The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 21
CHAP. 21.
The ninth Conſolation, Death ſhall deliver us from Sin, which we may ſee Reigning in the World, and from the Reliques of our Corruption.
WHen God ſent Angels from Heaven to lead Lot out of Sodom, and to draw him out of the Flames with which he intended to deſtroy that abominable City; this good Man's Wife could not but look back; but ſhe was in that very moment ſufficiently puniſhed, for ſhe was turned into a Pillar of Salt. The Emblem of that Holy Prudence that this example recommends to poſterity; The cauſe of this unhappy Womans breaking the Angels expreſs Command, was her conſideration of the Riches, Plenty, and Pleaſures of that Countrey which ſhe had left, not thinking upon the baſeneſs, filth, and abominable Vices that brought God's Wrath and Vengeance upon the unworthy Inhabitants: Likewiſe, when God intends to take us out of the World, and to ſecure us from the ſence of his dreadful judgements; that which cauſeth us to look back, and hinders us from following the Angels that God ſends unto us, to lead us up to the Mountain of our Salvation; are our thoughts and affections for the Riches, Honors, and Pleaſures of this wretched World, whereas we ſhould then fix our minds upon the ſins that govern here below, wherewith we are defiled, whilſt we remain in this corrupted Fleſh.
Chriſtian Souls, will you prepare your ſelves to go to God? and do you wiſh that Death would comfort and rejoyce your Hearts, inſtead of afflicting them. Caſt your Eyes upon thoſe dreadful Vices that are ſo uſual, under which, the whole Creation groans, as under an heavy burden. O good God, in what age are we born? an age like that of Noah, for all the Earth hath corrupted its ways, Gen. 6. nothing but a deluge of Fire is able to purge it. There was never more Injuſtice, more Perfidiouſneſs, Treachery, Debauchery, Inſolency, and Envy; never more Vanity, Luxury, Pride, Cruelty, Blaſphemies, Impiety, and Atheiſm; we may juſtly apply to our days, that which the Prophet. Hoſea ſaid of the corruption of his time, There is no Truth, no Mercy, nor Knowledge of God in the Land; there is nothing but Swearing, Lying, Killing, Stealing, and committing Adultery; they break out, and bloud toucheth bloud, Hoſ. 4. Therefore we have good cauſe to make David's Prayer, Help Lord, for the Godly man ceaſeth, for the faithful fail from among the Children of Men. They ſpeak vanity, every one with his neighbor, with flattering Lips, and with a double Heart do they ſpeak, Pſal. 12. O wicked World, a World overflowing with Iniquity, a ſink of Impurity, a burning Furnace, heated with the impure flames of the bottomleſs Pit, and choakt with the ſmoak of Hell. But ſin reigns not only in this wretched World, but it defaces alſo the Church of God, and cauſeth moſt fearful diſorders amongſt thoſe that bear the Glorious name of Chriſtians; they were antiently to be diſcerned from the reſt of the World, by their Speech, Converſation, and Behaviour; but the Devil hath wonderfully debauched them, he hath blotted out God's Image in their Souls, he hath taken from them that noble diſtinction, and removed far away all difference between them and the World; we cannot with juſtice ſay to moſt Chriſtians of our age, as was ſaid to the Apoſtle St. Peter, Thy ſpeech bewrayeth thee. Nor to appropriate to them, what Iſaac ſaid of one of his Sons, Thy voice is the voice of Jacob, but thou haſt the hands of Eſau; for they have both the Voice and Hands of prophane Eſau, they ſpeak and live as he did, they publiſh their crimes with a brazen face, and endeavour to glory in their ſhame; the Air is infected with their prophane and dirty Language, with their impudent Lying, with their fearful Oaths, and grievous Blaſphemies, and the Earth is defiled with their horrid Sins, and abominable Crimes. Covetouſneſs, Ambition, Luſt, and all manner of Vices, have mounted upon the Throne; they Act and Command in a furious manner in every place; They that have in their mouths the Holy Name of the Lord Jeſus, and that make profeſſion of following his Sacred Footſteps, give us good cauſe to take up again St. Paul's lamentation and complaint, Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Croſs of Chriſt, whoſe end is deſtruction, whoſe God is their belly, and whoſe glory is in their ſhame, who mind earthly things, Phil. 3.
