Saints Memorials, Part 9
SENTENTIAL TRUTHS, Written and Delivered BY Mr. IAMES IANEWAY Not long before his Death.
THe world in its best estate is made up of Vanities & troubles.
The lust of the flesh, 1 Joh. 2.16the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the World.
Faith, Hope and Patience desire help to lead the Soul out of Egypt, and conduct it through the Red-Sea and Wilderness.
The Spies are sent into Canaan, and bring good news out of that Land.
Faith sees Sihon, Og, and Amaleck discomfited, and their powers broken.
Faith goes to the Borders of the promised Land, to the very top of Pisga, and upon Mount Nebo; it sends love into Heaven to dwell there with the Lord for ever.
Heb. 11.32What shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, of Iephthah, of David, Samuel, and of the Prophets:
33.Who through faith subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of Lyons,
34.Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens.
Christians, Let us be zealous in our private and publike Prayers; in our Closet, and Family-devotions; so shall we not only enter into rest our selves, but shall teach the way to our Children, our Servants, and our Friends.
Be strictly careful that the gain of the world prove not the loss of your Souls.
Let your hearts be early and late with God.
Time is pretious, and of greater value than Gold.
Wherefore, let it be thy business and the delight of thy Soul, to seek and to serve God.
To seek and to serve here, is the way to be glorified in rejoycing and enjoying hereafter.
Wherefore begin betimes, and be not weary of well doing; for great is your reward.
Take hold of this present opportunity, lest the sloath of your heart, or the cares of this world, cause you to neglect and forget the prize that is set before you.
Unhappy are those poor Souls whose Portion is only in this world.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 1 Cor. 15.19.we are of all men most miserable.
The Cross of Christ is the Christians Crown; the Reproach of Christ is the Christian's Riches; and the Shame of Christ is his Glory.
Gal. 6.14.God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
In all your actions, let it be your practice to have a respect to your ends.
1 Sam. 2.3Talk not proudly, let not arrogancie come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of Knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
Strive to live above this lower Region, that no accidents may put you out of frame, nor disquiet your Soul.
Col. 3.2.Set your affections on things above, and not on the earth.
If I had the wings of a Dove, I would flie from the Winds, the Storms, and Tempests of this wicked world, and rest my self in the bosom of my Father.
Job 3.17.There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest.
To disparage Sin, and to incourage Holiness, is none of the least Works of a Minister of Christ.
The wicked may drink, roar, and swagger, and sell their pretious Souls for a moments joy, and make light of Damnation; but let them know, for all these things God will bring them to Iudgment: an eternity of intolerable sorrows must pay for their short pleasures.
Hence it is that the serious Christian makes it his business to avoid this dreadful misery; let the wicked please themselves in their sorrows, he knows 'tis but a little while, and all will be mended, and their minds changed.
He is willing to stay for his happiness and joys till he come to another world; and he doth not envy the wicked what they do enjoy, let them make the best of it.
The unseen world, which most forget, is always in the Christians eye; and if he may but live happily there, he passeth not if he run through reproaches, injuries, and a thousand Deaths, to that glorious and endless Life.
This is the grand Reason of the Christians patience; this makes him judge it no folly, but the greatest wisdom to keep the commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus.
Those which live like Devils, are not like to dye like Saints, that count all their time lost, they do him no service in; which make a jest of Damning, and are as merry within a step of Hell, as if it and a Tavern were alike.
And yet how well are wicked men pleased and contented with their own condition, and laugh at the Godly, as if it were a dangerous and mad thing to go to Heaven, and the truest happiness to be miserable for ever?
The Devil himself may as well expect to shake off his chains, and be restored to his lost glory, as they: O be not deceived; as you sow, so you must reap.
God gives this world oftentimes to his greatest Enemies; he gives glory in another world to none but his Friends and Children.
Nay, let me speak it freely; They which gain this world with their negligence of Heaven, shall at their death lose both.
Many that would be counted wise, drive a great Trade for that which is next to nothing; and that lay in no better provisions than Gravel, Clay, or Dung, when they are bound for Eternity.
They think they make a very wise Bargain, when they sell their Conscience, God, and Heaven, for a little of that which some call Riches.
O that I could but bring down the price of sublunary things, and raise the things of that other world to their true worth.
Think not meanly of Holiness; it's the most excellent thing, it is the greatest Riches, and man's highest Dignity.
