Death Improved and Immoderate Sorrow Reproved, Letter (5 of 5)

Death Improved and Immoderate Sorrow Reproved · Letter (5 of 5)

p. 221Leſſon 6. The Sixth Leſſon that this Providence teacheth us, is this, That ſeeing this our Friend is taken away in the midſt of her days, in her full ſtrength, while her breaſts were full of milk, and her bones moiſtened with marrow, Job 21.24. This teacheth all, but eſpecially us that are of greater Age, that ſurvive her, how neceſſary 'tis for us to make Preparation for our own Death; for if God deal thus with the green Tree, what ſhall be done to the dry? Young Men may dye, Old Men muſt dye; for we know neither the day, p. 222nor the hour wherein our Lord and Maſter will come, 'Tis good therefore to watch every day, and every hour; we know not when he will ſend his Meſſenger to us to Command us to give an account of our Steward-ſhip, for we ſhall be no longer Stewards. We uſually ſay, That ſhould be well done, that can be but once done; but we can dye but once, 'tis appointed unto all men once to dye, and after death the Judgment, Heb. 9.27. Here is no room for a ſecond Error, as we ſay in War. As the Tree falls, ſo it lyes, whether to the North, or to the South; ſo, as Death leaves us, ſo Judgment ſhall find us. Now, Death is no Fear-babe, tis the King of Terrors, and a Terror to Kings. Hell is no Scare-crow, neither Eternity a Jeſting matter, the Soul that is in danger, is no Trifle, but our chiefeſt Jewel, and Salvation and Damnation are matters of Moment, things of great Concern. Now, a Man would think that in Matters of ſuch Concern it were not needful to uſe many words to make us mind it, when we are earneſt enough in leſſer matters, but 'tis evident we are all faulty in ſome degree or other, and the moſt altogether negligent. Were but our Houſes on fire over our heads, we need not many Arguments to ſeek to ſave our ſelves, and to quench the Fire. Were we in danger of Drowning, we need not many Arguments to perſwade us to lay hold upon ſomething or other to help us out. Were we purſued with an implacable Enemy that ſought our Lives, or with a roaring Lion, or ranging Bear, we ſhould double our Diligence, and amend our Pace, and uſe all means to eſcape the Danger. And is the Soul ſo contemptible a thing, that we matter it ſo little? It is (without our p. 223Diligence prevent it) in danger to be drown'd in the Lake of Perdition, and to be burnt in the Fire that never goes out, and is purſued with thoſe Infernal Furies, that ſeek to devour her; and yet we make but a little haſt to reſcue her: But are our Houſes, our Eſtates, our Bodies, or our Lives to be preferred before the Immortal Soul, the beſt part of Man? And is a Moment of Time more to us than Eternity? Do we take ſo much care what to eat, and what to drink, and wherewith to be cloathed, and ſo little how the Soul is fed or cloathed, decked or adorned? This doubtleſly would beſpeak our Folly. Whatever the World dream or ſay to the contrary, Heaven will be found to the Poſſeſſors of it a real Happineſs; and whatever Coſt or Charge, Pains or Labour we beſtow, a good Peny-worth; and Hell will be found a real Miſery, and whatever we have into the Bargain, we ſhall be loſers; the Rich Glutton found it ſo, and many more; here the worm dyes not, and the fire never goes out. One day in Heaven will make us forget all our Miſeries on Earth; and one day in Hell will make us forget all our fore-paſt Pleaſures. Now, while we are unprepared for Death, there is but the thread of our Lives between us and endleſs, eaſeleſs, and remedileſs Torments; and this muſt needs be an uneaſie condition to a conſiderate Man. And which makes it the worſe, Death is always gnawing at this thread, which if once broken, all the World cannot piece it, or yield us any relief. Now, in ſerious matters wiſe men ſhould be ſerious; Beggars, when their wants are ſerious, they will leave their Canting, and beg in earneſt, as alſo a Priſoner that begs for p. 224his Life, and is not the life of the Soul of greater value? 'Tis the Immortal Soul that lyes at the ſtake, while we are playing a Game at Folly. God is in earneſt, his Meſſengers are in earneſt, and ſhall we, who are moſt concerned, and who are like to be the greateſt loſers, be in jeſt? Were it our Riches, Honours, Pleaſures, or ſuch like, that were in danger, the matter were not much, but 'tis the Soul, and need not we be in earneſt? But ſeeing 'tis for Souls, I ſhall back this Exhortation with theſe following Conſiderations.

1. Conſider ſeriouſly that we muſt dye, but when we know not; 'tis our Wiſdom to have Death always in our Eye, and with the Apoſtle, to dye daily, 1 Cor. 15.31. Death comes never the ſooner for our Preparation for it, neither ſtays the longer if we expect it not; the frequent thoughts of it will put us on to our Duty, when the putting far from us the evil day, Amos 6.3. will make us neglect it. This curſed Security and hope of Impunity is the ſource of all the Wickedneſs in the World, Becauſe Sentence againſt an evil work is not executed ſpeedily, therefore the heart of the ſons of men is wholly ſet in them to do wickedly, Eccleſ. 8.11. But this is not preſervation, but a reſervation to a greater Evil; this Forbearance is no Acquittance, whatever we think of it, Death is ſtealing upon us tacito pede with a ſilent foot, and how ſoon he will enter our Lodgings we know not, and then the Play is ended, and we muſt march off the Stage. This Motive haply may ſeem needleſs, to mind Men of what they all know already, but I think 'tis not uſeleſs; for though all Men will eaſily p. 225confeſs they muſt dye, yet 'tis not eaſie to make them conſider of it, or believe their Death is near; nay, if we look upon moſt mens Actions, and manner of Living, 'tis eaſie to conclude, that neither God nor Death are in their thoughts. Were we but ſure that Chriſt would come to Judgment within a Month, wh…t a Reformation ſhould we ſee in the World? Our Time-waſting Gallants would not then ſpend ſo much time in Hawking, Hunting, Drinking, Whoring, as now they do; Holineſs would not then be their ſcorn, nor Religion their reproach, and yet who knows whether it may not be within a Week? Or could we be aſſured that Death would then Summon us to render an account of our Steward-ſhip in ſo ſhort a time, it would make the proudeſt of us to vail our Peacocks Plumes, and entertain other thoughts of Death and Judgment, and of Eternity, than at preſent we have; and we ſhould not be ſo prodigal of our time, as now we are; but ſpend more of our time in hearing, reading, meditating, and other Religious Exerciſes, than now we do. So that 'tis the vain hopes of long Life, which God never promiſed to any, that encourages many in their wickedneſs, and makes the Godly themſelves the more ſecure; 'tis good therefore to view our Charter, and ſee what time is granted us, and not like the unfaithful Servant, ſay, My Lord deferreth his coming, &c. leſt he come unawares, and give us a Reward of our Folly; the Poet ſhews theſe mens Folly, that future their Repentance upon hopes of long life.

Fleres ſi ſcires unum tua tempora menſem,

Rides cum non ſit forſitan una dies.

p. 226Many would weep and lament did they know they had but a Month to live, that now laugh and rejoyce, not having a day to live; of this ſort was the Rich Man, mentioned Luke 12.16, &c. O vain World! how doſt thou cheat us? O cunning Devil! how doſt thou delude us, and hide from our Eyes our latter end? How dare any Poor Man, that hath not made his Peace with his God, neither hath any aſſurance of his Love, ſpend an hour in an Ale-houſe, or a day in Vanity, and not know but it is his laſt? We have many Spectacles of Mortality daily before us, younger and ſtronger than we go to the Grave before us, and many Monitors of Mortality within us, Pains and Aches, Griefs and Troubles, even gray Hairs, to mind us of our Winding-ſheets. The Lord grant we may know the voice of the rod, and of him that ſends it. The Rich Man, Luke 12.16. promiſes himſelf a laſting Happineſs in the World, when he had not a day to live; and no doubt we have many ſuch in our Times: But alas, one Month, or one Year, for ought we know may make a great and conſiderable alteration in our Families, and haply thoſe may be taken away that thought they had many a fair Year to live, and much Worldly Happineſs to enjoy. Sometimes Death ſtrikes the Child in the Womb, when he ſpares them that ſtoop for Age; there is no Degree, Age, or Sex, that is ſecure; neither Rich nor Poor, Noble nor Baſe, Young nor Old, Fair nor Foul, Religious nor Profane, can plead an Exemption from the Arreſt of Death, for all of us are duſt, and unto duſt we muſt return, Gen. 3.19. Eccleſ. 12.7. Thoſe Houſes of Clay wherein we live will ere p. 227long moulder into duſt about our Ears, 2 Cor. 5.1. 'Tis our Wiſdom therefore to look out for another Habitation, a building, an houſe not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens, whoſe foundation and builder is God. This Life of ours, for the ſhortneſs and uncertainty of it, is compared unto the moſt fleeting, fading, periſhing things we can name; as to Graſs, to the Flower of the Field, a Bubble, a Poſt, a Weaver's Shuttle, a Thought, a Shadow, the dream of a Shadow, or if any thing be more vain, and what manner of men then ought we to be? 1 Pet. 3.11. The dimneſs of our Eyes, the deafneſs of our Ears, the rottenneſs of our Teeth, the wrinkles in our Cheeks, the feebleneſs of our Limbs, and every decay in Nature, warns us of our approaching ends; Death ſhoots many Darts at us, and at length will hit us to the heart. It was Jeruſalem's fault and folly, and I wiſh it be not ours, to forget our latter end, Lam. 1.9.

