A Sovereign Antidote Against the Fear of Death, To the reader
To the READER.
Reader,
WHoever thou art, I here preſent thee with a bundle of my Thoughts, when I apprehended my ſelf ſtanding upon the brink of Eternity: What entertainment they will find with thee I know not, or what thy preſent thoughts of Death are I cannot tell; but had thy Soul ſtood in my Souls ſtead, when I apprehended Death at the door, if thy Eyes had been opened, and thy Conſcience awakened, haply thy thoughts might have been like mine; eſpecially if thou believe there is a God, a Devil, a Heaven, and a Hell, that the Soul is Immortal, and the Scripture the Word of God, (pardon the ſuppoſition, for ſome deny the whole, and moſt men live as if they did not believe it;) but whatever thy preſent thoughts be, if thou art unregenerate, thy future thoughts will ſhew thee thy folly, and thou wilt have time enough to wiſh thou hadſt neglected thy Eaſe, Honour, Pleaſure, Grandure, yea, thy life it ſelf, to have made thy peace with thy God, and made preparation for Eternity; for this preparation would have made thee dye never the ſooner, nor the neglect of it have made thy life the longer; whether thou art prepared or no, Death will make a very great change, when Eternity is an addition to thy weal or woe: If prepared, Death cannot hurt thee, for it hath loſt his ſting; if not, it cannot benefit thee, for it terminates thy happineſs, and dates thy miſery; the godly ſhall never have no more Suffering, becauſe they have no more ſin; the wicked, as they are never weary of ſin, ſo God will never be weary of puniſhing: Haply thou maiſt live in great miſery here, and thinkeſt Death will ſet thee at liberty, but if thou art in an unregenerate condition, 'tis but leaping out of the Frying-pan into the fire, from Temporal Troubles to Eternal Torments, which are ten thouſand times worſe; and is it not then time to be ſerious? and haply thou art young and ſtrong, and thinkeſt thou maiſt live many a fair day yet; but what aſſurance haſt, when younger and ſtronger are gone before thee? Job 21.23, &c.In Job's days ſuch as thee have dyed, and ſo they do ſtill; One dyes (ſaith he) in his full ſtrength, being wholly in peace and quietneſs, his Breaſts are full of Milk, and his bones are moiſtned with Marrow: And another dyes in the bitteeneſs of his Soul, and never eateth with pleaſure: Some dye in the Zenith or heighth of their perfection, in the higheſt degree of worldly Proſperity, having abundance of good blood and freſh ſpirits, even compaſſed in their Fat, Pſal. 17.10as the Pſalmiſt hath it; for a full Belly many times makes a foul heart, and moſt weeds grow in the fatteſt ſoil; and experience teacheth, that preſent health and ſtrength are no aſſurance of a long life; Amos 6.3.think not becauſe thou putteſt far from thee the evil day in thy thoughts, that therefore 'tis really at a great diſtance: It follows not that becauſe thou winkeſt and wilt not ſee Death, therefore Death is blind and cannot ſee thee: No, No, he is ſtealing upon thee at unawares, tacito pede, with a ſwift but ſilent foot, and if he arreſt thee before thou haſt made thy peace with the Creditor, Mat. 5.26thou wilt be caſt into Priſon till thou haſt paid the utmoſt Farthing. Our time-waſting Gallants that ſpend their time idly, or worſe than in doing nothing, will one day find the Bill of their accounts many fathoms longer than they imagined; then they will ſet a greater eſtimate upon time than now they do, and willingly would they redeem their loſt hours (which now they know not how to paſs away) at a high rate, but it will not be; now they ſet Death at defiance, and meet it half way, and haſten it by their Intemperance, Drinking, Whoring, or ſhorten their lives in a Drunken Fray, or Whores Quarrel; but when Death comes in good earneſt, Dan. 5.5.it will ſeem as terrible as Belſhazzers hand-writing upon the wall, make their hearts to ake, and their joints to tremble; eſpecially did they know the conſequences of Death, they would not be ſuch prodigals of their lives, or did they mind their work which they have to do, they would not be ſuch Prodigals of their time they ſhould do it in, and would think it went away faſt enough without driving: Oh! how a little time will alter theſe mens Judgments then their Feathers and Fancies will be laid aſide, when they ſtand upon Chriſts left hand, and all their wealth will not purchaſe one drop of water to cool their tongues: 'Tis not then a Baalams wiſh will ſerve turn, nor a Lord have Mercy upon me, Mal. 7.22. & 25.11.will do their work; Lord, Lord, open to us, will not prevail; thoſe are not like to receive the reward of the Righteous, that perſecute them for righteouſneſs ſake: Then they will befool themſelves as faſt as now they befool others wiſer than themſelves: Then they ſhall change their minds, and ſigh for grief, and ſay, Wiſd. 5.3. &c.This is he that we ſometimes had in deriſion, and in a Parable of Reproach; we Fools thought his life Madneſs, and his End without honour; now he is reckoned among the Children of God, and his Portion is among the Saints, &c. What hath Pride profited us? or what hath Riches with our Vaunting brought us? all theſe things are paſſed away like a Shadow, and as a Poſt that paſſeth by, &c. Then our proudeſt Gallants willingly would be found in the garb or Faſhion now they diſdain and deride: Now they call thoſe Fools that deny themſelves, their Eaſe, their Pleaſure, or Carnal Intereſt for Conſcience ſake; but then they will befool themſelves for chooſing Pebbles before Pearls, Earth before Heaven, and the Creature before God; for theſe things will prove but a pitiful Portion when there is moſt need. Now they think Heaven is held at a dear rate, and they will not come up to the price; but then they'l know that it was ſold at a cheap rate, when they parted with it for a luſt, and that the World was bought too dear when they gave the Soul for it: Mat. 16.26.Now like Damocles they feaſt themſelves without fear, and ſee not the Sword that hangs over their heads, ready every moment to pierce into their Brains, and end their lives with their dinner. Now they prize their honour more than their honeſty, and conſider not, that if the foundation of honour be not laid in Vertue, the building cannot ſtand; for thoſe that lay the foundation in a ſhadow, the building is but like a Caſtle built in the air, and will ſoon fall about their Ears; but that honour is laſting where God is the top of the Kin, and Religion lyes at the bottom.
But to paſs over this, I ſhall give you ſome account of my preſent undertaking. Some there are that think Books of this nature are unſeaſonable, eſpecially to our youthful Gallants, becauſe it ſpoils their Mirth, and they have time enough to think of ſuch things hereafter; and they cannot endure to have their Enemy brought upon the Stage, for this ſpoils the Play: But to this I anſwer, A young Sheep-skin is brought to the Market as ſoon as an old; and I ſee not but the Gentry die as well as others; yea many by Intemperance haſten their own death; and when the Diſeaſe is common, why ſhould not the Remedy? 'Tis like enough theſe will not have time to read this, from their neceſſary Recreation; but this is no fault of mine, 'tis doubt they will want time for other things alſo: but thoſe that will not give themſelves the trouble, 'tis doubt will ere long meet with trouble of another nature. Others may think the Book uſeleſs, becauſe many have treated upon this Subject: To theſe I anſwer, The more ſhame they are practiſed no better. It was indeed Solons complaint, That there were many good Laws made, but one was wanting to put all the reſt in execution: So many good Rules for Life and Death are publiſhed, but could a Book be publiſhed to perſwade men to live by theſe Rules, it would be a happy work. I am not ſo vain or ſimple to think this may prove ſuch a piece, yet I know not what better Subject to treat of, that is more likely to prevail, than a Treatiſe of Death, to perſwade men to practiſe the Rules of Life: for thoſe that put far from them the evil day, are moſt like to neglect their daily Duty; and what hitherto is written, ſeems too little to effect the work, and therefore I have added my Teſtimony to the reſt. I know 'tis eaſie for Momus to quarrel and find fault with another mans Tale, when perhaps he may tell it worſe himſelf; 'tis eaſier to find fault with another, than to be free from faults himſelf: Thoſe that have done better, or will do better, I ſhall give them their due reſpect; for others, I ſhall not value their cenſure; what I have done hath pleaſed my ſelf, and the work was undertaken for my ſelf, and I hope I ſhall not diſpleaſe any ſober or diſcreet perſon; but for thoſe that God, his Word, his Works, or his Providences cannot pleaſe, I neither hope nor deſire to pleaſe: what I have done is intended for a Cordial for thoſe that have Death in their eyes, and the Fear of God in their hearts, and theſe uſually have better Stomachs than to nauſeate their meat, becauſe not modiſhly dreſt; thoſe I mean that have Gods beautyſpots, not the Worlds upon them; I mean Grace in the heart, not Spots on the face, to adorn them and make them lovely in the eyes of God and good men; 'tis theſe I ſpeak to: As for thoſe that take the World for their Portion, and therefore are loth to leave it, I ſhall not envy them, but pity them, their Portion is little worth; for Nobleneſs of Blood, Greatneſs of Birth, Crowns and Kingdoms, ſhine not ſo bright as the Image of God in poor Lazarus at the Gate, or Job upon the Dunghil; for Grace is better than a thouſand Eſcutcheons, for theſe are but empty badges of Honour.
