The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 30
§. XXX. Preparations for death: or how to dye.
THere remaineth yet oneH… dy thing of no ſmall moment, that concerneth his abode with God in or about his laſt worke, he hath to doe in this world, which is the laying downe o… this his earthly Tabernacle, the change of changes here belo…e, truth it is that an holy life, ſuch as hitherto hath beene pourtrayed euer ends in an happy death, and againe, How to dy whoſo hath learned, hath learned alſo how to liue, yet there are ſpecialties of direction which the Chriſtian, aboue all before ſayd cannot well want▪ and there is a ſpeciall preparation for the vndergoing ſo terrible a change. Take them thus; they concerne.
1 The curing of the diſeaſes1 By the curing of diſeaſes. of our Soules, of which wee are all ſicke to the death and all about this point of death,
2 The eſtamping on vsus the care of neceſſary duties.
1 The diſeaſes which our hearts are oppreſſed withall and ſubiect vntounto are theſe fiue,
1 Forgetfulneſſe of our latter end Deut. 32 29.
2 Deſperate reſoluteneſſe vponupon the memory of it, 1 Cor. 15. Eſa. 22. 14.
3 A Couenant with death and hell, making lyes and vanity our refuge, Eſa 23. 15.
4 The chooſing of death to be rid of the miſeries of life, the impatient deſire of death, Ier. 8. 3. Iob. 3.
5 The feare of death which bringeth into bondage, Heb. 2. 1…. 15.The cure of forgetfulneſſe.
For our forgetfulneſſe, it is cured
1 By information of our ſelues in theſe things, the br…u…y and vanity of life and of all things in the world: & the certainty & vncertainty of death; of the breu…y of life we hauehave three …eſtes, Nature, Experience, and Scripture, but Scripture witneſſeth it moſt liuely, where the baſeſt things and of leaſt continuance are taken to as bearing the fitteſt reſemblance thereof, it is a vapor… a weauers ſhuttle, a poſt, a ſhip in the Sea; a bubble, a flower of the field, graſſe, a ſhadow, a dreame, a thought. Of the vanity of all things vnderunder the Sunne, Salomon hath ſufficiently ſpoken in his Eccleſiaſtes, or booke of the Preacher, the certainty of death, depends vponupon decree and ſtatute Law, it is appointed that all ſhall dye, Heb. 9. 27. and we know death hath reigned from Adam to this day: we hauehave three nuntioes ſent by death, caſuality, infirmity, and old age: nay death hath already ſeized on vsus in changes of our age, in aches, in ſorrowes in ſickneſſes, ſo certaine is it, …et not ſo certaine to be, as vncertaine in what kinde, at what time, in what place it ſhall be.
2 By watching againſt the cauſes of incog…ancy which are cheifely two, the naturall ſecurity of our hearts, and ſurfetting on earthly things, Luke 12. 19. and 21, 34. theſe both muſt be ſhaken off,
3 By Prayer, God onelyonly can teach this leſſon, we muſt come to his ſchoole, and our prayers muſt be to him for this thing, Thus did Dauid Pſal. 39. 6. and 90. 12.
For deſperate reſoluteneſſeThe cure of reſoluteneſſe. vponupon the memory of our end, it is a diſeaſe which wee are ſubiect vntounto when the euill corrupt heart forced to the apprehenſions of its mortality by the purſute of his owne thoughts and the daily cry of a faithfull Miniſtery, or the conſtant and frequent view of death, griefes face is awakened but not truely but in a phrenſie, as it were, and concludes, dy we muſt, we are all mortall, Come then, let vsus eat and drinke let vsus take time while time ſerue, tomorrow comes and we are not. This ſore and euill diſeaſe ſhall be healed.
1 By conſidering the greatneſſe of the ſinne which is fully declared by the Prophet Eſay, when he ſaith, And it was reuealed in mine eares by the Lord of hoſts; Surely this iniquity ſhall not be purged from you till ye dy, ſaith the Lord God of hoſtes, Eſa. 22. 13. 14.
2 By diſcouering the originall whence it ſprings, that that may be lamented ouer, namely Atheiſme and an heart voide of the knowledge of God and ſet vponupon euill with a ſpirituall madneſſe 1 Cor. 15. 34. 3….
