Death Judgment Hell and Heaven, Part · Section 1
About DEATH, Consider:
1. That all the pleasures, treasures, and comforts of this life, wife, children, goods, gold, great friends, lands, livings, possessions, offices, honours, high roomes, brave situations, faire prospects, sumptuous buildings, pleasant walkes, and even the world it selfe, upon which thou hast lost so much labour, time, care, thought-fulnesse, and doted so long, holding a divorce, as death it selfe, must all, upon the stroke of death, *Orbis medicos ad te convoca; Podaly…ios, Machao…as▪ Aesculapios, Hippocrates & Galenos omnes reviviscere …ube, non hi omnes vel horulam annis tuis apponent, ultra quam velit DEVS. Pharmacopolia exhau… as, aurum & uniones glutias ut vitam extendas, tamen terminos, qui praeteriri non poterunt, non promovebis. Cautus sis, quantum velis, vitae pericula omnia declines, morborum principijs obstes, numerum mensium non augebis. Op…es, vovea…, roges, nihil agis; vitae tuae termini jam constituti sunt, nec unquam, (quicquid resistas) praeteriri poterunt.—Ciborum tibi praestantissimorum copia sit & selectus; vini slorem bibas; nunquam labores nisi ad sanitatem; …artum somni capias, quantum & I ex Archiatrorum, & ratio valetudinis poscit; Ad numerum caleas & algeas, nihilo-minùs mortalis eris, & ubi vitae tuae metam contigeris, age, valedie rebus humanis, & ad rationem reddendam te para: Tribunal te vocat.which not heaven and earth, or any created power, can any wayes possibly prevent, divert, or adjourne, be suddenly, utterly, and for ever left, never more to be minded, medl'd with, or enjoyed in this world or the world to come. When our breath goeth forth, and we returne to our earth, all our thoughts perish: Even the thoughts of the greatest Princes, and mightiest Monarchs upon earth, who happily may have in their heads whole common-wealths, and the affaires of many kingdomes. Put not your Psal. 146. 3, 4.trust in Princes (saith King David) nor in the sonne of man, in whom there is no helpe. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish. And therefore let it be thy wisdome, to rent and weane thine affections from the world with an holy resolute violence in the meane time: *Contemne vivens, quae post mortem habere non potes▪ Dissicile est, imò impossibile ut praesentibus quis …rnatur bonis, & futuris; ut hic ventrem, & illic mentem impleat, ut de delicijs tra…seat ad delicias, ut in terra & in coelo gloriosus appareat. Bern De interiori Domo. Cap. 45.Disdaine and scorne to set thine heart upon those things here, which thou canst not, thou must not have in the second life. And there is good reason for it. For they are all (as I said before) at the best, and in the height: 1. But vanity. And 2. Vexation of spirit. 3. They cannot satisfie the soule. 4. They will not profit in the day of revenge. 5. They reach not to eternity. 6. There is no man so assured of his honour, wealth or any worldly thing, but he may be depriued of them, the very next moment. 7. Thou needs to feare no want: There is no man (saith CHRIST) that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or Mar. 10. 29, 30.father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospels; but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternall life. Of eternall life, the point is cleare: But how shall they be so manifoldly remunerated in this life? 1. In the same kind, sometimes, and foreign, as they say. Abraham, at GODS command, left his countrey, kindred, and fathers house: and he was afterwards (as you know) crowned with riches and honour abundantly, and became a great and mighty Prince: Iob for the glorifying of GOD, and confounding of Satan, bore patiently, and blessed GOD for the losse of all: and how richly was he after repayed with a large and singular addition, and excellency of goods and children. *…ertur Idianum cum summam … Romani administ…et, istum Valentinianum, qui praefectus … erat, ex Albo militum qui in exercitu Ioviniani vocabantur, ex emisse, & … addixisse exssio: simulatione quidem quòd milites