The Whole Duty of Mourning and Preparing Ourselves for Death, Part 1 · Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
CHAP. II. That Death hath no respect of Persons; but we are continually dying whilst we live.
ALthough Men cannot, or are unwilling to pay those Worldly Obligations they lye under; yet they must pay this Debt to Nature; and it is a Favour afforded by Nature, that what she hath made most vexatious, she hath made Common, that the Equality of Fate might mitigate the Cruelty of it; and this Question the Psalmist asketh, What Man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?
II. Our Saviour told the Jews, their Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness, and are dead, 6 John 49. and the Apostle tells ye, Phil. 2.8. that Christ, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross. So that we see it is as natural to die, as to be conceived and born; yet it is improper for us to say Men die Naturally, for Man dies not as a Beast by an Annihilation, but by a Decree from Heaven; it is appointed for all Men once to dye, Heb. 9.27.
III. Sickness the Messenger of Death, respects not the best Complexion; the Sores of Lazarus will make as good Dust as the Paint and Washes of Jezabel: and like Jonas his Gourd, we come up in a night, and are gone in a moment; we come naked into the World, and no sooner we are born, but the Grave waits for us: but to continue in the Body is not the request of those which desire Heaven; for the Apostle he desired to be dissolved: and the Psalmist crys out▪ As the hart pants after the Water-Brooks, so longeth my Soul after thee, O God, Psal. 42.1. Death only shortens Time, not Life; and the Merit of Death is the Debt due to Sin, both impos'd on Mankind for Sin.
IV. Now, if we cast never so bright a Lustre in the World, yet alas! our brittle Bodies how quickly are they broken; Man (says Jeremiah) fades like a leaf, and sin like a wind takes him away. Let a Man live never so long, yet at last Death seizes him; but to consider aright, Death is instrumental in our Passage to Heaven, therefore how can any think their Time ill spent in preparing for that, which will compleat their Happiness.
V. There is no Circumstance of our Lives, but has been imbittered by some sad Occasion of a dying Relation or Friend: a happy Meeting often ends in some sad Misfortune, which conduces to an Eternal Parting: This King of Terrors meets us every where, … creeps in at our Windows like a Thief, and enters in at our Doors with his Grand Commission; he accepts of no Bribe, but will draw his fable Veil over all the splendour and glory of the Universe.
VI. Death hath his several Instruments to accomplish his Ends; sometimes we are taken away by Violence and secret Influence, by the Aspect of a Star, and the stink of a Mist, or by the sending out of a Cloud, and meeting of a Vapour; Accidents has happened, by the Fall of a Chariot, a sinking House, or a high mettled Horse to cast his Rider; others by the stumbling at a Stone▪ the scratch of a Nail or Fin, by a full Meal, or an empty Stomach, by watching at the Wine, and drinking of it in full Bowls and Glasses, the Healths of others, when in the mean time they destroy their own: Some by too great Study and Watching at Prayer, others is blasted by the Sun, or Planet-struck by the Moon; sometimes Death's Harbingers are Heats or Golds, watchfull Nights, or slumbring Days; by Water turn'd into Ice, or thaw'd into the Flouds of a River; sometimes by a Hair, or a Ra…sin; by violent Motion, or sitting still; by Severity, or Dissolution; by God's Mercy, or his Anger; by every thing in Providence, and every thing in Manner, Nature, and Chance.
VII. Like Worldlings, we take indefatigable Pains to heap up Necessaries for our Life, and in the greedy Negotiation we purchase Death; then we are snatched away, and leave what we have so hardly ventured for, behind us: Now all this is the Law and Constitution of Nature, it is a Punishment due to our Sins, the unalterable Event of Providence, and the Decree of Heaven: The Links and Chains which confine us to this Condition are strong as Destiny, and immutable as the Eternal Laws of the Almighty.
CHAP. III. The Certainty of Death practically considered.
O Vain and miserable World! how infallibly true is it that all must die: and yet, alas! this is not all, but many complaints remain, which does attend and perplex us: for here we begin our race in frail and contemptible Weakness, and the whole course of our lives is a hazardous progress of dangers. If we escape the mischances of silly Children; we drive on the rash adventures of Head-strong Youth. If we out live those sudden Storms and Tempests; we fall into more Malicious and Wicked Calamities: our own negligent and superfluous Cares deliberately pine and consume us, and the crosses and affairs of the World: wear and tire out our Lives.
II. If fortunately, we should by a strange and miraculous Success, o're come all these, and still bear up our healthful and prosperous Head: we are sure, at last old Age will creep and find us out; and check our Nerves by bowing our strength down to the Grave. The Grave of Silence, from whence no claim, or priviledge Exempts, nor any potent Power controuls his Command: Kings and Princes must lay down their Crowns and Scepters, and Queens must leave their Diadems and Royal apparel; the Rich must leave their Wealth behind them, and the Great ones of the World must be crumbled into Dust: the Beautifullest face must be converted into Rottenness; and the Pampoured and well fed Body must become the food of Wormes; the buisie and most activest Man must find a time to dye; though his great Affairs and full Employment, can spare none to provide for it. Even the Learned, the Eloquent, the Wise, and most Vertuous must submit to Fate; and the Heirs of Life it self be the Prisoners of Death.
III. Now, this when we see, we weep, and are afraid; since we all must drink of the same cold Cup, all Heads must descend to the same dark Grave; and none can imagin how soon they may be called. To day we are jocund in health among our Friends, and earnest about our Affairs; and to morrow Arrested by the hand of that unwelcome Serjant, Death. Frail flesh and blood, may naturally and faintly struggle for a time; but at last must yield, and be buried in the Earth from whence we were taken.
IV. At last we must take our leave of our nearest Relations, and dearest Friends; and bid for ever a long farewell to all the World; then perhaps our acquaintance may talk of us a while, sometimes as we deserve, and often as they please; perhaps, our Bodies once laid out of sight; we are no more remembred, than if we had never been born: only our good Works follow us to our Graves, and faithfully accompany us beyond our Funerals. But 'tis not for us, O Lord, to chuse our own connditions; but to manage well what thou appointest.