I have only two ſorts of perſons here to ſpeak to: The firſt are poor Deſponding Chriſtians, that though they have right to and Intereſt in Chriſt and Glory, yet are under ſome black and direful apprehenſions of Death; and though they would willingly live to God, and if required dye for God, yet are not out of fear of Death: To theſe I have ſpoke unto moſt in the Book, and and therefore ſhall ſay little to them in the Epiſtle: The other ſort are ſuch, that though they would dye the Death of the Righteous, and have the righteous mans reward, yet are they loth to live their-lives; they would have the wages, but none of the work; they would dye happily, but will not live holily; they would land in Heaven, but they ſail the contrary way; they will not go into the Vineyard, and yet expect their penny at night: ſuch as theſe haply are afraid of Death, and well they may, for it will ſpeak no good to them, but evil, as Ahab ſaid of Micaiah: Now I have ſaid but a little to thoſe in the Book, for it was not my buſineſs, and therefore I ſhall ſpeak the more to them in the Epiſtle; not that I have any comfort for them in this Condition, but only this, that there is a poſſibility to get out, and therefore would willingly lend them my hand to help them …ut; and therefore I ſhall reach out ſome Directions, which if they take, they will …e capable of the comfort the Book it ſelf holds forth, and the Directions are theſe that follow.
1. Direction. If you would look Death in the Face with comfort, get your Corruptions mortified, and the power of ſin abated, for til then Death will be an Enemy: there is nothing that makes Death terrible, but unpardoned unmortified ſin; an honeſt man can look the Judge in the face without fear, when the Malefactor trembles. Paul could triumphantly inſult over it: 1 Cor. 15.54, 55, 56, 57.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, but thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: You ſee ſin is the ſting of Death, and what hurt can the Serpent do that hath no Sting? what a bold challenge was this to Death? as if Paul had ſaid, Death, do thy worſt, I fear thee not: In like manner Ambroſe could ſay, I am not aſhamed to live, nor afraid to dye: and Ann Askew the Martyr, in her Confeſſion, … neither wiſh for Death, neither do I fear it. As Chriſt hath not taken away ſin it ſelf but the guilt of it, ſo hath he not take… away Death it ſelf the conſequent of ſin but the ſting of it, ſo that every godly ma… may ſay with the Martyr, Kill me it may hurt me it cannot, the worſt it can do, is b… to ſend me to my Fathers houſe the ſooner; but to others the Serpent is dangerous, and his ſting deadly, for if ſin dye not the Soul cannot live: 'tis true, ſome there be that ſeem to brave Death to his Face, but this ſhews an ignorant mind, and a ſeared Conſcience, and an hard heart; for 'tis impoſſible, if the Conſcience be awake, that a man ſhould look into Hell, yea leap into it, without horror: Death to ſuch (if their eyes be open) will be terrible, yea of all Terribles the moſt terrible, ſaith a Heathen; yea the King of Terrors, ſaith Bildad, Job 18.14. yea, and as experience tells us, the Terror of Kings: Nothing can make Death look terrible but unpardoned ſin; till therefore this Pardon be obtained, your condition is damnable, till you have aſſurance of it, it will be uncomfortable: Now Faith and Repentance have the Promiſe of Pardon and Eternal Life, and the want of this will make you liable to Eternal Death; Luk. 16.16He that believeth and is Baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be Damned. He that confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſin, ſhall find Mercy: Leave off therefore luſting after Riches, Honours and Pleaſures, and ſpend your time in minding your main Intereſt, fight againſt ſin which is your greateſt Enemy; for if ſin dye not before you, your Souls muſt dye: 'tis not enough to quarrel ſ… but you muſt kill it; 'tis not enough to co… feſs it, but you muſt forſake it; 'tis … enough to rail againſt it, but you muſt ha… it with an irreconcileable hatred, a… ſhake hands with it, and give it a bill … Divorce; and well you may, for it is y… implacable Enemy, and the cauſe of … your miſery, and will be the cauſe of yo… Eternal Damnation if you repent not of … This is it that arms Death againſt you, … when 'tis mortified and ſubdued it will … pardoned, and when it is pardoned, De… may buzze about your ears like a D… Bee but cannot ſting you; by ſtinging Ch… he loſt his ſting, that he cannot ſting … of Chriſts faithful people: Hence man… the Martyrs went as chearfully to dye a… dine, and accounted their Dying-day t… Wedding-day, as indeed it is to all Bel… ers; for in this life they are betroathe… Chriſt, and at their Death the Mar… will be conſummate, and they ſhall for… enjoy their Beloved, and be Eter… lodged in his Boſom: Oh the madne… the men of the World, who lodge this pent ſin in their Boſom, which break… match between Chriſt and the Soul.