sibi subjectos, cum contra hostes pugnandum esset, parum commodè instruxerat, sed revera hinc inductus est. Cum Iulianus ad…ue in Gallia, que ad occidentem solem vergit, aetatem ageret, ad quoddam delubrum ivit sacrificatum: simul que cum eo fuit Valentinianus. Nam Romanis vetu erat mos, ut praefecti militum, qui Ioviani & Herculiani vocabantur Imperatorem proxime a tergo praesidij causâ sequerentur. Valentinianus autem …um esset lime delub…i transgressurus, & sacerdos ritu Gentilitio virides olivae ramusculo madefactos manu tenens, introtuntes illos aspergeret guttâ in suam vestem dela…â, aegre admodum & graviter tulit. Christianus enim erat, & propterea sacerdotem, qui ipsum aquâ asperserat, & convicijs adoritur. Aiunt preterea cum etiam Imperatore Iuliano inspectante tantum vestis suae cum ipsa guttâ excidisse, abjecisseq, quantum gutta madefecerat. Vnde Iulianus ei admodum incensus, iratus que non multo post condemnavit exilio, ut nimirum Melitinam, utbem Armeniae perpetuo incoleret, causa quidem simulatâ, quod milites sibi subjectos negligenter admodum gubernasset. Noluit enim videri propter religionem ullo cum afficere incommodo, ne inde aut martyris, aut consessoris honos illi tribueretur: siquidem hac de causa alij… etiam Christianis pepercerat, quia videret eos ex periculotum susceptione (uti supra demonstratum est) tum gloriam sibi consequi, tum religionem ac fidem CHRISTI vehementer confirmare. Ac simul ut imperium Romanum Ioviano delatum est, iste Valentinianus ab exilio Nicaeam revocatus, mortuo jam fortè Iuliano, & consilio ab exercitu & his qui tum primos magistratus ge…ebant, inito, omnium sussragijs Imperator deligitur. Sozom. Histor. Ecclesiast. Lib. 6. Cap. 6.Valentinian the Emperour was put from his place of command in the army, by Iulian, and banished for the profession of CHRIST: but afterward was called backe from banishment, and with much honour and applause advanced to the height of the Imperiall dignity. The Apostles forsaking all for CHRISTS sake, had afterwards for one aApostolis, postquam domi reliquissent omnia, omnium fidelium domus erant apertae, ut loco unius aediculae centum haberent dominos: omnes que fidelium agri Apostolis quo que suum fructū &c necessaria ferebant, ut rectè Paulus scripserit, 2 Cor 6 10. Apostolos esse tanquam nihil habentes, & tamen omnia possidentes. Sic ubi unum patrem, unam matrem, pauculos fratres, & sorores reliquerunt, alibi centum fideles invenerunt, qui paterno, materno & fraterno animo eos prosecuti sunt. Harmon. Evang. Cap. 132.poore cottage, the houses of all the faithfull Christians in the world, to which they were farre more welcome, than ever any Haman was to his proudest palace: and so all godly Ministers in all ages ever find heartier entertainment, amongst the Houshold of Faith, (truly so called) than ever any naturall father, mother, sister or brother could possibly affoord; because, as yet they can see no beauty in the image of CHRIST in others, or in their feet who bring glad tidings, nor love spiritually. 2. Or in equivalence, by bCentuplaigitur ista, hoc est multò plura animus recipit, non centuplo modosed infinito, majore tum volup…ate utens mod…eis illis, quaecun que ad vitam praesen, tem in persecutione DOMINVS dederit, quantilibet tribulationibus circundatus. quam ante cognitum Evangelium, usus suerat ijs, quae reliquit Bucer. in Cap. 29. Matth. Interim suos exh…rat DEVS, ut illis pluris sit, longè que suat vius tantillum boni quo fruentur, … si extra CHRISTVM illis asslueres immensa honorum copia. …. … foreign. i. e. Quae centie tanti sint, nempè quod ad verum usum, & commoda hujus etiam vitae attinet: si modo …lla non ex copijs & cu…tate nostra, sed ex DEI nostri voluntate, (quae una est certissima bonorum Regula) metiamur: adeò ot fideles in media etiam egestate hujus promissionis eventum sentiant: Ita que perridiculus erat Iulianus ille Apostata, quum hunc locum exagitans, quaerere nicentum etiam uxores habituri essent Christiani. Beza in Cap. 10. Marti.contentment, which doth incomparably both in sweetnesse