He that knows the worth of Christ, and the nature of his own Soul, let him not envy those that swell like bladders upon water for a moment, and God puffs them off, and where are they?
How can they look for Heaven when they dye, that thought it not worth their minding whilst they lived?
Whatsoever men pursue below Christ, will yield them but little happiness and comfort in another world.
Not every one that wears Christ's Livery, shall have his Wages.
How many seeming Saints shall gain nothing at Death, but a thorow knowledge of their own folly?
O please not your self with fancies! Sickness and Death is coming, and then you will know better, the reason of my earnest pleading with you in this matter.
He that hath not got more than ever any Hypocrite could attain, or shall, will miss of Heaven.
The best of God's Children are most suspicious of themselves, and afraid of their own deceitful hearts; and their great request is, that God would deliver them from mistakes in matters of everlasting consequence.
It's a common thing for wicked men to carry their false peace along with them to the Grave.
How many thousands are there that dye like Lambs, that are but Swine, and have the Devils brand upon their foreheads?
Many are carried very quickly to Hell, and fear nothing till they feel; and are not brought to their sences, till unspeakable horrour and anguish doth it.
It hath not a little puzled some, as well as David, to see the wicked dye quietly, and the godly to have a strange death; but God will shortly resolve this Riddle.
That Soul which hath seen the death of Sin, is a person fit for death.
That man is like to be a gainer by Death, who contemns Earth, and makes Heaven his choice.
He that counts nothing worth the having, except Christ, and for Christ, cannot be miserable, when he is lodged safe in his imbraces.
God is oftentimes better, but never worse than his word; The running Christian shall at last obtain the Prize, and the Crown he fights for he shall wear.
What though the Vessel be tost and broke? it shall come safe with its rich Lading, to the desired Harbour.
O you foolish world, condemn not these spiritual wise Merchants, till you know what their returns are, when their burden is delivered.
He that is willing to dye for Christ, shall live as long as Christ lives, in happiness and rest.
Those Souls are out of Gun-shot, that are instrumental for the shaking the Kingdom of Satan, and weakning the interest of Hell in the world.
Who would not be a Christian in good earnest? sure none but a mad-man or a fool.
The highest Worldlings are below the meanest and lowest Child of God.
Christianity is a clear Demonstration of invisibles, witness the many earnests of their Profession. What warm refreshing Rays of Divine love break in upon their Souls what Joy, what Experiments, and blessed Intercourses have past betwixt God and such Souls! the fire hath burnt, and of a sudden the Soul hath, e're it was aware, been carried above the world.
The Spirit of Truth will not witness to a lye, neither will Goodness it self put a cheat upon poor creatures.
Balaam's wish may throughly convince sinners, that Holiness is no Madness, Piety no Fancie, and Religion no Delusion.
I am perswaded that all the Reprobates in Hell will one day justifie the Children of God for their seriousness, and wish a thousand times, that they had had their Scorns, Losses and Torments.
Well then, our Enemies themselves being Judges, an Israelite indeed is a person of true worth; and without controversie, his Estate is, and shall be comfortable, blessed, and glorious.
O Christian, as long as God is true, you shall not be deceived; as long as he is happy, you shall not be miserable: you are well enough, go on resolutely; 'tis but a little while, and you shall see all this, and more than this a thousand times.
Death will shortly tear off Ioshua's rags, and present him before the Lord without spot or wrinkle.
Sin indeed accompanies the wicked to another world; he rests from his pleasures, and his wicked works follow him.
But it is far otherwise with the godly; sin was his burden▪ and death shall unload him.
Sin shall be confin'd to Hell; Heaven entertains no such deformity.
This Tyrant shall no more inslave any of Christ's Subjects.
The house of Saul and the house of David shall no longer contend; that sad conflict between the Flesh and the Spirit, shall then be determined by a full Victory.
Death sets the Soul out of the Devils reach.
This Angel hath nothing to do in Heaven; this Serpent shall not come into the higher Paradise, nor Satan creep into this Eden.
O happy day, when will it come when the Devil shall be as unlike to tempt, as our hearts to close?
When we are got once safe to rest, the Devil shall as easily shake God's Throne, as our Happiness.
Death turns the key, and bolts and bars this Enemy out; then, O then thou shalt see this Pharaoh cast dead on the shore.
