The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 101 – Part 102
Comforts against Death.
THe Remembrance of Death (saith the Wise man) is bitter to a man that seekethEcclus. 41. rest and comfort in his substance, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperitie in every thing. It is bitter to the Infidell, that looks for no life after this, and to them that never tasted of the Crosse, as also to them that are strong and lustie in bodie, but sweet unto the contrary, acceptable and good unto the needie, to them whose strength faileth, that is in his last age, that is full of cares, and without Hope and Patience.
The parting with the world, the pang… of death, the horrour of the grave, and consideration of Judgement maketh death to seeme formidable to many an one.
Against all these arme thy selfe with this:
1. That death freeth the Godly from the tyranme of Satan, from sin, the world, the flesh, and …ternall damnation, placing them with Christ in Heaven.Phil. 1. 2.
2. Christ by his death sanctified unto us both Death and the Grave.
3. The Consolations of Gods Spirit to the Soul, surmount the dolours of death.
4. The d…sire of the beholding of God should make us willing to lay down our lives, and with Paul to de…re to be dissolved.Phil. 1. 1 Corinth. 2 Cor. 5.
5. In stead of earthly bodies we shall be clothed with unspeakable glorie, and have an habitation not made with hands, but eternall in the Heavens.
6. The sting of death, namel, sinne is then fully taken away so that it can no more hurt us.
7. That neither death, or any thing else, is able to separate the Godly from Christ in whom they are elected.Rom. 8.
8. We should not so much think of the feare of death, as to take an exact account of our life, for that that man ca…not die ill, who hath lived well; but seldome dieth well, that li…eth evill.
Then live well, and dye never: Dye well, and live ever.
9. Remember them that have been before thee, and that shall come after thee, that this is the judgement of the Lord over all flesh to taste of death.Ecclus. 41. 3.
After which
Bona opera sequuntur bonos to crowne them.
Mala opera persequuntur malos to torment them.
The dreadfull death of the wicked.
Fearful was the end of
Abimelech, who was sl…in by a woman with a piece of a milstone.Iudg. 9. 54. 2 Sam. 13. 2 Sam. 18. 2 Sā. 17. Mat. 27 1 King. 22. 2 King. 19. 2 Chron. 20. 1 King. 20. 2 King. 19. Iosh. 7. 2 Ki. 8.
Ammon, whose heart being merry with wine was suddenly slain.
Absalom, who was hanged by the haire in the boughes of a tree.
Ahithophel and Iudas, who hanged themselves despairingly.
Ahab, who was slain by an Arrow shot at him.
Ashur, who was slain in his idoll-temple by his own children.
The Ammonites, Moabites, and Mount Seir: who slew one the other.
The Aramites, on whom a wall falling twenty seven thousand died together.
The Assyrians, of whom an Angel slew one hundred fourscore thousa….
Achan stoned, and of Benhadad, who was by Hazael choaked.
Fearfull was the end of
Ananias and Saphira, who were stricken by God suddenly dead.Act. 5. Dan. 5. 2 Ki. 1. Gen. 19. Dan. 6. 1 Sam. 2…. Luk. 16. 1 Sam. 17. Esth. 7. Act. 12. 2 King. 9. Gen. 4. Numb. 16. Numb. 14. 2 King. 2. Dan. 3. Lev. 10. Nū. 16. Gen. 7. 1 Sam. 5. Exod. 14. 2 King. 7. Luk. 1… 1 Sā 31. Iudg. 4. Mat…. 27. 1 King. 16.
Belshazzar, who saw a hand-writing, and was slain by the Caldean.
Two Captains, and of Sodome, who were burnt with fire from Heaven.
Daniels Accusers, who were cast into the Lions den with wife and children.
Doeg, who s…w eightie five persons that wore the linnen Ephod.
Dives, who was no sooner dead, but was in hell tormented.
Goliah, who in his blasphemie was slain by David suddenly.
Haman, who was hanged on the Gallowes made for Mordeca….
Herod, who was by an Angel smitten, and by wormes eaten.
Iezebel, who was trampled to death with horses, and with dogs eaten.
Kain, who died despairing of the Lords merciemercy.
Korah, who was swallowed up into the earth with all his comp…nie.
The murmurers amongst the Israelites that died in their murmuring,
The mocking children, who were by the two she Beares slain.
The men burnt in the flame that bound the three Children.
Nadab, Abihu, and many other, who were with fire consumed.
The old world, especially of such as of their sinnes had not repented.
The Philistines, whom the Lord before the Israelites slew, and scattered.
Pharaoh, and all his armie that in the red sea perished.