and worth surpasse and over-weigh all worldly wealth. Witnes that worthy reply of the most famous Italian Marquesse, Galeacius Caracciolus (having left the rich and pleasant Marquesdome of Vico, all Imperiall, Popish, Princely, Courtly favours, and other proportionable felicities attending upon such humane greatnesse for the Gospels sake) to a wicked Iesuite tempting him with a great summe of gold, to returne out of Zion to Sodom; from Geneva into Italy; cThe life of Galeacius Caracciolus, the noble Marquesse of V…o in the kingdome of Naples. Cap. 23. … Fore dicit, ut in medijs etiam persecutionibus centuplo sint foelicrores, quàm unquam artea, qui CHRISTVM omnibus hujus vitae …ommedis antepesuerint. I.Let their money perish with them, who esteeme all the gold in the world, worth one daies society with IESVS CHRIST, and His HOLY SPIRIT. I make no doubt but to any of our learned and holy men, exiles for CHRIST in Queene Maries time, of whom many after returned, and received an hundred fold according to the letter of the Text, browne bread and the Gospell in Germany, during that bloudy five yeares, were infinitely more sweet and deare, than all the Bishopricks of ENGLAND with Subscription to the six Articles. 3. Even in din I…d. E…e qui reliquerit pauem, & elegerit sibi Patrem Div…, uno ei plus, … centuplum constat recepisse, &c—Qui reliquerit fratrem, ut habeat CHRISTVM fratrem, nonne meli…n erit ei quam centum fratres?—Si dimittit substantiam, ab omnibus diligitur, ab omnibus honoratur, a quibusdam autem & timetur. Nam ipse DEVS cui se tradidit, dat ei gratiam coram omnibus: Nonne melius est ei hoc, quam universa terra? Incertus Author in Mat. Hom. 33. Ne quis suspicetur quod dictum est solis congruere Discipulis: dilatat promissionem ad omnes qui similia faciunt: Habebunt enim pro carnalibus cognatis, familiaritatem & fraternitatem cum DEO; pro agris Paradisum; & pro lapideis aedibus supernam Hierusalem, &c. Theophylact. in Cap. 19. Mat. Quamvis pios semper in hoc mundo persecutiones maneant, & quasi eorum tergo crux adhaereat, tam dulce tamen est condimentum gratiae DEI, quae ipsos exhilarat, ut illorum conditio regum delicijs optabilior sit. Calv. Ibid.an overflowing and transcendent manner, in a pressed and heaped, and even over-inlarged measure by spirituall joy, peace of conscience, contentment of soule, more familiarity with GOD, nearer communion with IESVS CHRIST, fuller assurance of His love, and our portion in Him, more sensible experience of His all sufficiency, extraordinary exercise of faith, sweeter taste in the Promises, closer cleaving to the Word, clearer sight of divine excellencies, heartier longing for heavenly joyes, &c. One drop of which spirituall refreshing deawes distilling upon the soule even in greatest outward distresse; one glimpse of such glorious inward joyes shining from the face of the Sun of salvation into the saddest heart in the darkest dungeon, doth incredibly surpasse all the comfort which wife, children, wealth, or (in a word) any worldly good, or mortall greatnesse can possibly yeeld. 4. Or in posterity; by a very remarkable, if not miraculous providence and care for them. Consider for this purpose, that GOD-fearing Prophet, 2 Kings 4. who upon the matter, and in the true meaning, denied himselfe, and forsooke all for GODS sake. (eRelinquere aliquid propter nomen CHRISTI, sive propter CHRISTVM, est CHRISTVM praeronere omnibus, & super omnia amare: ita eum esse cha…um pectori nostro, ut illius gratiâ parati s…nus omnia relinquere quantum is chara, quae nos alliciunt, aut inducunt, aut etiam cogunt, ut aliquid faciamus, quod fit contra ejus gloriam. Musc. For he doth so also, who preferres the glory of GOD, the Gospell, the cause of CHRIST, and keeping of a good conscience, before any, or all earthly things; holding fast unfainedly a resolution, if he be put to it, and times require really and actually to leave all for CHRIST.) This good man might have fColligemus ex hâc paupertate virum illum fuisse constantem in verâ & sanâ religione: quia si