2. Direct. There is another Enemy that muſt be overcome as well as ſin, or will not dye chearfully and happily, and that is the World; for till it be overcome and crucified, a man is not fit to dye, neither can he be willing to dye; Gal. 6.14.for who can willingly part with what he loves? By Chriſt (ſaith the Apoſtle) I am Crucified to the World, and the World to me; the world and he were at a point, there was no love loſt; the World mattered him not, and he mattered the World as little; they were each to other as a dead Carkaſs, offenſive and unſavoury; and though the World ſhould lay many Temptations before him, it would ſignifie no more than if they were preſented to a dead man; though ſhe draw forth her two breaſts of Profit and Pleaſure, he ſcorns to ſuck at ſuch botches, he looks upon it as a dead thing, and behaves himſelf as dead to it: He had learned to want and to abound, and in every Eſtate to be content, and therefore mattered not her Superfluities, and for Neceſſaries he knew he ſhould not want them: A proſperous Eſtate could not make him ſurfeit, nor a wanting Eſtate repine; he was ſemper idem, alwayes the ſame; as Job upon the Throne and upon the Dunghill, he ſtill keeps his Integrity, he wears the world about him as a looſe Garment, ready to caſt off upon all occaſions, and he is at a point with all things under the Sun; if he may keep them with a good Conſcience he is content; if not, he is content alſo; and it behooves others that would look Death in the face with comfort, to learn this leſſon; for if the affections cloſe with the World, 'tis impoſſible Death ſhould be either ſafe or comfortable: ſafe it cannot be, for it makes a man break his peace with God; for two ſuch Maſters as God and Mammon no man can ſerve; Mat. 6.24.for if he love the one, he will deſpiſe the other: Jam. 4.4.Know you not (ſaith the Apoſtle) that the friendſhip of the World; is Enmity to God? Whoſoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, will be an Enemy to God: 1 John 2.15.And again, Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World, if any man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him: Thoſe that goe a Whoring from God to the Creature, and woe this vile Strumpet the World, are very unfit to be received into the boſom of Chriſt; have it we may, uſe it we muſt, as a Traveller doth his Staff, ſo far as 'tis helpful, but love it we muſt not, if we will not renounce the love of God; a man may allow his wife a Servant to wait upon her, but not to lodg in her boſom: the love of the World is Enmity with the Lord, Enmity both active and paſſive; it makes a man both to hate God, and to be hated by God; he cannot be eſpouſed to the World, but he muſt be divorced from God; ſee this in Judas, in Demas, in Demetrius, in Ahab; he will have Naboath's Vineyard, or he will have his blood, though he loſe his Soul for it; Col. 3.2.wiſe therefore was the Apoſtles Counſel, to ſet our affections on things above, and not on the Earth: Things on Earth are mutable and momentary, ſubject to vanity or violence, when things above are as the dayes of Heaven and run parllael with the Life of God, and line of Eternity; and as the love of the World makes a man dye unſafely, putting him out of a capacity of eternal happineſs, ſo it makes him dye uncomfortably alſo: for who can willingly part with a preſent good, for a future uncertainty; with a thing he loves, for he knows not what? If the World ſeem a Pearl in his eye, he will not let it goe if he have no aſſurance of a better: Mat. 19.22ſee this in the young man in the Goſpel, that would not exchange Earth for Heaven, nor the Creature for God, that parted with Chriſt whom he pretended to love, rather than with his Eſtate which he did love: Oh World! how doſt thou bewitch thy greateſt admirers! how doſt thou deceive thoſe that truſt in thee! But could we ſee the worth of Heaven, or had we but a Piſgah-ſight of the Heavenly Canaan, we ſhould ſoon make Moſes's choice: but the blind Moles of the World think God holds it at too dear a rate, and if he will not abate he may keep it to himſelf; ſome indeed while Religion is in credit will follow the Cry, yet reſolve they will, never loſe by it; as the Young man before mentioned, who came to Chriſt haſtily but went away heavily: the world breaks many a match between Chriſt and the Soul, by bidding more as they think than God doth; but it will fail in the payment: but he that forſakes not all for Chriſt, cannot be his Diſciple; the leſſon I know is hard, but neceſſary, and there is a great reaſon it ſhould be ſo; when we look upon the World as our chiefeſt Jewel, we are loth to throw it over-board; but when we ſee the Vanity, Emptineſs, yea Nothingneſs that is in it, and can have recourſe to a better Treaſure, we ſhall not matter it; while we look upon it as our chiefeſt Treaſure, we ſhall be unwilling to part with it; but when by the eye of Faith we can ſee better Treaſure beyond Death, and obſerve how little good it can do us at Death; or after, when we have moſt need, we ſhall not much value it: For indeed it proves like a buſh of Thorns, the harder we graſp it, the more deeply it wounds; and when by Experience we find, that no Content, Satisfaction or Happineſs is to be had in the enjoyment, we ſhall not much trouble at the loſs: In a word, while the World is admired, Death is hated, but when Heaven is in our eye, Death looks more lovely. If ever therefore you would dye Happily and Comfortably, beware of letting out your affections upon the World, for you will never be willing to leave what you love, nor to pay ſo dear for Chriſt and Heaven till you affect them better.
3 Direct. If you would dye happily, then redeeem your Time carefully, make preparation for a dying time, and take heed of loſing time, and ſpending it in vain; he that would win the Race, will ſet out with the firſt, and hold on to the laſt, and take all the advantages that are offered in the way; he that hath much work to do, and that of great concern, muſt not loſe the Morning, or if he do, muſt ply it hard the reſt of the day: You will find all your time that is allotted you little enough for the work you have to do, and not an hour to ſpare to ſpend in idleneſs; for delays and Idleneſs are the two Gulphs wherein many Souls are drown'd: Many when they are young, depending upon and truſting to their Youth, their health and ſtrength, ſend Repentance thirty years before, and 'tis odds they never overtake it; many young men go to Hell that thought to repent when they were old, and many old men that thought they might have lived a little longer. Many are reſolved to ſpend their youthful dayes in the Devils ſervice, and then ſtop Gods mouth with the Blind and the Lame, but he ſeldom takes up with a death-bed Repentance from thoſe that purpoſely put him off to the laſt; he uſually reckons with ſuch miſpenders of time for the Talents he hath lent them, and payes them off, not with a Penny but a Priſon; for he expects what he hath given us to glorifie him, ſhould be that way improved; upon this little inch of time Eternity doth depend, our Everlaſting well or ill being, and therefore 'tis too precious to be ſpent in vanity and folly; and how then dare you ſpend a day, an hour vainly in an Alehouſe or other Vanity, and not know whether you have another hour or day to live? I have read of a Gentlewoman, that uſually ſpent her time in Cards and Dice, and other unneceſſary Recreations; and coming from her Sport late in the night, found her Maid reading, (for ſhe was godly,) and caſting her eye upon the Book, reproved her thus: Thou poor melancholy Soul, what alwayes reading, and ſpending thy time thus; wilt thou take no comfort in thy life? And ſo paſſing into her Chamber went to bed, but could not ſleep, but ſigh and groan; her Maid lying in the room with her, demanded the reaſon of it, and whether ſhe was well? Fox, Time and the End of Time, p. 70.She replyed, She had read the word Eternity in her Book, which had ſo pierced her heart, that ſhe believed ſhe ſhould never ſleep more till ſhe had ſome better aſſurance of her Eternal condition: And if this word Eternity were but well conſidered, it might ſend our time-waſting Gallants trembling home from their Sports; but God hath hid theſe things from their eyes. There are more than thoſe guilty, though few more guilty; there is many a man that is a good Husband for the World, and careleſs in nothing but in matters relating to his Soul; he can obſerve Times and Seaſons for Plowing and Manuring of his ground, Seed-time and Harveſt ſhall not be neglected, not the meaneſt Beaſt but ſhall be heeded, his Garden, Orchard, &c. ſhall be fenced, pruned, manured, weeded and preſerved, his Houſe well furniſhed, and Proviſion prepared, and yet his Soul altogether neglected, and neither Food nor Raiment prepared for it: for this life he is carefull that neither he nor his Poſterity ſhall want, and yet hath no care for the Life to come; he can go from Fair to Market to prepare for the Body, and matters not the Harveſt Seaſon or Market-day for the Soul. The Mariners that obſerve the Wind and Tide, yet neglect the ſweet gales of the Spirit of God, when they blow upon the Soul, and would waft them Heavenward, and help them forward to their Journeys end, to the deſired Port. The Devil by his diligence condemns us, for where his work is, Latimer 1 Pet. 5.8.there is he; he is no Non-reſident, but alwayes in his Dioceſs: He goes about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour: And ſhall we not be as vigilant to ſave our Souls, as he to deſtroy them? if he find us idle, he will ſoon imploy us. The heart of man is a Mill that will be alwayes grinding, if not Gods Wheat, then the Devils Tares: If the Devil ſpend all his time to deceive us, we ſhould ſpend all our time to prevent him: All the time we have is little enough, and there is none to ſpare, and what is paſt is irrecoverably gone, though we could give a world of Treaſure for an inch of time: Now if you would redeem time, beware of thoſe great devourers of Time, which uſually ſteal away a great part, ſuch as vain and idle Thoughts; how much of our time is this way conſumed! many an hour which might have been better ſpent, viz. in the Contemplation of God, of Chriſt, of Heaven, of Glory, is ſpent in roving vain imaginations, which bring no profit, do no good, and tend to no benefit. Yea, worldly thoughts and cares take up alſo a great part of our time; 'tis true, the World muſt have ſome of our thoughts and time, but moſt men make a bad diviſion between God and it, they let the World run away with his part as well as their own; yea much of that Sacred time ſet a part for a better uſe; yea many times amidſt our Religious duties the heart is ſtole away by the World; Idleneſs alſo conſumes much, many enter not into the Vineyard till the eleventh hour, and then mind not their work, but their Wages; vain and unprofitable Diſcourſe alſo is a Thief, and ſteals away much of our time, and many idle and unneceſſary Viſits alſo; and when all this is deducted, 'tis no wonder there is but little left for our grand buſineſs: to theſe may be added, immoderate lying in Bed, vain and time ſpending Dreſſings and Attirings, the whole Mornings work to our Female Gallants; immoderate and unneceſſary Recreations, which ſome make all the Calling they follow, Drinking, Tipling, and what not? but if theſe, in this their idle expence of time, ſhould ask themſelves this queſtion, Which of the Eternities lye before them? and to which of them they are going? it might ſpoil their ſport; for when Death hath ſtruck his ſtroak, the Soul is in a ſtated condition, which Eternity it ſelf cannot alter; and ſeriouſly, 'tis one of the ſaddeſt ſights in the World, to a man apprehenſive of the danger, to ſee an unconverted man fetch his laſt breath, and lanching forth into an infinite Ocean of boiling Lead and burning Brimſtone; for the avoiding of that, take time while time ſerves, and loſe not that Prodigally that cannot be redeemed with the whole World.
