have been earnest with you and with whom I have been earnest for you that the match may be really made up between you which being effected my labour is recompensed my Errand is accomplished my Desire is satisfied my Joy is fulfilled And now that I have this unexpected opportunity of making publick some hints only of some of the choice desires of my Soul to you and to the Lord for you Know ye therefore that they are such as these First That none of you all who are taught and do believe and profess the absolute necessity of Regeneration in order to eternal Salvation rest satisfied in your Spiritual conditions Mat. 18.3 2 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 6.15 Rom. 8.9 10. without some hopeful evidences that you are born again and truly converted that ye are in the Faith new creatures in Christ Jesus And that Christ is in you and abideth in you And that you have the Spirit of Christ Oh! rest not in uncertainties about your Spiritual and Eternal Felicities as you would not about your Temporal but give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Secondly Look that you make good the ground you have got through Grace against the World the Flesh and the Devil by a dayly progress in both the parts of Sanctification viz. Mortification and Vivification And beware that you be not again entangled and overcome 2 Pet. 2.20 and so your last end be worse than your beginning Luk. 9.62 Having put your hand to the Plough look not back much less be ye of them that draw back unto perdition But be ye of them that believe Heb. 10.39 to the saving of the Soul And need I bid you beware of Popery Rev. 13.3 Iniquitas sed mistica pietatis fidelitatis nomine palliata 1 Cor. 10.12 which is the most Catholick Apostacy the Mystery of Iniquity yet palliated with the name only of Piety Antiquity Universality c. yea I say Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall as too many have done It 's operative and strong though but a Delusion and a Lie yea it is the Energy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2.9 11. or strong working of Satan through the just judgment of God with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Popish Seducers are subtile Artists that have †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sleight of me * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cunning crafâ—iness and †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.14 2 Pet. 2.19 the method of Errour or Deâ—usion The Ignorant and Sensual are in greatest jeopardie they promise others liberty whilst themselves are the servants of corruption The prime piece of their Worship is palpable Idolatry the whole complex of their common Devotion is Will. worship Superstition and Formality One would think that no serious Professors of Christianity were in any peril of Popery yet Quakers are an Artificial â—roduct of it though they know it not Love God the Gespel and your Souls better than the World and your Bellies Phil. 3.18 19. and you are out of the danger of it Thirdly Phil. 1.10 See to it that ye be sincere Converts sincere Saints that your Faith Love Repentance Obedience c. be sincere For if you be sincere you shall persevere But Hypocrifie will end in Apostasie What is sound is strong and invincible what is sound is special and not common Grace Though common Grace may make a great show cast a great blaze yet like the Comet it consumes of it self till it be extinguished 1 Joh. 3.9 Mat. 13.31 32. True Grace is the Seed of God and though it be little and weak yet its nature is to grow in stature and strength or though it may decay yet it cannot die For its the life of God a Well of living water springing up unto Eternal Life But let its Counterfeit †i. e. comon grace which resembles it so much in all things make you the ofâ—ner and exacter in the use of the Touchstone Fourthly Let your Communion with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ be frequent and full Omit no opportunities nor means thereof Redeem time from your worldly affairs for converse with your God in the Duties of his more solemn Service Knowing that the Holiness Comfort and Happiness of your lives consists in such communion Use and improve the means for the end Read hear pray confer and meditate much And be loth to leave any duty till you attain some sensible enjoyment of his Grace and Love And till your hearts be warmed your graces excited your Affections engaged and your Souls even make you like the Chariots of Aminadab Cant. 6.12 And prize and treasure up your experiences of this kind Neh. 8.10 Retain a lively sense of Divine impressions upon your spirits And let the joy of the Lord be your strength Zech. 10.12 to walk up and down in his Name And lament your loss when you came off from your Duties without success Take heed of Formality in them Fifthly And you that are heads of Families Take heed to your Families over which the Holy Ghost even in your private Capacities hath also made you Overseers That you should watch for their Souls as they that must give account that ye may do it with joy and not with grief Deal particularly and closely with them about the estates of their Souls Labour to convince them of their exceeding sinfulness and misery by Nature And that they are under the Law and so under the wrath and curse of God while they continue therein That they are utterly blind lame deaf Isa 35.5 6 dumb and dead spiritually and under the power of Satan immediatly That their natural Light is spiritual Darkness their sweet is bitter their good is evil Their Moral Civil and Religious works are all Sins in Gods sight Prom. 8.8 for being in the flesh they cannot please God in any thing but displease him altogether though they please themselves and others never so much That they are liable to all Judgments Temporal and to Death and Damnation Eternal every moment Yet all this notwithstanding They are to be persuaded That the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God is become an All-sufficient Saviour of all men even the worst of Sinners That he hath purchased Salvation for them offers Salvation to them and is willing to enter into a Covenant of Salvation with them if they will but accept him and be ruled by him according to the terms of the Gospel That he hath redeemed them and will justifie them freely Pardon them fully Sanctifie them throughly Adopt them graciously Keep them powerfully and save them gloriously That he hath confirmed his Covenant of Salvation with his Oath and with the Seals of his Blood Spirit and Sacraments That he hath ever been mindful of it