2. Conſid. Let us further conſider that we have a great deal of Work to do before we can be fit to dye, and but a little, ſhort, uncertain time to do it in, and therefore more Diligence is required, and 'tis work of the greateſt Concernment; if our time were in our own power, and at our own diſpoſe, ſure and certain; or were our Work but a little, or of little concern whether it were or no, it might be ſome excuſe to us for our Idleneſs, and Time-waſting; but this is not our caſe. Were Pleaſures the end why we were ſent into the World, as many of our Gallants of both Sexes ſeem to ſuppoſe, then many in our times take an effectual courſe, but endleſs Pleaſures they mind not, the way to Heaven will p. 228prove a little rougher. God ſent us into the World upon an higher Errand; our lives, and the life of our Souls, yea, our Eternal weal or woe depends upon the well or ill ſpending of this little Inch of Time: And are not thoſe mad, or worſe, that conſume it in Folly and Vanity? Moſt Men live as if they had no concerns of another World to mind, as if their Work were done, and nothing remained but to receive their Wages, but I fear this is few mens caſe. Had we a blood-thirſty Enemy to encounter, that nothing but our Blood would ſatisfie, we ſhould be more concerned to keep us out of his hands; but the Devil is ſuch a one, that walks about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour. Were we in a Journey for our Lives, or in a Race, that if we won not, we muſt dye, how diligently ſhould we run, and take all advantages, and caſt our ground? This is our caſe, we were ſent to run a Race, Heaven is the Prize we run for, our Souls lye at the ſtake, if we run not ſo as to obtain, they will be loſt, and lodge in the Infernal Pit for ever; and ſhall we leave our way, and hunt after Butter-flies, eſpecially ſetting out ſo late? And our day is almoſt ſpent, and the ſhadows of the evening are ſtretched out. There is much out of order in the Soul, which muſt of neceſſity be rectified; our ſtony Hearts muſt be changed for Hearts of fleſh, and this is no eaſie work; the Soul muſt be regenerated and born again, or we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Corruptions muſt be mortified, and the power of Sin abated, and the Soul ſanctified, or no coming to Heaven; for no unclean thing ſhall ever enter there. There muſt be Oyl in the Veſſel, Grace p. 229in the Heart, as well as the Lamps of Profeſſion in the Hand, or the Door will be ſhut againſt us, as it was againſt the fooliſh Virgins, Mat. 25.10, &c. It will be in vain for us to thruſt into the Bride-Chamber if we have not on a Wedding-garment, for we ſhall he diſcovered, Mat. 22.12. The Graces of God's Spirit muſt be had, for theſe are the Gems and Jewels that adorn the Soul, and make it comely in the Eyes of God; for no unrighteous man ſhall ever enter Heaven. Holineſs is Chriſt's Sheep-mark, and whoſoever wants it ſhall ſtand at Chriſt's left hand: The Old Man muſt be crucified with his deeds, and the New Man put on, and the body of Sin muſt be deſtroyed. Faith, Hope, and Charity muſt not be wanting, neither Repentance, new Obedience, Self-denyal, Humility, and other Soul-adorning Graces, which God hath made neceſſary to Salvation. The Combat of the Spirit againſt the Fleſh muſt be maintained, and no Peace or Truce had with the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil; for when we make Peace with thoſe, we break our Peace with God, we cannot ſerve two ſuch Maſters. We muſt be crucified to the world, and the world to us. Religion muſt be practiſed as well as profeſs'd, or our Profeſſion will do us little good; the moſt gainful, pleaſureful, and beſt beloved ſins, though as dear as a right Hand, or right Eye, muſt not only be left, but hated, though Cuſtom, Education, or Carnal Intereſt hath endeared them to us; and the moſt painful, difficult, dangerous, coſtly Duties muſt be done when God requires them, and that in a Spiritual manner. All God's Commands muſt be obeyed, how croſs ſoever they are to p. 230Fleſh and Blood. A conſtant Watch muſt be kept over the Heart, to keep the Thoughts in ſubjection, and the Affections in order, as alſo over our Lips, that we offend not with our tongues. We muſt live ſo uprightly to Men, and ſo holily to God, that our Enemies may have nothing to object againſt us, but concerning the Law of our God. Our Thoughts, Words, and Actions muſt be regulated by the Word of God. Chriſt muſt be loved with a prevailing degree of Love, yea, above either Mother, Wife, and Children, and our own Lives. Our Wills muſt be made conformable to the Will of God, and we muſt deny our ſelves for his ſake, and forſake all if he requires it. Our greateſt Enemies we muſt love, forgive, and pray for; and nothing muſt poſſeſs the beſt Room in our Hearts but Chriſt. Our Evidences for Heaven muſt b… cleared up, or we cannot dye chearfully. Now, this is ſome of the Work we have to do; in a word, conſtant Communion with Chriſt in the ſeveral Duties he Commands in publick, private, and in ſecret, muſt be maintained, if we would be fit to dye; and can we think then we have any time to ſpare to throw away upon needleſs Recreations? A bare Profeſſion of Religion will not ſerve turn for Salvation, Mat. 25.10. & 7.22.

3. Confid. Let us further Conſider, That many have, do, and will miſcarry, for want of Preparation; yea, the greateſt part of Mankind, for there is but a few that ſhall be ſaved; yea, many profeſſed Chriſtians future their Repentance, and ſend it before Ten or Twenty Years, and never over-take it, till it be too late. That ſervant that ſaid in his heart, my Lord deſerieth his coming, and p. 231began to beat his fellow ſervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the Lord of that ſervant ſhall come in a day he looks not for him, and in an hour he is not aware of, and ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with hypocrites, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, Mat. 24.48, &c. And of ſuch Duſt heaps we may find in every corner. 'Tis the Devil's Language to perſwade Men they have yet long to live, many fair Summers to ſee, and that there is time enough yet, and if the worſt come to the worſt, a few good words at laſt will waft them over ſafe to Heaven; but theſe, e're long, will hear the Doom of the fooliſh Rich man, Thou fool, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required of thee, and then whoſe are theſe? Luk. 12.19, 20. He was ſhot with the Bolt while he gazed at the Bow.

'Tis the Devil's Policy to perſwade us we have ſome time yet to ſpend in his Service, and enough for God beſide; but let us beware of ſuch Concluſions, till we have better aſſurance than the Devil can give us. Many that have done more for Heaven, and can ſay more for it than moſt of us, have had Heaven Gates barr'd againſt them. Mat. 7.22. & 25.12, &c. Many will ſay in that day, Have we not propheſied in thy name, and in thy name caſt out Devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? yet he ſhall ſay, Depart, I know you not. Many ſpeak like Saints, live like Devils, they have Jacob's ſmooth Tongue, but Eſau's rough Hands. Many live and dye in a Self-deluſion, and go to Hell with Hopes of Heaven in their Mouths. Many young men are in Hell, that thought to repent when they were old; and many old men, that ſuppoſed they p. 232ſhould live longer; but many bear themſelves in hand, they can do as the Thief did, do the Devil's Work all day, and receive Wages of Chriſt at night; but this is a deſperate Venture, the Judge haply ſaves one Malefactor of an hundred, and every man thinks it will be he. Legi & perlegi ſcripturam, &c. ſaith Auſtin, I have read the Scripture over and over, yet did I never read but of one that was ſaved upon late Repentance, when an Hundred thouſand hare miſcarried. And ſaith another, We may as rationally expect our Aſs to ſpeak, becauſe Balaam's Aſs did once ſpeak, as to imagine to follow this ſingular Example. To put off Repeneance upon ſuch an account, is, ſaith a third, as bold a Venture as for a man to go a great Journey without Money, becauſe another did ſo, and found a Purſe of Money in his way. If a way be difficult, and ſcarce one of an hundred find it, is it not preſumption for us, if we travail that Road without Enquiry?

The greateſt Politicians, and thoſe that have been able to deceive and put a Cheat upon others, have in this buſineſs been deceived; as Haman, Achitophel, and many others. The moſt learned and profound Scholars have here been miſtaken, as the Scribes and Phariſees, the greateſt Philoſophers, Jeſuites, and many learned Doctors in our Age; And ſhall we think our ſelves ſecure? Yea, thoſe that have directed others in the way, and put them on to prepare, yea, to make haſte in their Journey, have for want of Preparation and Haſte, fallen ſhort of their deſired Journeys end. Thus the Scribes and Phariſees, and Doctors of the Law, that bound heavy burdens, and grievous p. 233to be born, and laid them on mens ſhoulders, yet would not touch them with one of their fingers. Many of thoſe that have lived under the ſearching means of Grace, and have had many a rouzing Sermon, many a Direction, Exhortation, and Reproof, have yet miſcarried. Thus Judas, Ananias, and Saphira, Demas and others, that fell ſhort; yea, thoſe that had Chriſt himſelf and his Diſciples for their Teachers, as Capernaum, Choraſin, and Bethſaida. Many Miniſters are like the Signs at the Ale-houſe-door, they ſhew others where they may have ſhelter, but they themſelves abide in the Rain; or like the Builders of Noah's Ark, make a Ship to ſave others, when they themſelves periſh in the Flood. 'Tis good therefore to look about us, leſt this be our condition.

4 Conſ. Let us farther conſider the daily danger we are in while we remain in an unprepared condition to dye, for if Death find us thus unprepared, we are undone for ever, paſt hopes of help or means of recovery, for we ſhall inevitably loſe the Soul, which is the moſt precious Jewel we have, which in Chriſt's Account is more worth than the World it ſelf, Mat. 16 26. What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and leſt his own ſoul? Or, what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? Intimating, that the loſs is both irrecoverable and irreparable. And is it nothing to loſe an immortal Soul, and to purchaſe an ever-living Death? Thoſe that are ſenſible of Loſſes and Croſſes in the World, ſhall they be inſenſible of the great Loſs? A thouſand thouſand rendings of the Soul from the Body is not equivalent to one rending of the Soul and Body from God; other Loſſes may be ſupplied, p. 234or at leaſt ſuffer'd, but this Loſs is inſupportable and unſufferable: Riches, Honours, Friends, and other Earthly Enjoyments may be loſt, and yet recover'd, or at leaſt the Loſs more eaſily born, but the Loſs of the Soul is incomparable. Oh, what dreadful Thoughts and Apprehenſions will ſurprize a miſcarrying Soul, when ſhe apprehends her ſelf lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of Eternity, yea, an infinite Ocean of boiling Lead and burning Brimſtone, or what is far more formidable, there to ſwim to all Eternity in endleſs, eaſeleſs, and remedileſs Torments! then farewel all Earthly Delights, all comfortable Relations, all true Friends, all Recreations and Pleaſures, all Friends and Favourites, yea, God himſelf, the Chief of all, which will then prove an invincible irreconcileable Enemy; then the Devil, who hath long look'd for his Prey, ſhall have it, and here that dreadful Sentence, Take him Jaylor; the poor Soul muſt receive then her due deſerved Wages, for her faithful Service to her Infernal Maſter, even everlaſting Torments World without end. Oh, what amazing thoughts will then meet the Soul in Hell, to think that God, and Heaven, and Happineſs are irrecoverably loſt, and all her other Hopes, Comforts, and Support gone, and her ſelf undone for ever, and that ſhe muſt everlaſtingly lye in thoſe eternal Flames, without hope of Redemption! This word [Ever] will be a Hell in the midſt of Hell, to think that Pain and Anguiſh, Weeping and Wailing, will be her Portion as long as God is God, even for ever and for ever, and that Weeping it ſelf will now be in vain.