4 Direction. The next thing I would adviſe you to, which indeed is the chief of all, is to get an Intereſt in Chriſt, that ſo you may have a title to Glory; for till this be had, you cannot dye ſafely, and till it be cleared up, you cannot dye comfortably; for who would leave a preſent Poſſeſſion, that hath no aſſurance of a future? and when this is done, Death will not be terrible. But what can bear up the Soul againſt the pangs of Death, if this be wanting? Now the way to get an Intereſt in Chriſt, is to eſpouſe the Soul to him; now there is nothing but Ignorance can ſtave off our affections from him: ignotus nulla cupido; The blind World can ſee no Excellency in him, no need of him, nor any uſe of him, and therefore they have no love nor deſire for him: but all that know him, will love him; who prizeth a Phyſician that is not convinc'd of his skill, and finds he hath a real need of him? for who will take Phyſick before he be ſick? or minds a Plaiſter before he have a Sore? But when the poor ſoul is convinced of her undone condition by Nature, and that there is nothing in her, or that can be done by her, will ſerve turn for Salvation; yea, that help is not to be had in any Creature, no not in the Angels themſelves could ſhe be Eſpouſed to them; for they cannot pay her debts, nor ſecure the Soul; in this deſparing condition, no wonder the Soul dreads death; but when it knows withall, that though there be an Emptineſs in the Creature, there is a Fulneſs in Chriſt, and that he is fully able to make her eternally happy; and that Chriſt doth make love to her, and ſends many Suitors in his behalf, to woe for her affection, and that he is the only ſuitable object in the world for her Affections, and that he can make her happy, when all the reſt would leave her miſerable: I ſay under theſe convictions ſhe begins to hearken to Chriſts propoſals, when ſhe ſees he is more uſeful than any other, and will ſtand her in more ſtead both in Proſperity and Adverſity, in Health, Sickneſs, in Life and at Death, when all other helps fail her: While the world is lookt upon to be the beſt match, Chriſt will not be valued, till the cheat be found out; for who will forſake the better to chooſe the worſe? but when they ſee Chriſt really better than the world, they will then part with the world for him; for who will ſtick at ſuch a bargain, when a man conſiders that the world can do him no good at Death or Judgment; But Godlineſs hath the promiſe of this life, 1 Tim. 4.8.and that to come; and that it is profitable to all things; Rom. 8.32.and that having Chriſt, all ſhall be ours; for if he ſpared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not with him freely give us all things? When the match is made up between Chriſt and the Soul, all her Debts are made over to her Husband, and he is touched alſo with the feeling of her Infirmities, bears the heavier end of the Croſs, and in all her afflictions, he is afflicted; Iſa. 63.9.and he makes over all his riches to her, his Merits, his Righteouſneſs, his Spirit, his Graces, and his Glory; Plal. 34.10.he hath promiſed ſhe ſhall want nothing that is good, and that he will never leave her nor forſake her, Rom. 8.28.and that all things ſhall work together for her good: Now whatever he hath promiſed, he can make it good; for he is both Omnipotent, and Omniſcient, and he will make it good, for he is Faithfull, and the Experience of five thouſand years prove it, in all which time no man could ſtand forth and ſay, This Promiſe God hath failed in; the world yields us ſome little comfort if God give it a Commiſſion; but Chriſt is all and in all; all the excellency that is in the Creature, is but as a Vein to lead us to this Mine, as a drop of this Ocean, and as a ray of this Sun; whatever our condition be, he can help us; if the Soul be ſick, he is her Phyſician, and all others are Phyſicians of no value; if wounded, he hath a Plaiſter of his own Blood to cure her; if ſhe hunger, here is food, the Bread of life, and the Water of life; his fleſh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; If ſhe be Poor, and Blind, and Miſerable, and Naked, he can make ſupplies; here is a Treaſure to enrich her, a Pearl of great price, and ſpiritual Eye-ſalve to make her ſee; if ſhe have Enemies he is her Champion, that can overcome the Devil and all his Inſtruments, and none can hurt her but through his ſides: In a word, ſhe can want nothing when her Lord and Husband poſſeſſes all things; the Cattle of a thouſand hills are his, yea all the beaſts of the Forreſt; with his own Robes he arrayes her, and with the Jewels of his Grace he adorns her, with his Spirit he directs her; and if heavy laden, bears her burden; if ſhe be weary, he is her reſting place, and hath promiſed never to leave her nor forſake her; Heb. 13.5.and then no matter what others do: Theſe promiſes the Soul may preſs home by Prayer, as Jacob did in a great danger; Gen. 32.9.Lord, thou ſaidſt thou wouldſt do me good; and this was as good as preſent pay, for God loves to be bound by his word, and to be ſued upon his own bond: Prayer is a putting the Promiſes in Suit; God can no more deny ſuch Prayers, than he can deny himſelf: what need the Soul to fear when Gods Word is out upon it, That all things ſhall work together for her good? and if all things, then Afflictions, nay Sin it ſelf: Seneca.Venenum aliquando pro remedio fuit, ſaith a Heathen. 'Tis ſaid, that to drink of the Wine wherein a Viper hath been drowned, cureth the Leproſie, and the Scorpion healeth his own wound, the fleſh of the Viper cureth the biting of the Viper; and ſo God ſometimes cureth us by the wound Sin gives us: we uſually ſay, The act increaſeth the habit, but 'tis not ſo here; for the believer is like a Sheep, that by his fall into the mire is warned to take better heed. Now look over all the World, and ſee if you can find ſuch a match for the Soul, whether any Creature in Heaven or Earth hath deſerved thy Affections better than he, or hath done more, or will do more than Jeſus Chriſt; that is a greater Benefactor than he, and hath beſtowed better Gifts; whether any other can pay thy Debts, or make preparation for the Eternal well-being of the Soul; and if he prove the fitteſt Match, ſtand not upon Terms with him, think not to alter his Conditions, or make him abate of his Price; he expects neither Money nor Moneysworth; worth with thee as a Dowry, yet will he make thee the largeſt Joynture; his Covenants will be, only to carry thy ſelf to him as a loving and obedient Wife ought to do to her Husband, to love him above all, to obey all his Commands, and to ſubmit thy ſelf to his diſpoſe; leave the Sin he forbids, do the Duties he commands, and forſake all others for his ſake; reſolve thus to do, give up thy ſelf thus to him and thou needeſt not fear death, for it cannot hurt thee; for 'tis but his Purſivant he ſends to fetch thee home to his Fathers houſe, where all things are made ready for thy Marriage with the Lamb: when thou canſt ſay, Cant. 6.3.My beloved is mine, and I am his, thou art fit to Live and fit to Dye, and not till then: ſuch a man that hath gotten a full gripe of Chriſt, is ſure that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, Rom. 8.38.nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor Heighth, nor Depth, nor any other Creature, ſhall be able to ſeperate him from the Love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: 1 Cor. 6.17.for he that is joined to the Lord is one ſpirit; As truely one as thoſe members are one Body, that are animated by the ſame Soul, or as Husband and Wife are one fleſh: All that I am and have, ſaith the Soul, is his, and all he hath is mine; he that hath this full aſſurance of Faith, looks death undauntedly in the face, and goes gallantly to Heaven.