habitual Readiness the grace of Regeneration being found within him yet may he sadly smart for his Relapses before â—e give up the Ghost Hast thou not heard before what hazards even the Godly do run for want of actual Preparation Is it a small thing in thine account to be under the Trounâ—ings of Satan the hidings of God's Face the â—remblings of Conscience and the terrors of Death Remember therefore from whence thou â—â—rt fallen and repent and do the first works or â—â—se the Lord Christ will come unto thee quickly â—nd remove thee out of thy place except thou reâ—ent Be watchful and strengthen the things â—hat are ready to die which yet remain for thy works are not found perfect before God Rememâ—er therefore how thou hast received and heard â—nd hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt â—ot watch the Lord Christ will come on thee as Thief and thou shalt not know what hour he will â—ome upon thee Rev. 2.5 and 3.2 3. Use 2. Secondly Is it the great concernment â—f all that look to be saved to make ready against the coming of Christ Then it is thâ— greatest Folly imaginable to neglect making ready for Christ's Coming That man lies aâ—â— waies under the imputation of extreme Folly that neglecteth his principal Concerns Is 〈◊〉 not an arrant Fool that will not mind his moâ—â— necessary Concernments wherein his very lâ—â—â— and welfare is wrapt up Quae te dementia cepit That you may see the extreme folly and maâ—ness of men herein I will shew you it a litâ—â—â— more particularly and that very briefly First That man that neglecteth making reâ—dy for Christ's coming he hath no regard 〈◊〉 or care of his great Soul His Carelessness about making due Preparation to meet the Lâ—â—â— Jesus doth plainly speak forth thus much That whether his Soul sink or swim be saâ—â— or damned he mattereth it not He willâ—â—â— so much as trouble either his Head or Heart about it And is not this the greatest pieceâ—â— Folly that can be What man more madâ—â— foolish than he that setteth his Soul aside 〈◊〉 forgetteth or else careth not to do any thâ—â— about it that may tend to save it Our 〈◊〉 Jesus telleth us That the Soul of man is beâ—â—â—â— than the whole world for so much his woâ—â—â— do sound Math. 16.26 What is a man profâ—â—â— â—f he gain the whole world and lose his own Soul â—r what shall he give in exchange for his soul Now is that man any other than a simple Fool that neglecteth his Soul which the whole world cannot equalize the worth of or repair the loss of if he could enjoy it all to himself Secondly That man that neglecteth Preparation for the Coming of Christ he doth but treasure up wrath unto himself against the day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God And is not he a Fool that provideth Instruments of Cruelty for himself And thus doth every one though they think it not that neglecteth to make ready for Christ's appearance I speak to such as never mind the work of Repentance but go on in a course of Sin these of all others are the greatest Fools in that they do all the while store up plagues for themselves Rom. 2.4 5 6. Thirdly The Folly of him that mindeth not making ready for the coming of Christ appeares in this That he doth but harden himself against â—he coming of Christ And is he not a grand Fool think ye that thus setteth himself against Christ Whoever hardened himself against God and prospered I do not think that every one that mindeth not to make himself ready to meet â—he Lord Jesus doth intentionally and resolredly harden himself against Christ for these â—re only that Atheistical and debanched Crew that are void of all Fear and Conscience that bid open defiance against Heaven Psal 73 9â— But my Friends after you have heard it to be your Duty to make ready against that time when you shall be called to appear before Christ iâ— you then neglect to do it it will be interpreted of Christ to be a hardening your selves against him Because you know it to be your Duty and yet will not do it And what a Madman 〈◊〉 he that will put himself into such a posture aâ— will bespeak him to be hardening himself against Christ Can their hearts endure or their hands be strong in the day that God shall deal with them Ezek. 22.14 Will ye provoke the Lord to jealousie are ye stronger than he Remember it was Israels overthrow in the Wilderness that they hardened themselves against God this made their Carkases fall there so that they never came to Canaan Psal 95.8 9 10 11. Heb. 3.8 9 10 11. I shall leave but that one place further with you and then consider of it Revel 6.14 15 16 17. And the Heaven departed at a Scroll when it is rolled together and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places And the Kings of the earth and the great Men and the Rich men and the Chief Captains and the Mighty men and every Bondman and every Freeman hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the Mountains And said to the mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand You see that Christ will make the stoutest of men to tremble that harden themselves against him Fourthly Their folly appeareth by this who neglect to prepare and make ready for Christ Jesus his Coming in that so doing they undervalue Heaven And is he not to be reckoned a prosane Fool that makes no reckoning of Heaven The poor Indians folly was seen in this That they were so willing to part with their Gold for some pieces of Brass or for other Toys and Trifles that were of no great value Now that man that taketh no care to make himself ready to come before the Lord Jesus his neglect doth plainly declare That Heaven beareth to price with him For there is no man that â—ometh within the sound of the Gospel â—ut he heareth That without Repentance no salvation and that without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Now after the declaration â—â— all this in the ears of such a person If he shall sive in the neglect of looking after Repentance â—r the work of Holiness he doth evidently maâ—ifest That Heaven signifieth not much to him for he that will not carefully look after the heans and also use them that relate to such an â—nd his very neglecting of the means doth bespeak him to have no great regard to the end especially when he knoweth that it is not possible in an ordinary way to come to enjoy such an end without making use of such means And will not this prove a man to be a Fool Remember that Esau is called a profane person or as the
