The Whole Duty of Mourning and Preparing Ourselves for Death, Part 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. That there is nothing in this World, worthy of taking off our Affections from Heavenly Things; Practically considered.
THere is a Place, where the Woman is cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon under her Feet, Rev. 12. where the Church, and every Member of it, is robed with Glory, and far above the reach of any Mutability: But as St. Bernard says, this is in the City that's above, it is not here: this Place is the Moon's chief Region, her very Exchange as it were, to vent all her Varieties, and nothing, save alteration, continues here: Earth you see is the least of Elements, and to the Heavens, no more than is a single Atome to the Sun; an infinite substance then, such as the Soul is, must needs be straightned here: this little Circle can never fill the Hearts vast Triangle; no, nothing but the Trinity. Vain it is therefore to think of placing our Affections here.
II. This again is the lowest and most dreggish Element, the Sink of all, and so the Shop of Dangers and Diseases, and they both so destructive, that they obstruct our abiding here: 'Tis the Valley of the World, Earth, the Valley of Tears, Tears indeed, where we enter Life with Cries, continuing with Sighs, and going out with Groans. This is our Musick here! here, where Mirth is but apparant, Grief is real: where we eat the Bread of carefulness, and mingle our Drink with weeping, and all our Actions with sinning, this is our Diet here! here we only tast of Joy, but glut in Sorrow; we walk in Happiness, but journey in Calamity, this is our Travel here! here where Riches are but Thorns, Honours but Pinnacles and Pleasures, Bees that leave more Sting than Honey: these are our Treasures here! So that the World you see, with all its Pomp, makes but up a Nebuchadnezzar's Image, Dan. 2. though the Head be Gold, the Breast of Silver, Belly Brass, and Legs of Iron, yet are the Feet of Clay: let one be honourable, another rich, a third beautiful, and a fourth never so vigorous, yet are the Foundations of them all but Clay, and a small Stone from out the Sling of Death, does break and liken them to Dust: and this is the End of all Things.
III. Now, methinks, by this time, we should be all of Holy Monica's Mind, St. Augustine's Pious Mother, who, as he tells us, having thus discours'd over the Frailty of the World together, melted into this Expression; For my own part, says she, I am now delighted with nothing in this World, and what do I longer here, but practise Jobs attendance? So after all this Colloquy of ours, anatomizing the vain World, what can we find here worthy our Affections? and not worthy our Disdain? Then what do we here, here in our unsatisfied Desires? our eager Prosecutions? treasuring for the Moth, and Thief, like Spiders, spending our Bowels to catch Flies, and as Menot says of sharp Hunters, who lose a Horse of a Price, in pursuit of an Hare worth nothing; here being neither a City of Strength, Unity, Rest, nor Safety: What do we then here, but Ixion-like, grasping of a Cloud for Juno.
IV. It was a Question once debated in the Court of Alexander, What was the Greatest Thing in the World? and having many about him of all Sciences, a Geographer answers him, the Mount Olympus, that Hill indeed being so vast and high, as frequently is took for Heaven it self: An Astronomer, he answer'd 'twas the Sun, that World of Light so many times bigger than the Earth; a Parasite tells him his own Victory; but an honest Moralist standing by, affirmed the greatest thing in the World was, to be an Heart that could Contemn the greatest: this Philosopher answered as though he had heard Christ himself Preach on that 14. of Luke. 33. Whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all he hath, cannot be my Disciple: a pair of imitable Examples, and one of them a Heathen, and shall Christians come behind such, in Contemning of the World, and the greatest things in it, then, let us even change Names with them, but let our Souls aspire with Monica's, that Glory of one Sex and Copy of the other, what do we here? like David; thirst for better Waters, Psal. 42. and yet as 'twas with Monica, one thing Necessary: one thing there was, which made that Female Saint desire a little longer Continuance here; which was her Sons Conversion, and to see him Baptiz'd a Christian.
V. So one thing must our Soul desire of God, that we may live to see that Christened, Baptized in the Tears of Penitence; and then away to our continuing City; what do such Eagles here, when as their Carcass is in Heaven? indeed what do we so long, looking on this Terrene Globe, whose Zones are all Intemperate, (Freezing Charity, or Scorching Envy, Avaritious Drought, or Riotous Profuseness,) whose Paralells are Equal Cares and Fears: whose Circumference is Vanity, and Centre is Corruption: hark how the Philosopher calls us off, Behold now the Beauteous Frame of Heaven, and desist at length to Admire base Earthly things, let the Bodies Figure be the Soul's Tutour, and an Elevated Eye, Teach an Vpright Heart: the Heart to seek that Contiuing City, the Eye to look for one to come.
VI. And here the Christian, and the Heathen part, who have all this while gone along together in the we have no continuing City; they likewise undauntedly apprehending their Mortality, and such as dare to hasten it: Desperate Unthrifts of their Blood: only to period their Miseries; yet some of them in general Notions Dreamt of the Souls Immortality: thus far shined the dimm Light of Nature, here were their Herculean Pillars; but without any endeavour of good Works tô seek, or with the Eye of Faith to look for one to come; this is a regenerate Man and a Christians Hope, the Child of Propagative Faith.