5 Direct. If you would Dye well, your way is to Live well, for a holy life alwayes ends in an happy death; Heb. 12.14and a ſinfull life, if true repentance prevent not, alwayes hath a Tragical end; for without holineſs no man ſhall ſee God; and how can ſuch a man think then to come to Heaven, when the beatifical viſion of God is Heaven it ſelf? but no unclean thing, Rev. 21.27 1 Cor. 6.10no unrighteouſs perſon ſhall ever enter there; no dirty Dog ſhall tread upon that pavement: As the tree falleth ſo it lyeth, Eccleſ. 11.3.and as death leaves us, ſo Judgment ſhall find us: Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatſoever a man ſoweth that ſhall he alſo reap; Gal. 6.7.for he that ſoweth to the fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption, but he that ſoweth to the Spirit ſhall of the Spirit reap Life everlaſting: He that ſails towards Hell, is not like to land in the Port of Heaven if he change not his courſe; the way of Sin is the direct road to Hell, and thoſe that follow the broad Way, will ere long enter the wide Gate; but the way to Heaven is narrow, and the gate ſtrait; he that ſwims down the ſtream, is not like to find the fountain-head; and he that goes down the hill, is not like to come to the top; but moſt men, like dead Fiſh, ſwim down the ſtream, even into the dead Sea of Eternal perdition: Exo. 23.2Take heed therefore of following a multitude to do evil, for the way to Hell is Broad and well trodden; beware of evil Company, leſt thou learn to ſwear with Joſeph, to curſe with Peter, but be couragious for Heaven, and valiant for the Truth. 'Tis better go to Heaven alone, than to Hell with company; to be with Noah in the Ark, than with all the World in the Flood: the way of Holineſs I know is not in faſhion, but 'tis never the more to be ſhunned for the ſmall company that walks in it; nor is the way of wickedneſs the more eligible becauſe 'tis thronged: the way of Holineſs haply may ſeem rugged and perplexed by reaſon of the ſtumbling-blocks laid in it, 1 Sam. 14.4 13.like unto that of Jonathans and his Armor-bearers way, that had ſharp rocks on either ſide, that they were forced to go upon hands and feet, yet conſider it leads to Happineſs; and who will not take pains for profit? Sic petitur Coelum ſed facilis deſcenſus averni: Heaven is got by pains and patience, but a man may wink and go to Hell: To come to Heaven, Opus eſt pulveris non pulvinaris, (as one ſaith:) thoſe that trade in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, are moſt likely to treaſure up Happineſs; thoſe that live uprightly to men, holily to God, and walk, as Zachary ſaith, Lu. 1.75.in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs before him all the dayes of their lives, men may befool them, but God will never condemn them; theſe men never need to fear Death, or any Meſſenger God ſends; Act. 23.1. & 24.16.the that hath made his peace with God, and with Paul keeps a Conſcience void of offence towards God and towards Men, though he may meet with troubles in his life, he ſhall meet with Comfort at death; when thoſe that think to dance with the Devil all day and Sup with Chriſt at night, to do the Devils work and to receive Gods wages, that will not enter into the Vineyard and yet expect the penny, will find themſelves under a great miſtake: for his ſervants you are to whom you obey, and from him you work for you may expect wages: you will find at laſt, that a Lord have mercy upon you will not ſerve turn: Mat. 7.21, 22.Not every one that ſaith unto me, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven: many will ſay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not propheſied in thy name, and in thy name caſt out Devils, and in thy Name done many wonderful works, and then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity. The like we ſee by the fooliſh Virgins, that cried, Lord, Lord, open to us, but the door was ſhut againſt them and they kept out: ſuch mens hope will prove like the Spiders-web, or the giving up the Ghoſt, and but ſerve them as Abſaloms Mule did him, bring them to deſtruction and there leave them: yet many verbal Profeſſors we have, that if Heaven will be had for fair words will have it, but this is their beſt bid; as Epictetus complained in his time, That many would be Philoſophers as far as a few good words would go, but no further; but it be thoſe, and thoſe alone that make Chriſtianity their daily trade, and to pleaſe God their great deſign, that are worthy the name of Chriſtians: when the heart is upright God accepts the Sacrifice, as he did Abels; when the heart is rotten he diſowns it, as he did Cains: Thoſe flyblown Sacrifices, ſuch as the Phariſees offered, will not down with God: But when the chief deſign is to glorifie God, Mat. 6.1. &c.and that with a perfect heart, like Joſiahs, with ſuch Sacrifices God is well pleaſed; ſuch a man, though he may loſe ſomething for Chriſt, will never loſe any thing by Chriſt; death which ſets a period to other mens happineſs, will ſet an end to his miſery; thoſe only that live a holy life, can rationally expect a happy death.
