The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 11

The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death · Chapter 11

p. 147CHAP. 11.

The Fifth Remedy againſt the fears of Death, is, to renounce Vice, and to apply our ſelves to the practice of Piety and Sanctification.

GOd is ſo wonderful in all his Works, and he governs all his Creatures in ſuch a manner, that his very Enemies are conſtrain'd to acknowledge this Truth; You have an excellent example in Balaam, who beholding the Tents of the Children of Iſrael, breaks out into this paſſionate wiſh, Let me dye the death of the Righteous, and let my laſt end be like his, Numb. 25. He was a wicked Varlot that loved the wages of iniquity, nevertheleſs he perceived by that Prophetical Light, with which his Soul was enlightened, how ſweet and comfortable Death was to ſuch as addict themſelves, in this life, to the ſervice and fear of Almighty God, and how different it is from the death of the profane Worldlings, who give themſelves over to their Luſts and Delight, in the unlawful pleaſures of the Fleſh: for as the Drunkards ſleep with a diſturb'd and unquiet fancy; likewiſe ſuch as are drunken and full with the baſe and rotten pleaſures of this life, if they be not hardened by Atheiſme, do commonly depart out of the World, with ſtrange frights, and horrid gripings of Conſcience, that cannot be expreſs'd. It is otherwiſe with a good Chriſtian, for as the Handicrafts man who hath work'd all the day in his Shop, and the Husbandman, who hath wearied himſelf in following his Plow, lays himſelf down at night in peace, ſo it is with a good Chriſtian, who hath carefully attended the works of Piety and Mercy in this life; he ſleeps his laſt ſleep with a great quiet of mind and ſatisfaction p. 148of ſoul, as righteous Jacob, when he travelled a journey to his Mothers friends, with his Fathers command, was not frighted to behold the Sun go down, although he was in the midſt of an open field, Gen. 28. but he laid himſelf down in peace, and ſlept ſweetly, having no other Bed but the Earth, no other Pillow but a Stone, no other covering than the Heavens, nor other Curtains, than the dark ſhadows of the night. Likewiſe a Soul ſanctified by the Spirit of God that walks in all the Commands of his Heavenly Father ſhall never be aſtoniſhed; for whereſoever his Sun goes down, whereſoever Death Arreſts him, he will look upon himſelf as in another Bethel; he will ſleep quietly in the Lord Jeſus, in the moſt cruel death, he will feel unſpeakable and glorious joys, and a Peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding, Acts 23.

We may take notice of this bleſſed diſpoſition in the Apoſtle St. Paul, who had behaved himſelf with a good conſcience towards God and towards Man, 1 Cor. 15. He had labor'd more in his Miniſtry, than all the other Apoſtles, therefore he ſtands in no fear of deaths approaches, but rather we may ſee him full of expectation, and deſires to paſs through Death into Glory, and Eternal Felicity. This diſpoſition is no leſs remarkble in Stephen, the firſt Martyr of Chriſt, Acts 6. in the midſt of his moſt grievous torments, he had a countenance ſhining, as that of an Angel, which was a certain teſtimony of his inward peace of Conſcience, and of the extraordinary joy of his Soul, for as the Wiſe man informs us, A merry Heart maketh a chearful Countenance, Prov. 15. From the ſame wiſdom proceeds this other Oracle that foretels unto every one what ſhall happen unto him. The wicked is driven away in his wickedneſs, but the righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14. Eccl. 1. Unto this is agreeable the excellent ſaying of Jeſus the Son of Syrach, It ſhall be well at the p. 149laſt with him who fears God, he ſhall ſind favor at the day of his death. This life is but a moment that flies away apace, and yet it determines our Eternal Eſtate; it raiſeth us to the higheſt Glory of Heaven, or elſe it caſts us headlong into the deepeſt Abyſſe of Eternal Miſery, for what Man ſoweth that ſhall he reap, he that ſoweth in the fleſh ſhall reap, of the fleſh, corruption, but he that ſoweth in the Spirit ſhall reap, of the Spirit, Eternal Life.

If you are afraid of a cruel and unhappy death, keep your ſelves from an evil and a prophane life, for commonly, as Man's life is, ſo is his death. The moſt part of thoſe who live in foul Luſts and Prophaneſs, dye in hardneſs of heart, or in grievous deſpair. God's patience, wearied out, changes it ſelf into a juſt reſentment and fury: Commonly God leaves at the hour of death, ſuch as have left him in the courſe of their lives; he is inexorable to the cryes and ſighs of ſuch as have ſhut their Ears and Hearts to his Holy Word, and his Fatherly Inſtructions; he laughs at the horrid fears and moſt ſenſible torments of thoſe that trample upon his ſacred Commands, according to his own words, Becauſe I have called and ye refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but ye have ſet at naught all my counſel, and would none of my reproof, I alſo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.