p. 235Now this is the preſent condition of an unprepared Soul, and the Lord knows, this is moſt mens caſe, however the Devil and their own Hearts perſwade them to the contrary. If we are in this condition, there is but a Thread between us and infernal Flames, even the Thread of our Lives, and how ſoon Death may cut it we know not; a thouſand Darts Death throws at us, even every Diſeaſe, Pain, Ach, Grief, and Trouble, and when he will hit us to the Heart the Lord only knows, and then the Soul will be in a ſtated condition, which Eternity it ſelf cannot alter: Our Glaſs is alwaies running, and when the laſt Sand drops we know not; the Ephah of our Sins is alwaies filling, and when it will be full, and our Iniquities ripe, we know not; if it be before our Repentance prevent it, we are in a worſe caſe than the Beaſts that periſh, whoſe Miſeries end with their Lives, when ours begin at out Death; they only pay that Debt of Nature, but we muſt pay the utmoſt farthing; they go to their Grave, but we to Priſon, then ſhall we alſo loſe our God with our Souls, or at leaſt all comfortable relation to him, for we ſhall ſtill have him as an irreconcileable Enemy; all our Earthly Enjoyments, all which now we take for our Happineſs, will then be gone, and the Portion which we choſe will be ſnatch'd from us, and in room of this, a Portion in Hell will be aſſigned us, where fiery whips of fierceſt Fiends will eternally torment us, who being tormented themſelves, have no other Pleaſure but in tormenting others; and if all the Torments that ever were invented by Man or Devil, were compared with this, it would fall far ſhort: But the p. 236Duration of theſe Torments is that which makes them compleat; for if a Thouſand thouſand millions of Years were ſubſtracted, the Sum is ne'er the leſs. Oh, how much then doth it behove us to look about us, leſt that day come upon us at unawares.

5 Conſ. Let us further conſider, that Preparation for Death, that is, getting thoſe Qualifications neceſſary for dying perſons: An Intereſt in Chriſt, and a Title to Glory, cleared up to us, can do us no hurt, but will do us good, and is worth all the Pains and Coſt we can be at about it; but the neglect of it is, as you have heard, dangerous and deadly: Our Pains and Coſt which we are at about it will not be loſt, but well recompenſed, and never any one was made miſerable by it; when Ten thouſand times ten thouſand have been undone by the neglect. Death comes never the ſooner when 'tis expected, or to thoſe that with the Apoſtle dye daily, 1 Cor. 15:31. neither will it ſpare men the more becauſe they put it out of their ſight, And they put far off the evil day, Amos 6.3. no, no, the Lord of ſuch ſervants ſhall come in a day they know not of, and in an hour they are not aware of. Death is not blind, though we wink; he that is fit to dye, is fit to live, and truly no other, for the ſame Qualifications ſerve for the one and for the other: He that is prepared for Death needs not to fear it, and he that fears not Death, needs fear no Enemy, no, though the whole Creation were turned into Lyons and Bears, yea, incarnate Devils about him, kill him they may, hurt him they cannot, the worſt they can do, is to ſend him to his Father's Houſe the ſooner: If we are p. 237prepared, Death may ſtrike us, but cannot ſting us, for the ſting is taken out, 1 Cor. 15.55. and if it take us away by the Hand of Violence, Twenty years in Heaven will make amends for Twenty years upon Earth, which we might poſſibly have lived; and if we receive as much Wages for half a day, as other for the whole, what cauſe is there of Complaint? When our Debt to Nature is paid, our Work is done, and our Reſt follows; when we have been threſhed, fifted, and winnowed, and the Chaff blown away, we ſhall be laid up as good Corn in our Father's Grainary; when the Tares ſhall be bundl'd up, Swearers with Swearers, Drunkards with Drunkards, and one Adulterer with another, and caſt into unquenchable fire; when we have Oyl in our Veſſels, as well as Lamps in our Hands, then we ſhall enter in with the Bridegroom, when the reſt ſhall be ſhut out, Mat. 25.10, &c. but he that comes in without a Wedding-Garment on his Back, ſhall not go out without Bolts on his Heels, Mat. 22.12. Take him, bind him hand and foot, and caſt him into outward darkneſs: He muſt go from the Table to the Tormentor.

But many other are the Benefits that flow from a right Preparation for Death, yea, more than can be numbred, for our Evidences cleared up, will be a Heaven upon Earth, and will ſweeten every Condition, how bitter ſoever in it ſelf, and hold up the Head above Water, and the Heart from fainting under the ſaddeſt Providences that can befal us, and makes a Chriſtian ſee Light in the darkeſt Cloud, and read Love in God's Face in his ſaddeſt Frowns; for Grace in the Heart, and unblurred Evidences thereof, p. 238without which we cannot be prepared to dye, will be ſuch an Antidote to keep the Heart from ſinking, that the World it ſelf cannot make up ſuch a Cordial; nothing can come amiſs to ſuch a Soul, for he knows the ſame Love that elected him, and ſent Chriſt into the World to redeem him, is now on work for his good: If he meet with Afflictions, he can ſuck Sweetneſs thence, and gather Arguments of God's Love from it, and conclude thence, that he is not a Baſtard, but a Son, for God correcteth thoſe he loves, and ſcourgeth every ſon that he receiveth and thoſe that are without correction are baſtards, and not ſons, Heb. 12.7, 8. Afflictions are the Gemms and Jewels that God adorneth his beſt Friends with: He had one Son without Sin, but none without Sorrow, and it be thoſe that ſuffer with him that muſt reign with him. If a prepared Chriſtian meet with Proſperity, he can read Love in this alſo, and take every Mercy as a Love-token, and admire the Goodneſs of God to ſuch a poor Wretch. If he read or hear the Word of God, he can ſuck Sweetneſs from every Paſſage, whether Precepts, Promiſes or Threats; his Meditation of God, of Chriſt, of Heaven, of Glory, will be ſweet; his Morning Thoughts and Evening Meditations alſo; many a Cordial can he fetch from the meditation of thoſe inviſible things, which others have no Converſe with, no Deſire after; and this bears up the Heart from ſinking in the worſt of Times, as it did the Martyrs Hearts in Priſons, Loſſes, yea, at the Stake it ſelf; for how can it be but a ſerious thought of God, and Chriſt, and Heaven, and Glory, and a firm believing that he hath an Intereſt in them, p. 239but it muſt cheer up the Heart? And will not the reading the precious Promiſes of God, and knowing alſo that they are their Father's Legacy to them, choſe but warm the Heart? Yea, the thoughts of Death, as 'tis a Meſſenger ſent from God, to bring us to Glory, and ſet an end to all our Miſeries, will hardly be much ſweetned, for many diſmal Apprehenſions may an unprepared Soul well have of Death, but to the other the Sting is taken out, 1 Cor. 15.55.

In a word, happy is the condition of a prepared Soul, and therefore 'tis our Intereſt to prepare for it.

Thus, Madam, having ſhewn what improvement we may and ought to make of ſuch ſad Providences as are now under our conſideration, the laſt I mention'd was, preparing for our own Death: And, oh that my ſelf were effectually perſwaded ſo to do, by the convincing Motive I have laid down: I ſhall add ſome Directions in reference to Preparation.

1 Direct. If we deſign and deſire to dye happily and comfortably, let us get an Intereſt in Chriſt, and a Title to Glory, clear'd up to the Soul, for thoſe that muſt cheerfully and willingly leave all their Earthly Enjoyments, Comforts, and Relations, had need of aſſurance of ſomething better than the World is; for who would leave a certain Good for an uncertainty? one Bird in the Hand, they ſay, is worth two in the Buſh.

p. 240'Tis true, a man may have a Title to Glory when Aſſurance is wanting; and this man may dye happily, though not comfortably, for Death to him muſt needs look ghaſtly. Till a man can look upon Chriſt the Rich Pearl as his own, how can he part with all for him? But when he hath Chriſt, and Heaven, and Glory in his Eyes, he matters not what he parts with for them; he knows 'tis a good Bargain, who will not part with Pebbles for Pearls, with Earth for Heaven, and the Creature for God; ſuch, and ſuch alone can look Death undauntedly in the Face. Till a man find the Condition of the Covenant within him, what Comfort can he have in the Covenant it ſelf? Though the King grant Pardon to a thouſand Malefactors, if I be a Malefactor, and cannot prove that I am of this number, what Comfort can I take from the Grant? But when the Qualifications are found in the Soul, which God hath made neceſſary to Salvation, and to which Heaven and Happineſs is promiſed, when the ſanctifying, regenerating, and adopting Works of the Spirit appears there, and the Graces of it are found, when God's Sheep-mark of Holineſs is there impreſſed, this muſt needs be refreſhing to the Soul. I know that full Aſſurance, ſo as to ſet a man above all doubting, the higheſt Pinacle of Aſſurance, that maximum quod ſic, beyond which nothing but coeleſtial Enjoyment can be expected, is ſo rare a Jewel, that it adorns the Head or Heart of few. Many in the World, David himſelf was ſometimes to ſeek, and God's beſt Servants at a loſs, but yet through Mercy, a comfortable Aſſurance, to keep the Heart from deſpairing or deſponding, p. 241hath been and is given unto many of the Godly, yet not without great Pains and Diligence, much Examination, and fervent Prayer. We are not in this caſe to look into God's ſecret Cabinet of his Decrees and Councils, to know whether we are elected or no, for if we can find the effects of Electing Love, and the Graces of the Spirit of God, which none wear, but the Spouſe of Chriſt, we may conclude the Marriage is conſummate, and we may ſay, My beloved is mine, and I am his, Cant. 6.3. I am ſure he is mine, and I can boldly ſpeak it, her Faith is unfeigned, and her Love unfailable, ſhe had got a full gripe of of Chriſt, and is ſure nothing can ſeparate them; Chriſt lays hold upon her by his Spirit, and ſhe lays hold of Chriſt by Faith; ſhe hath made a total reſignation of her ſelf to him, and I accept of him in all his Offices and Efficacies; (ſaith ſhe) he hath given me that which he beſtows upon no other, and the…efore I am ſure he loves me.

The like may we ſay when we find the like Tokens of his Love; and when we find the firſt Steps of the Spirit in the Soul, we may conclude he hath been there.

Now, this Aſſurance, however ſome men value it not, is more comfortable both in Life and Death than the World can procure, 'tis Heaven upon Earth, and a Cordial againſt the Fear of Death. 'Tis an Encouragement to work, when we know we ſhall have good Wages, and to ſuffer Loſs, when we know we ſhall gain by our Loſſes; but without ſome comfortable Aſſurance we cannot look upon Death without Horror, and may ſay of it as Ahab of Elijah, Haſt thou found me, O my Enemy? When a man apprehends p. 242himſelf lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of Eternity, and knows not but it may be endleſs, who in his right Wits would not tremble? Though Grace be preſent, Comfort will be abſent, if Aſſurance be wanting. What good did Hagar's Well of Water do her when ſhe ſaw it not; or Marys Diſcourſe with Chriſt, when ſhe knew him not? What Comfort will a Pardon give to a Malefactor at the place of Execution, if it be concealed? In Worldly Buſineſs we are not ſo careleſs to leave all at Uncertainty, and muſt the Soul only be neglected? Shall we lye in Debt, and not know of any Surety to diſcharge it, and have Souls and not know what will come of them to Eternity?

2 Dir. If ever we intend to dye happily, we muſt ſee Sin dead before us, for the Soul and Sin cannot live together, but they will be the death of the one, or of the other. Now Sin is never kill'd till it be hated, and looked upon as the moſt deadly Enemy, for who will kill one that he loves? 'Tis Sin that is the Sting of Death, which otherwiſe would be hurtleſs and harmleſs, 1 Cor. 15.55. Oh death, where is thy ſting? oh grave, where is thy victory? The ſting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the law, &c. Here is the boldeſt and braveſt Challenge that ever rung in Death's Ear, wherein the Apoſtle bids him do his worſt, for when Sin is dead, his Poyſon is gone; he may buz about our Ears as a drove Bee, and haply fright us, but cannot hurt us; he may ſtrike us, but cannot ſting us; he may, like Sampſon when his Locks were ſhorn, go forth as at other times, and ſhake himſelf, but his ſtrength p. 243is gone, the worſt he can do, is but to ſend us to our Father's Houſe the ſooner. Sin, in ſtinging Chriſt, loſt his Sting, Chriſt overcame him, and took from him the Weapons he truſted in, and now we may hug the Serpent in our Boſom. Sin, when 'tis alive, ſets a Bar in Heaven-gate againſt us, and makes it impoſſible for us to enter; for no unrighteous perſon, nor unclean thing, nothing that defileth or worketh abomination ſhall ever enter, Rev. 21.27. no dirty Dog ſhall ever tread upon the Pavement. And as it ſhuts Heaven-gates, ſo it opens Hell-gates for us, and Death, as a Porter, will let us in. Sin is the only Weapon with which the Devil can hurt us, and this Weapon we our ſelves put into his Hands; they are Snares of our own making, with which he entangles us; Cords of our own twiſting he leads us Captive in, for there is nothing elſe in the World that can make the Soul miſcarry; and this is our Miſery, we naturally delight in thoſe Fetters in which he holds us, and glory in our own Slavery. The Devil ſhews us Sin thro' his own Spectacles, and by his Paint and Plaſter that ſeems amiable which really is the moſt loathſome and deformed thing, which really makes the Soul the moſt ugly, deformed, leprous thing in the World; but did we ſee our ſelves in this Dreſs, we ſhould come trembling into the Preſence of God, with Tears in our Eyes, Shame in our Faces, Sorrow in our Hearts, and Confeſſion in our Mouths; and if Sin look not with ſuch an Aſpect upon us, 'tis a ſign 'tis living, and not dead in us, for a dead Carcaſs cannot be lovely. When a Believer's Sin is mortified, he behaves himſelf to it as Ahaſuerus the King towards Haman, p. 244who had been his greateſt Favourite, and whom he had advanc'd next to himſelf in the Kingdom, he hates the ſight of him, and cannot endure him in his preſence, Eſth. 7.7. it troubled him that he had loſt his Love upon ſo unworthy a Wretch: Even ſo a Believer mourns, that ever he entertain'd ſuch a treacherous Companion as Sin in his Boſom; he deals by Sin as the Father of a rebellious Son was commanded to do, Dan. 21.18. lays the firſt Hand upon it, and throws the firſt Stone at it; he bears ſo an irreconcilable a Hatred to it, that nothing will ſatisfie him but its Hearts Blood; he is not ſatisfied, as too many are, to lay it aſleep, but dye it muſt, he doth not lop off here a Bough, and there a Branch, but ſtocks up the very Root; he is not raking at the Channel, but cleanſing the very Fountain; he knows Sin is his greateſt Enemy, and therefore he will make no Peace or Truce with it; 'tis his greateſt Trouble he meets with in the World, that he cannot be quite rid of it, that he cannot give it a Bill of Divorce, and put it away; he deals with it as Amnon did by Tamar, whom before he ſo luſtfully loved, yet after hated her much more: So deals he by Sin, what he had luſtfully, wickedly loved, now he unfeignedly hates; he hates Sin in all, but eſpecially in himſelf, and flees the very appearance of Evil, and reſiſts it in the firſt motion, and as the Babylon Children, while they are young, and the Cockatrice Egg e're it be hatched, reſiſts the Temptation, and firſt Notion of Sin: and if the Devil foiſt in a Temptation, he like the raviſhed Virgin cries out for Help, ſuppreſſeth Sin in the Thoughts, before ever it appear in the Word or Action; as p. 245Joſeph, that would not hearken to his Miſtriſs, nor he in the Houſe with her. Now this is the courſe that we muſt take, if we would kill Sin; and we muſt be ſure to begin Reformation at the right end, purge the Fountain, that the Streams may be clear, ſtock up the Root of Sin, that the Tree may dye, Make clean the inſide, that the outſide may be clean alſo, Mat. 15.19. & 12.34. The Heart is the Source of Sin, and the Fountain of Folly, and ſwarms with Luſts as a Carrion with Vermine; inward Bleeding will kill as well as outward, and from within Wickedneſs proceeds, but a man is never fit to dye, till Sin be kill'd and the Heart cleanſed.

3 Dir. The World alſo is an Enemy that muſt be ſubdued, if we would dye well or willingly; for the love of the World breaks many a Match between Chriſt and the Soul, and 'tis the uſual Bait the Devil lays, to keep us in his Snares; All this I will give thee; and 'tis a rare man that is not hereby alured: And therefore it was not in vain that the Apoſtle gives us this Caution, 1 Joh. 2.15. Love not the world, nor the things of the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And another Apoſtle tells us, That the friendſhip of the world is enmity with God; whoſoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God. Can a Woman love two Husbands, or a Man ſerve two Maſters, God and Mammon? And Paul tells us, The world is crucified to him, and he to the world: It cares not a Pin for me, and I care not a Ruſh for it; there is no more delight in it in my account, than there is in a dead Carcaſs, have it p. 246we may, uſe it we muſt, but love it we may not. It hangs out her two Breaſts, Strumpet like, of Profit and Pleaſure, but the Apoſtle had no mind to ſuck at theſe Botches; and if we would dye well, let us imitate him that had learnt to dye daily, and get our Affections as much weaned from the World as poſſibly may be, and ſet upon Heavenly things, or 'tis ten to one it will ſpeak to us in the Words of Peter to Chriſt, Save thy ſelf. Whenever we ſhould come to ſuffer any thing for Chriſt, we may find what a ſnare it will be to us, as to the young man, Mat. 19.22. that bid fair for Chriſt, till the World came and broke the Bargain; he came to Chriſt haſtily, and departs heavily; when he muſt part with his Riches, he chuſes rather to part with Chriſt, and if Heaven will be had upon no cheaper terms, let him keep it to himſelf.

Thoſe that have the God of this World lively po…trayed upon the Soul, are not fit for another World; ſuch as theſe will ſay with Cardinal Bembus, they will not leave their part in Paris for their part in Parad…ce; Judas and Demas may witneſs this Truth. When the Affections are foreſtalled and ſet upon other Lovers, 'tis hard rending them off, or making them willing to p…rt with what they love; what a man loves beſt, he would keep longeſt; Where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo, Mat. 6.20, 21. If they are ſet upon this white and yellow Earth, upon Pearls and precious Stones, which are but the Guts and Garbage of the Earth, and load themſelves with thick Clay, 'tis as hard for them to enter in at the ſtreight Gate, as for a Camel … go through the eye of a Needle. Paul c…lls ſuch a p. 247one an Idolater, Epheſ. 5.5. and St. James, an Adulterer, Jam. 4.4. Such as theſe are not ready for Death, though Death may haply be ready for them; but he that hath laid up his Treaſure in Heaven, and is at a point with all things under the Sun, and wears the World about him, as a looſe Garment, ready to caſt off upon all occaſions; he that hath made ready, pack'd up all, and ſent before him to his deſired Port, needs wait but for a Wind to waft him over; Where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo. When a man imagines he muſt leave better behind than he is like to find there, 'tis no wonder if he dye unwillingly, and depart with a reluctancy; but when better things are in view, 'tis no hard matter to dye.

The Devil puts a Cheat upon us, when he ſhews us the World through his Spectacles, and the Glory of it through his Magnifying-glaſſes, there every Little ſeems Great, and every Molehill a Mountain, but when we view it in the clear Cryſtal of God's Word, it appears in its Colours.

'Tis an eaſie thing to make a man exchange Rags for Robes, and a Cottage for a Caſtle; and is it not as eaſie to perſwade a wiſe man to exchange Pebbles for Pearls, Earth for Heaven, and the Creature for God? When a Man is ſatisfied, that there is enough in Chriſt, in Heaven and Glory, to give the Soul Content, yea, to make up all the Loſſes ſuſtained upon the account, what ſhould make him afraid to venture upon it? But while the World ſeems a Pearl in our Eyes, the Pearl of great price is not heeded. The Splendor of the World ſeems greater than it p. 248is, when the Devil hath adorned it in his Paint and Colours, but when 'tis ſtripp'd of that Varniſh, it appears an old, withered, and deformed Strumpet, and 'tis wonder that any fall in love with her.

Till we can look upon the World with Contempt, we are neither fit to live, nor fit to dye; not to live, for we ſhall place the love upon her that is only due to God; not to dye, for we ſhall then loſe all our Portion, and what a condition will ſuch a departing Soul then be in? Till we can ſee with Moſes the Vanity of Kings Courts, we ſhall never make his choice, as, the Afflictions of the people of God, rather than theſe Vanities, Heb. 11.25. Till we can with Galeacius ſee more Worth in one days Communion with God, than all the Wealth in the World, we ſhall not leave all as he did, for Chriſt's ſake; till Chriſt be better to us than our Company and Relations, as it was to Abraham, we ſhall never leave all theſe for him; the Martyrs loved not their Lives to the Death, Rev. 12.11. and till we can look upon all theſe things with a ſelf-denying Eye, and hang looſe to Creature-comſorts, and can ſay of God as the Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none on Earth that I deſire beſides thee: Then, and not till then, we are in a fit poſture to live and to dye.

4 Dir. If we deſire to dye well, we muſt be ſure to live well, for a good Life alwaies ends in a happy Death, and a wicked Life preſages an ill End: Thoſe that dance with the Devil all day, ſeldom come to ſup with Chriſt at night. The Example of the penitent Thief I have already p. 249ſpoke to; one Swallow proves not a Summer; he that ſails in the Road to Hell, and changes not his Courſe, is never like to land in the Port of Heaven; he that runs down the Hill is not like to come to the top; and he that ſwims down the Stream, will not come to the Fountain Head.

By Nature we are born with our Backs upon Heaven, and our Face towards Hell, and till we repent we never change our Courſe. A ſinful Life will have a T…agical End; for he that walks in the broad way is not like to find the narrow Gate, and that alone leads to Eternal Life. Mat. 7.13, 14. Strive to enter in at the ſtreight gate, for many ſhall ſeek to enter, and ſhall not be able: Wide is the gate, broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, and many there be that go in thereat: ſtreight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Yea, the Wicked, let them be never ſo many, go down to Hell, and all the nations that forget God, Pſal. 9.17. 'Tis our Duty, whatever others do, to be holy, and, like the Moon, hold on our Courſe, though Dogs bark at us, and run our Race like the Sun, though the Planters curſe him at his riſing, for ſcorching them with his Beams. Let us not ſwim down the Stream of the Sinner, like dead Fiſh, nor follow a multitude to do Evil: The worſe the Places are we live in, the better let us be; the more outragious they are in Wickedneſs, the more couragious in Good let us be. It matters not how ſmall our Company is, if good, nor how great, if bad: 'Tis better be with Noah in the Ark, than with the whole World in the Flood. The Way to Heaven, no doubt, will be rough and craggy, p. 250like that of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer, 1 Sam. 14.4, 13. Sic petitur coelum, Pains and Patience are neceſſary to thoſe that travel this Road; thoſe that will to Heaven, muſt ſail by the Gates of Hell; Strive (ſaith Chriſt) to enter; yea, ſtrive to an Agony, as the word imports. The way to Heaven is up Hill, to Hell down the Bank; we may eaſily go down, facilis deſcenſus averin, the other will coſt much Pains and Sweat; and when we come to the ſtreight Gate, there muſt be ſtooping and ſtripping: He that walks the broad way will readily find the wide Gate, he may go Hood-winckt to Hell, and need not loſe his way.

Now, that the Life be good, 'tis neceſſary that the Heart be good, for from this Fountain good or bad Water flows; but naturally this is corrupt, 'tis not a few good Words or Wiſhes will ſerve the turn, without Heart-reformation, all other Reformation begins at the wrong end. Where the Heart is neglected, a corrupt Fountain cannot ſend forth ſweet Water, the Tree muſt be good, or the Fruit will be bad; Men gather not grapes off thorns, nor fig off thiſtles, Mat. 7.16.

By Nature we are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and we cannot act from a Principle of Life; if we have it not till the Heart be ſeaſoned with Grace, all we do will ſavour of the Cask, and till it be purged by Faith, no good thing can thence proceed, for without Faith 'tis impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. And when the Heart is reformed, the Work is not done, Heaven will not be had without Paines and Patience, but Hell may be had with a wet …inger; 'tis much ado to find Heaven-gate, … a man may find the way to p. 251Hell blindfold. By Nature we bring forth ſoure grapes, even grapes of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah, Dan. 32.32. We hatch cockatrice eggs, and weave ſpiders webs, but we muſt be engrafted into that Noble Vine Chriſt, before our Fruit will be good: There muſt be Knowledge in the Soul before there can be Obedience to the Will of God, for without knowledge the mind cannot be good, but ignorant perſons do the Devil the beſt ſervice, but neither the Blind nor the Lame muſt be offered in Sacrifice to God; ignorant perſons ſpoil all they take in hand; we muſt know the Rule before we can work by it, and when we know it, we muſt not go aſide to the right hand, nor to the left, and have reſpect to all God's Commands; no, Sin, though never ſo dear to us, muſt be forborn; no Duty, though never ſo difficult, muſt be neglected; all our Actions, as to the Matter of them, muſt be agreeable to God's word, and to the Manner of them, they muſt be performed as he requires, ſincerely, and without Hypocriſie, univerſally and conſtantly; our Ends alſo muſt be Gods Glory, the good of our own Souls, and the Souls of others. In ſhort, all our time muſt be ſpent in our general and particular Callings, or ſome way or other in reference to it, to fit us for the one or for the other, and there muſt be a wiſe diviſion of it between them, neither muſt run away with the others ſhare; our relative Duties muſt be minded, and we muſt live and act like Chriſtians in ſuch and ſuch Relations, the Trade of Holineſs muſt go on, we muſt treaſure up Grace againſt a dying time, when ſome treaſure up Wealth, and many wrath againſt the day of wrath. This courſe may ſeem harſh to ſome, but 'tis the only ſafe way to Glory, and the only way to a happy Death.

p. 2525. Direct. If we would dye well, 'tis our Wiſdom, with the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.31. to learn to dye daily, to have Death always in our Eye, and always be in a dying poſture, that Death may not ſind us unprepared, that we may not look upon Death as a ſtranger when he comes, but as an expected Gueſt: The frequent Meditations of Death will put us on to put our Houſe, or rather our Hearts in order, with Hezekiah, Iſa. 38.1. Death gives us many warnings to provide a new Habitation, and we are unwiſe if we take it not for warning; he is always eying us, and 'tis our Wiſdom to be eying him, that we be not ſurprized ere we are aware. Thoſe are moſt like to neglect their Work that caſt it out of ſight, and out of mind; and thoſe are likeſt to be ſurprized by an Enemy that neglect their Watch: When the evil ſervant ſaid in his heart, my Lord deferreth his coming, &c. he was ſoon ſurprized, and paid for his Folly, Mat. 24.48, &c. In the Pſalmiſt's days there were many of whom he ſaith, God is not in all their thoughts, Pſal. 10.4. And are there not many in our days, of whom it may be ſaid, Death is not in all their thoughts? Do not the ſhew of their countenance, the courſe of their lives teſtifie againſt them, and they declare their ſin … Sodom, and hide it not. The courſe of their Lives cannot conſiſt with a believing Meditation of God, of Heaven and Hell, Death and Judgment; no, no, they put far from them the evil day, Amos 6.3. This curſed Security is the ſource of all manner of ſin and wickedneſs; for God is neither in their Head nor Heart, and therefore they ſin boldly. I have heard of ſome fooliſh Creatures that will thruſt their Heads into a Buſh, p. 253and then becauſe they ſee no body, they think no body ſees them; ſuch apprehenſion many Men ſeem to have of Death, they think themſelves ſecure, becauſe they have got Death out of their minds, but miſreckoning proves no Payment: Many like the Rich Man, Luke 12.16, &c. promiſed himſelf a longer Leaſe than God had ſealed him, but Chriſt calls him Fool for his labour. Many mens Glaſſes are almoſt run out, when they thought they were but new turned; but thoſe that reckon without their Hoſt, muſt reckon twice. 'Tis folly in a Tenant to forget his Rent-day, and then imagine his Land-lord forgets it alſo; or for a Malefactor to forget the day of his Execution, and think others forget it as well as he. This was Jeruſalem's fault, and it proved her ruine, Lam. 1.9. She remembred not her laſt end, therefore ſhe came down wonderfully; and this proves many a man's ruine. It was not in vain therefore that Moſes prays, Pſal. 90.12. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wiſdom. We are apt to make ſome Preparation for the Body, what to eat, and what to drink, and wherewithal we ſhall be cloathed; and neglect not Fairs nor Markets, where wanted Neceſſaries may be had; many prepare in the Day for the Night, in the Summer for Winter, in Health for Sickneſs, in Youth for Age, yea, and for their Poſterity after them. And what ſtupid Madneſs is it not to provide in time for Eternity, and remember not the days of darkneſs, for they are many? Eccleſ. 11.8. 'Tis the greateſt folly to mind trifles, and neglect the main. The thoughts of Death will not haſten it the ſooner, but it may haſten our Preparation p. 254for it; it can do us no harm, but much good: Let no day therefore paſs without ſome ſerious thoughts, and meditation of it; this will make it leſs formidable. 'Tis fabled of the Fox, that when he firſt ſaw a Lion he trembled; but in proceſs of time he grew bolder: Thus by better Acquaintance we ſhould do with Death, that is moſt amazing, that comes unexpectedly. Let us put the Queſtion to our ſelves, Did I know I ſhould dye the next Week, or Month, how ſhould I ſpend this time? And let's live ſo, ſeeing for ought we know we may not live ſo long. Sure our Time-waſting Gallants would then find ſomething elſe to do, than to divide their Time, as many do, between Swearing, Roaring, Drinking, and Whoring. Death will make a wonderful change both in the good, and in the bad. In the good 'tis an outlet to all their Miſery, and an inlet to Heaven and Glory: In the bad 'tis an end of all their Felicity, and the date of their Miſery; and can this on either ſide be ſuch a contemptible change, as not worth thinking of? Should a poor Woman upon a fixed day be to be married to ſome Mighty Prince, could ſhe forget the day, or neglect to prepare for it? Can a Maid forget her ornaments, or a Bride her attire? &c. Or were a Man upon an appointed day to go to Priſon, to Baniſhment, or to Execution, would it ſignifie nothing to him? Were our Houſes on fi…e over our Heads, or were we purſued by a Lion, or Bear, or other ravenous Beaſt, or ſome deadly Enemy that ſought our Lives, ſhould we be ſo unconcerned? And is not the Soul in a thouſand times greater danger of Eternal Death, than the Body can be of Temporal? p. 255and yet ſhall this be ſlighted? Is it not high time for us when the Sergeant waits to Arreſt us, to take Chriſt's Counſel, and agree with our Adverſary before we are caſt into Priſon, Mat. 5.25. And not as ill Husbands do, ſtay till we are arreſted, and caſt into Priſon. I know there are too many that think God and Devil, Heaven and Hell, are but Fables, theſe will know to their ſorrow they are Realities, and deſerve our ſerious thoughts. And 'tis not enough to think of Death, for many do ſo againſt their wills, but they muſt prepare for it alſo; let us conſider every Evening what we have done in reference to Preparation the day paſt, and whether we are a days Journey nearer Heaven, as we are nearer our Graves: This courſe is likely to fit us for Death and Judgment.

Leſſon 7. The Seventh Leſſon we may learn from this ſad and unexpected Providence, is, Seeing all are under a neceſſity of dying, to bring our minds to be willing to dye, how and when God in his Providence ſhall think fit. It is appointed unto all men once to dye, and after death the Judgment, Heb. 9.27. Now, 'tis our Duty to ſubſcribe our conſent to this Law. He that hateth not his father, mother, wife and children, brethren and ſiſters, and his own life alſo, he cannot be my Diſciple, Luke 14.26. Theſe are Love-Tokens God hath given us, to win our Love, and when he requires them again, 'tis to try whether we love Him, or his Gifts better. 'Tis, as I ſhew'd before, our Duty to ſubmit, as Aaron, patiently to the death of our Relations, and ſometimes the Leſſon proves hard enough; but here is a further p. 256tryal, we ſhall be put upon to ſubmit to our own Death. When Job bore the loſs of his Eſtate and Relations ſo well, the Devil would try him, by afflicting him in his Body and Mind, Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2.4. As if he ſhould ſay, Any thing for his own Life; Cattle, Servants, Children, all ſhall go, ſo he may ſleep in a whole Skin. I know the Leſſon, to be willing to dye, ſeems hard to Fleſh and Blood, but we muſt have ſomething more, or we cannot dye well; the ſame Reaſon that makes us ſubmit to another's Death, is good here. I know there are greater Temptations lying at ſome mens doors than others; 'tis eaſier to part with Poverty than Plenty, Pain than Pleaſure, Sickneſs than Health, and a Priſon than Liberty; but theſe Bleſſings were never given us to croſs our Maker's Will. Oh Death! how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that lives at eaſe in his Poſſeſſions, and hath proſpered in all things? And yet the thoughts of Heaven may ſweeten this alſo. And that I may add ſome Sugar to this bitter Pill, I add theſe Conſiderations.

1. Conſider, our Life is not at our own diſpoſe, neither indeed is it fit it ſhould be; for God is abſolute Lord of all the Works of his Hands; he is the Potter, we are the Clay; if he daſh us with his Foot, who can call him to an Account? For whoſe is the Pot but the Pot-makers? And he made us for his own uſe, and may do with his own as he pleaſeth, and we muſt hold our Tongues and ſay nothing, if he do it. Never had any Man ſuch abſolute Dominion over any thing he called his own, as God p. 257hath over us; yet we imagine thoſe Beaſts we call ours, though we have but a ſubordinate Right to them, yet we do them no wrong, if we take away their Life, we neither did, nor can give it to them; and hath not God a greater Propriety in us? We let him alone with greater matters than our Lives, and contradict him not. He upholds the whole frame of Nature in Being, the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth from returning to its Primitive Nothing, and we ſeek not to take the Work out of his hands. He maintains the Sun, Moon, and Stars in their inceſſant and unerring Motions, who pour their Influences upon the Earth; he hangs this huge and maſſy Globe upon nothing, and we let him alone with this work; he made thoſe Glorious Lamps of Heaven for times, and for ſeaſons, and for days, and for years, and the Sun knows his going down. He it is that ſets Bounds to this great and wide Sea, yea, Bars and Doors, and ſaith, Hitherto ſhalt thou come, and no further, and here ſhall thy proud waves ceaſe, Job 38.10, 11. He forms the Light, and he creates Darkneſs, and he it is that hath the Keys of Life and Death at his Girdle: He kills, and he makes alive, and doth whatever pleaſeth him in Heaven, and in the Earth. Can all the Kings of the Earth, with all their united Force, repel the Univerſal Darkneſs that over-ſpreads the face of the World when the Sun is ſet, or retain the Light while they have it? And ſhould they attempt it, would they not proclaim their Folly? Is it not he that provides Food for every living thing, yea, for thouſand thouſand of living Creatures Man takes no care of? And ſhall we leave all theſe things at his diſpoſe? And why? becauſe we cannot take them out of his hand. And are p. 258we exempt, and muſt not our Lives be in his Hand, or Power? Shall he that Governs the whole World by his Power and Wiſdom, not be beſt able, and fitteſt to diſpoſe of us, and of our Lives, as well as others? We have not a bit of Bread to eat, but he gives it, nor a Breath to breathe, but he puts it into us; and are we like to maintain our Lives without him, or keep them againſt his will? Is it not he that pulls down Kings, and ſets up Kings, and diſpoſeth of Kingdoms to whomſoever he will, even to the worſt of men, Dan. 4.17. And doth not he beſt know when our Work is done, and when 'tis the fitteſt time to take us hence, without adviſing with us, or asking our Counſel? Or would we only be excluded? Or would we have all others have the like Priviledge? If the firſt, how came we from under the Law? It is appointed unto all men once to dye, and after death the Judgment. If all Men muſt have the Priviledge of dying when they pleaſe, the World will be too numerous to ſubſiſt, Hell will be empty, and Heaven will have few in it; for moſt Men will live a miſerable Life, before they will dye, though to go to Glory. And is not it beſt to refer all this to Divine Wiſdom, that only knows the beſt time? Were our Lives in our Enemies hands, we ſhould dye too ſoon; if in our own, we ſhould live too long; 'tis beſt as it is in God's hand, who beſt knows when our Work is done, and when his Flowers are ripe, and when we are fit for Glory. Let us then with ſuch Conſiderations as theſe, quiet our ſelves under Divine Diſpenſations, and with Paul, ſay, I am willing, not only to be bound, but to dye at Jeruſalem, for Chriſt. And let us breathe out, Come, Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Even ſo Amen.

p. 2592. Conſider alſo the ſeveral Evils, that Death frees a Believer from, which none elſe can; the thoughts of this may make a Chriſtian more willing to dye, yea, with the Apoſtle, to deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, Phil. 1.23. There is in every Man and Woman by Nature a Principle which cannot be obliterated, to deſire to be Happy, and a ceſſation of Miſery; and though every Man living deſire it, yet few attain it; for the greateſt number, whether through Ignorance, miſtake the way to it, or through prevailing Corruption, will not walk in the way that leads to it, but grope after it where it never was, nor can be found, and ſeek it where it never grew, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand have been thus deceived, and undone, in embracing a Cloud inſtead of Juno, and adoring Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures inſtead of Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt; and theſe have run themſelves out of breath, but all in vain, and at Death have found they had miſtaken their way, when it was too late. Some few indeed have ſought after Happineſs in a way of Holineſs, and theſe have it in ſight, and theſe meet with a Viaticum, ſomething to ſtay their Stomack in the way, but their Feaſt, their Wedding-Supper, is prepared for their Journey's end, even the Marriage of the Lamb. For whatever conceit may poſſeſs the Heart of Man to the contrary, true and compleat Happineſs was never enjoyed by meer Man, on this ſide Death; for here we are Pilgrims and Strangers, and this is not our Reſt; we are under Age, and our Inheritance elſewhere: This Life is cumbred with a thouſand Miſeries, which cannot conſiſt with compleat Happineſs, which cannot be found on this ſide the Grave, and few find it beyond. p. 260Now, one part of our Happineſs is to be freed from Miſery, for while we are under Affliction our Happineſs is not compleat; but till Death we cannot be freed from Suffering; this alone muſt eaſe us of our Burden: the thoughts of this might make us have gentler thoughts of it, and look upon it through other Spectacles: For that Meſſenger be unwelcome to a Priſoner, that comes to knock off his Shackles, and reſtore his Liberty? Death is ſent to tell us our Warfare is accompliſhed, the Field is won, the Enemies are fled, the Victory is ours, and the Crown is ready; it tells us our Work is done in the Vineyard, and we muſt come to receive our Wages. It tells us all our Pains, Aches, Miſeries, and Sufferings are at an end, and God hath ſent for us in his Triumphant Chariot to the Marriage of the Lamb, and to lye for ever in his Boſom, and inhabit thoſe Manſions of Glory provided for us; that for a Cottage we ſhall have a Crown, and Robes inſtead of Rags, and that a period is put to all that we call Trouble; and will ſuch a Meſſenger diſpleaſe us? This is the time that all tears ſhall be wip'd away, and ſin and ſorrow ſhall be no more, Rev. 7.17. and 21.4. God ſhall wipe all their tears from their eyes, and there ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more pain. See alſo Iſa. 53.10. Their Bacha ſhall be turned into Barachah, their Miſery into Melody, the Sighing into Singing, and the Miſery into Majeſty, and Mortality ſhall be ſwallowed up of Life; whatever 'tis that makes our Life uneaſie, ſhall be done away; all that is called Trouble, ſhall then vaniſh, for ſin and ſorrow ſhall be no more. Who would not bear one Fit of Sickneſs for Everlaſting Health, a little Pain p. 261for Eternal Eaſe, a little Trouble for Eternal Freedom. In this Life we are always under the Hatches, ſometimes peſter'd with a ſickly, weakly Body, ſubject to a thouſand Infirmities, languiſhing under Pains, and Aches, and Diſtempers, hardly a day free; but Death is the Phyſician that will Cure us of all this. At other times we are full of …rs and doubts concerning our Spiritual Eſtate, queſtioning whether we have any Intereſt in Chriſt, or Title to Glory; whether the Soul be regenerate, whether the Match were ever made up between Chriſt and us, and whether all we have done be not in Hypocriſie, and ſo loſt labour; whether God love us or not, ſeeing he oft-times hides his Face from us. Holy Men, even David himſelf, have ſometimes ſuch deſponding thoughts, upon God's with-drawings; but Death will put all this out of queſtion, they need not then fear their Evidences when they are put into actual Poſſeſſion, nor God's Love when they enjoy the Beatifical Viſion, where they ſhall never ſee one wrinkle more in the Face of God. Here they are peſtered with the Devil's Temptations, and 'tis their trouble and grief that he foiſts in ſuch foul Suggeſtions; he lays Snares in their ways to entrap them, Snares in all their Enjoyments, in all their Duties, in all their Actions, in all their Relations, in all they ſee or hear, or come to know; but then he ſhall never throw Dart more at us: Here his Inſtruments do moleſt us, ſome by cruel mocks and taunts, ſcoffs and ſcorns; ſome by Wrongs, Perſecutions, and Tryals; there we ſhall be out of their reach. We can hardly open any Senſe, but we let in either ſin or ſorrow. Our own Corruptions bring us no little trouble, this makes us ſuch ſtrangers to God, ſpoils p. 262our Duties, and makes us ſcarce to have a glimpſe of God in an Ordinance. Theſe and a thouſand more troubles, Death frees us from, and yet ſhall we run from him as an Enemy, and rather endure all this than feel his Dart? We may ſtand amazed at our own Folly.