6 Direct. If you would dye willingly and happily, learn with the Apoſtle to dye daily; have death alwayes in your eye, the ſtrangeneſs of death makes it ſo terrible. The Fox in the Fable that had never before ſeen a Lion, trembles at the firſt ſight, but after grew more bold: thoſe that go firſt to Sea, are uſually more timerous in ſtorms and tempeſts than the Ancient Mariners: ſudden danger more ſurprizeth, when expected trouble is better born. Death is ſtealing upon us whether we mind it or no, and nothing more diſcovers our folly and madneſs than to neglect our watch when we are beſieged by our Enemy, and know he intends to ſurprize us; to put far off the evil day when we know not but it is ready to dawn. 'Tis a folly for a Tenant to forget his Rent day, and then think his Landlord hath forgotten it alſo; or for a Malefactor to forget the day appointed for his Execution: 'tis a folly for a needy man to forget the Market or Fair, where he ſhould have ſupplyed his wants, Death is no Jeſting matter, but a real thing, and will make a real change both to good and bad as to the Body; for haply both may ſay the next day to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worm thou art my mother and my ſiſter: then muſt they leave behind all their earthly Glory, and worldly Pomp, their friends and Relations, their pleaſant Houſes, yea Crowns and Kingdoms if they do enjoy them, and all their earthly comforts they enjoyed, and muſt march down to the Chambers of Death, and make their graves in the duſt: but with the Soul is a greater change, either they muſt go to everlaſting Torments, or endleſs Joyes; and ſhould not ſuch a change be minded? did the greateſt Prince upon earth, or our time-waſting Gallants conſider, it would ſpoil their ſport; did a Malefactor know that in a few dayes he ſhould be dragg'd to Execution, would he take no notice of it, but ſpend his time as idly as before? and ſhall we only be unconcerned? they know in a few dayes, and they know not in how few, Eternity will ſhut her mouth upon them, and then their ſouls will be in a ſtated caſe, never to be changed. Oh what a prodigious Creature is a hard hearted Sinner! and how ſenceleſs is many a profane wretch, that know not but the night following their ſouls may be required of them, and yet regard it not; that feel this houſe of clay mouldering about their ears, and provide for no other Habitation; that ſenſibly feel Deaths approaches by the many darts he throwes at them, and yet need to be minded that they muſt dye: the wiſeſt Virgins had ſomething to do againſt the Bridegroom came, though they had Oyl in their Veſſels, yet their Lamps muſt be trimmed, but the Foolliſh wanted Oyl to trimme them, and yet ſlept: the beſt of Saints ſhould have their Loins girded, and be in a Centinel poſture againſt the coming of their Lord and Maſter, and ſet themſelves in order for ſo great a change; were a mean woman to be married to ſome mighty Prince, ſhe would make ſome preparation againſt the Wedding-day; but 'tis the worſt of ſinners that leaſt think of death, though they have moſt need, all the ſpectacles of mortality without, nor Monitors of mortality within, cannot make them mind their latter end. Thoſe ſhould be like to Jonathans Arrows to David, warn them of approaching danger; our Children that riſe up in our ſtead, and tread out our foot-ſteps, tell us that we are marching off the Stage, and they are coming in our room to act their parts. The Sun never ſets but it may mind us of our latter end, and that now one day more is paſt of our determined number of dayes that we had to live: 'tis good therefore to conſider whether we are a days Journey nearer Heaven than we were in the morning, or what work we have done in reference to Eternity; every Bell that tolls may mind us of our Paſſing-bell; every time the Clock ſtrikes, or the Glaſs is run out, may mind us how our time haſts away, and our death approaches; every breath we fetch, or every time our Pulſe beats, may mind us of death, for the number of them is determined as well as the number of our months: Job. 14.5.Did men certainly know they ſhould dye within a month, what a change would there be in the world? who then would mind earthly greatneſs or indulge his luſt, which yet thoſe that are not ſure of a day do eagerly purſue? If you would dye happily, think on death to prepare for it; if comfortably, think on it to be acquainted with it.
7 Direction. It is not enough meerly to think of death, but you muſt alſo prepare for it; for the former is neceſſary in order to the latter: this preparation is your great Concern, the very buſineſs of your lives: God did not ſend you into the world as Leviathan into the Seas, to play therein, neither meerly to cark and care, to moil and toil, and drudge for the world; you were made for an higher end, and ſent into the world upon another Errant, to make proviſion for your immortal ſouls: ſome may think this work is difficult, and ſo it is to fleſh and blood, and croſs to our carnal intereſt, but 'tis neceſſary, and the neglect dangerous: were but your houſes on fire, we need not uſe many words to perſwade you to quench them, though there were difficulty and danger in the enterprize; or were your lives in danger, you would endure hardſhip to ſave them; were you in danger of drowning, you would lay hold upon every twig, and take any offered advantage to eſcape; were your Eſtates in danger, you would ſpare no pains nor coſt to clear it up; were but one of your beaſts, though but a Sheep or Swine, in danger, you would ſeek for help; and is the immortal Soul only to be neglected? There are none but thoſe that deny there is a God, a Devil, a Heaven or a Hell, or that think the Soul is mortal and ſhall dye with the body, and that the Scriptures are not Gods Word, but muſt needs confeſs there is great danger in dying unprepared, or in an unregenerate condition, and yet few live accordingly: but whatever men think, Hell will prove a real miſery, and Heaven a real Happineſs, and our Atheiſt will ere long be convinc'd of it to purpoſe: Luk. 16.God will be true, though every man be a lyar. The rich Glutton found to his full conviction, that Hell was no ſcarecrow, nor Gods Threats no Bugbear, but real things; and we have many in our Age far worſe then he is there deſcribed, that yet have blind hopes it ſhall be well with them: and if theſe things be real, ſhould not we be ſerious about them? is not Heaven worth having, and Hell worth the avoiding; and the ſoul worth ſaving? we are ſerious about the things of the world, and much more ſhould we be to ſave our lives, and are Salvation and Damnation trifles not fit to be regarded? one year or month may make a great alteration in our Families or Neighbourhood, and many now living may then be dead and landed in Eternity, that thought they might have lived longer: ſometimes death ſtrikes the Child in the womb, when he ſpares him that ſtoopeth through Age, and this may be your caſe for ought you know. This was Jeruſalems fault and ruine, She remembred not her latter end, Lam. 1.9.therefore ſhe came down wonderfully; and many I fear dye of her diſeaſe. Now though our life is ſhort, and time uncertain, yet our work is great, and of great Concernment, and requires time to do it in; and thoſe that conſider it well, know we have no time to ſpare, all is little enough for our work; and thoſe that have been Prodigals of their time, have found their miſtake when it hath been too late. We are in a race, and run for our lives, and ſhall we not ſet out with the firſt, and hold on to the laſt, and uſe our utmoſt diligence in the way? if we turn aſide, or turn back, or ſlack our pace, or ſit down, we are never like to win the prize; we ſtake our Souls to Heaven, and therefore 'tis for no ſmall wager; if we run well, heaven is ours; if not, the Soul our chiefeſt Jewel is loſt; we have a great deal of work to do, and Night draws on; and the ſhadows of the Evening are ſtretched out, and when night comes no man can work; and is it not time to be up and doing? moſt men are bewildred in the dark, and loſe themſelves with their reward, and miſs their way, or fall ſhort of their deſired Journeys end, and this will be our caſe if we prevent it not; for the way is difficult, and delayes as well as miſtakes are dangerous. Many that have wit enough to get an Eſtate, yea to deceive and to circumvent their Brethren, have yet been deceived themſelves in this their great concern; yea many that have made a great profeſſion of Religion, and have directed others, and have been their guides, for want of a guide have miſcarried themſelves, and loſt their way: thoſe that have lived under the powerful means of Grace, and performed many duties, and preacht and prayed, and thought themſelves wiſer than others, and caſt their ground, and thought to go a nearer way to Heaven than others, yet have been loſt, and never came to the place they aimed at. Thoſe that have exhorted others to take heed, have loſt themſelves for want of heed; and though they have been confident in the way, have yet miſs'd of the way; and is it time for us that never arriv'd to that heighth to ſit ſtill and venture: there is but a little between us and death, and if death cut the thred of our lives before our peace be made with God, we are paſt remedy; for if once we fall into that gulph of Eternity, there is no getting out, we ſhall never find bank nor bottom: As the tree falls ſo it lyes, all the world cannot turn it; and if the Soul miſcarry, our caſe will be worſe than the beaſt that periſheth; for as now men are never weary of ſinning, then God will be never weary of puniſhing, and all the racks, tortures and torments in the world will not equalize the torments of a miſcarrying Soul: but if we are prepared for death, have made our peace with God, and evened our Accounts with him, have eſpouſed the Soul to Chriſt, and cleared up our Evidences for Heaven, 'tis not the Devil, nor his Inſtruments, 'tis not death, nor him that hath the power of death, nay 'tis not Hell it ſelf that can hinder a Believers happineſs: for Aſſurance of Gods love will bear up the heart above water, and keep it from deſponding or ſinking even under the pangs of death. 