3 By the contrary good, a waking, which is to righteouſneſſe, not to ſinne, 1 Cor. 15. 33 34:
For our Couenant with death m…king lyes our refuge, it is theThe cure of ſecurity reaſoning of the heart that ſaith, We hauehave done what wiſe men ſhould doe, becauſe wee like politicians and worldlings hauehave fortified our ſelues with the beſt earthly helpes for body and ſtate, for our ſelues, for ours, & yet no thought of ſerious prouiſion, How wee might be built on the ſure foundation ſtone Chriſt Ieſus, the Lord directs vsus in this point in Eſa. 28. 16. That wee come as liuing ſtones to Chriſt that corner ſtone elect and precious, and be ſure wee be laied and built on him by beleeuing: for hee that beleeueth in him ſhall not make haſt, nor be aſhamed of his hope, Or it is the reaſoning of the heart that ſaith, death is a debt we owe to nature: but this muſt not paſſe for good with Chriſtians, for death in its nature is the wages of ſinne, death in its change, is a ſweet ſleepe in Ieſus, ſure of a bleſſed awaking at the reſurrection of the iuſt: it is then the beginning of eternall woe to him that dyeth in his ſinnes, but the doore to eternall bliſſe to all that dye in the Lord. Or this Couenant is that refuge of lyes, we are not likely to dye yet, ſtrength is in our body, milke in our breſts, marrow in our bones: and age is for the ſad and graue duties of deuotion and piety, but let Iob ſpeake what pleaſure haſt thou in thy houſe after thee, Iob. 21. 21. 22 23. 24. 25.when the number of thy moneths is cut off in the middeſt? Shall any teach God knowledge? Seeing he iudgeth thoſe that are high? One dyeth in his full ſtrength being wholly at eaſe and quiet, his breſts are full of milke and his bones moiſtened with marrow: and another dyeth in the bitterneſſe of his ſoule, take not vponupon thee to inſtrect God, hee can ſmite thee with death in the higheſt of thy pride and midſt of thy welfare, and he doth it oft times, but ſay thou liue to the gray haire, yet know that is the euill day, ageit ſelfe is a diſeaſe diſabling to duties of religion, youth is eueryevery way fitteſt, let Solomon tell thee, Remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill day come of which thou ſhalt ſay I hauehave no pleaſure in it Eccleſ. 12. 1.
For the Impatient deſire ofThe cure of the impatient deſire of death. death, it is cooled and tempered 1 … by ſtrength of iudgment we know and knowing reſolue that affliction is to be choſen rather then tranſgreſſion, Iob 36. 20. 21. the contrary hereunto made Iob impatiently to wiſh the day of his death. Iob. 3. 2 If we conſider that God teacheth by his works, and herein none like him, Iob. 36. 22. 3 If we weigh well what Iobs ſpeeches coſt him; humiliation to duſt and aſhes, though they came out of great extremities which wreſted them from his heart, otherwiſe full of patience, but now diſtracted almoſt through bitterneſſe, Iob. 42. 6.
For the feare of death, it is aThe cure of the fear of death. diſeaſe hereditary, deriued to all Adams children, yet is, muſt, and may be cured: it may be cured, Heb. 2. 14. 15. 2 Cor. 5. 5. it muſt Luke 14. 26. Rev. 22. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 3. 4. the deſire of heauen is a part of the ſeed which is caſt into the furrowes of our hearts in our regeneration. I know there is a feare of death which is meerely naturall, a ſhrinking from it and ſhunning of it as of a thing hurtfull, becauſe it diſſolues the vnion of ſoule and body, for a time: but we ſpeake of that diſtempered feare which leadeth into bondage, abeſlauing feare which ſuffers not a man to thinke of death or happineſſe after it, and leaueth the heart impotent and void of all ſpirituall courage, comfort, and counſell. Againe there are men of two ſorts, ſome that liue and dye in their ſinnes, hauehave cauſe to feare death, in theſe a cure can neuer be wrought, not that the medicines are vnauaileable, but becauſe they cannot bee brought to take the receipts, Some that dye to their ſinnes before they dye, in theſe that beſlauing feare may be cured, and hath in ſuch vſually heretofore beone cured.