VII. That was a strange close of dying Adrian, Thou little wandring, merry Spirit, who wert wont to cheer the Body, what place shalt thou now Inherit! &c. Alas! Heathens find but diminutive Comfort at their Death, treading those unknown Paths with unprepared Feet, going from one Darkness to another; oh! how may we ever Bless God, for our Vocation, our double Light of Grace and Knowledge, when the most Learned of 'em go hence, with I know not whither I go: whereas the meanest Christian with a Job's Faith Exulteth, I know that my Redeemer Liveth; and therefore go forth my Cheerful Soul, and fear not now to go to Christ, whom thou so long hast Serv'd: yet it is not my Task here rigorously to determine all those Lost, whose exact Virtues, so out Moral'd Christians.
VIII. We cannot limit Mercy, God loves it above Sacrifice: Mat. 9. and our Just Lord requires but according unto what he gives: Luke. 12.48. though indeed the Heathen People that know not God, in respect at least of outward Calling are not within the pale of the Messias Dear; and the Law so Written in their Hearts; I fear that Suppressing those inherent Evidences of Nature (which St. Paul calls with-holding of the truth in unrighteousness, Rom. 1.18.) does render them inexcusable, as the Apostle St. Paul argues strongly in that forecited Chapter: Acts 4.12. for there is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby they may be saved; but not to make our selves inexcusable by Judging another, this we leave to the Great Judge of all, Revealed things to us; albeit we say not what becomes of them, yet to our grateful Comfort we know, saith he, that when this earthly tabernacle of ours shall be dissolv'd, we have a building not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens: 2 Cor. 5.1. and yet our Confidence is to Weak to go alone, it must be accompanied with Diligence, we must not think to enjoy Heaven, with only looking for it: they would not then be so few that are chosen: Math. 20.16.
IX. All are Baalamites, and desire to dye the Death of the Righteous, but Vainly, unless they live the Life of them; 'tis Foolish to expect an end, without the means: to look for this Heavenly City, and not seek it: or that any Lazie Confidence should think to gain it, as God knows that's all the evidence many have to shew for it, I hope for it; but for all this Hope, if no Endeavour be used, the Heart may break: no, nor is it Faith can look for't unless Operative, for our Faith cries out like Rachel, give me Children or I die: James. 2.20. but such a Faith as Works by Love, maketh our Hope infallible, of finding what we seek, we seek one to come.
X. Seek, then, is a Word of Labour: bidding us with the Apostle, Work out our own Salvation: Phil. 2.12. Work, 'tis not a Feast or a Feather-Bed, will bring a Man to Heaven, our Jehovah will not as the Poet Jove did in Diana's Lap, Rain down this Golden Purchase into our Bosomes: no, no Drones shall ever tast the Hony of that Hive, but those industrious Bees alone that seek it; a sharp Reproof for Idleness, that Gate of all Impieties, is a Whip of Scorpions for the Sluggards Back: Prov. 6.10. some like the Spouse, seeks no farther then the Pillow; but she found not her Beloved there; Cant. 3.1. and as little do they who stretching on their Beds of Ivory, e'er find his Benefits, whose Bed was but a Manger; but Ruin suddenly, for their not seeking finds out them: Prov. 6.1. Idleness we know, it was denominated those Virgins Foolish, and Excluded them both the Chamber, and the Knowledge of the Bridegroom, Matth. 25.10. thus Slothful Persons, like Arrows from a feeble Bow, fall short of what they Aim at, and with Esau come too late to gain the Blessing: Gen. 27.30.
XI. Dilligence invites a Blessing; you see, Moses keeping watch over his Flock by Night, is grac'd with Visions; Exod. 3.4. a sight of him whose Vision is Beatifical, and Saul seeking his Fathers Asses, finds a Kingdom: 1 Sam. 9.20. and David is taken from following the Ewes great with Young, and made the great Shepherd of Israel, Psal. 78.71. Diligence invites a Blessing, whereas on the Contrary, Idleness allures Temptation, and Tempts the Tempter; while David exercised himself in God's Law Day and Night, all went well with him, he fear'd not what either Man or Satan could do to him; but when once he ascends his Wanton Prospect, and loosens the Reins unto his Idler Senses; the Devil soon changes his Title, and makes him a Man after his own heart, Wraps him in a double Snare of Murder and Adultery; and after these, how Justly he Complains, mine Eyes are Dimm, Psal. 6.7. when there's such a Pearl in one, and the other Blood-shod!
XII. Indeed, it is the sitting Bird that is the Fowler's Aim, the Envious Man Sowes his Tares while the Husbandman Sleeps; and Hell it self is beholding to Idleness, not only for Company, but for a description; being called a Lake of standing Water: Rev. 21.8. there's an old Fable, how once the Elements Contended for Priority; the Fire most active got Supremacy, the Agil-Air Wonn the next Regions, the Ambitious Waters Flow to overtake 'em, while Drowsie Earth sat still the while, and therefore is ever since Disgrac'd with the lowest Room; No Sin so unnatural, as Idleness: in a Word, the Idle Man's the Devil's Cushion, whereon he sits and takes his Ease, while the well-busied Heart, is in the Shop, or Work-house of the Almighty: then let ever some good Act or other, be as an Anchor to the Floating Mind; Sedulity becometh even our Civil Callings, but for Spiritual, saith the Apostle: 2 Pet. 1.10. Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure.