The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 10
CHAP. 10.
The fourth Remedy againſt the fears of Death, to ſeparate our Hearts from the World.
THe Children of Iſrael did leave the Wilderneſs with a ready mind, and went joyfully over the River of Jordan, when God Commanded them ſo to do. The cauſe of this their readineſs, was an earneſt longing for the Land of Canaan, and their unſetled condition in the Wilderneſs, having nothing but Tents to live in. Death is to us the ſame, in regard of our Heavenly Paradiſe, as the River of Jordan was, to the Children of Iſrael, in reſpect of the promiſed Land; Therefore from hence it appears, that the beſt means of obliging our ſelves to a reſolution of entring into this paſſage willingly, is to free our ſelves from all thoſe things which might incumber, as ſtop or tye us to the World, and to keep our ſelves always in a readineſs to depart.
For that purpoſe it is not neceſſary that we ſhould go out of the World, but that the World ſhould be baniſhed, and driven out of us, and that we ſhould renounce all the vanities and unruly affections, ſo that we may be able to ſpeak with the Apoſtle, The world is crucified to me, and I am crucified to the world; for there be many who depart out of the World, but leave there their Hearts and moſt tender Affections; as Lot's Wife that went out of Sodom, but left therewith her Treaſures and Delights, her moſt earneſt deſires; as the Iſraelites, who when they went out of Egppt, left behind them their curſed affections, with their pots of Fleſh and Onions.
The ſame thing happens to many, who ſeparate themſelves without any neceſſity, from the acquaintance of Mankind, and who affect a ſtrange and auſtere kind of life; They leave the ſociety of wiſe and vertuous perſons, and the lawful uſe of the Bleſſings which Heaven hath vouchſafed to them; and they deprive themſelves of all that deſerves our eſteem, and the means of glorifying God, and edifying our neighbors: but many times they carry with them their Corruptions, their Vices, and a legion of wicked Thoughts, and carnal Deſires; By this means they give place to the Devil, and expoſe themſelves to all his temptations; for that wicked Serpent delights himſelf rather in the Dens of Wild Beaſts, and in the Caves of the Earth, than in the Palaces and Dwellings of Princes and Kings. The moſt horrid and abominable Vices creep, and breed rather in the Deſarts, and places of Retreat, than in Publick, and in the great Cities that are full of Inhabitants. Lot remain'd chaſt in the moſt execrable City, that was in the World, but when he went aſide to the foot of a Mountain, and into a Cave to dwell, he defiled himſelf with a monſtruous Inceſt: When Satan intended to tempt our Saviour Chriſt, he carried him into a Deſart, and to the top of a Mountain. From hence we may gather, that this ſubtil Enemy of Mankind hath learnt by his long experience, that the places of Retreat, and the moſt ſolitary, are the fitteſt for to lay his ſnares. If our Saviour, who was wholly innocent, and free from Sin, hath been able to overcome all manner of Temptations; we are not of the ſame temper, we are not furniſhed with ſuch Armor as he was, of Proof, againſt all the enflamed Darts of the Devil; for our miſerable Fleſh delights in its own deſtruction; it opens the Ears and the Heart wide, to the deceitful promiſes of Satan, and ſuffers it ſelf to be cheated, by his damnable Enchantments; It flatters us, and cauſeth us to be …ull'd aſlcep in its boſom, then, like a treacherous Dalilah, it betrays us into the unmerciful hands of our great Enemy.
Some cloath themſelves with Hair, and wear at their Girdle a knotted Cord, whom the Devil drags to Hell with the inviſible Chains of Luſt; Others climb up to the top of frozen Mountains, and yet their Hearts do burn with impure Flames; Some fret themſelves in a mournful ſolitarineſs, whoſe deſires and longings, are for the world, and its vanities: Others have their hands lifted up to Heaven, whoſe mind is enſlaved to the Earth, and rooted in the rotten and filthy pleaſures of the Times; Some have a Lamp burning before them, whoſe underſtanding is wrapt in groſs darkneſs, more palpable than that of Egypt: Others have an empty Stomach, whoſe Soul is full of abominable Paſſions. In ſhort, Some live in appearance like Angels, and yet they are poſſeſſed by legions of infernal Spirits: Other ſeem to have no concernment in the World, and yet lodge the whole World in their Hearts.
Under a courſe Habit, there dwells oftimes more Envy, more Vanity, and Ambition, than under the glorious attire of Silk and Gold: Through a torn cloathing ſome Souls may be perceived ſwell'd with Pride and Arrogancy, and in the company of Beggars, are to be found many times the Deſignes of Kings, and the lofty thoughts of the greateſt Monarchs: To ſpeak plainly, the good things and advantages of this life, don't ſtop and wed us, of themſelves, to this World, but rather that Love and Affection which we bear to them; for without doubt, there be many that are more earneſt and affectionate, for the things that they want, than others that enjoy them: Some poor people have a far greater longing for Riches, than ever Solomon had in the midſt of all his great Treaſures: Some ſilly Women that are covered with old Rags, and ſome contemptible Joanes have more Vanity and Pride in their Brains, than ever had Queen Eſther, in her Richeſt and moſt Glorious Attire. The Prophet Daniel was rais'd to an high and eminent Honour, for he was the Governor of the third part of the Monarchy of the Perſians, and of the Medes; nevertheleſs, he was no more concerned in Babylon, than if he had had there but a Sepulcre, and worn the Chains of a Slave; he ſends forth as many Sighs, and pours as many Tears, as if he had been lying upon the Aſhes of Jeruſalem.
Some pittiful Beggars, are more loath to quit their Rags, than the Soveraign Princes, to lay down the Enſignes of their Dignity and Honour: Such are more enſlav'd to their filth and baſeneſs, than the greateſt Monarchs to the Glory and Splendor of their Empire. Death labors as much to free a man from his Priſon, and to take him out of his Dungeon, as to drive him out of his Palace, and to tumble him from his Throne; The Poor and the Indigent, who have no other Bed to lye upon than the hard ground, doth make as much reſiſtance, as the Rich, who are ſtretched upon the ſofteſt Couches: The Galley-ſlaves are as unwilling that Death ſhould looſe them from their Chains, and take them out of their miſery, as the Kings and Princes are to leave their Scepters and their Crowns. I am fully perſwaded that David was more willing to go from his Command, and from his Riches, than many poor wretches are to depart from their Dunghils, and their meanneſs. Some perſons are tormented with the Gout, the Stone, and other grievous and ſenſible pains; they deſire nevertheleſs, more paſſionately, to live, than many that enjoy a perfect and a flouriſhing Health. Carnal and Earthly Souls, are ſo much bound to the Earth, that they feel an horrid reluctancy, and an unſpeakable diſpleaſure, when they are to depart from a Body, rotten, and falling to pieces with old Age; whereas others that are more ſpiritualiz'd, and that have taſted of the Heavenly Gift, and of the powers of the World to come, depart moſt willingly out of young and luſty Bodies, flouriſhing in their Strength and Beauty.
We muſt not therefore remove out of the World our Legs and Arms, but our Affections and vain Luſts; If God beſtows upon us his Earthly Bleſſings, we are not to follow the example of that extravagant Philoſopher, who caſt into the Sea his Silver, and his precious Stones, that he might not have the trouble to keep them, and who loſt them willingly, that he might not be in any further danger of looſing them afterwards; but we muſt take heed, that they cauſe not our Faith to make Shipwrack, and that we regard them not more than our Conſciences, for the Soul is a far more precious Jewel, than the Body, and Life, far more conſiderable than Cloathing. Seeing that God beſtows upon us ſo many good things, with an intent that we ſhould enjoy them; we ſhould ſhew our ſelves unthankful to his goodneſs, contrary to his wiſe Providence, and unjuſt and cruel to our ſelves, to refuſe the means of ever uſing, and employing theſe Bleſſings. All Gods creatures are good, and none are to be rejected, ſo that we take them with thankſgiving, for they are ſanctified by the word of God, and by Prayer.
The Honors and Riches that we receive from our Birth, or that we obtain by lawful and juſt means, are to be rank'd amongſt the Bleſſings of God; therefore Eſther who was but a poor ſtranger, received with joy, as a favor from Heaven▪ the Imperial Crown that was put upon her Head, and ſhe refuſed not to be the Wife of the greateſt Monarch of that time. Joſeph accepted willingly the power and dignity, with which King Pharaoh had inveſted him; and the Prophet Daniel did not only receive the honourable Commands which were beſtowed upon him by the King of Babylon, but he employed his Power and Credit, to raiſe alſo his Companions, to the places of Truſt, and to the Government of that Empire. God doth ſometimes give the Scepters into the hands of cruel and prophane perſons, ſuch as was Pharaoh, Ahab, Nebuchadnezar, Belſhaſar, and Herod, to teach us, that it is not the chief good of Man, and that we muſt aim at a more excellent Kingdom, and at more ſolid and conſtant Felicities; He doth alſo place upon the Throne, Men according to his own heart, whom he cheriſheth as the Apple of his Eye; as David, Solomon, Jehoſaphat, Hezekiah, and Joſias, to teach us, that the fear of God, and the expectation of an immortal Crown, is not inconſiſtant with the Honors of this Life, nor with worldly Glory, For true Piety hath the promiſes of this life, and of that which is to come.
The Riches of the Earth are no more hurtful than the Honors and Dignities, unleſs it be by acciddent; they are very uſeful and advantageous to ſuch as employ them well, and that diſpoſe of them with an Holy diſcretion; They are powerful helps to true Piety, and excellent means to glorify God, and to exerciſe our Mercy and Compaſſion; I may ſay that they give a Luſt to the Zeal and Charity of God's Children, Riches turn into evils, and are ill beſtowed in the hand of a Brute, and ſordid Nabal at the diſpoſition of a mercileſs and voluptuous Glutton, as the rich Man of the Goſpel, of a perfidious and treacherous Judas, of a ſilly and debauch'd Youth, as the prodigal Son; but they are the Bleſſings of Heaven, when they happen in the hand of a Joſeph, who nouriſhed therewith his Father, and all his kindred, in the hands of a David, that employed them in offerings to Almighty God in the ſight of his people, of a Solomon, who built a magnificent Temple, and of a Mary Magdalen, who ſpent them not in Luxury and Vanity, nor in curious Trinkets, but to buy a box full of precious Ointment, which ſhe poured on the head of the Saviour of the World. They are bleſſings indeed, when ſuch an one enjoys them, as Cornelius the Centurion, who employed them in Almes, whereof the perfume aſcended up to the Throne of the God of Mercies. In ſhort, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Eternal Wiſdom of his Father, hath uttered out of his Sacred mouth, that It is more bleſſed to give than to receive, Acts 20.
I am not ignorant of the Oracle pronounced by this Great God and Saviour, That whoſoever doth not renounce Father, Mother, Houſes and Lands for my ſake is not worthy of me. Mat. 10. This was ſaid to teach us, that we muſt renounce with Heart and Affection, all things in the World, and of this preſent Life, and that we muſt be always ready to abandon all, in caſe we cannot keep them without offending God, and giving a ſcandal to his Church; but without ſuch an abſolute neceſſity, God doth not require from us in any place of Scripture, actually to quit and leave our worldly Poſſeſſions.
I know alſo very well, that when a young man did enquire from our Saviour, What he was to do to inherit Eternal life; Luke 18. This wiſe Teacher return'd him this anſwer, Sell all that thou haſt and give it to the poor, and thou ſhalt have Riches in Heaven, then come and follow me. Luk 18. This was a particular Commandement made only to that man, upon a ſingular occaſion, from whence it is not poſſible that we ſhould gather any concluſion to oblige others to the ſame action; for otherwiſe this might oblige all Chriſtians in general to ſell what they have without exception, and to give it to the poor: The Commandment was given upon this occaſion, This vain glorious Phariſee did boaſt of having kept all the Commandements of God from from his youth up. To remove this good opinion of himſelf out of his mind, and to give a vent to the ſwelling of his Phariſaical Pride, our Lord puts him to a Trial, enjoyning him to ſell all his Goods, and to give them to the poor. At theſe words the poor young man went away, very ſad in a confuſion, becauſe he had much Riches, and his Heart, and greateſt affections were with his Treaſures. By this proceeding he diſcovered that he was far from loving God with all his Heart, and with all his Soul, and with all his Strength, becauſe that it did appear, that he did love his worldly poſſeſſions more than Chriſt and his Bleſſedneſs. You may therefore underſtand without difficulty, devout Souls, that this Commandement that was made to this young man, extends not to all in general; If it had been otherwiſe, the Holy Apoſtles who were mindful of every thing that did tend to perfection, would not have reſted ſatisfied with the loſs of their Goods, to follow Chriſt, as they declared to him themſelves, We have left all, and have followed thee, Matth. 19. But they would have totally quitted all their enjoyments, and would have reſerved nothing for themſelves, which they did not; for St. John, Chriſt's beloved Diſciple, had a Dwelling Houſe, where he entertain'd the Holy Virgin, after our Saviours death, John 19, And the other Apoſtles had their Ships, their Nets and Tackling, therefore after Chriſts Reſurrection, they returned to their Fiſhing Trade.
Our Saviour, upon this occaſion of the young mans refuſing to obey this expreſs and particular Command of ſelling his goods, and giving them to the poor, Informs his Diſciples, That it is hard for a Rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But he explains in another place this paſſage in ſuch a manner, that he leaves not the leaſt difficulty in it; when he ſaith, That it is hard for them who put their confidence in Riches, to enter into the Kingdom of God, Mat. 19. By this we may underſtand, that he ſpeaks not of all rich Men in general, but of ſuch only who put their truſt in their Riches; therefore the Apoſtle St. Paul don't Command the rich Men to caſt away their Eſtates, and Goods, but he adviſes them not to put their confidence in them, ſo as to become more vain and prouder. In this manner he ſpeaks to Timothy, Charge them that are rich in this World, that they be not high minded, nor truſt in uncertain Riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6.
Here are therefore the beſt directions, according to my judgement, for a true Chriſtian who deſires to be acceptable to God, to attain to the diſpoſitions neceſſary for an happy Death.
Firſt, we muſt employ our moſt aſſidual and earneſt endeavours and affections, for the Eternal advantages of the Soul, and of the Life to come; we muſt thirſt impatiently for the Graces of God, and for the Gifts of his Holy Spirit, we muſt ſigh and long for the ſpiritual Riches of the Soul, and labour with all our ſtrength to attain to the uncorruptible Crown, and the immortal Glory of Heaven. Chriſt gives us this Holy and ſafe advice, Seek, ſaith he, firſt the Kingdom of God-and his Righteouſneſs, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you, Mat. 6. And elſewhere, Labour not for the Meat which periſheth, but for that Meat which endureth unto everlaſting life, John 6.
2. As the good King Solomon built firſt the Lord's Houſe, and then laid the foundation of his own Palace. Thus we ought to proceed to labour firſt for the advancement of God's Kingdom, and the edificatiof his Church, then we may have liberty to employ our ſelves about the affairs of this preſent life, and about our worldly concerns; but our Employment and Calling, muſt be juſt, and allowed by the Laws of God and of Man, for he that gains Riches by unlawful Arts, is but a Thief and a Robber.
3. Before we engage in any work, we muſt pray to God to vouchſafe his Bleſſing to it, and ſpeak to him as Moſes, Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and eſtabliſh thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of our hands, eſtabliſh thou it, Pſal. 90. For without his Aſſiſtance and Bleſſing, all our labors will be in vain, and to little purpoſe. It is God that makes poor and makes rich, that lifts up, and abaſeth, 1 Jam. 2. Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increaſe, 1 Cor. 3. The Royal Prophet is of the ſame judgement, when he ſaith, If the Lord buildeth not the City, their labor is but loſt that build it.
4. Our Labors muſt be without murmurings, and miſtruſting God's Providence, we muſt baniſh out of our minds, all idle thoughts, and groundleſs expectations that diſturb us, Pſal. 107. We muſt pluck out of our hearts all the cares and diſpleaſures that trouble us. We muſt imprint in our minds that excellent Sentence of David, Caſt thy burden upon the Lord, and he ſhall ſuſtain thee, Pſal. 5. and that of St. Peter, Caſt all your care upon him, for he careth for you, 1 Pet. 5. We muſt remember our Saviours charge, Take heed to your ſelves, leaſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with ſurfeiting and drunkenneſs, and cares of this life, Luk 21.
5. Above all things we muſt beware of the ſlaviſh vice of Covetouſneſs, that denies God's good Providence, and his fatherly Care; To that purpoſe St. Paul exhorts us in expreſs words, Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as ye have, for he hath ſaid I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, Heb. 13. That he might beget in us an averſion of this infamous Vice, St. Paul tels us, They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a ſnare, and into many fooliſh and hurtful Luſts, which drown Men in deſtruction and perdition; 1 Tim. 6. He adds next, For the love of Money is the root of all evil, which, which ſome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themſelves through with many ſorrows. Coloſ, 3. The ſame Apoſtle declares, That Covetouſneſs is Idolatry, and that it ſhall never inherit the kingdom of God, Eph. 5. Therefore we ought to follow the wiſe King's advice, Labour not to be rich, but forbear from any ſuch deſigne, Prov. 25.
6. If God is pleaſed to afflict us with poverty, and to caſt us down in the duſt of a mean Eſtate, notwithſtanding our continual labors in a lawful Calling; Let us endeavour to poſſeſs our Souls with patience; look upon Chriſt our Saviour, who for our ſakes became poor, although he was rich, that we might be enriched with his poverty; Let us beſeech him to grant us the bleſſed diſpoſition of St. Paul, that we may be able to ſpeak as he did, I have learn'd to be content in whatſoever eſtate I am, I know both how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound every where, and in all things; I am inſtructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to ſuffer need, I can do all things through Chriſt, which ſtrengtheneth me. Phil. 4. Remember, Chriſtian Souls, to ſettle your Treaſure in Heaven, where neither the Moth, nor Ruſt can corrupt, and where Thieves cannot break through and ſteal; Labor to be rich in Faith, and in good Works, that you may inherit the Kingdom that God hath promiſed to them that love him.
7. But if it hath pleaſed God to bleſs thy labors, and if his powerful and liberal hand hath raiſed thee up to great Honor, ſo that thou enjoyeſt Riches in abundance, thou muſt remember to poſſeſs them in ſuch a manner, that they may not enſlave thee: and according to St. Paul's advice, thou muſt remember to enjoy them, as if thou enjoyeſt them not, and that the faſhion of this World paſſeth away; we muſt not truſt upon them, nor pride in them; we ought to glory in ſomething elſe, as God himſelf exhorts us, Let not the wiſe man boaſt of his wiſdom, nor the ſtrong of his ſtrength, Let not the rich man glory in his Riches, but he that glories, let him glory in that he hath underſtanding, and knows me, Jer. 9.
8. We muſt not only take off our hearts and affections from the world and its vanities, trample upon them and eſteem them like Dung, in compariſon of the unſpeakable Treaſures of Heaven; but we muſt alſo be ready to leave them at every moment, as ſo many trifles, vain, and periſhable things; as we are to poſſeſs them without diſpleaſure and fear, ſo we muſt part with them without grief and murmuring. When we ſhould looſe in a day all that God hath beſtowed upon us in the world, it becomes us to ſtrengthen our ſelves with an Holy confidence, and reſolution, ſaying with Job, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the name of the Lord, Job 1.
9. If we happen to part with our Goods, Honors, and Dignities in the ſervice of God, and for the profeſſion of Chriſts Goſpel; in ſuch a caſe, we ought to endure the loſs with a Chriſtian patience, and an exceſſive joy, becauſe that ſuch a loſs for a juſt cauſe, will prove at laſt to our advantage and glory: This was the practice of the faithful Hebrews, of whom St. Paul renders this teſtimony You have received with joy the ſpoiling of your Goods, knowing that you have in Heaven a better and a more laſting inheritance, Heb. 10. Chriſtian Souls repreſent unto your ſelves the example of the Prophet Moſes, who eſteem'd the reproach of Chriſt greater riches, than the Treaſures of Egypt, for he had a reſpect unto the recompenſe of the reward, Heb. 11.
10. Whilſt we enjoy our Goods, we muſt take care of the poor, and be bountiful in Alms, and to ſpeak in St. Paul's language, Whilſt we have any time, let us do good, eſpecially to the houſhold of faith, Gal. 6. Whoever hath compaſſion of the poor, makes God his debter, he will aſſuredly return him his good Deed, Prov. 19. Our Saviour promiſeth to recompenſe a Cup of cold water, that ſhall be given to the meaneſt of ſuch as believe in his name, Matt. 10. Alms is a Seed that is caſt upon Earth, but its Flowers and moſt excellent Fruits are to be gather'd in Heaven, He that ſows liberally ſhall reap liberally: It is not therefore as that other Seed, mentioned Pſal. 126. That they that ſow in Tears, ſhall reap with Songs of Triumph, 2 Cor. 9. For whoſoever beſtows his Alms ſparingly, and unwillingly, he ſhall be Treated in the ſame manner as him that refuſeth to part with it; therefore St. Paul declares, When I ſhould give all my Goods to nouriſh the poor, if I have no Charity I am nothing, 2 Cor. 13. God loves a chearful Giver, and delights in ſuch Sacrifices, 2 Cor. 9. Remember therefore Chriſtians, that God ſhall judge you at the laſt day, not by your Learning, Knowledge, Riches, or Dignities and Honors of this life, but by your Alms, Deeds, and acts of Charity and Hoſpitality, and by the diſtributing of your Goods, to the neceſſities of the Saints. Make to your ſelves friends of the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs, that when you fail they may receive you into the everlaſting Habitations, Matt. 25. Rom. 12. Luke 16. That upon your Tomb, one may juſtly engrave. He hath ſcattered, he hath given to the poor his Righteouſneſs, that is, his Charity and Alms-deeds remain for ever. Pſal. 112.
11. Finally, we muſt not only take off our Heart and Affections, from the Riches, Honors, and Vanities of this World, but we muſt alſo deny our ſelves, tame and overcome our paſſions, and crucify our Fleſh with its Luſts. Therefore our great God and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, calls upon us from Heaven. He that will follow me, let him deny himſelf, take up his Croſs daily and come after me, Matt. 10.
That we may be able to imprint this good Leſſon in our minds, we ſhould ſeriouſly conſider in the firſt place, that we are but ſtrangers and pilgrims in this world, and that we have no laſting City, Heb. 13. The Houſes that God grants to us, are no perpetual Dwellings, but only Inns for our preſent accommodation: This was the frequent conſideration of the great Patriarchs, Abraham, Iſaack, and Jacob, who ſaw the promiſes afar off, believed and embraced them; for St. Paul informs us, that they did ingeniouſly profeſs, that they were no better than ſtrangers and pilgrims upon earth, and that their intention was to march forwards to their Celeſtial Countrey. This was Jacobs language when he appeared before Pharaoh; The days of my pilgrimage have been ſhort and evil, they have not attain'd to the years of the life of my Fathers, and of the time of their pilgrimage, Heb. 12. Gen. 47. And not only the antient Patriarchs, who never had any other poſſeſſions in the world, than a Tomb, or ſome ſmall piece of ground, have acknowledg'd themſelves to be ſtrangers and pilgrims, but Princes and Kings alſo whom God hath ſanctified by his Holy Spirit, have freely confeſs'd the ſame; for David declares not in the time of his baniſhment, nor of his flight, nor in his calamities and miſery, but in his moſt flouriſhing Eſtate, and in the midſt of his Triumphs, Glory, Plenty, and Proſperity, he declares unto God, I am a ſtranger and a forreigner with thee, as all my Fathers were, Pſal. 39. & 119. And when he ſpeaks, not only of himſelf, but alſo of the reſt of God's Children that are upon Earth, he makes no difficulty to confeſs, We are ſtrangers and forreigners with thee, as all our Fathers were, and our days are as a ſhadow upon Earth that have no ſtop, 1 Chron. 29. Rich and Poor, Maſters and Servants, Princes and Subjects, all of us in general, we may, with reaſon, ſay to the Men of this World, as Abraham to the Children of Heth, I am a ſtranger and a forreigner in the midſt of you. Now he that travels in a ſtrange Countrey, may gather ſome Flowers in his paſſage, or take with him a few Ears of Corn, but if he be wiſe, he will never tarry to build a Palace. If he be well Treated in his Inn, he muſt not caſt away the good chear, but if his Entertainment be bad, he muſt endure with patience, the inconveniencies, and contemn all the diſorders that happen during his abode; if the way be deep, full of Mud, Bryars and Thorns, he muſt get out of them aſſoon as he can; and if it be good and pleaſant, he muſt not ſtop in it, nor buſy himſelf with needleſs inquiries. Every one that is a Traveller dreams of nothing but how to advance in his journey, and go forward: Likewiſe, we being accuſtomed to Plenty, and Want, to Riches and Poverty, to Honor and Diſhonor; we ought to leave the things that are behind, and proceed forward to ſuch as are before, that we may attain to the end and reward of our Heavenly Calling. Phil. 3.
2. Conſider, not only, I beſeech you, that we are ſtrangers and forrainers in the world, but that we are not to inhabit always in this forrain Countrey, but that our paſſage will be but of few days, Revel. 7. We need but little to nouriſh and entertain us in this ſhort race; at the end of it we ſhall neither hunger nor thirſt, and the Sun ſhall burn us no more. As it happen'd with Jacob and his Family, when they went into Egypt, they had no other Corn nor Food, but what was needful and neceſſary for them in the way; becauſe they were certain to meet with plenty of all manner of good things in Joſeph's Houſe: Likewiſe we need not make any great proviſion for our ſelves in this life becauſe we are marching apace towards our Saviour Chriſt, our elder Brother, unto whom God hath given all power in Heaven and in Earth Matt. 28. We are marching into a Countrey that abounds with all manner of true Riches, Excellency, Glory, and Happineſs.
3. Conſider, that we are not only ſtrangers, but Soldiers to fight under the banners of Chriſt our Captain, who judges and fights juſtly, Revel. 19. Job acknowledges That there is a warfare appointed to all Mortals upon Earth; Job 7. But I may ſay that this War is chiefly for ſuch as aim at the glorious immutability. For God calls them to endure grievous and violent encounters; Therefore St. Paul exhorts his beloved Diſciple Timothy to behave himſelf as a good Soldier in this juſt War, and to fight the good fight of faith, 1 Tim. 1. Now he that goes to War, muſt not incumber himſelf with the affairs and enjoyments of this life.
4. Moreover, conſider, that we are like to Soldiers that are engag'd in an Enemies Countrey, not with a deſign to conquer, and eſtabliſh our Selves, but only to obtain a free paſſage, having only an intent to paſs thorough into our own Native Countrey; We don't deſire to get into our hands, the Inheritances and poſſeſſions of the Worldlings, nor to rob them of their Crowns and Scepters; We have no other requeſt to make to them, but that which the Children of Iſrael made to the Inhabitants of Edom, when they were going to the promiſed Land, Numb. 20. We deſire leave to paſs peaceably, and go along by the Kings high way, to take poſſeſſion of the Inheritance which God hath prepared for us from the beginning of the World; We would not ſo much as taſte a bit of Bread without paying for it, nor drink a cup of water without leave.
5. Conſider that this Life is a Race, and the World the place to run in; now ſuch as are in a Race, muſt take heed that the Thorns do not catch hold of them in their Courſe, nor that their Feet ſink into the Mire or the Clay; and that they may run ſwifter, they muſt caſt off all burdens and incumbrances. If therefore we will run in this Race in ſuch a manner, as that we may obtain the Prize, we muſt ſee that the Thorns and Briars of the World do not take hold of us, and that we ſink not into the mire of the dirty Pleaſures of this life; we muſt caſt away all the burdens that overcharge us, and eſpecially the burden of ſin, which is ſo grievous, that Nature it ſelf gr…ns under it. It is the deſign of St. Paul's exhortation, Seeing we are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes; Let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin which doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and let us run with patience the Race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the Author and finiſher of our faith, who, for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, Rom. 8. Heb. 12.
6. Conſider, that our life is a continual wreſtling; for we muſt wreſtle, not only againſt Fleſh and Blood, but alſo againſt Principalities and Powers, againſt the Lords of the World, and the Rulers of the darkneſs of this age, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places, Eph. 6. 1 Cor. 10. Now he that intends to wreſtle well, muſt diet himſelf accordingly. If therefore for a corruptible Crown, Men tame their Bodies, render them ſupple and pliant, and abſtain from Delights and Pleaſures; how much more reaſon have we to do the like for an uncorruptible and a Glorious Crown?
7. Conſider, that God will have us to be conformable to the image of his Son, and that we ſhould follow his footſteps; Now this good Saviour repreſents to us his own condition, Rom. 8. 1 Pet. 2. The Foxes have holes, and the Birds of the air have Neſts, but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head, Luke 9. Therefore he made this confeſſion before Pontius Pilate, My Kingdom is not of this World, John 8. and for that reaſon he reproves the groſs and carnal imaginations of the two Diſciples, as they were going to Emaus; O fools, and ſlow of heart, to believe all that the Prophets have ſpoken, Luke 24. ought not Chriſt to have ſuffered theſe things and to enter into his Glory; according to his bleſſed example, we muſt have little part and concernment in the World, and enter by many afflictions into the kingdom of God, Acts 24.
8. I judge, that it is alſo neceſſary that we ſhould repreſent at every moment unto our ſelves, that to ſpeak exactly, we can have but the … and not the right enjoyment of Gods Creatures; We are intruſted with his favors, as the Stewards of his Bleſſings and Riches. At every moment he may call us to an account, and require from us a reaſon of our behaviour, and take from us our enjoyments: we ſhould therefore look upon our Houſes and Poſſeſſions, as upon things that are let unto us: for as we are not diſpleas'd to reſtore what we had borrowed, and what we enjoy, as long as it pleaſeth the lawful owner to lend it; thus we ſhall freely leave this preſent life, and all our worldly poſſeſſions, in caſe we can but perſwade our ſelves, that all belongs to God, and that he hath lent them but for a moment.
9. Moreover, it is neceſſary for us, to conſider the fruitleſs labors and pains that we are at, when we purchaſe the Riches of the Earth, and aſcend up to the Dignities and Honors; for as the Husbandman, when he hath ſpent himſelf in manuring his Field, and water'd it with his ſweat, is many times deceived of all fair hopes, and his expectation fruſtrated. Thus it commonly happens to the covetous and ambitious; they toil and labour in vain; the Goods which they think to grasp, ſlides away between their fingers as Water, or as Wax, that melts at the firſt approach of the Fire, and all the Honors which they expect to enjoy and embrace, are as a ſhadow that ſoon vaniſhes, or as a ſmoak that flies up out of their reach: when they have well ſown theſe vanities, they rerp nothing but grief and diſpleaſure.
10. Take notice of the little contentment and ſatisfaction, that there is to be found in the moſt entire and perfect enjoyment of the advantages of this World. They are like a Drink that leaves us ſtill a Thirſt, and like an empty Meat that cannot ſatiate our Longing; Like the Waters of the Weli of Sychar, whereof our Saviour ſaid to the Woman of Samaria, He that drinketh of this Water ſhall thirſt again, Joh. 4. It happens to the Worldlings, as to him who ſleeps hungry, and dreams that he is eating, when he wakes his ſtomach is empty, Iſaiah 29. or like to another that thinks in his ſleep that he drinks, but when his eyes are open, he finds himſelf weary, and his Appetite unſatisfied; for he that hungers for Money is never contented with the enjoyment of it, and he that thirſts for vain Glory, can never be pleas'd with all the great Honors and Grandeur of the World, Eccl. 5. Inſtead of ſatiating his longing Appetite, theſe things ſerve but to increaſe and augment it. The whole World was not large enough to ſatisfy the fooliſh ambition of Alexander; for it is ſaid, that he wept when a Philoſopher told him, that there were yet many Worlds to conquer; This Man, to whom ſix foot of Earth, was ſufficient, had a mind to command over a thouſand Worlds, if there had been ſo many in being.
11. Conſider, that all the Treaſuries and Riches of the Indies, and the pomp and grandeur of the World, are not able to bring Peace to the Soul, nor quiet to the troubled Conſciences; when a poor man hath got together a little Silver and Gold, or when a mean perſon is rais'd to the higheſt Offices, and greateſt Dignities, his miſery continues ſtill, although it changes its appearance, oft-times it is ſo much the more unſufferable, in that it puts on a falſe luſter, and a deceitful Gloſs, in that ſuch are conſtrain'd to live always masked, to ſuppreſs the pangs, the grief, the ſighs and groans, that often interrupt their prophane ſmiles, and carnal delights and paſtimes.
Therefore our Saviour compares Riches to Thorns, for they prick and gaul, not only the Hands but the Heart and Bowels of ſuch as embrace them with affection; it may be ſaid alſo that they are like Lions and Bears, for they are not to be caught without much difficulty, and they are as uneaſy to be kept, becauſe we muſt take heed, that we be not bit with their venemous and deadly Teeth. If you had but tried the horrible diſpleaſures, the ſenſible griefs, and the ſecret fears, with the tormenting cares that attend upon the moſt glorious Scrpters, and the richeſt Crowns; you would never judge the ſaying of that Prince unreaſonable, who exclaimed againſt his Royalty in this manner, O Crown, if any did but know thy weight, he would never lift thee up from the ground. The moſt part of the pleaſures, and the ſatisfactions of this life, depend much upon mans imagination, and al this grandeur and humane Glory, is nothing but wind. The Royal Prophet teacheth us this Truth with much elegancy, when he ſaith, That every man at his beſt ſtate, is altogether vanity; ſurely every man walketh in a vain ſhew, ſurely they are diſquieted in vain, Pſal. 39. Solomon, the moſt Learned of all Kings, the Richeſt, and moſt Magnificent Prince of his time, had refus'd nothing to his Eyes, to gratify his Luſt, he had taſted of all the delights and paſtimes that can be imagined, but at laſt he found ſo little ſatisfaction, and ſolid content, that he was forced to acknowledge That all things under the Sun are but vanity and vexation of Spirit, Ecc…eſ. 8.
12. Chiefly, we are to conſider, that if our Enjoyments have been wrongfully gotten, as Balaams reward, Achans wedge of Gold, and Scarlet Cloak, Gehazis changes of Raiment, Ahabs and Jezabels Vineyard, Judas his Thirty pieces, Numb. 22. Joſh. 7. they can bring no real content, nor peace to the Soul, but they rather fill us with horrors of Conſcience, and with a fearful deſpair; 2 Kings 5. 1 Kings 21. If the voluptuous Worldling that hath enriched himſelf by Rapine, Uſury, and Extorſion, did wring with his hands his ſumptuous Garments, where his pomp and pride appear, he ſhould viſibly ſqueeze out the Tears of the afflicted and poor People, Matt. 27. If he did but reliſh the right taſt of the Liquors, that he drinks out of his Cups of Jasper and Chryſtal, he ſhould find, inſtead of Wine and Lemonade, the ſweat and blood of many wretches, and if he did but ſeriouſly look into the Silver and Golden Veſſels that are put upon his Table, he ſhould perceive the Marrow and the Bones of ſuch as he hath devour'd. Whoſoever becomes fat with the ſubſtance of the Widow and the Fatherleſs, ſhall never open his Coffers, but he may ſpy there the Image of the Devil, and the Helliſh Furies; he may hear the crys and groans of ſuch, whom he hath deſtroyed by his unjuſtice and cruelties; If ſuch eſcape unpuniſhed here upon Earth, they ſhall ſurely feel the ſeverity of God's vengeance hereafter. If there be no Sword to ſtrike them, nor Fire to conſume them, nor Leproſie to gnaw them, nor Dogs to tear them, nor Halter to hang them; they have a guilty Conſcience that will perform more than this, for it will be their witneſs to accuſe them, their judge to condemn them, their Rack, their Wheel, and Executioner to torture them; The time will come when the Worm that never dies, and the Fire that ſhall never be quencht, ſhall torment and burn them.
13. Conſider, that it is poſſible to be very indigent in the midſt of a great plenty; The Poets have had a deſigne to repreſent this by the fiction of a Man thirſting in a River, whereof the Waters did reach up to his chin. The covetous Miſer is like to this miſerable wretch, He may be alſo compar'd to the Figtree of the Goſpel, curſed by our Saviour Chriſt for it brought forth no fruit for others, and it withered for want of nouriſhment: Therefore a pleaſant poverty is better worth than riches with diſcontent; Nature is content with a little, Piety with leſs, but covetouſneſs hath no meaſure; The Heathens have very well acknowledged, that he was the richeſt who was moſt content, for the more things you deſire, the more are wanting to you. It matters not much, if the Cup which is preſented to you, be of Gold or of Earth, ſo that there be liquor enough to quench your thirſt; I would rather drink of a little clear ſtream of Water, than out of a great River all muddy and troubled. A little quantity of ground is ſufficient to nouriſh a Man in his life, but leſs is neceſſary to cover him when he is dead; A little Money ſatisfies to ſubſiſt honeſtly in the fear of God, but leſs is required to dye happily, in the favour and love of our good Saviour. Kings, and the greateſt Monarchs have but one body to nouriſh and to cloath, as well as the meaneſt of their Subjects; They who enjoy leaſt in the World, do uſe, or rather abuſe the moſt of any, the things that they poſſeſs; Inſtead of envying the Worldlings opulency, let us meditate upon St. Paul's excellent ſaying, Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content, 1 Tim. 6. and let us imprint into our minds that other Sentence, Piety with contentment is great gains, 1 Tim. 1.
14. Chriſtian Souls, caſt your eyes upon all the things of the World that are moſt eſteem'd, and you ſhall find that their poſſeſſion is but uncertain, and of a ſhort continuance, for Riches have wings to fly to Heaven as an Eagle; All Fleſh is like Graſs, and the Glory of Man as the Flower of the Field, the World paſſeth away with all its Luſts, Prov. 23. There needs but the pillaging of a Town, the breaking of a Merchant, or an unſucceſsful and contrary ſuit in Law, to render thee poor, and bring thee to want; A little ſparkle of fire, is able to reduce all thy Riches into Aſhes, and to bring thee to extream poverty: The leaſt ill look can cover thy face with ſhame and confuſion, and caſt thee down from the higheſt humane Glory, into the deepeſt Abyſſe of Diſgrace and Ignominy. The wiſe Man informs us, that He who truſts in his Riches ſhall fall. We may ſay ſo of ſuch as relye too much upon great mens favor, for it is like a broken Reed that pierceth the hands of ſuch as lean upon it. There is nothing here below ſo conſtant as unconſtancy; if the Earth did not often change its face and appearance, it would not be Earth as it is, and if the world were not unconſtant, it would ceaſe to be World; therefore it is no wonder if the Heathens, who underſtood not God's wiſe Providence, that governs the natural Beings, and draws Light out of Darkneſs, have repreſented Fortune blind, mounting ſometimes on a Wheel, and in an inſtant tumbling down again. How many perſons do we meet with reduc'd on a ſuddain to beggery, who a little before did flouriſh in all manner of Plenty? How many are caſt down into the duſt, and become the ſcorn of the World, who were once rais'd to the higheſt Dignities, and the greateſt Honors? How many fall into the contempt and deriſion of the Vulgar, whoſe praiſes were once exalted up to Heaven? In a word, how many do we ſee before our Eyes dragg'd along the ſtreets, ſhut up in cloſe priſons, brought upon the Scaffolds and Gallows, who were once the Glory of the World, admired of all men, and the ſcourge of honeſt Men? When we run over, and conſider the ſtrange, unexpected, and ſuddain changes that we have ſeen in our days, they ſeem to us as Dreams. St. Paul repreſents this great unconſtancy of the World, to take off our Hearts and Affections from it. The time, ſaith be, is ſhort, it remaineth, that both they that have Wives be as though they had none, and they that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoyce, as though they rejoyced not, and they that buy, as though they poſſeſſed not, and they that uſe this world, as not abuſing it, for the faſhion of this world paſſeth away, 1 Cor. 7. Becauſe of this great unconſtancy of all Worldly advantages, St. Paul invites us to think upon the immortal Riches; Charge, ſaith he, them that are rich, that they put not their truſt in uncertain Riches, but in the living God, laying up in ſtore for themſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life, 1 Tim. 6. For the ſame reaſon the Son of God adviſeth us, Not to lay up for our ſelves Treaſures upon Earth, where the Moth and Ruſt do corrupt, but lay up for your ſelves Treaſures in Heaven, where the moth and ruſt don't corrupt, and where Thieves don't break through and ſteal. Matt. 6. A wiſe Perſian was well acquainted with this truth, therefore he hath left this Leſſon for poſterity, The world is conſtant to no man, my Brother, apply thy ſelf and thy heart to the great Creator of the world, and that ſhall ſuffice thee.
15. Conſider, that if the Riches and Honors do not leave us in our life time, or in caſe none takes them away from us by violence, it is moſt certain, that death will deprive us of all, and will ſeparate them from us for ever, Pſal. 49. For when Man dies, he carries nothing with him, his Glory accompanies him not into his Grave, 1 Tim. 6. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain, that we can carry nothing out, Job 1. The King and the greateſt Princes may ſpeak in this language, as well as the meaneſt Soldiers of fortune, Naked I came from my Mothers womb, and naked I ſhall return. All the Treaſures, Riches, Scepters and Crowns ſhall never advantage us after our deceaſe. What was Nebuchadnezzar the better for having had ſo great a number of People within his Dominions? they could not hinder him from lying down upon a Couch of Worms, nor preſerve him from being eaten with Vermin, Iſaiab 14. To what purpoſe did the rich glutton ſwim in a Sea of all manner of Riches in his life time? after his deceaſe he could not obtain a drop of cold water to aſſwage his violent thirſt, Luk 16. The Author of the Book of Wiſdom was entered into this Meditation, when he repreſents the Worldlings, ſpending themſelves in lamentations for their former follies, and voluntary blindneſs, What hath pride profited us, ſay they, or what benefit hath Riches brought us? all theſe things are paſſed away as a ſhadow, as a Poſt that runs ſwiftly, or as a Ship that ſlides through the troubled Waves, Wiſd. 16. Our Heirs give us nothing of all our ſubſtance, but a Winding ſheet, a few Boards, or it may be ſome pounds of Lead, all conſumes with us, and rots in our Graves in time. In ſhort, we muſt not only quit and abandon all our Honors, Dignities, Treaſures and Riches, but we muſt alſo quit this Body, this Fleſh and Bones, cover'd with this beautiful Skin. O Man! remember that thou art but duſt, and that thou ſhalt return to Duſt.
16. Saladine the famous Sultan of Egypt, hath left to poſterity, an illuſtrious Teſtimony of the vanity of all Riches and worldly Grandeur; for upon his Death-bed he Commanded that his Winding-ſheet ſhould be carried at the end of a Lance by an Herauld, who was to proclaim, Here is all that this great Prince hath carried away of his Riches, Glory, Principalities and Lordſhips, which he hath enjoyed on Earth.
17. Conſider that it is a great cauſe of grief, that we know not who ſhall inherit the Fruits of all our Labors, which we keep with ſo much care, and reſtleſs fears. Who knows but our greateſt Enemies, and that which is worſe, Gods enemies ſhall cloath themſelves with our ſpoils, and that which we have been ſo long gathering many years, ſhall be ſpent in a moment? of this vanity and evil, the Royal Prophet complains in the 39 Pſalm. Surely every man walketh in a vain ſhew, ſurely they are diſquieted in vain, he heapeth up Riches, and knoweth not who ſhall gather them.
18. Conſider well, Chriſtian people, the dangerous effects wrought in us by the love of the World, and the deceitfulneſs of Riches, it ſtifles in our Hearts the good ſeed of the Gospel, Matt. 3. it hinders it from growing up to ſalvation; it keeps many from glorifying God, and making an open profeſſion of the truth. As it is ſaid, of ſome of the chief Phariſees, that they believed in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but they would not confeſs him before Men, becauſe they did love more the glory of Men, than the glory of God; therefore when Cyrus made Proclamation, that the Children of Iſrael ſhould have full liberty into their own Countrey, to rebuild Jeruſalem, to repair God's Temple, and to re-eſtabliſh his neglected ſervice; there were many Jews that cared not to obey this Prince's Command, nor God's Call, becauſe they were ſetled in Babylon, they were too much wedded to the pleaſures and delights of that City, and therefore loath to part with their Concerns there for Jeruſal…m: for the ſame cauſe that young man mentioned before, would not follow the Saviour of the World, nor obey his Command, becauſe he had much Riches, and had ſetled his Heart and affections upon them. As God's Ark and Dagon cannot dwell together under one roof, 1 Sam. 5. ſo the love of God, and the love of the World, can never ſubſiſt together; therefore St. John adviſeth us, Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world; If any man love the World, the love of the Father, is not in him, 1 Joh. 2.
19. Take notice, that this is the paſſion that ſtops ſo many in their firſt beginnings of Piety, for as Lots wife was changed into a Statue of Salt, aſſoon as ſhe had looked behind her; ſo when God ſends us his Angels to take us by the hand, and drag us out of the ſpiritual Sodom, there is nothing more dangerous, than to look with regret, and longings for carnal Delights, and worldly advantages, which we are then totally to quit: that alone is able to ſtop our proceeding forward, to ſtifle our zeal, and to cauſe all our pious intentions to vaniſh into the Air; Therefore we muſt imprint in our minds, this excellent ſentence of our Saviour, No body that puts his hand to the Plow, and doth look back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
20. From hence it is, that ſo many perſons, eſteem'd well-grounded in Religion and Piety, are perſwaded at laſt, to turn their backs to God, and to make ſhipwrack of their faith. What was the cauſe of the Iſraelites murmuring ſo often, and deſiring to return into Egypt? was it not as we have already taken notice, becauſe their Hearts and Affections were ſetled and fixed in that curſed Land, from whence God had deliver'd them, by ſo many miracles; and wherefore did Demas leave St. Paul and Chriſt's Goſpel; It was becauſe he loved too much this preſent World; In ſhort, our own experience confirms to us the ſaying of our Saviour, No man can ſerve two Maſters, for he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cleave to the one, and deſpiſe the other, you cannot ſerve God and Mammon.
21. Conſider, that if theſe worldly Goods, and Honors, don't produce in us theſe woful and lamentable effects, they produce them in our poſterity; many would live happier in the World, and be honeſter Men, if their Parents had not left them ſo much Riches, and ſo many Honors to poſſeſs; Their Riches and Honors therefore do occaſion many evils, and oft-times they caſt them headlong into ſeveral debaucheries and inſolencies: it is that which fills them full of a ridiculous vanity, and of an unſufferable pride, that renders them hateful to God and Man. In a word, it is that which makes them forget God, and unmindful of the Treaſuries and advantages of his Kingdom, Prov. 30. Therefore Agar preſented this excellent Prayer unto God, Give me neither poverty nor Riches, feed me with food convenient for me, leſt I be full and deny thee, and ſay, who is the Lord? or, leſt I be poor and ſteal, and take the name of my God in vain. Wretched Man! to what purpoſe doſt thou labor ſo carefully to gather up Riches for thy Children? It may be that theſe Riches which thou doſt ſnatch from others, or which thou doſt get with the loſs of thy Soul, ſhall ſerve but to get Golden Calves, be the ſubſtance of infamous Idols, as Gideon's Gold plunder'd upon the Midianites, was employed in an Ephod, which became a ſnare to his Houſe, and to all Iſrael; Thus it happens many times, that the Goods which are gotten with the expence of much blood, and ſweat, and the Honors unto which we climb up with ſo much earneſtneſs and paſſion, become ſnares to our poſterity; they caſt them headlong in an Abyſſe of miſery.
22. I ſhould not forget that death is a kind of ſleep, therefore in Holy Scripture, to dye, and to fall aſleep, are to be underſtood in the ſame ſence; now, as we cannot conveniently fall aſleep, unleſs we ſet aſide and forget all the troubleſome affairs of the World; Likewiſe it is altogether impoſſible to dye comfortably and peaceably, if we don't baniſh out of our hearts betimes, all the fooliſh fancies that diſturb us, and all the cutting cares that undermine and conſume us.
23. To this purpoſe, profane Hiſtory tells us of a remarkable paſſage of Cyneas, a great Miniſter of State, to Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, That when he ſaw his Maſter ſo buſy in raiſing of an Army, to march againſt the Romans, he began to argue with him in this manner; Sir, If it pleaſe God, to grant you the victory over the Romans, how will you employ your ſelf next? The King anſwered, We will then endeavour to conquer the reſt of Italy, and when we ſhall have Italy in our poſſeſſion replyed Cyneas, what ſhall we do afterwards? we will go againſt Sicily, ſaith the King; the diſcreet Cyneas continued to demand, and when we have all Sicily, what ſhall we do? Pyrrhus anſwered him, we wil paſs into Africa, and take Carthage and after that we may recover Macedonia, and command all Greece without controul; But Sir, replyed Cyneas, when we ſhall have got all into our poſſeſſion, what ſhall we do then? The King anſwer'd him with a ſmiling countenance; My friend, we will then repoſe our ſelves. and take our fill of Delights and Pleaſures: then Cyneas began to tell the King. What hinders us now, Sir, from taking our Reſt and Delights? for we have all that in our hands, that we are going to ſeek ſo far, with ſo much Bloodſhed and Danger. We may apply this to our ſelves, we have moſt of us intricate and hidden deſignes, which cannot be accompliſh'd in the age of one Man. We are afraid to dye, as if Death had already caught us by the throat and yet we have ſo many deſires to fulfil, as if we were all immortal; we build and adorn our ſumptuous Dwellings, as if we were never to leave the World; And we are always gathering ſo much, as if we had the charge of providing for a Royal Army; Let us therefore in this caſe imitate this wiſe Miniſter of State; Let us ask our ſelves for what purpoſe are theſe vaſt deſignes? what end do we propoſe to our ſelves of all our labors and care? what do we aim at when we run ſo many dangers, and endure ſo many inconveniencies? our Souls will anſwer us, without doubt, that it is with an intention, at laſt, to reſt our ſelves in peace, to live at eaſe, and enjoy the fruits of our labors; Let us enjoy that happineſs and that ſatisfaction at preſent; Let us not ſtay to reſt our ſelves, until the time when Death ſhall ſtretch us in our Graves; Let us be ſatisfied with the goods that God hath already beſtowed upon us, and let us uſe them with thanksgiving. Miſerable wretches that we are! why do we labor and torment our ſelves for ſo many things? ſeeing that there is but one thing neceſſary, and that is Piety; the fear of the Lord, and the expectation of his eternal Felicities; Let us therefore make election of this good part, and it ſhall never be taken from us. Luk 20.
24. If we deſire to imprint in our minds the contempt of the World, and of its Vanities, we muſt often meditate with ſerious attention, upon the excellency of our Nature, ſanctified by Grace, upon the worthineſs of our ſpiritual calling, and upon the Riches and Glory of that eternal Happineſs, which God hath prepared for us in Heaven. It is impoſſible to look upon theſe things as we ought, but we muſt conclude with the Apoſtle, that the World with all its Pleaſures and Treaſures, is not worthy of us. The Woman that appeared to St. John in a viſion, was cloathed with the Sun, having the Moon under her feet, and a Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head; This is a lively Image of Chriſts Church in general, and of every faithful Soul in particular, for when we are cloathed and adorned with Jeſus Chriſt the Son of Righteouſneſs, we ought to trample upon all the pomp and magnificence of the World, and laugh at the revolutions of the Ages, at the Vanities and unconſtancy of the Earth; we muſt ſeek our greateſt Glory, and our moſt raviſhing Delights in the Doctrine of the twelve Apoſtles, who are as ſo many Stars ſhining in the firmament of the Church; Let the World alter its face, as often as the deceitful Laban, we ought to be as the Rayes of the Sun, always like our ſelves, for our Glory is not as that of the World, and of the Princes of this age, that is reduc'd to nothing; it is not ſetled upon a vain and failing foundation, but upon the living and true God, who is the ſame yeſterday and to day, and who ſhall be the ſame for all Eternity, Heb. 14. Some glory in their Chariots, others in their Horſes, but we will boaſt in the name of the Lord our God, Heb. 13. Pſal 29.
25. Conſider that God hath lifted up our countenance, and turned our face to look up to Heaven, that he might thereby teach us to lift up thither alſo our Hearts, and carry thither our Affections and Deſires. He hath created our Souls, and given them a ſpiritual Being, that they may take their flight above all earthly ſubſtance. He hath adorned them with immortality, that they might contemn all things that are not immortal as themſelves, all decaying and periſhing enjoyments; In ſhort, ſeeing God hath prepared for us his Heaven, his Paradiſe, his Glory, his Treaſures, and the Rivers of Eternal Delights; how can we yet ſtop our deſires, and be content with this duſt of the Earth, where Serpents crawl.
26. When Alexander was preparing to leave Mace…onia, and go to the Conqueſts of the Perſian Monarchy, he gave away all his Goods to his faithful friends and ſervants; Perdicas, one of his Favorites demanded of him, what he had reſerved for himſelf; The King anſwered, that he had reſerved HOPE. Thus ought we to fit our ſelves to depart out of the World, by leaving our Parents, Friends, and Eſtates that we now enjoy; and if our Fleſh enquires of us, what we kept for our ſelves, let us confidently anſwer, That we have kept our HOPE. I may aſſure you Chriſtian Souls, that this your anſwer ſhall be more rational and better grounded, than that of Alexander to his Favorite, for this Prince did leave his Patrimony and Kingdom without any need, but whether we will or no, we muſt leave the World. Alexander did quit his certain Goods for a doubtful Hope, but we abandon periſhing enjoyments for an Hope more ſecure and ſetled, than Heaven and Earth. Alexanders expectation was but of a temporal Kingdom; and of a ſhort and vaniſhing Glory, but our expectation is of an uncorruptible Crown, and eternal Triumphs; Death hath ſeized upon Alexander in the flower of his Age, put a period to all his Victories, and conſum'd all his Trophies; but we are in hopes of conquering Death it ſelf, and this hope will not deceive us, Rom. 5. This therefore being our aſſurance, it is no wonder if St. Paul tels us, That Hope is as a ſure and unmoveable Anchor of the Soul, piercing into the Vail, that is, into Heaven it ſelf, where Jeſus Chriſt is entered, as our fore-runner.
27. God hath hid in the Earth, Gold, Silver, and Jewels, to teach us to trample upon all the Riches and Pomp of the World; but he hath rais'd up to the higheſt Heavens, our ſpiritual Treaſure, and our immortal Crowns, that we might lift up thither our Hearts, and our moſt earneſt Affections; he deſires that we ſhould imitate the Prophet David, who did always comfort himſelf, with the expectation of the Kingdom promiſed to him, and confirmed by Samuels anointing, in his flight and grievous perſecutions. God would have us do as the true Iſraelites did in the Babyloniſh Captivity; they had always their Hearts and Affections in Jeruſalem, and in the midſt of their deepeſt ſorrows, Jeruſalem was all their comfort. Likewiſe we, who are wandring up and down in this miſerable Wilderneſs, that live in the World as in a Babylon, in a kind of Captivity; we ought to comfort our ſelves and rejoyce, in expectation of the Kingdom of Heaven, that hath been prepared for our fruition from all Eternity, and whereof the Holy Spirit is the true Unction that hath confirmed the promiſe of it, and given us the earneſt, Pſal. 137. Gal. 4. The Eye of our Faith ſhould always be fixed upon our Celeſtial Jeruſalem, that is, the Mother of us all, and the place of our Eternal Reſt, Coloſ, 3. The Apoſtle doth therefore exhort us, If you be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe things, that are above, where Chriſt ſits at the right hand of God; Think on things that are above, and not on things on the Earth, for you are dead, and your life is hid with Chriſt in God.
28. When Men are going to live in another Countrey, where their Money will not paſs, they furniſh themſelves with Bills of Exchange, and find the means of receiving it in other Coyn: Therefore, ſeeing that our Gold, our Silver, and our preſent Jewels, will not paſs in Heaven, the place of our Eternal Abode, let us ſend thither betimes, all our Riches and Treaſures, by Bill of Exchange; and that we may entruſt them with an aſſurance of a notable advantage, and of a lawful gain; let us put them into God's hands, for he will reſtore one hundred times more in his Kingdom: Let us now diſtribute them to the poor, to the Members of Chriſts Myſtical Body, and this Divine Saviour will then acknowledge, that they have been given to his own Perſon. You that fear ſo much to looſe your Money, get ſuch Purſes that will never decay, and make to your ſelves friends of the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs, that when you fail, they may receive you into Eternal Habitations.
29. Laſtly, as the Iſraelites, when they had taſted of the Fruits of the Land of Canaan, deſir'd with a moſt earneſt Paſſion, to enjoy ſuch a noble and delicious Countrey, and their Abode in the Wilderneſs became tedious and unſuffererable: Likewiſe we who have the Firſt Fruits of the Spirit, and a fore-taſte of our Heavenly Paradiſe; let us aſpire with all our Heart to the Heavenly Canaan, and let us long continually for thoſe unſpeakable Delights. All worldly Pleaſures have no reliſh with us, and the greateſt ſweetneſs of this life, is turn'd into bitterneſs, ſo that we do often preſent Davids Prayer unto God, Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou beareſt unto thy people; O viſit me with thy Salvation, that I may ſee the good of thy choſen, that I may rejoyce in the gladneſs of thy Nation, that I may glory with thine Inheritance, Pſal. 106.
To conclude this diſcourſe, Seeing that we have no laſting City here below, but that we ſeek for that which is to come, ſeeing that we know not the hour when God ſhall take us out of the World, to introduce us into his Holy Jeruſalem, Heb. 11. Luk 21. Let us take heed that our hearts be not over-charged with ſurfeiting and drunkenneſs, and with the cares of this life, leaſt that day ſurprize us unawares, And as the Holy Apoſtles left their Nets to follow Jeſus Chriſt, Matt. 24. Let us alſo leave the vain cares, the ill-grounded fears, and deceiving hopes that intangle our Souls, that when it ſhall pleaſe God to call us, we may be ready to anſwer his Heavenly Meſſage; Let us accuſtom our ſelves betimes, to Will what God willeth, and to obey him without reſiſtance; Let us caſt all our cares upon God, and repoſe our ſelves upon his wiſe and fatherly Providence, 1 Pet. 5. Let us look with contempt upon the World, upon its vain Grandeur, and decaying Riches, eſteem not any thing upon Earth, nor that which Man is able to promiſe, or to procure, but eſteem and value the bleſſed advantages that we expect in Heaven, and that are diſpoſed and entruſted in God's own hands, 2 Tim. 1. Tit. 2. Let us prefer Job's Dunghil and Aſhes, before the proud Throne, and Glorious Monarchy of Nebuchadnezar; Let us fancy the begging Eſtate of poor Lazarus more happy, then the overflowing abundance of the rich Miſer. Imprint in your minds, that bleſſed ſaying of the Son of God, What will it profit a man if. he gains the whole world, if be deſtroys himſelf, and looſeth his Soul, Luk 9. Let us have always before our eyes the image of that rich Worldling, who had gathered much wealth for his Soul, but his Soul was not wealthy nor rich before God; Remember what he ſaith …o his Soul, Soul, thou haſt much Goods gather'd up for many years, reſt thy ſelf, eat and drink and be merry; but what doth God ſay to him? Thou fool, in this very night thy ſoul ſhall be taken away from thee, and the things that thou haſt gathered, whoſe ſhall they be? Inſtead of ſtudying how to enlarge our Barns and Cellars, and to increaſe our Revenues and Treaſures; let us labor to ſet ſome bounds to our deſires, and let us be content with what we have at preſent, ſeeing that we have but a breath in our Noſtrils, and that we are cloathed with a mortal Body, let us not entertain ſuch great deſignes and ſuffer not our longings to be immortal; Let us always, and in every place, be ready to end our life, to put the laſt ſtone to this building, or rather let us be always in a diſpoſition of diſſolving this earthly Tabernacle; let us willingly break all the bands and ties that unite us to this miſerable Earth, that when Death ſhall come, it may have nothing to do, but to cut the laſt ſtring, by which our ſoul is naturally joyned to this languiſhing Body. Settle and fix your ſtrongeſt affections in Heaven; that where your Treaſure is, your Hearts may be there alſo. Let us not be lull'd aſleep, as the fooliſh Virgins, but having our Reins girded, our Candles lighted; Let us be prepared at every moment, to go to meet our Heavenly Spouſe, and follow him into the Marriage Chamber. Let us be like a Ship at Anchor, ready to ſet ſail with the firſt favourable wind; and as a Soldier entirely arm'd that waits for the day of Battel, and for the Signal, to mount upon his Horſe, that he may appear in the field at the ſound of the Trumpet. Let us ſend beforehand, all our moſt precious Jewels, into the moſt glorious Palace of Eternity; that our Bag and Baggage being ready prepar'd, we may have nothing to do, but to take our laſt farewel. If any conſideration of Fleſh and Bloud hinders us, let us break aſunder all theſe Bands by the ſtrength of our Nazareth, that is, by the vertue of Gods Divine Spirit, which he hath bin graciouſly pleaſed to grant unto us; and if the perſons that we love and cheriſh, as tenderly as your ſouls, or thoſe whom we are to reverence and honor, labor to ſtir up the bowels of our compaſſion, and to impede us in our Holy reſolutions, by baſe and earthly conſiderations: let us tell them, as our Saviour did to Mary Magdalene, Le me alone, for I am going to my Father, John 20. Stop not my courſe, for I hold already the prize, and the promiſed Crown. In ſhort, as Abraham let the Ram looſe whereof the Horns were taken in a Thicket, and offer'd it up in Sacrifice to God, Gen. 21. Likewiſe let us free our minds from all worldly cares, and carnal affections; Let us offer them up all to God, as a ſweet ſmelling Sacrifice, let us preſent them as a Burntoffering, conſume them in the Flames of an Holy Zeal, and love of his Divine Majeſty. When the Chriſtian ſhall be thus prepar'd, he ſhall never ſtand in fear of Death, he will ſay to it with an aſſured countenance, Come when thou wilt, O Death, I deſire no reprieve; for along while ago I have ſetled my affairs, and wait for thee with patience: the chief part of my ſelf is not here below, my Heart is already raviſh'd into Heaven, where God expects me with Arms wide open; Therefore notwithſtanding thy fearful darkneſs, and the deſigne that thou haſt to deſtroy me, I will follow thee as couragiouſly, and as joyfully as St. Peter did the Angel of Light, that open'd to him the Gates of his Priſon, and freed him from his Chains. Acts 12.
A Prayer and Meditation for ſuch as prepare for Death, by a renunciation of the World.
O Infinite Lord of Heaven and Earth, who diſpoſſeſt of good and evil, by thy Divine Providence, and admirable Wiſdom, thou haſt not ſuffer'd us to have here a laſting City, that we might ſeek for that which is to come; Thou doſt diſcover before our eyes the vanity and unconſtancy of all things under the Sun, that we might labor to attain to ſolid and everlaſting advantages; Thou haſt placed and reſerved in Heaven, an inexhauſtible Treaſure of Riches uncorruptible, Crowns of Glory, and Eternal Triumphs, that thither we might tranſport our Heart and affections. The ſource of Heavenly pleaſures is with thee, that we might always be athirſt for the ſtrong and living God; and that we might deſire, with an Holy earneſtneſs, to look upon thy beautiful and glorious Face. Moſt Glorious Creator, ſeeing thou haſt beſtowed upon me an …mmortal Soul, ſuffer me not to be ſo wretched, as to content my ſelf with theſe mortal vanities; and ſeeing thou haſt made it of a Spiritual and Heavenly nature, ſuffer me not to be ſo unhappy, as to wallow in this miſerable duſt of the Earth, or to caſt my ſelf into the puddle and dirt of carnal Luſts. Give me Grace to renounce the World, and all the Vanities that the World adores. Give me Grace to poſſeſs all theſe decaying and periſhing things, as not poſſeſſing them; that I may tramble upon all the pomp and glory of the Age; that I may conſider that the Gold, the Silver, the precious Jewels, whereof the apparent beauty deceives the carnal eyes of Men, is nothing elſe but hardened Earth, that will crumble away, and diſſolve into Duſt; that I may remember, that after my deceaſe, all theſe things will profit me no more than that vile Earth, and the Stones that ſhall cover my dead Corps, or the Wood or Lead which ſhall be given to it for a Coffin. Give me grace to deſpiſe all the Honors and Dignities, after which the Men of the World run ſo impatiently, for they are but like a ſhadow that paſſeth away, and like the ſmoak that aſcendeth up put of our reach. Pluck out of my heart the cares of this life, and all ſolicitouſneſs for the Earth, that Death may never ſurprize me unawares, and that there may be nothing to ſtop or hinder from going to thee, when thou ſhalt be pleaſed to call me: that my ſoul being totally diſengag'd, and freed from all theſe Bryars and Thorns, I may be always ready at every moment, to be offered unto thee as a living and a burnt Sacrifice. The Children of Iſrael did fix and raiſe their Camp at thy Command; Give me alſo Grace to be as ready prepar'd to live and dye, to remain in this Tabernacle, and to depart out of it, when thou ſhalt ſend thine Orders: and as this people did paſs over the River Jordan, with a wonderful joy, to take poſſeſſion of the promiſed Land; O that I might alſo leave this miſerable Wilderneſs with tranſports of joy, to enter into the Celeſtial Canaan, where the Milk and Hony of Divine Pleaſures, and of Eternal Comforts flow, as in their natural Channel. O God, who art my portion, and mine inheritance, caſt me not away with the men of the World, whoſe portion is in this life. Thou doſt fill their paunch with thy good things, they are full, and leave ſufficient for their Babes; but for me, all my comfort is, that I ſhall behold thy face in Righteouſneſs, and ſhall be ſanctified when I awake with thy likeneſs, Amen.