3. Let us Conſider how unbeſeeming and uncomely a thing it is for a Chriſtian to be unwilling to dye, when God and his Cauſe requires it, yea, not to carry his Life in his hand, and reſign it up to him that gave it, whenever he ſhall require it of him; for he that laid down his life for us, ſhall we deny our lives for him, if he require it? We have liſted our ſelves Souldiers under him, our General, and when danger is near, ſhall we run from our Colours? We have made a Profeſſion of our Faith, and Truſt and Confidence in him, boaſted of his Love to us, of Power and Ability to ſave us, and of the Reward we expected for o…r Faithful Service; and now ſhall we let the World know there is no ſuch matter, that we dare not truſt him with our Lives, or Eſtates? We find this was an Argument with thoſe that returned out of Babylon, Ezra 8.22. I was aſhamed to require of the King a band of Souldiers and Horſemen to help us againſt the Enemy in the way, becauſe we had ſpok…n to the King, ſaying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that ſeek him, but his power, and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him. He durſt not do it, leſt the Name of God ſhould have been diſhonoured by it, and how dare we proclaim our fears and diffidence in the like caſe, to God's diſhonour? 'Tis a diſcredit to a Maſter when his own Servants dare not truſt him: Shall we that have had more Experiences of God's Power, Mercy, Goodneſs, and p. 263Truth, now forſake him, or diſtruſt him? God hath communicated himſelf more to his People than to others, and done more for them than for others, and ſo laid a greater Obligation upon them than on the reſt of the World, and after all ſhall they prove treacherous? It was a great aggravation to Solomon's ſin, that it was after God had appeared twice to him, 1 Kin. 11.9. God may ſay to his revolting People as Chriſt did to the Jews, Many good works have I done among you, for which of theſe do you ſtone me? John 10.32. 'Tis not ſo much for others to be afraid of the Journey, that are ſtrangers in the Country, but we that have had ſo many to direct us in the way; we that pretend there our Father keeps his Court, that Jeruſalem that is above is the Mother of us all; that Chriſt is our Head, our Husband, and our elder Brother, and ſhall be our Judge; that the Saints departed are our Brethren and Siſters in Chriſt; that Heaven is our Inheritance, and thoſe Manſions of Glory provided for us; and ſhall we be afraid or unwilling of the Journey? 'Tis no wonder that others hang back, that have their Portion in their hands at preſent, for who will willingly loſe what they have, and are aſſured of no more? 'Tis no wonder that a Malefactor, that hath deſerved Death, and is in expectation of it, is loath to go before the Judge; but 'tis wonder an Innocent Man is not willing to be freed out of Priſon. The Grave it ſelf is but a reſting place, in Job's account, Job 3.13. Now ſhould I have been ſtill, and have been quiet, I ſhould have ſlept, then had I been at reſt. Ver. 17. There the wicked ceaſe from troubling, and there the weary be at reſt; there the Priſoners reſt together, th…y hear not the voice of the Oppreſſor; the ſmall and the great are there, and p. 264the ſervant is free from his maſter, &c. Yea, ſome of the Heathen, upon the conſideration of the troubles of Man's Life, thought Mortality a Mercy, and like Solomon, praiſed the day of Death before the Birth-day, Eccleſ. 4.2. Optimum non naſci proximum mori, ſaith the Heathen, but little knew what the reſult would be: But a Chriſtian doubtleſs call'd out by God, ſhould not go unwillingly. Philpot the Martyr, returns thanks to God he was ſo near the Gate of Eternal Life; and who is it, that being toſſed with the Waves of Trouble, would not land in a Haven of Reſt? 'Tis a ſhame for a Chriſtian, when God gives a clear Call, to linger, with Lot, in Sodom, much more to look back, with Lot's Wife, till the Lord pluck them away by force, and deliver them whether they will or no. Thoſe that are weary of Sin or Suffering, ſhould ſay, as Samuel, Speak, Lord, for thy ſervant heareth. Miſtake not, I ſay not that Death is eligible, or any ſhould deſire it for its own ſake; no, we ſhould uſe all Lawful means to preſerve Life; but I reprove thoſe, that when the Will of God is manifeſt, that they ſhould dye, ſubmit ſo unwillingly. Hath the World been ſo kind to us, that now we cannot part? Or is our Portion here ſo good, that Heaven it ſelf cannot make us ſatisfaction? If we part with it, doubtleſs we have then had better dealing than our dear Redeemer met with. Are our Temptations ſo ſtrong, that we are ready, with the Young Man Demas, Judas, and many others, to break with Chriſt upon that account? 'Tis beſt to conſider well before hand, leſt we Repent too late. Hath God been training us up ſo long, and have we not yet learnt this …eſſon, to be willing to dye? Are we content to take this for our Portion? And will we rather ſtay p. 265in the Wilderneſs, than venture over this Jordan? Will the Fleſh-pots of Egypt give ſatisfaction as well as the Land of Canaan? If God were not more willing of us, than many of us are to go to him, we might be long abſent; we ſhould live long on this ſide Jordan, if he did not force us over. But though Death be not deſirable, is not the Preſence of God deſirable? Is not Heaven worth having? And is there any other way to it? We profeſs we believe there is a reward for the righteous, and a God that judgeth the earth; but do we not in our works deny it? The fear of Death diſcovers our Infidelity, and as our little Faith, ſo our little Love; either we proclaim that we queſtion whether there be a Reward, or whether we have any Intereſt in it, or it ſhews we have little love to it. If we believe it, and our Intereſt in it, is it not a wonder we are not impatient of enjoying it, and rather ſeek to ſhorten our Lives than prolong them by unlawful means? Did we love our Husband as we ſhould, we ſhould long for the time when he would fetch us. He may well ſay, as Delilah did to Samſon, How can you ſay you love me, when your hearts are not with me?

4. Conſider, If we chearfully ſubmit our Wills to the Will of God, and let him diſpoſe of us as he pleaſeth for Life or Death; and make a reſignation of our ſelves to God, and be willing to part with Life it ſelf, if he and his Cauſe require it, whether by a Natural or violent Death, we ſhall then part with it to the moſt Advantage imaginable; nay, 'tis the only way to ſave it, and to deny it unto God, is the way to loſe it, Mark 8.35. Whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it; and whoſoever ſhall loſe his life for my ſake and the Goſpel, ſhall ſave it: For what is a man profited if he gain p. 266the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul? Or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? We may read of many, that refuſing to lay down their Lives for Chriſt, have had their Lives taken from them, but loſt their Reward.