Death is the King of terrors, conſider it, in its reall nature and hue: Its vizar aſſumed.
Its natiue hu… is terrible.
1 In the cauſe, Sinne, Gods wrath, Sathan the executioner who hath the power of death, Heb. 2. 14.
2 In the nature thereof; in it ſelfe, oppoſite to life a puniſhment of God, a deſtroyer of natures fabricke, a diſſoluer of this earthly tabernacle,
3 In the effects, which are A depriuation of Friends, pleaſures, honours, riches of this world. The good wee might doe in Church, Commonwealth, Family. A deprauation of the ſtate of the body, leauing it a cadauer, a car caſe, in the graue.
4 In the affrighting concomitants, terriculamenta mortis: which are miſeries,
Corporall, Painies, Agonies ſometimes which doe befall Gods children.
The kind of death,
Spirituall Terrors from Satan and from God himſelfe, Temptations, Vnquietneſſe and angor of conſcience.
In its vizar it is fearefull as it cometh into our minds,
As the depriuer of happineſſe, as if it ſeperated from God.
As if it had no other face then that of wrath and curſe from God, and were in its nature no way corrected.
How ſhall theſe darts be quenched? Briefely.
1 The cauſe of death is to be euacuated
1 By the death of Chriſt and our aſſurance of our part therin, whereby the fauour of God is eſtabliſhed vponupon vsus and the Serpents head cruſhed, Heb. 2. 15. Death is a Serpent, the ſting is ſinne, the ſtrength of that ſting is the law: victory ouer it is by Ieſus Chriſt who ſatisfieth the law. 1 Cor. 15. 55 56. 57.
2 By mortification of our beloued ſinnes & by our ſtudy to keepe a conſcience voide of offence towards God and man.
3 By receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper oft, wherein we ſhew forth the Lords death vntill his comming againe 1 Cor. 11. 26.
2 The nature of death in it ſelfe, is terrible indeed, but to the godly it is changed, Rev. 14, 13. inſomuch that their condition is bleſſed, for they reſt from their labours, their workes follow; no loſſe of any good worke that euer they did, no condemnation to them. Rom. 8. 1. it is no other then a ſleepe 1 Theſ. 4. 14. a day of liberty, Rom. 8. 21. our returne to our home; to euerlaſting habitations, the manſions in our fathers houſe, our birth day, the funerall of our vices, the putting off our old clothes, that we might be clothed vponupon 2 Cor. 5. 3. 4. the remoouing out of a mudde houſe where we …ere but tenants at will; into the pallace of the great king, Lord of heauen and earth, there to dwell as in our inheritance for euer, the end of our race; the day of our coronation, no puniſhment now, there are three degrees of life eternall, of which death is our entrance into the ſecond, in this life in regeneration, Ioh. 17. 3. in the day of our departure, in tranſlation to Paradiſe 2 Cor. 5. 8. at the laſt day, in the redemption of our bodyes. Rom. 8. 23.
3 As for friends whoſe ſociety thou looſeſt, oppoſe thereto the meditation of that glorious place to which thou goeſt, an inheritance, incorruptible, vndefiled, that fades not, the fellowſhip of Angels, and the congregation of the firſt borne, and the ſpirits of iuſt men and women made perfect: the communion with God and with the Lord Ieſus, for while thou art preſent in the body, in the beſt condition, thou art abſent from the Lord; that Lord, whom though thou neuer ſaweſt, yet thou loueſt, and beli…uing, reioyceſt with ioy vnſpeakeable, and full of glory: How then ſhall thy ſoule burne with the flames of louelove to him, when thou ſhall ſee him? 1 Pet. 1. 8.