If we ſhould ſeek in theſe days, for the Chriſtian Vertues, where ſhall we find Faith, Hope, and Charity? where ſhall we meet with Righteouſneſs, Fidelity, Holineſs, Innocence, Goodneſs, Meekneſs, Humility, Patience, Piety, and Devotion. You Daughters of Heaven, what is become of you? we cannot ſee any more your Angelical countenance, we are ſo far from beholding the delightful Beams of your Divine Preſence, that we cannot ſpy out any of your Footſteps upon Earth. You may therefore underſtand, Chriſtians, thereby, that the Son of God is at hand, for iniquity abounds, Charity grows cold, and there is no more faith upon Earth.
In the midſt of ſuch a woful Corruption, who of us doth afflict his Soul, as Righteous Lot? who weeps day and night, as David, a Man after God's own Heart? where can we ſpy out the Fountains of Tears of the Prophet Jeremiah? Or the confuſion of Face of Daniel? Or the Zeal of Moſes, of Phineas, and of St. Paul? If the Angel of God that went through the midſt of Jeruſalem, did review in our days, the Inhabitants of this Land, I am afraid, that he would not find many marked with the Letter Thau; not many weeping and ſighing for the abominations that are amongſt us; for evil and wickedneſs are become familiar to us; by the means of our too uſual inſpection, our continual converſation, with the vicious, accuſtomes us to the grievouſneſs of their crimes, and to the impiety of their diſcourſes, as we are accuſtomed by degrees, to breathe in an unwholſom Air, without averſion, and to hear the fearful downfall of the Cartaracts of the River Nilus, without repugnancy.
But we are ſo far from grieving at the univerſal inundation of Vice in the World, that we our ſelves are carried away with the impetuous torrent of corruption. Sin gets upon us inſenſibly, and overcomes us; ſo that the World is not unlike to the Houſe mentioned by God himſelf in the 14 of Leviticus, for it is not only infected with an incommodious Leproſy, but it infects all ſuch as dwell therein. The Men of the World have an eaſier taske to teach us their Vices, than we have to teach and perſwade them to Vertue. As a peſtiferous Body may ſpread the infection, and give it to a thouſand ſuch as are whole; whereas, a thouſand in perfect health cannot heal one infected with the Plague. So that what happened under the Ceremonial Law, happens now unto us; the clean Veſſel did not ſanctify the defiled, but the defiled did corrupt, by its approaches, ſuch as were clean. Evil companies corrupt good manners, and the flames of the moſt burning Zeal, are extinguiſh'd by the coldneſs of the Age. As Lambs cannot feed amongſt Bryars and Thorns, without leaving behind them ſome of their Wooll; Likewiſe the harmleſs and meek Souls, cannot live amongſt ſo much couſenage and malice without looſing ſomething of their Innocency and Chriſtian Simplicity.
Who is it amongſt us, that can ſay, with a ſafe Conſcience, that the World is crucrified to him, and that he is crucified to the World? Gal. 6. Or who is it that lives in the World without being guilty of its ſins, as the Fiſh drinks of the Sea water and receives nothing of its bitterneſs? Pſal. 26. Who can converſe in the Courts of Princes, as Joſeph in Aegypt, as Daniel in Babylon, or as Queen Eſther in the Court of Ahaſuerus? Is there any that can juſtly ſay, that he hath waſhed his Hands in Innocency, and purified his Conſcience from all dead Works, to ſerve the living God? Heb. 9. Who can ſpeak in this manner, I have purified my Heart, I am clean from my ſin? Prov. 20. In truth, if we ſay that we have no ſin, we deceive our ſelves, and the Truth is not in us. 1 Joh. 1. We have good reaſon to break out into the Prophet Iſaiah's exclamation, when he ſaw God ſitting upon his Throne, Wo is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of unclean Lips, and I dwell in the midſt of a People of unclean Lips, Iſai. 6. Or we may ſay with the ſame Prophet From the ſole of the foot, unto the crown of the head, there is no whole part. Not only the Souls that are fixed to the Earth, but alſo ſuch as mount up to Heaven by fervent Prayers, and devout Meditations, have good cauſe to acknowledge their imperfections, and to ask forgiveneſs. If any fancies himſelf to be perfectly whole and free from all infection, let him enter into his Soul, and ſeriouſly examine his own Conſcience, and the ſame thing will happen to him as to Moſes, when he put his hand into his boſom, he drawed it out again as white as Snow, all covered with Leproſie, Exod. 4. Where is there a Chriſtian that feels no Law commanding in his Members, and ſtrugling againſt the Law of his Underſtanding? Who is it that finds not by experience, the truth of St. Paul's ſaying? The fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrary the one to the other, ſo that ye cannot do the things that ye would, Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Without doubt, ſuch as know not, nor never have felt the bitter and vehement ſtruglings of their carnal Luſts that War againſt the Soul, 2 Pet. 1. cannot conceive what it is to deny themſelves, to put off the old man with his Deeds, to crucify the Fleſh with its Affections and filthy Luſts, Eph. 4. ſuch know not what it is to mortify our Members, to cut off our right Feet, and right Hands, and to pluck out our right Eyes, Matth. 10. that is to ſay, to deſtroy, and by an Holy violence, to give a deadly wound to all our brutiſh Paſſions, and vicious Affections, when they ſhould ſeem to us as dear and uſeful as our Hands, Feet, and as tender as our right Eyes, Coloſſ. 3. Matth. 5.