of worth did rest Her comely Carriage to all men might claim A perfect right to a beloved Name Her actions were so just that they may tell She liv'd uprightly and she dy'd-as well Her Love and sweet Society did call â—en thoosand tears t' attend her Funeral And now she 's gone I hope her Soul 's aspir'd so Heavens high Ralace where she sits attir'd With glorious Immortality and sings â—â—elodious Tunes unto the King of Kings Oh there she rests free from the rubs of earth Hugging no Shadow but a real Mirth Where still me thinks I hear her sweetly sing Grave where 's thy power Death where is thy sting Methinks I hear her warbling tongue declare How good her works how great her wonders are Methought I saw in what triumphing state Her soul was led to Heaven's refulgent Gate Where when she came disro'bd of all her Sin The Gates flew open and her Soul flew in There there the Alpha of her joys will never Know an Omega but endure for ever Perhaps some will conclude me wondrous bold When this Elegious Poem they behold It is an Error that my hasty Quill Too rashly stept into against my will I hope 't is venial for in former times Boldness in truths were pardonable crimes Her splendent vertues did importune me To calculate and write this Elegie Of her That now is taking sweet repose In Heaven's eternal bed where none but those Shall sleep that in their Life-times study'd still Their hungry Lamps with precious Oyl to fill Sith thus she liv'd sith thus she dy'd O then Let 's imitate so good a Life And when We hear the sweet Narration of her Death Let 's learn to die Let them that live by breath Examine her brave actions and they 'll find She had true zeal imprinted in her mind Reader As often as report shall send Unto thy ears the Death of such a Friend Wonder not that she 's dead that 's too much wrong But rather wonder that she liv'd so long For Life 's but like a Candle every wind May puff it out and leave a Snuff behind Liue we a Thousand years we do but run Indebt to Nature when those days are done This is most sure our earthen vessels must At last dissolve and turn again to Dust Sic voluere fata Her Epitaph Mortality may here survey A Grave within whose bosome lay Rare Vertue Zeal whilst she had breath Yet quickly was blockt up by death Wholesome streams of rare zeal did rest In the close Chamber of her Breast Like Dorcas she sought to fulfil Sound work for her Redeemer still O but Death came and said thou must Now go dissolve and turn to Dust She is the first that ever came Hither from Cross-field of that name Whose vertuoos Life none will deny Taught Death to live and Life to dye I hope the Alpha of her joys will never Omega know but last for ever Spes mihi magna subit By me Christopher Rickerby School-master of Lazonby For his invaluable Friend Mr. Richard Wilson at Crosfield My Dear and Well-beloved Brother IT shall not be my work at this time to set your wound a bleeding a fresh or to adde weight to your present Affliction But I hope I shall willingly endeavour to heal it and to bear a part of your burthen and to have you upon my heart when I make my Address to God for Mercy and Pardon for mine own Soul And shall beg of God to support your Soul and to be to you instead of all Relations and Comforts which this vain fading perishing and deceitful world can afford you and that Christ may be to you instead of ten Children and give you a Name better than that of Sons and Daughters yea That Christ may be your all in all And I hope the Lord hath taught you not to sorrow as one without hope for she whom you so dearly loved is gone to her dearly Beloved there to dwell for ever where she is freed from Satan Sin and Sorrow all tears being wipt away from her eyes yea she is gone to her Husband Lord and King where she reaps the fruit and comfort of all her Labours and is blessed for So are the dead that die in the Lord Yea She now enjoyes thâ—â— sweet of all her private Retirements in Prayer and Meditation wherein she kept her communion with God in Christ whilst here And she wâ—â— lately shined as a glor ous Star in this Church is now glorified in Heaven she is possessed oâ— those mansions of Glory purchased and prepared by Christ for her Joh. 14.2 and there she 〈◊〉 beholding the Face of God reconciled to heâ— Soul by Christ where she is singing Hallelujahs yea the pure Praises of God and this shall â—â— her work yea rather her delight to all Eternity And then My dear Brother why should noâ— you with David the Child being dead arise and come into the House of the Lord to worship 2 Sam. 12.20 Brother Let me tell you in some sense if I may adventure to speaâ— it you have as much yea more reason to be contented and thankful than David had for your Daughters name was Mary who hath chosen thâ— better part which cannot be taken from her's And O that you were prevailed with willingly and thankfully to bear the indignation of thâ— Lord and to walk humbly with him who killeth and maketh alive who bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up Deut. 32.34 I believe Faith will teach you to kiss a striking Lord and to acknowledg the Soveraignty of aâ—â— angry God in the Death of your only Daughter to be above the power of Mortals who â—lucks up a Flower in its prime and is not to be â—lamed by us for it Our Lord hathpluckt up â—ne of his Roses let us pray that his blessed Will may be done our Lord hath numbred man's months and set him his bounds which â—e cannot pass Job 14.5 I verily believe your Lord hath taught you to lay your hand upon your Mouth but I shall be far from desiring â—ny to make light of such great tryals and losses â—ut rather could wish that every cross were â—ook't in the face seven times and were read â—ver and over again It is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts and speaks something hath some â—â—and and the man of understanding will learn â—o hear and fear the Rod and him that appointed it O try what is the taste of the Lord's Cup and drink the Lord sanctifie it to you â—hat you may grow thereby I trust in God â—hat whatever speech it utter that that is one word in it for you in Job 5.17 Behold blessed the man whom the Lord correcteth and that it is safe for you you are from home while here you are not of this world as your Redeemer was not of this world there is somthing a keeping for you that is worth the looking after All that is here is condemned to dye and to pass away as a