And when the thought of thy treaſures and pleaſures meet thee, bethinke thy ſelfe of thy calling and profeſſion to bee a Chriſtian, that is, o…e conformed to Chriſt, whoſe kingdome is n…t of this world, whoſe life was glorious in a holy contempt of the world. Say then with Paul, God forbid that I ſhould reioyce, ſaue in the Croſſe of Chriſt, whereby the world is crucified to me, and I vntounto the world, Gal. 6. 14. What comfort canſt thou hauehave, that thou art not a caſt▪ away, if thou beat not down thy body, and bring it not into ſubiection, although thou wert a Preacher of the Word, and diligent in that worke? 1 Cor. 9. 24. There are two ſorts of men, men of this world, men of God; they differ herein, the men of this world are ſuch as place their happineſſe in a belly full of this hid treaſure, and wealth and lands enough to leaue behinde them to their babes: but the other are men after Gods owne heart, carried with the ſpirit of Dauid, that in the louelove of righteouſneſſe can ſay, Deliuer mee from theſe men, for as for mee, I will behold thy face in righteouſneſſe, while I liue here, and when I awake at the reſurrection of the iuſt, I ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſſe, Pſalm. 17. 14. 15. 16.
4 Oppoſe to the thoughts of the good thou mighteſt doe, theſe ſ…uory meditations, that God hath ſet thee thy time, and he knoweth how long it is fit for thee to worke: that he can prouide men endowed with ſpirit and power to effect what good he will hauehave wrought: that thou maieſt wound thy ſoule by miſcarriage of weighty employments, as well as honour God by the well-managing of them: beware that vaine-glory, or ſome vncleane affection put not forward this deſire: and know, thy holineſſe is not hindred, but perfected by going to heauen.
5 And for thy miſ…e in thy familie▪ I beware thou be not guilty of aſcribing ought to thy prouidence, wit, poines, or hand, but to Gods bleſſing, which can by thee, and can without thee, ſuſtaine them in t…e…r neceſſitie. 2 ſee that thou reſt on the promiſes of God, and referre them to him, the faithfull Creator, 1 Pet. 4. vlt. that heauenly father, who knoweth wee hauehave neede of all theſe things of life, Mat. 6. 32. That father of the fatherleſſe, and iudge of the widdowes cauſe.
6 Oppoſe to the thoughts of the vileneſſe of thy body, the glory of the reſurrection, when this vile body of thine ſhall bee made like the glorious body of thy Sauiour, Phil. 3. 21. whom thou ſhalt be hold, not with other, but with theſe ſame eyes, though now thy reines ſhould be conſumed within thee by ſome loathſome diſeaſe. When this corruptible ſhall put on incorruption, this mortall ſhall put on immortality, this naturall be raiſed ſpirituall, this weake body, raiſed in power▪ and this body ſowne in diſhonour, raiſed in honour, 1 Cor. 15. 43. 53. Iob 19. 25. 26. 27.
And to thy lying in the graue, ſet 1 our Sauiours buriall, who hath by his owne body, laid in the graue, perfumed thine, and turned it from an hole of contempt, into a garner to reſerue the Lords pureſt graine. 2 The nature of it; what is it elſe ſaue a ſweet reſt in our bed? Eſa 57. 2. 3 The vnion and communion we hauehave with Chriſt, is moſt neare and indiſſoluble, Rom. 8. 38 He is now the God of Abraham. Our very duſt is yet in couenant with God, and not diſmembred from Chriſts body, Mat. 22. 32.
7 For paines, ag…nies, and the kinde of death, 1 Remember that all theſe were ſ…nctified to the Chriſtian in the ignomini us and paine…ull death of the Croſſe: there they all loſt their ſting and poyſon. 2 All is yours, life death, by famine, perſecution, ſword, 1 Cor. 3. 22. 3 God is your God and guide vntounto th… death, Pſal. 48. 14. 4 Take heed …hou offend not againſt the generation of Gods children: if by proſperity or aduerſity thou conclude any man; happineſſe or miſery before God. How goeth it with the vngodly? they proſper in the world, they hauehave no bands in their death, their ſtrength is firme, they are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other folke. In the meane while, what is the eſtate of a Dauid? let himſelfe te…l: All the day long hauehave I beene plagued, and chaſtened eueryevery morning, Pſal. 73. 4. 6. 14. Being then ſetled in this perſwaſion, that the Lord is thy ſhepheard, ſay, yea though I walke through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will feare no euill: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaffe, they comfort me, Pſal. 23. 1. 4.