2 Tim. 1.12I know (ſaith Paul) whom I have Believed, and I am perſwaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him againſt that day. And again, Rom. 8.38 39.I am perſwaded that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other Creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the Love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
8 Direct. For Preparation, 'tis neceſſary to put your Hearts as well as your Houſes in order, nay 'tis much more neceſſary: if you would reform, begin at the right end; if you reform the heart the reſt will follow, but all other reformation ſignifies little without it: the way to kill a Tree is not to lop off here a Bough, and there a Branch, but to ſtub it up by the root; and to deſtroy the tree of Sin, is not to be lopping off here one, and there another, but root up the whole; which will be done if the heart be reformed: 'tis not the Stream but the Fountain we muſt cleanſe, if we will have clean water; the other will prove but labour in vain. Prov. 4.23.Keep the heart with all deligence (ſaith Solomon,) for out of it are the iſſues of life: Quod ſanitas in corpore, id ſanctitas in corde: if a Diſeaſe ſtrike to the heart 'tis dangerous, but if the heart be ſound there is hopes; if the Spring be clear the water will purge it ſelf, Job 31.1.if that be infected or polluted 'tis in vain to purge the Stream: Eccleſ. 5.1.'tis true, the Eye, the Foot, the Hand, muſt be heeded, but if the heart be not firſt Regulated, theſe will not be kept in order; the Eye will be full of Adultery, and the Hand ſwift to ſhed blood; for out of the heart proceed murders, Mat. 18.8.adulterycs, &c. Look to the heart, and the heart will look to the reſt. The heart of man is of ſo great a Concern, that it hath many Suitors; the world yields many of them; Riches, Honour, Pleaſure, woe for the Affection, and ſeldom but one of theſe prevail; Pro. 23.26.and ſpiritual Powers make ſuit alſo; God ſaith, My Son give me thy heart, and happy are we if we give our conſent: as the heart is defiled he will have none of it, and till it be renewed he will own nothing that man doth, nor any Sacrifice he Offereth; God ſends many a Meſſenger to wo for it, and many a time he ſtriveth by his own Spirit to win it, and many a Love Token he ſends to oblige it, and many a promiſe he makes to win upon it: The Devil alſo contends more for it than about the Body of Moſes, for that is imagined to be but in reference to it, he owns it as his by nature, and would fain keep the poſſeſſion, for while he keeps this fort all is ſafe; he can give the eyes, ears, the tongue their liberty, if the heart be his he matters not, his Priſoner is ſecure; and to keep poſſeſſion of the heart a thouſand ſnares are laid in the way, and if any make an eſcape he ſends out Hue and cry after them, ſtirs up all his Inſtruments to bring them back again; ſets ſome to reproach them, ſome to perſwade them, yea ſome to flatter, ſome to threaten, and ſome to perſecute: for he knows the heart is the Maſter-wheel that guides all the reſt; for a man is denominated good or bad according as his heart is either good or bad; this is the Shop wherein good or bad wares are forged: Mat. 2.35.'tis fons boni vel pec…andi origo, the Fountain of good, or the Spring of evil: if there be a principle of life there, the actions are pleaſing to God; if not, they are but dead works. A carnal heart is a Stewes or Shambles, a place whence unclean and cruel thoughts are produced, the forge where wicked thoughts are framed, the Mint where they are coined, the very Anvil upon which all Sin is forged, an Augean Stable for Filthineſs: the heart is the Temple wherein Gods Ark or the Devils Dagon are placed, Gal. 4.7.and worſhipped; 'tis the Palace wherein dwelleth, the Throne wherein ſitteth the King of Glory, or the Prince of darkneſs: Eph. 2.2….for the Devil works and acts in a wicked heart, as a Smith doth in his Forge, or an Artificer in his Shop, what he pleaſeth, without controul; theſe two Princes cannot ſit in the ſame Throne, or rule in the ſame heart; theſe two Maſters cannot be ſerved by the ſame man, their commands are ſo different, thoſe that love the one will deſpiſe the other, and if one be obeyed the other muſt be neglected; he that gets poſſeſſion of the heart is our Maſter, for we may know it by our obedience: If Chriſt rule there, the Devils kingdom muſt down, and if the Devil rules, Chriſt will be gone: now his ſervants ye are to whom ye obey; the heart is the fountain out of which all water flows, whether ſweet or bitter, Mat. 7.26.and therefore it concerns us to ſee it be not defiled: It is a Tree, and we may know whether it be good or no by the fruit; By the fruit (ſaith Chriſt,) ye ſhall know them: 'Tis a Treaſury out of which good or evil things are brought; 'tis the primum mobile, that ſets all the reſt in motion, and gives motion to the inferior Orbs; the hand, the eye, the foot, the tongue, are all moved by it, either in a direct or irregular motion: 'Tis the chief Monarch in the Iſle of man, that gives Laws and Commands to all the reſt: 'Tis like the Treble in a Viol, if this be in tune, the other are ſoon ordered; if out, the Muſick is ſpoil'd; 'tis the ſpring or Maſter-wheel of all the curious Clock-work of the Soul, and ſets all the reſt in motion: This is it that denominates an action good or bad, as it differenced between Cains ſacrifice and Abels, and the faſtings, prayers, and alms of the Phariſees, and of the Apoſtles. The more of the heart is in the ſin, the greater is the aggravation, but the more of the heart is in a duty, the better God accepts it. Where the heart goes not along with the ſin, God will pardon it, but if the heart go not along with the duty he will not own it: weak performances are accepted where the heart is right, glorious actions are abominable where the heart is rotten. Now the heart by nature is polluted, and muſt be cleanſed; it is deceitful, and if not lookt to will betray us; and when the heart is polluted the whole man is defiled, and till this be cleanſed a man is neither fit to live, nor fit to dye, nor after death to come to Judgment. Get therefore the heart purified by Faith, or never think to dye comfortably or happily.
9 Direction. As the Heart muſt be purged from ſin, ſo 'tis neceſſary that it be repleniſhed with Grace, for without this you can neither dye a happy nor comfortable death; for theſe are the Divine qualifications which God hath made neceſſary to ſalvation; this is the Oyl which the wiſe Virgins had in their Veſſels, Mat. 25.4. &c.their Hearts, which the fooliſh did want, and therefore were ſhut out of the Bridechamber: This is the wedding-garment, without which you will be bound hand and foot, Mat. 22.1.and caſt into outer darkneſs; this is the Sheep-mark of Chriſt, thoſe that have it he will own, and place them at his right hand, when all other like reprobate Goats ſhall be ſet on the left; This is the Ticket, whoſoever hath it ſhall be admitted into Heaven, and whoſoever hath it not Heaven gates will be ſhut againſt him; now how can that man be happy or comfortable in death, that hath not this Oyl, this Wedding-garment, this Sheep-mark, nor this Ticket; that hath nothing to ſhew for Heaven and happineſs, or why he ſhould not go to Hell and miſery? Theſe Graces are the Jemmes and Jewels that adorn the Spouſe of Chriſt, and make her amiable in his eyes; this is the differencing badge between the Children of God, and the men of the World, that ſhall have their portion in the Lake that burns with fire and brimſtone: Theſe, theſe are the Evidences Believers have for Heaven, and by theſe it is they hold God to his bargain; for he hath told them, he that believeth ſhall be ſaved, and he that believeth not ſhall be condemned: This is the witneſs of the Spirit, for 'tis the Spirit that worketh thoſe graces in the ſoul, and alſo enables the Soul to read them thus written in the heart, by the Spirit; and ſo the Spirit witneſſeth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God. Now can any man willingly