If theſe curſed affections could but declare their names, they would ſay as the evil Spirits of the Goſpel, Our name is Legion, for we are many. As that Devil that poſſeſſed the Lunatick, mentioned by St. Mathew, he caſt him ſometimes into the Fire, at other times into the Water. Likewiſe theſe carnal Luſts labour to caſt us ſometimes into the Flames of Ambition, or into the burning heat of Covetouſneſs, or to hurry us headlong into the gulf of unlawful Delights, or into the mud of filthy and carnal Pleaſures. Furthermore, they break the Chains and Ties with which we imagine to ſtop their fury; they war and fight againſt us by day and by night; and at every moment they return to charge us home, and renew the combate. Every where they aſſault us, and have no more regard for Temples and Houſes of Prayer, than for common and publick places. As Satan had once the boldneſs to encounter with Jehoſoua the High-Prieſt, before the Angel of God; Likewiſe theſe curſed Luſts are ſo impudent to tempt us in the moſt Religious Aſſemblies, and the devouteſt Congregations, as well as where we are engaged in the moſt helliſh and debauched companies of the World.
But theſe Luſts that War againſt the Soul, are as ſubtil and malicious, as they are cruel and obſtinate. When they perceive us upon our guards, and ſee that there is nothing to be got, they conceal their weapons, and their fire, but it is with a deſign to ſurprize and burn us when we are leaſt aware. As there are certain Creatures that counterfeit the Dead, that Men might not ſpend their labor to kill them; Likewiſe, this treacherous Fleſh appears of its own accord, as dead, that we might ſpare it, and not totally deprive it of Life. If then we leave it in peace and quiet, it recovers its ſtrength and vigor, and aſſaults us afreſh with its poiſoned Darts. When we imagine that we have cut up this wretched Plant by the root, it grows and breaks forth into bitterneſs. When we think that we have put out this Fire, with the Tears of our Repentance, it kindles again, and burſts forth into fiercer Flames. Aſſoon as we have cut this cunning Serpent to pieces, with the ſharp knife of true Repentance, it gets together, and when it ſeems to have loſt all ſtrength and heat, it recovers again in our Breaſts, and wounds us to the very Heart. In ſhort, as that evil Spirit, mentioned by our Saviour, in the Gospel, when he was driven out of one Houſe, waited for a good opportunity to return; which aſſoon as he perceived, he took unto himſelf ſeven other Spirits, worſe than himſelf, ſo that the laſt condition of that Man was worſe than the firſt, Mar. 12. Likewiſe after an afflicting Faſt, and fervent Prayers; after a torrent of contrite Tears; when we imagine that we have caſt out of our Hearts, the moſt dangerous Luſts; if we begin to relent and open to them the door, they burſt in again upon us with more fury, and render the ſequel of our Life, far more bitter and unpleaſant.