deficere voluisset, ad cultum Iezabelis, & impij regis, victus & justae facultates ei non defuissent. Pet. Mart. in loc.applied himselfe to the present, served the times, sought the Court, and sate at Iezabels Table with her other temporizing trencher-chaplaines. But it is said in the Text, that he feared the LORD, and so disdained, and abhor'd to gaine by humouring greatnesse, to grow rich and rise by basenesse and flattery. And therefore did chuse rather to die a begger, to leave his wife in debt, and expose his children to the bondage of cruell creditours, than any waies to make ship-wracke of a good conscience, or consent and concurre to the adulterating of GODS sincere and purer worship. But mark what followes: rather than the wife and children of such a man, who preferred GODS glory before his owne preferment, shall suffer want; they must be relieved by a miraculous supply, as appeares in the story. 5. Or in good gI will give them an ever lasting name that shall not bee sut off. Isa. 56. 5 Prov. 22. 1.name; which is rather to be chosen than great riches, saith Salomon. For instance, compare together Bradford and Bonner. The name of that blessed man shall be of most deare and glorious memory to all that love our LORD IESVS CHRIST in sincerity, untill His second comming: and it is like we shall looke upon him, and the rest of that royall Army of Martyrs in Queene Maries time, with thoughts of extraordinary sweetnesse and love in the next world thorow all eternity. But now the remembrance of that other fellow, who (like a bloud-thirsty Tyger) made such horrible havocke of the Lambs of CHRIST, shalbe had in a most abhorred, execrable, and everlasting detestation. The name of the fore-named noble Marquesse, hHeare Calvin in his Epistle to him, before his Commentary upon the first to the Corinth. Etsi ne que tu plausum Theatri app…tis, uno teste DEO contentus ne que mihi propositum est laudes tuas ena…are: Quod tamen cognitu …le est a… fructuosum, non prorsus celandi sunt Lectores: Hominem primariâ familiâ natum, honore & opibus florentem; nobilis…imâ & castissima …xore, numerosâ sobole, domesti… quiete & concordia, toto que vitae statu beatum, ultro, u… in CHRISTI castra mig…aret, pat…iâ cessisse: Ditionem fertilem & amoenar…, lautum Patrimonium, commodam non minùs, quàm voluptuosam habitationem neglexisse: Exuiss… splendo…em domesticum; Patie, conjuge, liberis, cognatis, a…sinibus sese pri…asse, &c.who left and and lost all with a witnesse for the Gospels sake, shall be infinitely more honoured of all honest men, so long as any one heavenly beame of GODS eternal truth shall shine upon earth, than his uncles Paul the fourth, or all that Rope of Popes from the first rising to the finall ruine of that Man of sinne. Nay, theirs shall rot everlastingly; but his shall re-flourish with sweetnesse, and fresh admiration to the worlds end.
2. That, to die, is but to be once done; and if we erre in that one action, we are undone everlastingly. And therefore have thine end ever in thine eye. *In cunctis quidèm rebus necessari… est providentia; in ijs tamen maximè, quae amplius quam semel fieri n… queunt: ubicunq▪ pes lapsus fuerit, actum est: unu… error multa trahit errorum millia. Haec ratio mortis est; unicus in eâ error, infinitos trahet errores: Hic semel errasse, aeternum est peri…sse. Lamachus Centurio, admissi erroris increpabat militem, qui ut culpam dilueret, de…nceps nil tale admissurum se promisit. Cui Centurio: In bello, inquit, Bone vir non licet bis peccare Plutarch. in Lacon. In morte, eheu, nec vel semel quidem peccare licet. Nam hoc tale peccatum est i…evocabile. Semel mortuuses, semper mortuus es: semel malè mortuus es, semper damnatus es. Hanc mortem corrigere, han… damnationem excutere, per omnem aeternitatem non poteris.Let all our abilities, businesses, and whole being in this life; let all our thoughts, words, actions, referre to this one thing, which (as it shall be well or ill ended) is attended either with endlesse plagues, or pleasures; with eternity of flames or felicity.