King Ahab was deſirous to hear a pleaſing Prophecy of happy things, of the victory over the Syrian Army; nevertheleſs he did continue in his Impieties and Tyranny; therefore the Prophet Micah was not afraid of his diſpleaſure, but tells him boldly of the approaching Judgments of God, which did hang over his guilty Head: likewiſe ſome ſinners deſire to be flatter'd and ſoothed up in their extravagancies, they expect, notwithſtanding their crimes, declarations of Joy and Proſperity: but we ſhould be falſe Prophets, poſſeſſed with a lying Spirit, if we did not foretel to ſuch people p. 148that a moſt lamentable and miſerable death, haſtens apace upon them, we ſhould have a cruel charity for them, if we did not labor to ſave them by fear, as out of a fire; if we did not ſhew them Hell with its jaws open ready to ſwallow them up, and the Eternal Torments wherewith God will puniſh all impenitent and hardened ſinners. Knowing what God's vengeance is, we muſt perſwade Men to embrace Faith and Righteouſneſs, and if we did fail in this our duty, their Blood ſhould be required at our hands.

To what purpoſe have the Heathen Philoſophers diſcourſed ſo Learnedly of the ſhortneſs of our life? To what purpoſe have many of their Princes entertain'd things on purpoſe to mind them of their mortal condition? Such kind of thoughts did fly in their fancy, but they reapt but little benefit from them, becauſe they did not oblige them to an Holy and Reformed Life, and by conſequence they did not prepare them to a bleſſed Death. It was alſo to no purpoſe that Balaam deſired ſo paſſionately to dye the death of the Righteous, and that his laſt end might be like a juſt man's, Numb. 23. for becauſe he lived the life of a ſinner, and continued in his Abominations and Idolatry, Numb. 31. therefore he died as they, and was comprehended in their puniſhment; as he was a partner in their crimes, it was but juſt and reaſonable that he ſhould ſhare in their calamities, and be a partaker of their torments.

To abandon Vice and Sin, is to take from Death its Venom, and all its fiery Darts. It is to pluck from this furious Beaſt, its Teeth and Claws; it is to break the Cords and Chains by which the Devil drags us into Eternal damnation. It is to deſtroy the Monſters that fright us, and ſtifle the Furies that purſue us In ſhort, it tends, to change Hell and its grievous Torments into an Heaven and its Glory. There was never yet any perſon that lived an Holy and Religious Life, but he died happily in the favour of his God. Now that the p. 149Lord knocks, open unto him the door of your hearts, and at the hour of Death he will open unto you the Gates of Heaven; preſent, and give unto him, whiles you are alive, your Bodies and Souls, and doubtleſs he will accept them, and confirm the Gift with his own Seal; here below he will enrich you with his Graces, and crown you at laſt with his Glory, Bleſſed are they that dye in the Lord, but to dye in the Lord we muſt live to the Lord, that we may be able to ſay with St. Paul, Whether we live we live to the Lord, whether we dye we dye to the Lord, whether we live or dye we are the Lords.

To perſwade us to this Religious Duty, we muſt conſider in the firſt place, the Command that he gives us of loving him, fearing him, of repenting of our ſins, and of walking in his Holy ways; unto this he exhorts us in the Holy Writings of the Old Teſtament, as in the 6 of Deuteronomy, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy ſoul, and with all thy might. And in the 26 of Iſaiah, Sanctify the Lord of Hoſts himſelf, and let him be your fear and your dread, and in the 55 Chap. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. In the 2 Chapter of Joel. Turn ye to the Lord with all your heart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And in the 1 Chapter of Malachi, The Son Honors the Father and the Servant his Lord; If therefore I am your Father, where is the Honor due unto me? If I am your Lord, where is the fear of my Name?

2. Jeſus Chriſt is not come to aboliſh the Law, but to fulfil it, Matt. 5. Therefore in the New Teſtament, he calls upon us as frequently to ſtudy Piety and Vertue. As in the 5 Chapter of St. Matthew, Let your Light ſo ſhine before Men, that they ſeeing your good Works, may Glorify your Father which is in Heaven. And in the p. 1521 Chapter of St. Mark, Repent ye and believe the Goſpel. And St. Paul to the Romans exhorteth in this manner. I beſeech you Brethren by the Mercies of God, that ye preſent your Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice, and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, hate evil and cleave to that which is good. Rom. 12. And in the 13 Chapter. W…lk honeſtly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſs, … chambering and wantonneſs, not in ſtrife and envy… but put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make no … for the fleſh, to fulfil the Luſts thereof. And in the 1 Ep. Corinth 15 Chap. Awake to Righteouſneſs and ſ…n not. And in the 4 Epheſians. Put off, concerning the former converſation, the old man which is corrupt, according to the deceitful Luſts, and put you the New man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs. And in the 3 Coloſſ. Mortify your Members which are upon Earth, Fornication, Ʋncleanneſs, inordinate Affection, evil Concupiſ…ence, and Covetouſneſs, which is Idolat…y. In the 1 Ep. Theſſalonians 5 Chap. Watch and be ſober, abſtain from all appearance of evil. And in Phil. 4. Wh…tſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good report, if there be any Vertue, and if there be any Praiſe, think on theſe things. I might with as much eaſe number the Stars of the Sky, as to reckon up all the paſſages that call upon us, and exhort us to an Holy life.