But if you had not ſo many ſins, and that your Luſts were not ſo violent, when the old Man ſhould not have ſo much ſtrength in our Members, and that the temptations ſhould not overcome us ſo often; tell me, I pray, Chriſtian Souls, in what Vertues do you excell? Have they all the Beauty, the Glory, and Perfection that God requires? Is your Holineſs without the leaſt ſpot or blemiſh? Is your Innocency as white as Snow, and as bright as the Light? Is your Zeal as hot and burning as that of the Seraphims? Is your Charity ſincere, without Paint or Diſguiſe, as that of Chriſt, who gave his Life for you? Do you love God for his Name ſake, or becauſe of his excellent Perfection? Do you love him with all your Heart, with all your Strength, and with all your Thoughts? Do you love him more than you love your Selves, or any thing in the World? Do you hate all things that he hates? and do you carefully abſtain from every thing that diſpleaſeth him? Do you love your neighbor in God, and for the ſake of that good God, whoſe Image he bears? Do you love him as you love your Selves, without Hypocriſy or Diſguiſe? Do you never deal otherwiſe with others, than you would have them deal with you? And do you perform to them the ſame good Offices, that you would have them perform to you, if they were in the ſame Eſtate as you be at preſent? Do you ſhine in the midſt of the dark night of this Age, as ſo many Tapers lighted with the beams of the Sun of Righteouſneſs? Phil. 2. Do you live as Citizens of Heaven, and as fellow-Citizens of the Saints, and as the Children of God? Phil. 5. Or as ſuch as expect the Bleſſed Hope, and appearing of the Glory of the Great God and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt? Is your Heart in Heaven, where your Treaſure ſhould be, and your Glory and Happineſs. And do you walk as Perſons that aſcend up by the ſteps and degrees of Piety to the Heavenly Jeruſalem? Tit. 2. Do you go from Faith to Faith, from Hope to Hope? and do you make every day ſome new progreſs in Holineſs? Do you never grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you have been ſealed for the day of Redemption? Are you immutable, abounding always in the Work of the Lord? Eph. 4. And do you endeavour to be found in him, without ſpot or blame, in Peace? 1 Cor. 15. 2 Pet. 2.
Tell me devout Souls, whether you be not as the Fire and the light. For as there is no Flame ſo pure, but hath its Smoak, nor Star ſo bright, but becomes dark and inviſible at the firſt approach of the Sun; Likewiſe, there is no Life ſo Holy and Harmleſs, but hath its imperfections, and cannot abide the ſight of an impartial God, and the exact inquiſition of his Juſtice. When we have well Prayed and Wept, and begg'd Forgiveneſs; and when God hath beſtowed upon us a new Heart, and a new Spirit; After all, we have need that God ſhould enlighten us afreſh with the Gracious Beams of his Divine Countenance, that he ſhould lead us by the Hand, direct us by his Wiſdom, and accompliſh his Vertue in our Infirmities.
Examine ſeriouſly, My dear Friends, unto what exerciſes of Devotion you are moſt addicted, and what ſecret motions you feel in your Souls. Who is it that hath the greateſt ſhare in your Heart and Affections? What Thoughts do lull you aſleep, and what are thoſe that awake you? What do you think upon, for the moſt part, upon God and his Glory, or upon the World and its Vanities? upon Heaven and its Excellencies, or upon the Earth and its Riches? upon Paradiſe, and its mortal Delights? or upon the Fleſh and its baſe ſatisfactions? And when you meditate upon Divine things, are you certain that you do it with a Religious attention, with an inward delight that raviſheth and comforts your Souls. And when you offer any Prayers unto God, do you perform this Duty with Humility and an Holy Zeal? Are your Hearts and Affections carried up to Heaven, before you lift up thitherward your Eyes and Hands? Are your Oraizons like the perfume of the Saints, that came out of Golden Viols? Are they like the Incenſe of the antient Iſraelites that did ſmoak upon an Altar, burning with a Celeſtial Fire? Do they thus proceed from a Soul purified with Faith, which is more precious than fine Gold? Do they come from an Heart that is enflamed with a Zeal that never dies, and that aſcends continually on high? Do you beſtow your Alms with that earneſt and fervent Charity that God requires from you? Do you open your Bowels to your Brethren, before you open to them your Purſe? And do you beſtow your Hearts upon the Poor, before you beſtow your Money?