3. That thou maist looke upon thy last bed, tobe full sorely terribly assaulted by the king of feare, accompanied with all his abhorred horrours, and stinging dread; by the fearefull sight of all thy former sinnes, arrayed and armed in their grisliest formes, and with their fieriest stings; with the utmost craft and cruelty of all the powers of darknesse, and the very powder-plot of the prince of hell, that roaring Lion, who hath industriously laboured to devoure thy soule all thy life long; with the terrour of that just and last Tribunall … which thou … ready to passe to reckon precisely with Almighty GOD for all things done in the flesh. What manner of man ought thou to be … i… the meane time; in all holy care, fore-cast and cas…g about to give up thine account … comfort at that dreadfull houre? Be so farre from *Caveamus … op…lum …. Quot hominum nu… lia v…l han… … nam ob cau…am male …, quia distulerant minime disserenda. Q…d crastinum, quid perendinum saluti tuae destinas? Crast…us dies t…s non est: Hodiernus est. Hodiè queso, ha… ho…, jam age quod agendum est. Cras, … ub… tu …?deserring repentance in this Day of visitation, and patting off till that time; (For how canst thou possibly attend so great a busines, when thou art beset with such a world of wofull worke, and hellish rage?)▪ That …hou …hould est in this thy day, like a sonne of wisdome, constantly ply and improove all opportunities, occasions, offers, every moment, Ministry, mercy, motions of the Spirit, checks of conscience, corrections, temptations, &c. To store thy selfe richly with spirituall strength against that last encounter, and of highest consequence, either for eternall happinesse, or unconceiveable horrour.
4. That thy body, when the soule is gone, wilbe an horrour to all that behold it; a most loathsome and abhorred spectacle. Those that loved it most, cannot now find in their hearts to looke on…, by reason of the griesly d…formednesse which death will put upon it. Downe it must into a pit of carions and confusion, covered with wormes, not able to wagg so much as a little finger, to remoove the vermine that feed and gnaw upon its flesh; and so moulder away into rottennesse and dust. And therefore let us never for the temporary, transitory ease, pleasure, and pampering of a r…inous, and rotten carkasse, bring everlasting misery upon our immortall soules. Let us never, for a little sensuall, short and vanishing delight flowing from the three filthy puddles of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, drowne both our bodies and soules in a dungeon, shall I say, nay in a boyling *Modò jam discamus pericula vicina nosse, quae facilè cavet, qui praevidet. Non parùm interest … terrâ spectes naufragium passi sunt, & irreparabile, quot quot ad orcum praecipitati sunt; nec in portum unquam pervenient. Aeternitatis igneum mare, carcer aeternus hos naufragos jam sepelivit.sea of fire and brimstone, where we can see no banks, nor feele no bottome.
5. That when the soule departs this life, it carries nothing away with it, but grace, GODS favour, and a good conscience. The Sun of all worldly greatnesse, prosperity, and joy then sets for ever: Even Crownes, Kingdomes, Lands, Livings, and all earthly Possessions are everlastingly left. And *Si conscientia sit inquinata, nihil …spiam nec in r… bus conditis, ne… in conditore solatij est reperire: Omnia a cerba, Fellea omnia: Et quò profugias? Ad DEVM? Hostis est. Ad conscientia…? … est. Ad coelites? Offensi sunt. A… socios? Augebunt cruciatus. Ad delitias & voluptates? Conscientiam magis inquinabunt. &c.what will an immortall soule, destitute of divine grace, do then? Then will that now newly-separated soule, finding no spirituall store or provision laid up in this life against the evill day, with an irksome and furious reflexion, looke backe upon all its time spent in the flesh; and beholding there, nothing but abominations, guiltinesse and sinne: Presently awakes the never dying worme which having formerly had its mouth stopt with carnall delights, and mus…'d up with outward mirth, will now feed upon it with horrour, anguish, and desperare rage, world without end. O then, let these precious, deare, everlasting things breath'd into our Bodies for a short abode in this Vale of teares, by the All-powerfull GOD, scorne with infinite disdaine, to feed upon Earth, or any earthly things; which are no proportionable object, either for divinenesse, or duration, for so noble a nature to nestle upon. But let them ply and fat themselves all the dayes of their appointed time, with their proper, native, and celestiall food: At that great Supper made by a King at the mariage of a Kings sonne, Luke 14. 