leave a preſent Inheritance, that hath no aſſurance of any for the future? Holineſs is the Image of God, the Livery that all that go to Heaven are clad with, and though now it be out of faſhion, at death our greateſt Gallants would willingly be found in this Livery; yea Balaam himſelf would dye the death of the righteous, though he liked not his life; other Jewels adorn the Body, but this adorns the Soul, theſe have this excellent vertue, they make a man live holily and dy happily, none can miſcarry that wear them; theſe make men dye ſecurely, but it is alſo requiſite that they know they have them, for ſometimes Believers loſe their comforts for want of clearing up their Evidences for Heaven; 'tis neceſſary that a man have grace, and 'tis comfortable to know he hath it; to have it in the habit ſufficeth not, if he act it not: he muſt not only have faith, but he muſt live by faith, and by faith ſuck ſweetneſs from the promiſes: this will make a man look death in the face undauntedly; this grace will aſſure a man that life and death will prove advantagious to him, and that God and his departing ſoul are at peace, and that the Covenant remains firm even in the Grave it ſelf; this makes a man look even beyond death it ſelf, and ſee the Crown of glory, the recompence of reward before him, and aſſures him death will do him more good than hurt, that it will ſet an end to his miſery, and beginning to his happineſs, and that when death hath ſtruck the ſtroak, the Angels will carry the Soul into Abrahams boſom, yea lodge it in the Arms of their dear Redeemer. Theſe apprehenſions made Paul to deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, and the Martyrs to be ſo willing to dye, and ſo chearfully to go to the ſtake: Love to God alſo is another grace which much ſweetens the very thoughts of death; indeed this ſweetens the ſharpeſt paſſage of Providence, when we think, this is my Fathers will, whom I love, and who loves me, and knows beſt what is for my good; yea death it ſelf ſhall be welcome when 'tis a Meſſenger from him I love, to fetch me home to his boſom: what will not a loving Wife ſuffer to enjoy her beloved Husband? love deſires the ſtricteſt union, and moſt intimate communion with the party beloved, but this the Soul cannot obtain but by Death: O ſaith the Soul, now I lye under the hatches, troubled with a thouſand infirmities, I can ſeldom have a glimpſe of Chriſt here; well, the time is at hand that I ſhall ſee him face to face, and enjoy him in glory, where I ſhall ſerve him without diſtraction, and never be troubled more with vain thoughts or roving imaginations, or any of Satans temptations: Oh when will this time be! The other graces of the Spirit are alſo neceſſary to this end, to ſweeten death, ſuch as Knowledge, Repentance, Obedience, Humility, Self-denial, Patience, Hope, &c. of which I ſhall not ſpeak particularly. Now the Promiſes are made to theſe graces not only of this life but of that to come; among the reſt of the good things promiſed, is Heaven and Happineſs, but what is a carnal man the better for theſe promiſes, that is not qualified for them? but when by Faith we can ſee this Crown of glory, and ſee our Names written upon it, and get a Piſgah-ſight of this heavenly Canaan, we ſhall willingly venture over this Jordan, and encounter all the Sons of Anak we meet in our way, and not fear what Man, what Devils, what Death can do unto us: get theſe Graces in exerciſe, and you need not fear Fire and Faggot.
10 Direction. That you may thus empty the heart of ſin and wickedneſs, and repleniſh it with Grace and godlineſs, that ſo you may be fit to live and fit to dye, and fit to live with Chriſt-for ever, 'tis fit and neceſſary you take Gods way; for it cannot be done by your own ſtrength. Improve therefore all the means which God hath afforded you for this end; for thoſe that refuſe the means ſeldom attain the end. Improve his Word and Ordinances; theſe are the appointed means, however ſome ſcorn at them, and ſome think they are above them, but thoſe that go not this way ſeldom come to Heaven. In the Word are given Rules how to live, and how to dye, and how to behave ourſelves in all Conditions; here is Oyl to be had, and thoſe that neglect will be to ſeek when the Bridegroom comes. Thoſe that now neglect the Wedding-garment, will want it when they have occaſion to uſe it, and ſo be thruſt out of the Bride-chamber. This Word of God ſhould be our daily ſtudy, for here are directions both for life and death, and none but thoſe that are bad Husbands for the ſoul, will neglect it: here are the precious Promiſes which are our Fathers Legacy, out of which the Soul by Faith ſucks ſweetneſs, which are ſpecial Cordials againſt fainting fits, which bear up the head above water, and the heart in all ſtorms and tempeſts: here is direction in Heavens way, yea way-marks ſet up that we ſhould not erre nor wander; here you may find what qualifications God requires in his ſervants, and what Evidences for Heaven are good and authentick, and what God will own another day; and if by the help of the Spirit you can read them in your own hearts, as in a counter pane, there is no better Evidence for Heaven, no greater Cordial in the world to bear up the heart: here you may find comforts and conſolatious in all your conditions, and if you walk in this road you will meet with much help and aſſiſtance, yea many companions in your Journey: here you have the Spirit of God both to direct and comfort you, and who can erre that hath ſuch a guide, or droop that hath ſuch a comforter? here you ſhall hear a voice behind you ſaying, this is the way walk in it, turn not to the right hand or to the left: here you have the aſſiſtance of Gods Miniſters to direct you, but take heed of quenching the motions of his Spirit, or abuſing his Meſſengers, leſt his Spirit leave ſtriving with you, and God take away his Meſſengers in his anger: here you may find many that have walked the ſame way, met with the ſame troubles, ſuffered the ſame afflictions, temptations, croſſes and loſſes as you do, and yet have born it with patience, and overcome it with conſtancy and comfort; here you may know the worſt that death can do to you is for your advantage, if you love God, for ſuch death cannot hurt; kill you it may, hurt you it cannot; the worſt it can do is but to ſend you to your Fathers houſe the ſooner. Meditate therefore upon this Word of God, and alſo upon the Attributes of God, and this muſt needs ſupport you under ſufferings. Meditate alſo upon mans Mortality to quicken you in your pace, of the Worlds vanity and emptineſs to make you ſlight it, and the fulneſs of Chriſt to make you to deſire him. The Meditation of death will not make you dye ſooner, but ſafer, and the Promiſes will yield ſweetneſs even in the pangs of death; for death is to the godly but as a Purſivant to fetch them to Heaven, and his wiſdom, power, holineſs, juſtice, goodneſs, and truth, are Cordials alſo, and will help to keep the heart from fainting and deſponding; and will ſhield the Spirits againſt all croſſes and afflictions they ſhall meet with: and by Meditation in the Word, you may learn the happineſs of the godly, and the miſeries of the wicked, and what will be the end of both; yea you may find there what are the pains of Hell, and the Joyes of Heaven, and theſe may be uſed as motives to a holy life: Prayer alſo is an excellent duty to prepare for death; by this God is engaged to help at a time of need: Chriſtian Conference alſo is another help, wherein one fire-ſtick helps to inkindle another, till all come into a flame. Now thoſe that are conſtant and faithful in theſe and the reſt of the Ordinances and means God hath appointed to this end, are likelyeſt to have the qualifications before mentioned, and thoſe thus qualified need not fear death; thoſe that walk evenly with God in Proſperity, are moſt like to hold out in Adverſity, Heb. 2.14.and need not fear death, nor him that hath the power of death, the Devil. The more faithful and conſtant any one is in the Trade of Godlineſs, the more Aſſurance he may have of a happy death, and joyful Reſurrection; and what hinders then but a chearful reſigning our ſelves to death when God calls? a man will not willingly reſign up his old Leaſe till he have aſſurance of a better: but who will not leave a Cottage for a Palace, or exchange an old Suit for a new, Rags for Robes? when aſſurance of Heaven is got, no wonder if earth be contemned; for who will not change a Temporal Life for Life Eternal?
And thus, (Courteous Reader) if thou art prepared, I have ſpoken to thee in the Book, if not in the Epiſtle, wherein I have given thee ſome direction how thou maiſt be prepared, and how thou maiſt come to be fit to live, and fit to dye, and fit to lye in the Arms of Chriſt for ever: What effect the Book will have upon the one, or the Directions on the other, I know not; but my deſire is, and my Prayer ſhall be, that it may be beneficial both to the one, and to the other: This will be your own advantage, but the comfort of him who ſubſcribes himſelf.
Yours for your Souls good, Edward Bury. Eaton, Octob. 23. 1680.