And for the publick Devotions that you owe to God; Pray tell me with what Humility and Reſpect they are performed? Do you call your Delight the Days dedicated to his Glory, and to the Celebration of his Holy Myſteries, Iſai. 58. or do you look upon them as troubleſome? Don't they cauſe you to complain in your ſelves, as thoſe prophane Jews ſpoken of by Malachi, Behold what a wearineſs is it, Mal. 1. Do you go up to the Houſe of God with the voice of Melody, and tranſports of Joy? Pſalm. 41. or do you go thither out of cuſtom, in a careleſs manner? When Jacob went up to Bethel to offer Sacrifices, he buried under ground, all the Gods of Gold and Silver, that were in his Family, Gen. 35. Likewiſe, you Religious Souls, when you intend to go up to Offer your Spiritual Sacrifices in the true Bethel, where God beſtows in ſuch plenty his Bread from Heaven, that gives life to the World; Do you not forget to bury all your Earthly Cares, your Carnal Luſts? Or elſe do you nouriſh in your Hearts, all theſe falſe Gods, of whom the World is ſo fond? Do you look upon the Holy Aſſemblies with an unconcerned Eye? Or do you behold them with Reverence and Reſpect, as the living Images of that Glorious Church, gathered together before God's Majeſtique Throne, which worſhips him day and night in his Holy Temple? Are thoſe Divine Pſalms that are there, ſung only upon your Tongues, or do you ſing them with your Hearts to the Lord? Do you think upon the Angels Songs, and the Holy Spirits Hallelujahs, with Holy tranſports of Joy? Is the Word of God only an Airy Sound that ſtrikes your Ears, or doth it reach your Conſciences? Coloſſ. 3. Doth not your Heart burn within you, while God ſpeaks by the Miniſtry of his Servants, and opens to you his Holy Scriptures? Revel. 19. Doth this Heart of yours burn with an Heavenly Fire, or with reſtleſs impatience, to ſee the end of your Devotions, that you might return to your Domeſtick affairs, to your worldly Delights, or to your carnal paſtimes? Luk 14. Doth your Soul thirſt for God, for the ſtrong and living God? Pſal. 42. And is the performing of the Holy Will of your Heavenly Father, become your Meat, and your only Delight, John 4. Pſal. 103. In ſhort, Do you fly as ſwift as the bleſſed Angels, when your great God and Saviour offers to you an occaſion of advancing his Kingdom, of comforting his Choſen, and edifying the Souls for whom he is dead? When Abraham offered unto God many Beaſts in Sacrifice, a flight of Birds came and lighted upon his dead Offerings, Gen. 15; Likewiſe, when we preſent unto God the Sacrifices of Praiſe and Thankſgiving, and intend to multiply the acts of our Devotion, a great number of vain and idle thoughts come to interrupt us. Abraham frighted away thoſe troubleſom Birds, but it is not always in our power to drive away from our minds theſe intruding thoughts that diſturb us in our Devotions. When we will lift up our ſelves unto God, and draw near to his Sacred Throne, our Hearts are far more dull and heavy, than ever Moſes's Hands were, ſo that they fall down again to the Earth, and to mind Earthly things; we need therefore that our Chief Prieſt ſhould hold them up; and furthermore, it is neceſſary that they ſhould be perfum'd with the ſweet ſmells of his moſt Holy Sacrifice, Exod, 17.
If David, a Man after God's own Heart, intreats that God would be pleaſed to ſanctify the Words of his Mouth, and the Meditations of his Heart, Pſal. 15. If the Prophet Daniel, whom the Holy Spirit ſtiles, A man greatly beloved, Dan. 9. who ſpent the days and the nights in Devotion, ſeeks how to make his Prayers acceptable to God, If the Prophet Iſaiah hath need that his Lips ſhould be purified with a burning Coal taken from the Altar, Iſa. 6. Who will wonder if the Meditations of the devouteſt Souls be ſo often interrupted? if their Prayers be ſo cold and lukewarm? who can think it ſtrange that we are not able to pray as we ought? Rom. 8. And that we have need to deſire God's Holy Spirit of Prayer and Supplication, who prays and intercedes for us, with Sighs and Groans which cannot be expreſſed, Zach. 13. Rom. 8.
That which afflicts moſt the true Believers is, that when they imagine that they have attained to ſome kind of Perfection in the exerciſes of Piety; they find many times, to their unſpeakble ſorrow, that they are but beginners, and that they have made no progreſs at all. For as the Stone caſt up into the Air, falls down of its own accord, by reaſon of its natural weight; and as the Water often heated, becomes as often cold and frozen, becauſe cold is a property belonging to it; Likewiſe our Souls that mount up to God in Holy Meditations and Zealous Prayers, fall down again to theſe Earthly Vanities, they become cold and heavy, for theſe are their natural Properties. God refuſed the Sacrifices of ſuch Beaſts as were lame and ſickly; if therefore he ſhould treat us, according to our Deſervings, how will he accept of us or our Devotions; we that are weak and infirm in his ſervice, and that cannot walk in his ways without ſtumbling at every moment. For theſe Conſiderations I may apply to the ſpiritual Joy what was ſaid of the Earthly