16. Mat. 22. 2. And therefore must needs be most magnificent and admirable: At that Feast of fat things, that Feast of wines on the lees; of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined, Isa. 25. 6. The founder and furnisher whereof is the LORD of Hosts. He that made Heaven and Earth, makes it; and therefore it must needs be matchlesse and incomparable: At the Well-head of Wisdomes richest Bounty; who hath killed her beasts, mingled her wine, and furnished her table, Prov. 9. 2. In and by these and the royallest …east that can be imagined, are shadowed, but infinitely short, and represented unto us, but nothing to the life, all those inexplicable divine dainties, delicates, sweetnesses; those gracious quicknings, rejoycings and ravishments of spirit; which GOD in mercy is wont to communicate and convey thorow all the ordinances and meanes of grace to truly humbled soules, for a mighty increase of spirituall strength and invincible comfort. O how deliciously may a heavenly hungry heart feed and fill it selfe; 1. In the powerfull Ministry unfolding all the sacred sense and rich mines of GODS owne meaning in His blessed booke. 2. In the precious promises of life, by the applications and exercise of Faith. 3. In the LORDS Supper, by making the LORD IESVS surer to our soules every time; and every time by feasting afresh upon His body and bloud spiritually, with exultations of dearest joy, and sweetest glimpses (as it were) of eternall glory. 4. In fruitfull conferences and mutuall communications of gifts, graces, prayers, duties with GODS people, which the LORD doth usually and graciously water with the deawes of many sweet and glorious refreshings and quickning, much increase of Christian courage, and an holy contentation in the good way. 5. In meditations upon the mystery of CHRIST, the miracles of mercy upon us for our good all our life long, and the eternity of joyes and blisse above. 6. Upon the LORDS Day, when showers of spirituall blessings are accustomed to fall from the Throne of grace all the day long, upon those who sincerely endeavour to consecrate it as glorious unto Him. 7. Upon those soule-fatting daies of humiliation; which, who ever tried *For secret and private, many thousands of Christians can speak very admirable, glorious, and extraordinary things: Of publike thus speakes a learned Doctor. To GOD… glory, and to the …opping of our adversaries mouthes, the Papists, (who kn…w not what the true exercise of fasting meaneth) it is to be acknowledged, that howsoever we have not beene so frequent in this exercise, as were to be wished▪ yet notwithstanding, upon diverse publike occasions▪ there have beene publike Fasts observed and sol…nized among us with good and happy successe: As for example; In the time of the great Plague▪ Anno 1563. After the great Earth-quake, Anno 1579. After intelligence had of the Spanish Invasion, Anno 1588. In the time of the great Famine, Anno 1596 & 1597. And …ow of late in this time of the Pestilence, Anno 1603. Besides the private and secret fasting of the …aithfull, as it hath pleased GOD …o moove them, either by private, or publike occasions. D•. Downam, now Bishop in Ireland. The Christians Sanctuary. Sect. 54 pag 54. Nay, Heare King CHARLES Himselfe▪ graciously acknowledging GODS extraordinary goodnesse in hea…ing our prayers in publike Fasts blessedly appointed by His owne royall Command: And whereas the greatest confidence men have in GOD▪ ariseth, not onelyonly from His Promi…s, but from their experience likewise of His Goodnesse, you must not …aile often to re-call to the memory of the people with thankefulnes, the late great experience we have had of His goodnes towards us: For, the three great and usuall judgments which He darts dow…e upon disobedient and unthankefull people, are Pestilence, Famine and the Sword. The Pestilence did never rage more in this Kingdome than of late; And GOD was graciously pleased in mercy to heare the prayers, which were made unto Him; and the ceasing of the judgement was little l…sse than a miracle. The Famine threatned us this present yeare, and it must have followed, had GOD rained downe His anger a little longer upon the fruits of the earth. But upon our prayers he stoyed that judgement, and sent us a blessed season, and a most plentifull Harvest, &c. Instructions directed from the Kings most excellent Majestie, &c. pag. penul….either secretly, privately, or publikely; either by himselfe alone, with his yokefellow, in his family or congregation, and found not GOD extraordinary, according to the extraordinarinesse of the exercise?