not sinne in that manner and at that rate as the world sins that you may not yeeld ●o the Devils temptations in such sort as the world doth this is the great prayer of Jesus Christ Now there are two Queries that I shall answer Two Queries resolv●d Query 1 It is true may a perplexed heart say I doe believe that Jesus Christ did pray for his eleven Apostles that God would keep them from the Devils temptations and from sin in the world but doth Christ pray for me that have lived so may hundred of yeares since that time Answer Jesus Christ knew that this Objection would arise in the hearts of people in following ages therefore Christ himself resolves this Objection ●ohn 17 20 Iohn 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Christ doth not say I pray for all he should then contradict his former Assertion in the ninth verse where he saith I pray not for the World but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine 1. All that God the Father hath given to Christ all believers are within the compasse of Christ's prayer but not all the world 2. Again hee doth not say I pray for all that do believe for then it might have been confined to the believers of that time wherein Christ lived upon earth but I pray for them that shall believe so that the prayer of Jesus Christ for keeping from the Evill of the World doth extend to all believers to the Worlds end 3. Again he doth not say I pray for all Jewes that shall believe but he saith for all in generall whether Jew or Gentile Barbarian or Sythian bond or free what or whom soever they be I pray for all that shall believe This prayer of Christ is not impailed or confined to the Apostles alone but the Efficacy and benefit thereof is transfused to all believers to the worlds end It is a good Observation of Ierome Ierome saith he Christ doth not say I pray for all that have shed their blood for me then only the Martyrs should have benefit by Christ Neither doth Christ say I pray for all that convert soules unto me then only Preachers should have benefit by Christ But I pray for you that doe and shall believe in me And thus every Christian hath a share and benefit in the prayer of Jesus Christ Query 2 A second Querie is this It is true indeed may some say that when Christ was upon the Earth his prayer then was of use but can I imagin to have fruit and benefit by that prayer which Christ made then on Earth To this I answer 〈…〉 that the Efficacie of Christs prayer did continue after Christs time as may appeare by this illustration If Stephens prayer be came efficacious for Saul's conversion 〈…〉 after Stephen was by his consent stoned to death for Stephen as hee was dying 〈…〉 prayed to God to forgive them then shall not the prayer of Christ himselfe become efficacious after his death Again Christ himselfe saith that his Prayer on Earth should be for all those that should believe afterwards so that this very Prayer of Christ to God the Father to keep them from Evill is as efficacious in this generation and will be to the worlds end as it was at the very hour when it was made Secondly suppose it were true that the Prayer of Jesus Christ was not efficacious now yet there is no doubt to bee made but that Christ's intercession now in Heaven is efficacious for he sits at God's right hand making intercession Rom. 8.34 Who is hee that can condemn it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us So Heb. 9.24 Christ is entred into Heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us And Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost that is perpetually and perfectly that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us So that here is thy comfort that though it should be true that the Efficacie of this Prayer did not continue to this generation yet it is undoubtedly true that the Efficacie of Christ's intercession now in Heaven doth continu for you to the worlds end Christ lives for ever to make intercession for you Now I shall handle 6 practicall inferences which this Doctrin doth afford unto us 6 practical inferences from this Doctrin Is it so that Jesus Christ doth pray for all his people viz. Disciples then and Believers now that they should be kept from Evill whilst they live in this World Then hence I infer Inference 1 1. That therefore wee our selves should entreat God Christs prayer should not exclude our prayers to keep us from Evill Jesus Christ's Prayer for us should not exclude our own praying for our selves Christ did never so intend to pray to his Father to keep us from sin that wee should be carelesse never pray to keep our selves from sin Although Christ praies to keep

presumptuous confidence Paul saith Beleive and be Saved Faith and Repentane must bee joyned together to let you know that that Repentance which is not joined with Faith is but a legal sorrow Therefore one saith beleive the other saith repent to shew that ye must joyn both together Had only this answer bin given Beleive and be saved Men would then have said that it is but a short cut to Heaven it is but beleiving Peter saith Repent and bee Saved to shew that both must come into the Christians practise that Faith and Repentance must goe hand in hand together if ye do expect Salvation Now this I note the rather because there are some men that are all for beleiving on Jesus Christ and not at all for repentance and mourning for sin These make Peters answer to bee no answer at all Then there are others that are all for repentance they are troubled in spirit and distressed in mind they wish their heads were water