The Whole Duty of Mourning and Preparing Ourselves for Death, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Several Notions of Death; what it is, its Author, Name, and Nature.
FIrst, If we would know what Death is, the Philosopher tells you, To die, is to be no more Vnhappy: and if we consider Death according to the right Notion, it is but a departed Breath from dead Clay, enlivened at first by Breath cast upon it: Now Job tells you, Death is a Moth, and as the Moth breeds out of the Garment, so Death do's out of the Body. The Heathens were of Opinion, that Death was an Eternal Sleep, the Fear of the Rich, and the Desire of the Poor: but Pious St. Augustine often breathed forth this heavenly Wish, saying, O that I could see Death, not as it was, but as thou, O Lord, hast now made it. Death is the supremest Monarch in the World, as he hath the Dominion over Sin; and he is the antientest King, whose Reign began from Adam; yet St. Paul tells ye, 1 Cor. 15.26. at last this King shall be vanquished; the last Enemy that shall be destroyed, is Death; and Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life, pronounces this Sentence, O Death, I will be thy Death.
II. Whoever was the Author and Father of Death, Sin was the Mother; for the Apostle tells ye, 1 James 15. that Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death; and Eve the Mother of all Living, was delivered in Child-bed of Death. Now Adam falling, Sin follows him, and Man being tempted, Death assaults him; and by Sin Death enters: Every Parent is an Adam to his Child, infusing Corruption in his Generation. Since then Death by Sin crept in at the Window, or rather at the Ear, which is prone to listen to Evil Counsel, let us cast it out by the Sense of Faith, in hearkning to God's Word, which will make us wise unto Salvation.
III. As for the Name of Death, it is called a Sleep, so St. John terms it, Chap. 11.11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth: and of St. Stephen it is recorded in Holy Writ, after he had done praying for his Persecutors, When he had said this, he fell asleep. 7. Acts 60. it is likewise said of the Patriarchs and Kings of Judah, that they slept with their Fathers, and Job expresseth, That man lieth down, and riseth not, he shall not be awaked out of sleep, till the heavens shall be no more. Likewise Saint Paul mentions in his Mystery, We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 1 Cor. 15.51.
The Night is the Emblem of Sleep and Mortality: Now Sleep is but the Shadow of Death, and where the Shadow is, the Substance cannot be far off: Lastly, the Grave it self is but a withdrawing Room to retire in for a time; it is going to Bed to take rest, which is sweeter than Sleep, and when it is time to awake and rise, we shall, as the Royal Psalmist says, be satisfied.
IV. Next, as to the Nature of Death, few, or none know it, though all must sensibly feel it: there is nothing after Death, and therefore Death is nothing; it is without Essence, or Substance, but a privation which kills he Creature; therefore curiously to …quest the Efficiency of it, were but to employ the Eye to behold Darkness: Salomon in his Book of Wisdom, Chap. 1.13. mentions that God made not Death; but created all things that were good: this caused good St. Augustine to breathe forth this Supplication, Lord, thou hast not made Death; wherefore I beseech thee, suffer not that which thou hast not made to reign over that which thou hast made. Now Death came into the World, by Man only; whose Soul was affected to know that which God never made, which was the Evil of Death, thinking it had been very good, by desiring to know the worst of Evils: But so Divine a thing is Knowledge, that we see Innocency it self was ambitious of it: from whence that Proverb is derived, That Evil is not known, but by good.
V. Pet no Learned Man knows so much, but Ignorance may suffer him to commit Evil: for none of a sound Judgment and right understanding can be guilty of Wickedness: and there is no fear of knowing too much Good; but there is much Fear of practising too little: But since the Almighty has revealed in his word, more than we can comprehend, and enough to work out our Salvation, let us attain to sober Knowledge, and not repine, but be content with our Ignorance. Indeed Knowledge and Power are the Worldling's Idol; but let every Man endeavour fully to know himself, and then Pride and Ambition will soon vanish.