slept When she first awaked she said Thou wicked Satan How durst thou tempt the Lord of Life After that she fell into a Slumber again and alwaies â—s she awaked she cried Sweet Christ pity me Sweet Jesus pity me Sweet Christ have mercy upon me several times going over those Petitions Then in the Twilight her Father going to â—er asked her how she did She fixed her eyes stedfastly upon him but never spake more Twice before Breath was out we fell down beâ—â—re the Lord and sent her to Heaven upon â—he wing of Prayer Thus it was apparent That the many Petitions she had put up to Heaven for her easie â—â—assage were granted her and her Entrance â—â—to her Fathers House in Glory where she hath â—â—ken up her everlasting abode to be ever with â—â—e Lord was about the Hours of Four or Five â—n the Morning August the Third 1672. Amen Amen Hallelujah A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of Mrs. MARY WILSON By George Nicholson Minister of the Gospel Psal 103.14 15 16 17 18 verses were sung Luke 12.40 Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye thinâ— not WHile the Lord Jesus was at his Setmon there started up a certain Person out of the Auditory that moved an unseasonable suit 〈◊〉 Him v. 13. Master speak to my Brother that he divide the Inheritance with me Like many poor Creatures that when they come to heâ—â— the Word of God they have their Hearts so stuffed up with the World as that the Word of God takes no place with them nor finds no â—oom in them such was this poor man now menâ—ioned that while Christ was Preaching he was proling for the world Well! His unseaâ—nable request though it did interrupt Christ â—n his present Discourse yet occasioned new proâ—table matter to flow out of his mouth For â—ster the Lord Christ had given him a particular â—heck for such a Proposal together with a denial 〈◊〉 gratifie him in such a request Ver. 14. He â—â—eth on and delivereth a seasonable and neâ—â—ssary Caution v. 15. Take heed and beware of â—â—ovetousness the which he backeth with a â—â—ong Argument in the same verse For a mans â—â—e consisteth not in the abundance of the things â—at he possesseth And to make the Caution to take hold of his â—â—arers He gives an instance by way of Parable 〈◊〉 a certain rich man that was covetously bent â—â—er the world who whilst he was racking his â—â—ains about his worldly Profits his life was cut â—â— his Soul required and he a Fool for his â—â—ins from v. 16. to the 20. v. The Applicaâ—â—â—n of which Parabolical instance ye have in 〈◊〉 21. So is he that layeth up Treasure for himâ—â—â—f and is not rich towards God Well in his â—â—â—lowing Discourse he applieth himself unto 〈◊〉 Disciples from ver 22. to the 30. wherein in he useth several Arguments with them to setch them off from the love of the world All which lye dispersed in the aforementioned verses which I cannot now stand to draw forth but must leave them for you to cull out at your leisure And that he may effectually take them off from the world he setteth before them and proposeth to them greater and better objects than the world could present them with As iâ— he should say If ye will lay out your selve and spend your strength and spirits about thingâ— Behold here are excellent things that are worth your pursuing after and labouring for Herâ— is the Kingdom of God the Righteousness oâ— God Bags that wax not old and Treasure iâ— Heaven that faileth not v. 31 32 33. Math. â—â— 33. Let your Hearts be taken up with thâ— things and never fear but all other things â—â— far as they are necessary for you shall be addâ—â— unto you And that they may receive thâ—â— Kingdom and Treafure which faileth not 〈◊〉 The Lord Christ directeth them to be ready 〈◊〉 waiting for the coming of Christ v. 35 3â— And this he presseth upon them by two conâ—â—derable Arguments The First is drawn from that honourable aâ—â— happy Welcome which such shall have at 〈◊〉 coming of Christ v. 37. Blessed are those Sâ—â—vants whom the Lord when he cometh 〈◊〉 find watckiâ—g Verily I say unto you that 〈◊〉 shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them The Second Argument is drawn from the uncertainty of the time of Christ's coming which is laid down by a familiar Comparison of a Thief 's coming to break up a House when the Good-man of the House is off his watch v. 39. And this know that if the good-man of the house had known what hour the Thief would come he would have watched and not have suffered his house to be broken thorow From which comparison of the Thief 's sudden and unexpected coming the Lord Jesus presseth them to be ready For as the Thief so he himself cometh at in hour when men think not Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an your when ye think not The words are a serious Exhortation delivered to his Disciples and his then present Auditory wherein we may take notice of these two general parts First An important Duty enjoined Be â—e therefore ready also Secondly A plain yet â—owerful Argument to press this Duty upon â—hem For the Son of Man cometh at an hour â—hen ye think not The words are so very plain as that we need â—ot spend much time about their Explication â—or shall we make knots where there are â—one The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here translated ready signifieth generally Preparation or Readiness according to the subject matter that it hath relation to so that be ye ready here is be ye prepared for the coming of Christ But that which will need a little unfolding is What we are to understand by this coming of Christ in the Text Answer There is a twofold coming of Christ First There is his coming to the particular Day of Judgment and that is at the Death of every Person For it is in the power of his own hand alone to fetch away the Souls of Men The Souls of Men are brought before Christ immediately upon the Death of the Bodies of Men to receive their Doom or Judgment Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the Judgment Secondly There is Christ's coming to the 〈◊〉 Judgment which is at the end of the World and the Resurrection of the Bodies of Men. Thâ—â— I grant is called signally The coming of Christ his Second coming Acts 1.11 1 Thes 4 1â—â— Heb. 9. last I know some Expositors would have this coming of Christ to the last Judgment to be intended here But I rather think it to â—â— meant of his Coming to the particular Judgment and that for this reason Because his Discipleâ—â— and the then Auditory to whom he spoke weâ—â— not like to live to see Christ's last Coming
to Grace â— mean of one Grace unto another but of degrees of Grace to the same Grace that is already received The former is plain from 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. Add to your Faith vertue c. The latter is as plain from those Scriptures that enjoin the increase of particular Graces upon us 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude v. 20. But ye Beloved Building up your selves in your most holy Faith 1 Thes 4.10 We beseech yeâ— Brethren that ye increase more and more that is in love Jam. 1.4 But let patience have he perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing And many more such instances might be given Now till this be done thou art not actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus There is a certain measure of Grace assigned and the period of time fixed for every Saint to come up to it in Ephes 4.13 and tâ—â— this be done we are not compleatly ready Thirdly Actual Readiness consisteth in this To have your Evidences clear for Heaven Tâ— be able to prove to your own Souls that you are in a state of Grace Till you be come up tâ— this length you are not so ready as you should be The Apostle enjoineth Saints To give â—â— diligence to make their Calling and Election sunâ— 2 Pet. 1.10 that is sure to themselves And when you have done this then are you ready for the Bridegroom 's coming When you can say with Paul and the other Apostles 2 Corinth 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens then are you actually ready and prepared for the Coming of the Lord. O then try your own selves your states and conditions to see whether Christ be in you or not Never think that you can be ready in any good measure till you understand something of this Can a man be ready to meet Christ that knoweth not whether he belongeth to Heaven or Hell to Salvation or Destruction Alas Such an one is yet short of that degree of readiness that should be attained in order to Christ's coming Fourthly There is also this in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus viz. A compleating of the work that God hath given us to do Every man hath his Generation-work set him of God to do and finish and till this be done no man is ready for the coming of the Lord. It is said of David Act. 13.46 That after he had served his Generation he fell asleep When a man hath done all his Generation-work he is then fit for Death and ready for Christ St. Paul foreseeing his Death hath these Expressions 2 Tim. 4.6 7. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Mark Paul saith he is ready to be offered as our Translation hath it though I know the Greek word may be translated otherwise But how proves St. Paul that he is ready Why For saith he I have finished my course c. As if he had said I have done all my Generation-work and therefore I am ready O Souls then and not till then are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus till you have done all the work which God hath given you to do in the world Most men God knoweth spend their time for very Vanity not considering that they have their task to do yet they think when they have lived as long as they can then there is no more but dying and entring into Glory Poor mistaken Soul Thou hast thy Generation-work to mind and also to compleat And if thou hast not set about it and brought it to its period thou art far from the Kingdom of God and consequently very unfit to die and unready to meet the Lord Jesus Be not deceived There is much to do before thou canst be ready for Christ Try then what thou hast done this way Hast thou wrought out thine own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Hast thou filled up thy time with Duty Hast thou done all the work of thy Place Condition and Relation If not thou art not yet ready enough to meet the Lord Jesus Fifthly This Actual Readiness lies also in this viz. To have the Affections in subjection and under command and as it were brought under ones feet That when the Lord Jesus cometh with a Summons for the Souls appearance then the Soul to have so much power over it self as to say Arise let me go hence So that there needeth no more but Christ's Call and the Soul is ready to set forward and to take sits march to meet him this now is actual Readiness It is said of Abraham that when he was called to go into a place that he should afterwards receive for an Inheritance he obeyed Heb. 11.8 So when Christ giveth the Soul a Call to go from hence for the Soul then to have its Affections so subdued and so under command as forthwith to obey the Lord's Call this â—s Readiness indeed It is also said That the Witnesses upon a voice crying from Heaven to them Come up hither ascended to Heaven in a Cloud Rev. 11.12 So when Christ's voice from Heaven biddeth the Soul come up hither and the Soul upon the call ascendeth to Heaven this is Readiness in multis gradibus in many legrees to meet the Lord Jesus We read that when the Lord shall give the poor Jews a Call to return that they shall be so ready in their Affections to make answer to their Call as that they shall forthwith make this Reply Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Jer. 3.22 So when Christ saith Return ye Children of Men and we answer Behold we come unto thee then are we in a proportionable measure prepared to meet the Lord Jesus The Centurion told Christ That his Servants were so under his Authority that if he bid one of them go he goeth and if another come he cometh and if he bid the third do this he doth it Mat. 8.9 So if our Affections like the Centurion's Servants be so under Christ's and our Authority that if they be bid go they gp or come they come or do this they do it This is to be fitted for the coming of Christ Bâ—â— on the other hand now If the Affections be â—â— unruly unsubdued and masterful as that theâ— will not bend to the Call of Christ when eveâ— he summoneth any of us to appear before Hâ—â— we are not yet ready to meet the Lord Jesus Many Souls I know will pretend that if thâ—â— be to be ready then they are already prepared for they are as they pretend willing to depaâ—â— from hence when ever the Lord shall call theâ— But alas How far are such mistaken for let bâ— Christ Call for their Souls
falling under many Pannick fear and griping pangs of trouble if you do not â—â—riously mind the work of actual Preparation 〈◊〉 the coming of Christ even to you will death â—â— as Bildad speaketh The King of Terre Job 18.14 2. Even such as are Godly in the main â—â— run this hazard through their Defective-actâ—â—â— Readiness or want of actual Preparation They really for ought I know or can gather from â—he Scriptures lessen that glory that should otherwise be conferred upon them in Heaven And is not this a great hazard to run and danger â—o incur viz. to expose your selves to the loss of â—o many degrees of Glory Are you so careful â—o avoid hazards in your estates in this world and will you make nothing of losing such a measure of Glory Surely if a little of Heaven be â—etter than much of the world then the loss of a little of Heaven is greater than the loss of much â—f the world nay than all the world it self Now it is concluded by many worthy Divines That â—here are Degrees in Glory and if so Then it will strongly follow that where there is the least Grace there will be the least Glory And where there is the least of Actual Readiness for Heaven there is the least measure of Grace For â—â— the Exercise of Grace be the means of encreaing of Grace as undoubtedly it is and this Actual Readiness lye in the exercise of it as â—ath been already shewed then it clearly follows That where there is the least of Actual Preparation for the coming of Christ there must â—eeds be the least measure of Grace because the â—ast exercise of Grace and so consequently the â—ast degree of Glory But let us see what the â—cripture saith in this point and for this consult that place in Luke 19.16 17 18 19. where we find the two Servants that had traded with their Masters money to have received a proportionable reward to their improvement of it The first that had made his Masters pound ten pounds is made Ruler over ten Cities And the second that had made his pound five pounds is made Ruler over five Cities The scope of the Parable seemeth to be this that according to the improvement of Grace received so answerably shall the reward be They that make the greatest improvement of Grace shall have the greatest reward of Glory and they that make a lesser improvement thereof shall have lesser degree of Glory See for this also 1 Cor. 15.41 42. So that from hence to me it is clear that there are different degrees of Glory as well as different degrees of Grace And those Saints that concern themselves the least about Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus shall have the least share in Heavens Glory And is it a small thing my Brethren to deprive your selves through your remisness and negligence of the weight of Glory Would you do thus by your selves about the things of the world There are none of you that would hinder your external Prosperity through your neglect Be but as wise and careful for your Souls and you cannot then but be making ready for the Coming of Christ 3. They expose themselves to this hazard also of falling into an hour of desertion I grant the Almighty sometimes may and doth hide himself from his gracious ones that have made great Conscience of making Preparation for the Coming of their Lord. But ordinarily those Souls that are the most remiss and careless about the work of Actual Preparation for the meeting of the Lord Jesus are mostly left and forsaken of him as to actual favour in times of trial and especially in a dying hour And this is no more but a just Punishment upon them for their Neglect It being most equal that they that have not cared to fit themselves for Him should not find Him friendly to them when they stand in most need of his favour Then God sheweth them his back and not his face as he did to the Jews in their troubles I grant to dispense favours this way belongeth to the Divine Prerogative and therefore he both can and may deal them forth as he pleaseth and to whom he pleaseth And possibly sometimes he may let some Souls sip of this Cup that have not every way carried suitably to this favour Isa 57.18 I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners And this is done notwithstanding his going on frowardly in the way of his heart v. 17. Now this he doth when he seeth it will make for the advancement of his Grace and Glory But ordinarily he suffereth not these to see his Smiles that have not been fitting themselves for him But they must now be as if they were cast out of Favour and must apprehend his Frowns to make them sensible of theâ— great neglects about the concerns of their Souls And hence it is that many Souls though otherwise honest in the main do go mourning without the Sun as the Phrase is Job 30.28 through the black entry of death and perhaps never see Gods face in peace again till they find him to be their friend in the other world 4. They run the hazard also of entring into great Temptations Though Satan when let loose by the Almighty will trouble the best of Saints and fill their Spirits with great perplexing Fears especially in times of Trial and mostly in a Dying Hour when they are left to be tried by him yet most commonly the secure slothful and careless Saints are most perplexed with his Temptations at such times and seasons Now if ever he will endeavour to unsaint them And this he laboureth to do by setting before the eye of their Conscience and charging upon them all their former carelesness and remisness in and about their actual Preparation for the Coming of Christ as not consisting with a state of Grace Though before he did secretly yet strongly perswade them to the contrary when he did tempt them to slacken the reins and grow remiss in the Duties of Preparation yet now he appeareth openly to the Conscience and chargeth it home upon it as that which can no way comport with the spirit of a Saint Hence it is that so many when brought to their dying hour are ready to cast away all their hopes of the life to come though peradventure some time before they were groundedly persuaded that their state was good and that they had a Right through Faith in Christ to the purchased Inheritance You secure Saints that please your selves at present in your Remisness take heed lest the Devil have a field with you before you die Though you may have your quiet at present through his lulling you asleep yet you may come to be awakened and your Consciences filled with many black hellish fears And reckon you it nothing to fall into the hands of a merciless Devil that will not spare you a blow I warrant you O