and worldly mirth, Joy is cut off by Sadneſs, Iſai. 65. For when we have felt in our Breaſts this unſpeakable Joy of the Holy Ghoſt, and that it begins afterwards to abate, it ſeems to us, as if it had taken its flight to Heaven, as the ſmoak of Manoah's Sacrifice; Then as great a Sorrow ſeiſeth upon our Souls, therefore we may complain and cry out as David, Will the Lord caſt me off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? is his Mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promiſe fail for evermore? hath God forgotten to be Gracious? hath he in anger ſhut up his tender Mercies? Pſal. 77. And pray in the Language of Iſaiah, Lord awaken thy jealouſie, and the ſtirring of thy Bowels, that are ſhut up to me. Finally, if after all the exerciſes of Devotion, if after a ſerious and ſetled Meditation upon God's Holy Word: if after Faſting and Mortification, Prayers and Tears, and a conſtant attendance in the Duties of Religion; we find any good Progreſs in Piety; we may then alſo perceive Vice to proceed out of our moſt Glorious Vertues, and Perfecteſt Graces. For as the Moth enters ſooneſt into the richeſt Stuffs and Cloth; thus Pride creeps into the nobleſt Souls, and breeds in the moſt enlightened underſtandings. As a Primitive Doctor of the Chriſtian Church hath very well obſerved; all Vices are begot by corruption, and by other Vices, only Pride and Preſumption proceed from Vertue. O how hard a task is it for a Man enabled with Gifts and Perfections, that raiſe him above the Vulgar, not to be puffed up with Pride, nor deceived with the love of himſelf. As the beautiful Bird looks and admires the dainty and various Colours of its Wings, we do thus behold and admire our ſelves, we are in love with our own Beauty, and idolize our Vertues. Therefore as the Nurſe leaves ſometime the Child to his Legs, and ſuffers it to fall, that it might know its own ſtrength, and learn to hold faſter by the Hand; Thus God withdraws from us the aſſiſtance of his Grace, to humble us, and to cauſe us to implore more earneſtly the help and favourable ſuccors of his Holy Spirit. When St. Peter felt the Sacred Flames of that Holy Zeal that was kindled in his Heart, and that ſincere love that he had for Chriſt; he rejoyced and imagined himſelf to be ſtrong enough to reſiſt all the powers of Hell, and to fruſtrate all the fiery Darts of the Devil. This good opinion that he had of himſelf, and of his own ability, tranſports him to that confidence, as to contradict our Saviour Chriſt, and to proteſt; Although all ſhould be offended in thee, yet will not I be offended; and when I ſhould dye with thee, yet will not I deny thee. This was he who trembled at the voice of a Damſel, ſo that his Fall and Apoſtacy, was as notable as his Confidence was great; therefore it warns ſuch as ſtand, that they ſhould take heed of falling into misfortune, Rom, 11.
There is no good natured Child but is vexed to live amongſt ſuch as Curſe and Reproach its Parents; and if we ſhould happen to be concerned unawares in the offence, or to occaſion the death of him from whom it had its being, it will feel an Eternal diſpleaſure. Now it is certain, that whilſt we live in this world, we muſt ſpend our time amongſt thoſe that blaſpheme the Holy Name of God, and abuſe the Glory of his Eternal Godhead. Moreover, Vice and Corruption are ſo univerſal, that we our ſelves offend this Father of Mercies and Compaſſions, we add ſin to ſin, and heap up our iniquities together.
Let us therefore conclude from hence, Believing Souls, that Death is not to be feared as an Evil, or a Miſery, but that it is rather to be deſired, as an Advantage and a Bleſſing. For ſeeing that it is to be wiſhed for, becauſe it frees us from all the calamities and ſufferings of the World; It is far more deſirable, becauſe it cloſeth our Eyes, and conveys out of our ſight, all the ſins and abominations that abound in the World; and becauſe it ſtops our Ears, and hinders us from hearing the Impieties and the filthy Diſcourſes that infect the Air. Seeing that Death is to be embraced with joy, becauſe it delivers our Bodies from the diſeaſes that torment them and our minds from the cares and diſpleaſures that vex and afflict them; It deſerves to be welcomed with greater expreſſions of Gladneſs, becauſe it delivers us from all remains of ſin, and puts a period to our natural corruption; ſo that it is to be eſteem'd, and look'd upon as the Death and Deſtruction of the Old Man, rather than the Death of a true Believer.
Sampſon rejoyced in his Death, becauſe he knew, that in dying, his mortal Enemies ſhould dye alſo, and be deſtroyed with him; we have more cauſe to rejoyce at our Death, and to give God thanks at that time; ſeeing that in dying, or rather in paſſing from Death to Life, we may ſee the Deſtruction of all the dangerous Enemies of our Salvation, Who are more dreadful to us than the Philiſtins were to Sampſon. All the moſt cruel and barbarous Men of the World are not ſo much to be feared, as the Luſts of our filthy Fleſh, that put out the Eyes of our underſtanding, that cauſe us to be the Devil's ſport, and to worſhip many falſe Gods.