The Prince of Samaria, being trod to death for his unbeleeving.
The Rich man, who in the midst of his …ase had his soul taken from him.
Saul, who slew himself, and Sisera, who was by Iael slain.
One Thiefe of the two crucified, that died of Christ reviling.
Zimri, who burnt himselfe voluntarily, after his conspiring.
Murthercis, Idolaters, and other sinners, that died not repenting.
Transgressours shall be destroyed together, and the end of the wicked is such asPsal. 37. 18. Iob 18. 17. Prov. 11. 22. Phil. 3. 19. & 3. 13. that they shall be rooted out at the last, and the remembrance of them shall perish from the earth, and they that come after them shall be astonied at their day: to whom it shall come as they have done, their end being damnation.
The pretious death of the Godly.
Pretious was the End of
Abel, who being slain, was the first Martyr in Heav….Gē. 4. & 25. 8. Num. 20. Iob. 14. 2. 2 Sam. 12. Exod. 1. 16. Mat. 2. 2 King. 2. 2 Ki. 2. Gen. 5. 2 King. 13. Gen. 25. 5. Chap. 27. Gen. 50. Iob 42. Mark 6. Luke 16. Deut. 34. Gen 9. … King. …1. 2 Tim. 4. 2 Sam. 7. 14. Act. 7. Luk. 23. I…. 25. …. 2 Sam. 11. 2 Chron. …4. Rom. 4. 25. Heb. …. 15. Col. 1. 20. Ps…l. 116. 15. Psal. 7…. 14. Eccl. 7. 1. Rev. 14. 13.
Abraham and Aaron, who lived a godly life, and died ol… men.
The Apostles, for whom Mansion-places were prepared in Heaven.
The childe begotten in adulterie, as it appeares by Davids saying.
The Children that were by King Pharaoh and Herod slain.
David, who having reigned fortie yeares, died in the Lord.
Elijah and Henoch, who were taken up into Heaven by God.
Elisha, Ieremiah, and other Prophets, that now reigne with God.
Isaac, who was counted only blessed of all Abrahams childr…n.
Iacob, who had from Esau his elder brother his fathers blessing.
Ioseph, who saw his childrens children to the fourth generation.
Iob, whose latter dayes were double blessed by the Lord.
Iohn Baptist, who was for reproving King Herod beheaded.
Lazar…, who is now in Father Abrahams bosome seated.
Moses, who dying in the land of Moab, was by God buried.
Noab, who lived nine hundred and fiftie yeares ere he died.
Naboth, who was unjustly stoned to death for his vineyard.
Paul, who had a Crown of glorie laid up for him.
Salomon, in that God promised never to take his merciemercy from him.
Steven, who being stoned, saw Christ his Saviour in Heaven.
One Thiefe, whom Christ promised should be with him in Heaven.
Ʋriah the Prophet, and the Hittite, who without cause suffered.
Zecha…iah, who for doing that which God commanded was stoned.
Christ,
For all those that by a lively Faith lay hold on him.
Who died for our sinnes, and rose for our justification.
Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.
Bet…er to the Godly is the day of death, then the day of birth:
Blessed are they that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labour.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinckling of an eye, for the trump shall blow, and the dead shall be raised, and shall beare the voice of the Son of God, and they shall live, and be saved▪ But as there is great difference1 Cor. 15. 5. 52. Iob. 5. …5. betwixt the death of the godly and of the wicked, so shall there be in their Resurrection in three respects, to wit, in their Cause, Manner, and End of rising.
In their Causes, the wicked riseth by Gods citation, the Godly by Christs union.Dan. 12. 2, 3. 2 Cor. 5. 10.
In their Manner, the wicked riseth with sorrow, the Godly with joy.
In their End, the wicked riseth unto shame, the Godly unto glorie.
Reade 1Thes. 4. 16, 17. Revel. 20. 6. Isai. 57. 1, ….
The Resurrection of the Godly and ungodly.
ANd as the difference is great between their Resurrection, so shall it be in the places appointed for their habitation: for that the wicked sh…ll then heare that dolefull sentence pronounced by Christ, saying, Ite maledicti, Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devill and his angels, there shall be for ever their abiding: Whereas the Godly shall heare that comfortable sentence of Christ pronounced, saying, Venite Benedicti, Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning: there shall be their abode world without ending: Which sentence of joy that we may all heare, and place of Blisse enjoy, the Lord for his merciemercy grant, and that for his Sonne Christ Jesus h…s sake, to both whom with the holy Ghost our Comforter three persons and one God be ascribed and given all …aud, praise, honour, glorie and dominion from this time forth and for evermore, Amen.
FINIS.