word may be rendered a profane Fool for despising his Birth-right which showed his undervaluing of Heaven and preferring the earth before it Heb. 12.16 with Gen. 25.34 Use 3. Thirdly Is it the grand Concernment of all that would be saved to make ready for Christ's coming Then let it serve for Exhortation to press you all seriously and earnestly to make your selves ready Entertain the Lord Christ's advice in the Text Be ye therefore ready also I shall enforce the Duty upon you with two or three Considerations because I must hasten Considerations First Consider that your sasety lyeth in making ready for Christ I would think That there is not a person among you this day but would give something to know that his Soul is safe and shall be secured against all future hazards of miscarrying eternally Why my Friends I can tell you how you may have them secure enough Do but you get and make sure of that â—undamental-Readiness you were told of and abour still after Actual Preparation and your Souls will be safe and past the peril of miscarrying eternally Though you may dash sometimes against some Rocks before you get over â—â—e troublesome Sea of this world yet shall not â—he Vessel of your Soul be split upon any of these â—ocks but shall come safely in into the Harbour 〈◊〉 Heaven Secondly Consider that Christ may come upon 〈◊〉 at unawares The time of his coming may â—ove a surprizal to you O then get ready my â—riends There is none of you that knoweth â—ow soon you may have a call to go from hence â—hich of your Funerals may be the next neither 〈◊〉 nor I know But this I know That few 〈◊〉 us thought that we should have seen this â—ournful day on such a sudden Was it not a â—â—prizal to the most Though not to the party â—â—eceased for she had strong impressions of â—â—eath when others had no fear of it at all â—atch therefore for ye neither know the day nor 〈◊〉 hour wherein the Son of man cometh Mat. â— 13 Thirdly Consider what comfort it will be to 〈◊〉 in a Dying hour to know that you are ready though Death is and will be the King of Terâ—â—urs to others yet it will be a welcome Mesâ—ger to you Then shall ye be able to reckon up for one of your Priviledges yea your last Priviledg in this world according to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours Fourthly Consider how readily ye shall be entertained and received of Christ if you do but get ready for him There shall no stop be made but forthwith ye shall enter into Glory Mat. 25.10 And they that were ready went in with him unto the Marriage So soon as Lazarus was dead his Soul was carried into Abraham's bosome Luk. 16.22 Do but you mind to make you ready the Lord Christ will quickly pass the Sentence for your entrance into his Eternal Kingdome The Fourth Use Fourthly Is it the great Concern of all that would be saved to prepare for the Coming of Christ Then this Use may serve for Consolation to all such as have in some good measure been fitting themselves for the appearance of Christ and are still making it their business to be compleating their Readiness for his Coming It speaketh Comfort to such in two or three Particulars First Take this for your Comfort at present That you shall certainly sit down with Christ in Glory The Marriage-Supper is prepared for you and you shall be Guests at the Bridegrooms Table All the attendance that can be expected you shall have Christ himself will gird himself and come forth and serve you Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them And what an honourable attendance is this for the Master of the house â—o wait on his Servants Secondly It speaks this comfort to them That when ever Christ cometh it shall not be a surprisal to them If you continue your preparation for Christ his Coming and do not fall asleep or grow secure again Christ will not come on you unawares you shall then speak of Christ's Coming eternally to save you as the Church peaketh of the Lord 's coming eternally to save â—er Isa 25.9 And it shall be said in that day Lo his is our God we have waited for him and he â—ill save us This is the Lord we have waited or him we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation They are only the sleepy and slumbering Virgins that are surprized with his Coming such â—s are making ready for him and expecting him â—hall not be taken at unawares Though they â—now not the time of his Coming yet because â—hey are looking and waiting for his Coming â—hey shall not be surprized when ever he cometh â—urely I come quickly saith Christ Amen â—ith the prepared Soul Even so come Lord Iesus Rev. 22.20 Thirdly There is this further comfort also in it That such prepared Souls shall ordinarily have some comfortable foretasts of glory to come Such shall eat of the Grapes of Eshcol while they are in the way to Heaven before they come into the Land of Canaan it self I do not say that it is alwaies thus with prepared Souls a for some possibly that have diligently endeavoured to prepared themselves for the Coming oâ— Christ may yet notwithstanding feel nothing buâ— bitterness in their spirits in their way to glory aâ— the case seemeth to have been with precious Heman Psal 88. throughout And the 15 versâ— thereof tells us That this was his case from hiâ— youth up I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is translated from my youth up signifieth Childhood and cometh from a root that signifieth to shake-out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he had said I am afflicted an ready to die from my very shaking out of the Womb Nay possibly such Souls may some times go away in a Cloud without the leaâ— taste of that Glory which immediatly after Death they do fully possess and enjoy But yeâ— ordinarily they do more generally taste 〈◊〉 those pleasures that are at Gods right hand forevermore while they are in their way to Heaven They depart in peace as the Phrase â—â— Luke 2.29 that is They die with satisfaction and comfort nay with joy and gladness Revel 19.7 Let us be glad ond rejoice and give honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready And the reason is Because they have the Testimony of their Consciences according to that of Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by â—he grace of God we have had our conversation â—â— the world