We commonly run out with haſte from a place infected with the Plague, and ſhould not we make as much ſpeed by our Vows and Prayers, to get out of the World? ſeeing that Vice is ſo Infectious and Univerſal all over it, that ſo many thouſand Souls are therewith miſerably ſpoiled. Seeing the World is as a Babylon, where all manner of Debauchery, Vice and Vertue are mixed together, where Unjuſtice and impiety Reigns; have we not greater cauſe to be tranſported with Joy, when God delivers us from our woful Captivity, than the Children of Iſrael had when it pleaſed him to call them out of Babylon? ſhould we not ſing unto him when the Lord returned back, and reſtored them of Sion, that came back from their Captivity; we were as thoſe that dream, though our Mouths were full of Laughter, and our Tongues with Songs of Triumph?
In ſhort, as the Lord Jeſus, when he had reſtored Lazarus to life, and taken him out of his Grave, he had compaſſion of him, and could not ſee him any longer wrapped up in his Winding Sheet, and tied with a Napkin; therefore he commanded, Looſe him and let him go. Likewiſe this Merciful Lord, who hath made us to be partakers of the firſt Reſurrection, and called our Souls out of the noiſom Grave of our Luſts, is moved with compaſſion for us, when he ſees theſe wretched Souls drag about them the reliques of Sin, and ſome Remains of that Corruption, in which they were wrapped. Therefore he will cauſe them to hear this ſweet and comfortable voice, Looſe them and let them go. Let them go to the Eternal Manſions, to the City of the living God, to the Heavenly Jeruſalem, to the Glorious Companies of Angels, and to the Church and Congregation of the Firſt-born, whoſe Names are Written in Heaven.
A Prayer and Meditation for a true Chriſtian, who comforts himſelf with this Conſideration, That Death ſhall deliver him from Sin that Reigns ſo much in the World, and from all Remains of his wretched Corruption.
O Moſt Gracious High Prieſt, Holy, Innocent, ſeparated from ſinners, exalted above all the Heave… who art now ſhining in Light and Glory, look upon m… from thy Sanctuary and Compaſſionate my wretched Eſtate. Thou underſtandeſt well the cauſe of my grief, O Lord, who ſearcheſt the Hearts, and readeſt my moſt Secret Thoughts. Thou knoweſt, O my God, that I grieve to ſee ſo much Injuſtice and Impiety reigning this day in the World, to ſee Vice, Prophaneſs Superſtition and Schiſm, committing ſo many diſorders in thy Holy Church; But that which chiefly increaſeth my pain, and aggravates my diſpleaſure, is to ſee my ſelf guilty and ſpotted with the general corruption, and to feel my Fleſh, warring and ſtrugling againſt the Spirit. The Luſts of the Fleſh do not only diſturb me, but they get many times the victory, and inſult upon my infirmities. Sin ſhews not only it ſelf to me in all its Helliſh deformity, ſo that I am thereby aſhamed of my ſelf, but I alſo acknowledge, to the praiſe of thy Grace, that all that is beſt in me, cannot endure an exact Inquiſition of thy Juſtice. Alas my God, how imperfect is my Piety? How languiſhing is my Devotion? I worſhip thee too much for cuſtom, and in a very ſlight manner. I often praiſe thee with my Tongue, and Honour thee with my Lips, whilſt my Heart is far from thee. The Love that I bear to thee is not pure and enflamed, and my Charity, inſtead of being burning, is quite cold, or lukewarm. I have not a ſufficient truſt upon thy promiſes, and upon thy fatherly care, my Hope is not ſetled; It doth not ſill my Soul with Heavenly Joys and Comforts. Thine eyes, O Lord, that ſees all the ſecret Cloſſets of the Heart, and that pierce into the depths, are too Holy and Pure, to paſs over the ſight of evil, and to approve of the ill-favour'd Features of Satan yet imprinted in my Soul; they don't only diſcover my ſins, and iniquities, and all my evil Deeds, but they alſo behold all the ſpots and imperfections of my beſt performances, and of my moſt Glorious Acts. My Lord, and my God, I am not only grieved to ſee ſo much ſin in the World, in the Church, and in my Self, but I am alſo grieved and vexed, that I have not grief enough; That my Soul is not ſufficiently vexed, as that of Righteous Lot; That the Zeal of thine Houſe doth not eat me up, as it did the Man after thine own Heart; That mine Eyes