8 For temptations, terrors, and angors: know, 1 That the Anointing abideth with vsus for euer, 1 Ioh. 2. 27. 2 Now is thy faith proued not to be temporary, if thou canſtreſt on the word of promiſe, when thou haſt no ſenſe and feeling, but of terrours, Heb. 11. 1. Iob 13. 15. 3 Thou haſt heard of the patience of Iob: Oh ſee what an end the Lord gaue to his trials: for the Lord is very pittifull, and of tender mercies, Iam. 5. 11.
9 For the vizar…, if death preſent it ſelfe as the depriuer of happineſſe, it is cleane contrary: rather is life ſo to the godly, who while hee is preſent in the body, is abſent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 8. 9. And all in life is full of vanity and vexation of ſpirit: while we liue, we are lyable to Gods corrections, to the preuailing of ſinne, to the bewitching enticements of the world, to the buffetings of Sathan.
But looke vponupon death in Chriſt, and not in Moſes, and it is comfortable, as the finall cloſe of all miſeries to ſoule and body, and as the doore and gate of all heauenly refreſhings, 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2.
Thus of the eare to bee …r…ug…t vponupon vsus, that we may …e happily: the duties follow.
2 Secondly, when theſe diſeaſes2 By the care of duties. are cured, eſtampe on thy h…are, the care of theſe duties, which will keepe thy ſoule alwaies in an holy temper.
1 Medi…ate ſeriouſly and frequently on death, that thou maieſt a…t…ine to that pitch of perfection to dye daily. This produceth ſixe rare effects, 1 The flight …f ſinne, Lam. 1. 9. 2 The contempt of the world, 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. 3 Selfe-denyall, 4 The right guidance of the preſent li…e. 5 The true moderation of preſent ioyes. 6 The right diuident dijudica…ion of a preſent and future life. This ſhou…d bee beganne in our youth, Eccleſ. 12. 1. Iob 14. 14.
2 Meditate oft…n iudgement and hell, and the glory of the heauen of the bleſſed.
3 Practiſe the three theologicall vertues, as they are called in Schooles, …aith in the premiſes, hope of good things to come, charity in making you friends of the vnrighteous Mammon.
4 HaueHave alwaies an eye to thoſe three gracious directions giuen by our Saui…ur, Luk. 12. 35 36.
1 To hauehave your loynes girt, …. corruption of nature, and inward …u…ls thence iſſuing, ſo ſtriuen againſt with ſtrength of reſolution, that they may not hang about the feet of our ſoules in running the race of godlineſſe.
2 To hauehave your lampes in your hands burning, that is, our holy profeſſion adorned with the ſhining light of good workes.
3 To watch, to prayer, to the opportunities of wel-doing, to the ſeaſons of grace, and againſt our corruptions.
5 Remember Pauls Ethickes, eueryevery day to prac…i…e them, …t. 2. 12.
To deny vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts.
To liue godly, righteouſly, ſoberly.
Practiſe them with three duties,
1 Prayer in ſpeciall for preparation for death, and deliuerance from the former diſeaſes.
2 Almeſdee…s.
3 Faſtings, as occaſions ſhall be offered.
6 Looke to the caſting vp of thine accounts, & there chiefely order thy ſelfe for theſe two things,
Forgiueneſſe of wrongs done to thee.
Satisfaction of wrongs done by thee.
When thou art in the very confines of death, death ſtanding before the doore, then ſee theſe three duties of ſpeciall moment.
1 Thy reconciliation to God: and here preſent the grounds of thy hope to thy able Paſtor, requiring his Miniſteriall ſentence, and teſtimony concerning thy eſtate in Chriſt. Know the ordinance of the keyes is of no ſmall vſe and comfort, Ioh. 20. 23.
2 The profligation of temptations, looking with a ſtedfaſt eye on the reward, through the promiſe.
3 The excitation of that Chriſtian foreign, or deſire to be diſſolued, that thou maieſt ſay with good old Iacob: Lord, I hauehave waited for thy ſaluation, Gen. 49. 18.
In the very agony of death, and depoſition or laying downe of thy body, how glorious is it?
To dye in the faith.
To excite our hope and deſire of heauen.
To commit our ſoules into the ha…ds of him that rede…med them the Lord God of truth, Pſal 31. 6. ſa…ing, Father, into thy hands I commend my ſpirit: and, Lord Ieſus receiue my ſpirit. Amen, Euen ſo be it.