Christian, expect not as long as any of that Cainish Generation breath, that thou shouldest be long secure.
What though the world speak great words? thou shalt e're long ride in state to Glory; and then let them do their worst.
When thou art in Heaven, they may curse, and encrease their own misery, but they shall not in the least diminish thy tranquillity.
The beauty of this inferiour world will be darkned by the brightness of that light, which Death leads thee into.
Death blows the dust out of our eyes; it plucks off the vail, and shews us quickly the glory of both worlds.
What Pen can describe the Honour and Dignities of the Sons of God!
A Lazarus, in stead of Beggers, Cripples, and Dogs, had a guard of Angels waiting upon him.
These Chariots and Horse-men of Israel shall carry up Ioseph to his Fathers house.
The Souls of Believers are made perfect in Holiness at Death.
O then how glorious shall the Kings Daughter be, when her beauty is made perfect!
O my Soul! when will the shadows flee away? when will days and nights be all at an end?
When will time be spent, and the curtain drawn?
How should we think our selves, if our hearts were always as God would have them!
Well, be of good chear, in Mount Zion there shall be deliverance and holiness.
Who that understands this, would not bid death welcom!
That good Old Saint, Simeon, thought it a heaven upon earth to see Christ when his Majesty was vail'd.
This was but a small thing, compared to the sight which they shall see when their graces shall be compleat.
How will the Heavens eccho of joy, when the Bride, the Lambs Wife, shall come to dwell with her Husband for ever!
Christ is the desire of Nations, the joy of Angels, the delight of the Father.
What solace then must that Soul be filled with, that hath the Possession of him to all Eternity!
Is not his Love better than Wine, and a look of his Countenance to be preferred above Corn and Oyl?
Is not all the Glory of Heaven wrapt up in him?
I see now, it is not for nothing that the Virgins did love him.
What mean the world? sure they are dead, blinde, or mad.
Saints blessedness lies in this, that they shall meet with all the Children of God, and have communion with just men made perfect.
Death will bring you acquainted with all those famous Worthies, of whom the world was not worthy.
This Porter opens the door, and lets the Saints Soul into that Palace, where all the favorites of that great Prince reside.
What would I give to see Enoch, that walked with God?
How glad should I be to be acquainted with Elias!
How joyful, if I might have some discourse with Paul!
Would it not make one couragious in the cause of God, if one could hear Daniel, or the three Children, tell the Story of their deliverance?
How should one be pleased to have it from the mouth of Moses, Ioshuah, and Caleb, what God did for Israel in the fields of Ham, the Red-Sea, and the Wilderness? and how he brought them into the Land of Canaan.
Why? as formidable as death looks, it's he that brings us to the speech of all these.
How loth are we now to part, when a knot of us have got together, to talk about the things of another world!
Heaven hath in it none but Saints and Angels, and the blessed God.
O what acclamations of joy will there be, when all the children of God shall meet together, without fear of being disturbed by the Antichristian and Cainish Brood!
Is there not a time coming, when the godly may ask the wicked, What profit they have in their pleasures? what comfort in their greatness? and what fruit of all their labour?
They shall shortly know that nothing was lost, which was spent for their Souls and Heaven.
If you would be better satisfied what the Beatifical Vision means, my request is, That you would live holily, and go and see.
A further Addition is, that there is no fear of loosing of it; his Enemies can't rob him.
If the Grave were but lookt on as a chamber to rest in;
And if Faith could but take death to be but an undressing, to put on better Raiment; how contentedly then should we be uncloath'd, that we might be cloathed with Immortality!
And if the case be so, what a good condition is the dead Saint in!
Lazarus his Resurrection was no cheat; many of the Saints arose, and Christ is risen.
O what kinde of Greeting will these two old Companions have, when they see one another in another world!
Never let any grutch to serve God chearfully: They which have received their wages, will say that the service of God is not unprofitable.
But heaven is not got with a wet finger: few run so as to obtain, few fight so as to conquer.
Lazie wishes and a hazard will not do for Heaven.
They that dye in sin, must be buried in Hell.
Who would be afraid of everlasting rest?
It is our trifling with God that makes the thoughts of our appearing before him to be so dreadful.
How can you live within a few inches of Death, and look the King of Terrour in the face every day, without some well-grounded evidence of your Interest in God's love?
What will become of the careless ones of the world, that think little of Death, and less of Eternity!