and their eyes a fountain of tears they think by their sorrow for sin to make an attonement with God but they do not at all rest on Jesus Christ by faith Now these men make Pauls answer to be no answer at all But remember you must Repent and be Saved with Peter and you must Beleive and be Saved with Paul But I shall only breifly speak to the answer which Paul and Silas here give Doctrin And from thence observe That it is the duty of all those that expect Salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ But me thinks I hear some say If this be so surely then Salvation may be had on very easy terms for do not all beleive on Jesus Christ God forbid that any should be so wicked as not to beleive on their Saviour I answer Indeed there are many that have a kinde of beleife an historical notional common dead faith such a faith as Simon Magus had as the stony ground had as the Devils have who beleive and tremble This faith a man may have and goe to Hell But there are few in the World who have a lively precious unfained faith which the Scripture doth indeed account beleiving in Christ which whosoever hath shall never perish but have everlasting life Few there are that are willing to receive Christ as he is tendred in the Gospel to receive Christ as a King to rule them as well as a Jesus to save them Few that are willing to receive a naked Christ Christ with his Crosse as well as Christ with his Crown Few that are as ready to give up themselves to Christ for Sanctification as to take Christ for justification Most people love the Preistly office of Christ to purchase Salvation for them but they doe not love the Kingly office of Christ to conquer Corruption in them they would be willing to have Christ receive them into Heaven but they are not willing to receive Christ into their hearts In the day of their callamitie when they lie upon their sick beds and the terrours of death take hold upon them then none but Christ none but Christ But in the day of their prosperity when the World smiles upon them and Riches Health surrounds them then Christ is disesteemed by them they see no beauty in him why they should desire him For there is no wicked man in the World will take Christ upon Gospel tearms in the time of his health and outward prosperity And moreover most people think that it is the easiest matter in the World for to beleive that it is but Beleiving that it is in their power to beleive at any time when they will and that they can beleive time enough when they lie upon their Death-beds Not considering God puts forth the same almighty power when he workes faith in the soul as he did when hee raised up Jesus Christ from the dead as the Apostle shewes 1 Ephe. 19.20 Eph. 1.19.20 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleive according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead It is as impossible for a man by his own power to make himselfe to beleive as to create a world or give a being to himselfe And here consider that every assent unto the Word is not beleiving Bellarmine indeed saith that beleiving is only a bare assent to the Word but if saving faith did only consist in a bare assent to Scripture truth then there would bee multitudes of beleevers in the World but such beleivers God will never own 2 Consider that Faith is not a presumptuous confidence the nature of Faith doth consist in this It is a grace of God wrought in the heart of an humbled sinner What Saving ●aith ●● who doth discern his sins to be enough to Damn him and all his own Righteousnesse to bee too little to Save him therefore he goeth out of himselfe and rests and relies wholly on the Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ expecting Salvation only by him Now should wee take a Survay of all the sons of men where should we finde them that do thus beleive on Jesus Christ How few are there in the World that feele their sins pressing fore upon them that see all their Righteousnesse and Religious performances to be things of no vallue in point of justification that finde in their souls longing desires after Jesus Christ that they may bee found in Christ not having their own righteousnesse that roul their burdened souls upon Jesus Christ resolving that if they perish there they will perish Certainly Beloved should men try their hearts by this description of Faith there would be found but few beleivers in the World Vse Now for a word of Application And first from the Enquirie that the poor man makes Sirs what must I doe to be Saved Inference 1 Hence learn to take heed that you doe not make Enquiry after toyes and trifles and in the mean time neglect the great matters of Eternal Life It was a sordid spirit in that King Sardanapalus who would bee Spining and Carding amongst the women when hee should have bin Ruling and Governing his Kingdome There are many men that are of this base and ignoble temper they spend their time their strength and labour in base and sordid imployments and in the mean time neglect the great and important affaires of an heavenly Kingdom Inference 2d A second Inference is this If so be there are but few in the World that make Enquirie how to be saved Then hence wee may conclude that there are but few in the World that shall bee saved There are many in the World that never came so far as with that morall yong man spoken of in Math. 19. to ask this Question Math. 19 what good thing shall I doe that I may inherit eternall Life that never with the Jaylor enquired What must I doe to be saved Oh beloved if the most of the World doe never make