We read in the Book of Martyrs, of one Denton a Smith, that had made profeſſion of Religion, but being call'd to ſuffer, cried, The Fire is hot, I cannot burn; but within a ſhort time he was burnt in his own Houſe, and loſt both his Life and his Reward: And ſo ſhall thoſe that deny their Lives to God when he requires them. We may reſign our Lives into the hands of God, and ſo engage him to look to them, and take care of them, but we cannot reſcue them out of his Hands, or live longer than he determines, for we cannot breathe without him; and then what madneſs is it to ſtand in contention with him? If we loſe our Souls to ſave our Lives, we ſhall make a bad Bargain, for a Life ſaved by unlawful means will do us little good, for a Life in God's diſpleaſure is worſe than Death it ſelf, and a Death in his favor is the beginning of Eternal Life, and uſhers us into Eternal Happineſs. The Martyrs in the flames were aware of this, they cried out, None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt! 'Tis a dear Life that is bought with the loſs of Chriſt; he that exchanges his Soul for the World, will with the Rich man, Luk. 16. dye a Beggar, but will not be able to purchaſe one drop of Water; he that loſeth an immortal Soul purchaſeth an everliving Death; and is it not our Intereſt to look to the main Jewel? Where Self is renounced, the Croſs is eaſily born, for 'tis Self-love that makes it pinch us. When God bids us Yoke, 'tis our beſt way to ſubmit our Necks, for there is no ſtruggling out of his hands. p. 267God will not require our Lives to our hurt or damage, neither will it prove any Advantage to us if we deny them, for if we loſe them for his ſake, we ſhall find them; and if we would hide them from him, we ſhall loſe them, and Heaven to boot. He that lays down his Life when God requires it, will gain by the bargain; when Death ſtrips him of his Rags, 'tis to cloath him with Robes, and pulls down his Cottage to bring him to a Palace, 2 Pet. 1.14. 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know that if this earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. This (ſaith Latimer) is the Sweet-meats of the Feaſt of a good Conſcience; there are other dainty Diſhes, but this is the Banquet: The Soul wears the Body as a Garment, which when 'tis worn out, ſhall be clothed with a better Suit. There is no paſſing into Paradiſe, but under Death's flaming Sword; no coming to the City of God, but through his dark Vault and ſtrait Gate; no wiping all Tears from our Eyes, but with our Winding-ſheet. Our life is hid, ſaith the Apoſtle, with Chriſt in God, Col. 3.3. and therefore not loſt. And again he tells us, 2 Tim. 1, 2. I know whom I have believed, and I am perſwaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him againſt that day. Let him that died for my Soul (ſaith Luther) look to the Salvation of it. A Child that hath a precious Jewel cannot put it ſafer, than in his Father's hands; the like we may ſay of our Lives and Souls, if we'l have the keeping and diſpoſing of them our ſelves, the Devil will rook us out of them; but what is committed to God cannot be loſt; our Lives, though laid down for Chriſt, cannot be loſt in him, 'tis but as the Seed ſown, Life eternal will ſpring up p. 268in the turn; when temporal Life expires, eternal Life begins. My Father (ſaith Chriſt) is greater than all, and none can pluck them out of my Fathers hands, Joh. 10.29. There is nothing we can expend in God's Service, but he can make ſatisfaction; we may loſe all we have for him, but ſhall loſe nothing by him; if we deny to honour God, in letting God diſpoſe of our Lives, as to the time and manner of our Death, we ſhall loſe them for nothing. To live (ſaith Paul) is Chriſt, and to die is gain; he was in a ſtrait, whether to chuſe life or death, yet he knew to die was beſt for him, Phil. 1.21, &c. Janua vitae eſt porta coeli, (ſaith Bernard) Chriſtians ſhould be ſo indifferent whether they lived or died, as to ſubmit their wills wholly to God's will; to die for Chriſt is the way to a Crown of Martyrdom, and the way to reign with Chriſt is, to ſuffer with him; a Self-reſignation can do us no hurt, but much good, for if we are never call'd to ſuffer, we ſhall not loſe our Reward, God takes the will for the deed; as in Abraham's caſe; And if we do ſuffer for him, we ſhall reign with him, and have white robes, with palms in our hands, and follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goes, Rev. 12.11. & 7.9. And ſhall not we ſuffer ſomething for this Honour? or ſhall we after all this Profeſſion of Religion, declare to the World, that all was but Hypocriſie, and that we have more love to Sin and the World than we have to God? Is not this the way to diſhonour God, diſcredit Religion, harden Wicked men in Sin, and endanger our own Souls?

5 Conſ. In the laſt place, to make us more willing to dye, or to ſubmit to God's Will, whether for Life or Death, are the Joys, and Delights, and Pleaſures which believing Souls ſhall have in the Preſence of God, for ever and for ever, and that p. 269immediately after Death, for as then all tears ſhall be wiped away, and ſin and ſorrow ſhall be no more; ſo our Joys and Pleaſures ſhall then commence. 1 Joh. 3.2. Now we are the ſons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be, but we know when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Great things we have in Hand, but greater in Hope; much in Poſſeſſion, more in Reverſion; our Happineſs then will be in ſeeing and enjoying him, which we cannot do on this ſide Death, but what our Enjoyments ſhall be there, no mortal man can come to know, not the Apoſtle, who was caught up into the third Heaven, and heard unſpeakable words, that it was not lawful for a man to utter, 2 Cor. 12.4. Yet he tells us, 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not ſeen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for thoſe that love him. Yet he reſerves not all for the Life to come; ſome cluſters of Canaans Grapes are beſtowed in the Wilderneſs, ſome Piſgah-ſights of Glory on this ſide Jordan: But 'tis no wonder we cannot deſcribe the Joys of Heaven, when we are ſuch ſtrangers to many Secrets in Nature. In the World Believers have ſuch joy as no stranger ſhall meddle with, Prov. 14.10. The Cock on the Dunghil knows not the Worth of theſe Jewels, they are unſpeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. they are a Har…el of Heaven, and a Fore-taſte of Eternal Life, yea, ſuch as paſſeth all Underſtanding, fitter to be believed than to be expreſt, to which all the Comforts which the World affords ſignifie nothing; for what ſhall we compare with the Peace of a good Conſcience, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt? And yet this is but a ſmall taſt, a branch of Canaans Grapes, and nothing compared with what is behind, to be p. 270eternally enjoyed: But if the Saints Enjoyments ſo darkly reſemble Heavens Glory, what will the Epicure's Delights do, which they choſe for their Portion? Not ſo much reſemble it as a Muckhil doth the Sun in his Splendor. The Drunkard delights in his Cups, the Adulterer in his Queans, and this they look upon to be the chiefeſt Happineſs; the covetous man makes Gold his God; the ambitious man makes choice of that empty Bubble Honour, and the voluptuous man contents himſelf with Pleaſure; theſe are the Syren Songs the Devil lulls them aſleep with, while he ruines their Souls; theſe are the Circe's Charms, which tranſforms them into Swine, and makes them take up with Husks and Swill, and to neglect that Nectar and Ambroſia which the Saints feed upon. Have I need to ſhew, that Happineſe conſiſts not in theſe things? Is any ſo blind, upon conſideration, as to affirm it? Where is their Happineſs then, when their Cups and Queans are ſnatch'd, and all other their Enjoyment leave them? 'Tis true, Meat is delightful to the Hungry, and Drink to the Thirſty, Health to the Sick, and Strength to the Weak, but what is this to an hungring, thirſting, panting, weary Soul? Chriſt is better to it than all the World. Stately Buildings, curious Gardens, pleaſant Walks, and the reſt of the Delights of the Sons of Men, mentioned by Solomon, Eccl. 2.8, &c. how little ſatisfaction can they yield! they will prove but empty Husks, if we feed upon them, what are thoſe to thoſe Manſions of Glory provided for the Saints, and the Rivers of Pleaſures which are at the right hand of God for evermore. Yea, I dare ſay, many a poor Believer hath more ſolid Joy, more Hearts Content, more true Satisfaction, in his poor Cell, than many of thoſe in the midſt of all their Enjoyments: p. 271What then will their Enjoyments be in Heaven, when they ſhall receive their Portion? Human Learning alſo is deſirable, and more beautiful (ſaith Aeneas Sylvius) than the Morning or the Evening-Star. What hard Labour and Pains have many a man taken to find out Nature's Secret, and at beſt have but groaped in the dark! And many all … Myſtery there is in the Book of God, which no man living underſtands, the Scripture being like the Waters of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47.2, &c. where a Lamb might wade, and an Elephant might ſwim; but there our Ignorance ſhall vaniſh, and all thoſe difficulties diſappear, and we ſhall know as much of God himſelf as finite Capacities can comprehend: Now we ſee through a glaſs darkly, but then face to face; now we know but in part, but then ſhall know as we are known, 1 Cor. 13.12. & 2 Cor. 3.18. Here we can ſee but by reflection, for how can our Eyes behold God, that cannot view the Sun in its ſplendor? Moſes himſelf could but view his Back-ſide, and Paul was blinded with the Sight, but the Beatifical Viſion will not diſturb us. Now we behold the Works of God with admiration, the Sun, Moon and Stars, and all the Hoſt of Heaven, the Earth alſo hanged upon nothing, beautified with all Varieties, the Sea bounden and barr'd by him, and generally the whole Creation, theſe are beautiful Objects, and many inſcrurable Myſteries we underſtand not, but there we ſhall ſee and know far greater Myſteries in the Fabrick of Heaven it ſelf: His Works of Providence many times puts us to a puzzle, how he governs all the World, and preſerves Peace among ſo many diſagreeing Creatures, eſpecially how he preſerves his own Church amidſt their numerous Enemies, and makes Proviſion for p. 272all the works of his Hands; but when we are better acquainted with his Wiſdom and Power, theſe Wonders will ceaſe: The Work of Redemption, and the manner of contriving it, that he let fall the Angels irrecoverably, without hope of Redemption, the reaſon of his Electing Love, and why he made a difference, the Price that was paid the Blood of his only Son, may cauſe admiration, but when we know the whole Contrivance, we ſhall admire his Wiſdom. Oh, who would not long to be in that eſtate of Bleſſedneſs, where theſe and all things elſe ſhall be made known to us; which cannot be till Death?

Thus, Madam, I have made bold, haply too bold, to communicate to you my own Experiences, and with what Arguments I have quieted my ſelf under ſuch ſad Diſpenſations of Providence, as at preſent you lye under; and to ſhew you what improvement I have made, or at leaſtwiſe deſire to make of them; and I hope I may truly ſay, it was good for me that I was afflicted; and I wiſh you may experimentally ſay the ſame. I think I have learned more in the School of Affl ction, of the ſinfulneſs of Sin, of the Vanity of the Creature, of Worth of Grace, the Miſeries of the Wicked, and the Happineſs of the Godly, than ever I did in any other School whatſoever: And I wiſh you, and all your Relations, that are concerned in this Providence, may gain as much as I, yea, terque quaterque, manifold more. I do not write theſe things to you as if you were ignorant of them; no, I am too well acquainted with you, to be guilty of this Error; but the beſt of us, eſpecially when under a Cloud, and overpower'd with Grief, have need of a Remembrancer, to put … in mind of what before we knew. My humble Deſire is, and my Prayer ſhall be, that you and your Relations, by this Providence, and theſe O…ſervations upon it, may be brought nearer to GOD, weaned more from the World, and your ſelves fitter to live, and fitter to dye, that when you come to dye, you may have nothing to do but to dye, and reſign up your Souls into the Hands of God. Theſe are the unfeigned Deſires of,

Madam, your humble Servant, Edward Bury. Eaton, Apr. 16. 16…5.

End of the text · Edward Bury, Death Improved and Immoderate Sorrow Reproved (1693)