are not become a Well-Spring of Tears, as thoſe of the Prophet; That the cares of the Churches do not beſiege me as they did thine Holy Apoſtle; And that I do not ſigh and cry as the ſervants whom thou didſt mark with the Letter Thau. O wonderful Lord! Seeing that thou doſt give me leave, wherefore is it that I do not embrace thee with a lively Faith, and a ſerious Repentance? VVherefore do not I wreſtle with thee by Prayers and Supplications, and Tears? and that I continue not in theſe Devotions, until I have obtained thy moſt precious Bleſſings, until thou haſt changed my Being, and my Life; until thou haſt renewed my Spirit, and my Heart, to love thee, fear thee, and worſhip thee, anſwerable to thine infinite Merits and Glory? O Lord, I perceive thou haſt not altogether forſaken me; I perceive the day of my deliverance breaking in upon me; I ſee Death coming to carry me out of this painful Dwelling, out of this life of bitterneſs and ſorrow: I have this comfort, that it ſhall put to death my moſt cruel and unreconcileable Enemies, and introduce me into the freedom of thy Children; It will cut off all the remains of that corruption in which I was firſt conceived, and uſher me into that Eternal Light that ſhines for ever in Heaven; Therefore, inſtead of frighting me, the ſight of Death rejoyceth and comforts my Heart; for this cauſe I ſhall not fly from it, and turn my back, but I ſhall go and meet it; I will endeavour to haſten its coming by my Prayers and continual VViſhes; I will embrace it when thou ſhall be pleaſed to ſend it. O Almighty God of an infinite Goodneſs, when wilt thou reach unto me thy Hand from Heaven, to draw me out of this Egypt? that I may no longer ſee the cruelties and abominations committed in it. VVhen wilt thou deliver me out of this Babylon, where Vice and Vertue are intermixed, and where the Creature receives the Honor, only due to the Creator? VVhen wilt thou have Compaſſion of my poor Soul that drags yet ſome of its Chains? And when ſhall I hear that ſweet and comforting voice, Looſe him and let him go to his God who calls him, and to his Saviour who holds out unto him his Arms wide open? VVhen wilt thou ſend unto me thy good Angels, to lead me up to thine Holy Mountain, to thine Heavenly Jeruſalem, where no impure thing ſhall ever enter; or that committeth Abomination, or a Lye? VVhen ſhall I ſee my ſelf in that bleſſed Paradiſe, where there ſhall be no Serpent to ſeduce us, nor Luſts to war againſt us, nor evil company to corrupt and ſpoil us? VVhen ſhall I behold the new Heavens and the new Earth, where Juſtice, Righteouſneſs, and true Holineſs, are ſitting upon the Throne? How long, Lord, ſhall I hear thine Holy Name blaſphemed, and the Bloud of thy Covenant trampled under foot? How long yet ſhall I liſten to the impieties and abuſes of the Children of this age? VVhen wilt thou lift me up to the Dwelling of thy Glory, where I ſhall be no longer aſſaulted with temptations from the VVorld, with enticements from the Fleſh, and with the fiery Darts of the Devil, where I ſhall be no more vexed with evil deſires, falſe Fears, and vain hopes; where I ſhall never offend my God, nor grieve his Holy Spirit, that hath ſealed me to the day of my Redemption. O Holy of Holies! when ſhall thy Church be ſo ſanctified, and cleanſed, that no ſpot or wrinkle, nor any ſuch thing ſhall appear in it? When ſhall I ſee it decked with fine Linnen, cloathed with the Sun, and crowned with the Stars? When ſhall my Heart be as a golden Viol, from whence ſweet Perfumes may aſcend? VVhen ſhall I behold thy Face continually? VVhen ſhall I love thee without interruption, and ſerve thee without any Lett or Hinderance? VVhen wilt thou put into my Hands a Celeſtial Harp, and into my Mouth the Songs of the Bleſſed? and when ſhall I worſhip thee in the company of all the Holy Spirits, without intermiſſion, and for ever? VVhen ſhall I ſing forth thy Praiſes in Heaven? O Lord, when ſhall I appear with the Holineſs of thy Saints, in the white Robes of thy Martyrs, and be as fiery as the Seraphims that fly about thy Glorious Throne. O my God! Let this Holy Zeal which thou haſt kindled in my Soul, be like a Fiery Chariot, and an Holy Flame, to carry me up to the Heaven of thy Glory, where I am to ſhine in thy preſence for ever, Amen.