doth all and He knows what He doth He is wise in heart and all things done by Him to any of his shall work for good c. We are Childish Creatures and when we are out of our Fits of Passionate Affection we can see as much It is our Folly and Selfishness to set more by our own transient Comfort than our Childrens superlative Exaltation I have been sometimes taken with a passage that I have somewhere met with Namely this Would a Father grieve to have his Daughter married to a King or rather taken into a Kings bosome dearly and entirely loving her This is the Case as to your precious and only Child She is now in the arms of the Prince of Glory in his embraces who hath loved her and washed her from her Sins in his own Blood O Dear Brother Let not your heart say The Lord hath dealt bitterly with me How can I be comforted wherewith will ye comfort me The Child is not and whither shall I go I would say two things to you my Brother they coming now before me First God your Father hath done you no wrong Secondly He hath done your Daughter no hurt Now why should you be then so cast down by means of this Snatching Dispensation 1. Your Father I say hath done you no wrong He hath taken but his own His own 1. By his own Creation 2. His own by your Donation 3. His own by Purchase and Redemption 4. By her own free Self-resignation It is somewhat strange that God cannot take his own but He must trouble us Object 1. But I thought the Lord would have lent me this mercy longer Resol But First you had not a word for that Secondly You had this mercy longer than some of your companions had the like Further Thirdly The Lord made this mercy yield more to you for the time you had it than others have had in many more years of enjoying the same mercy for kind O the revenues of Comfort from her she bore by handfuls which you your self do acknowledg Object 2. But I am an unspeakable loser O her great usefulness to me every way I perceive this pincheth you Res And 1. What is here but Selfishness But again 2. You are not an unspeakable loser for so long as interest holds above our losses are all inconsiderable not to be accounted of But 3. Suppose you were an unspeakable loser yet she I dare say you do believe it is an unspeakable gainer As for her great usefullness every way I would only say this to that Her usefulness to you was from Influence from above She was but a Bucket a Pitcher and it may be she kept you from the Fountain too much and this the Lord saw precious Children may be Idols Come my Brother your Father hath done you no wrong He hath taken but his own his own out at nurse with you for a time during his good pleasure and you have been well paid with comfort in her whilst you did enjoy her Secondly And hath your Father hurt your Daughter Is this to hurt her 1. To put her to Bed 2. To put off all her filthy Garments from her 3. To gratifie her in her own longing desire 4. To enshrine her in Glory Well My Brother what shall I write to you Come consider what you have to take comfort in in this Providence Pore not on the black-side of it only as we are apt to do Is this cloud all dark Methinks here are great lightnings for you I say for you 1. Your Daughter knew the Lord before she died she lived before she died 2. Your Daughter so I collect from yours died in the day-time there was no Cloud or Night of Darkness with her when she died 3. Your Daughter died but not suddenly not by a violent stroke the Lord took her she fell asleep 4. Further Your Daughter as I perceive left a Persume a sweet Perfume behind her Thus here is Honey for you in this Carcass O take thereof in your hands and go on eating and blessing God But what stand I upon these matters Questionless these my Consolations are anticipated by fuller measures from others And then besides what will stick till God fasten But however it is our Duty to visit the afflicted and thus only at present am I capacitated to visit you in your Affliction Now my beloved Brother what you request of me for you I hope shall be minded by me we shall remember you and beg that you may be supported of the Lord And be you confident That your Father will support you He knoweth his Peoples Souls in Adversities Now the Lord be with you and let your poor unworthy Brother be remembred by you and all the Saints with you O pray for me that I may work the works of God while it is called to day And blessed be the Lord for this day of Liberty Let me be remembred to your Wife to Brother Nicholson to the whole Church The 25th instant the Church here will be together to set apart our Brother E. who remembers him to you condoling with you to Office-place We should be glad to hear of your affairs from time to time that so accordingly we might have you upon our hearts before the Lord. Brother I have blotted much Paper you see in pouring out my self to you O that something from me might refresh you The Lord hath sometimes chosen to do much by foolish and weak things It is much to be a comforter I will conclude though somewhat abruptly with that known and pretious Scripture 1 Thes 4.13 14. Octob. 18. 1762. From your Fellow-feeling Brother G. L. Anagr. MARY VVILSON Your nam ' liv's DEar little Soul now shrin'd above in Glory Though thee we may not see we 'le view thy Story T' is true it is but short yet sweet and we Will chear our selves with this that 's left of thee When as Elijah hence in whirlwind flew He cast a mantle so hast thou done too We 'le take it up there 's in it some relief By it we may in part wade through our grief For thy removal you are gone we know But Your nam ' liv's and shall with Saints below G. L. Another per eundem MARY VVILSON In warm Soyl. WHat ripe so soon marvail we not Fruit ripes fast in a Garden plot In warm Soyl there good trees will bear Assoon as planted the first year This little tender precious tree Dropt mellow-fruit as you may see Here 's but a little loads she bore But gathering vessel held no more What here you find collected by A sobbing Heart a weeping Eye A Father mourning for his loss To him th'heaviest outward cross Take notice of use to your good Such fruit from young ones is choice food When old trees fruitless grow God then Will raise fruit-bearing Childeren You that in warm soyl are O mind What this warm Soul hath left behind Good Families and Churches are The warmest Soyls i' th world by far G. L. FINIS