3. God doth not only Command us to apply our ſelves to Holineſs, Juſtice, and Innocency of life, but he propoſes himſelf alſo for our example, That as the obedient and good Children delight to imitate their Fathers Vertues, we alſo might endeavour to coppy out in our lives, the Divine perfections of our Heavenly Father, and imprint in our Hearts his Sacred Image; p. 153Therefore in the 11 Levit. he tels us, Be ye Holy, for I am Holy. And St. Peter repeats the ſame paſſage in this manner, As he that calleth you is Holy, ſo be ye alſo Holy in all manner of converſation, for it is written, be ye Holy for I am Holy. 1 Pet, 2. And our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt gives us the ſame Leſſon. Love your Enemies bleſs thoſe that curſe you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that perſecute you, that you may be the children of your Father that is in Heaven, Matth. 5. for he cauſeth his Sun to riſe upon the good and the bad, and ſends his Rain upon the juſt and the unjuſt, be therefore perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. The Apoſtle St. Paul ſpeaks in the ſame manner to the Epheſians; Be followers of God as dear children, put off the old man, and put on the new man, which is created according to God in juſtice and true holineſs. Chap. 5. And in the 3 Coloſſ. Now put off all theſe, Anger, Wrath, Malice, Blaſphemy, filthy Communication out of your mouth. Lye not one to another, ſeeing that ye have put off the old man with his Deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledg after the Image of him that created him.

4. Meditate ſeriouſly upon the excellent and precious promiſes that God hath given to ſuch as addict themſelves to Piety and good Works. As in the 20 Ex. I ſhew mercy unto thouſand generations of them that love me and keep my Commandments. And in 1 Sam. 2 Chap. I will honor them that honor me. And in the 3 of Iſaiah, Says to the Righteous, that it ſhall be well with them, for they ſhall eat the fruit of their doings. And in the 5 of St. Matthew, our Saviour ſaith, Bleſſed are the clean of heart, for they ſhall ſee God, and in the 6 Chapter, Seek firſt the kingdom of God and its Righteouſneſs, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you over and above, And in the 7 Chapt. Whoſoever ſhall call me Lord ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. St. Paul ſpeaks thus to p. 152the Romans, If by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the fleſh you ſhall live, Chap. 8. And in the 1 Ep. to Tim. Piety or Godlineſs is profitable unto all things, having the promiſes of this preſent life, and of that which is to come. And in the 21 Revel. Bleſſed and Holy is he who hath part in the firſt Reſurrection, the ſecond death ſhall have no power over him.

5. Conſider that the whole World trembles at the denunciation of the judgements with which God threatens to puniſh all impenitent Sinners, as in Exod. 20. I am the Lord thy God, ſtrong, jealous, viſiting the iniquity of the Fathers, upon the Children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me. And in 1 Sam. 2 Chap. I will honor them that honor me, and will deſpiſe them that honor me, And St. Matt. Chap. 12. Of every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give an account at the day of judgement. And St. John, Chap. 3. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit, that is, of a Spirit purifying like water, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And in Rom. 8. They who are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God. And in 1 Cor. Chap. 6. Be not deceived, neither Fornicators nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inherit the kingdom of God. And the Apoſtle to the Hebrews is not content to tell us, That without Holineſs no man ſhall ſee God, but he ſaith ſomething more; That if we ſin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, but a terrible expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which ſhall devour the adverſaries, for our God is a conſuming fire. Chap. 10. And in the Revelations it is not only ſaid, that in the Holy Jeruſalem there ſhall no unclean thing enter, or that committeth Abomination, or a Lye, and that God will ſhut out the Dogs, the Witches, the Fornicators, the Murderers, the Idolaters, and whoſoever p. 153doth love, or do a lye, Chap. 2.22. But the Spirit of God aſſures, that the timerous, that is ſuch as are more afraid of Man than of God, the Unbelieving, the Execrable, and Murderers, the Fornicators and Witches, the Idolaters and Lyers ſhall have their portion in the Lake that burnes with Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond death, Chap. 13.

6. When we ſhould ſpeak the language of Angels, when we ſhould give all our Goods to nouriſh the Poor, and when we ſhould give our Body to be burn'd, if we have not charity, we are but like the ſounding Braſs, and like the thinkling Cymbal. When we ſhould be able to perform Signes and Wonders, if we be not cloathed with Innocency and Holineſs, if we be not adorned with Meekneſs and Love, Chriſt will at laſt treat us as the fooliſh Virgins with a Depart from me I know you not. When we ſhould be able to caſt the Devil out of other Men, it will avail us nothing, unleſs we can caſt him out alſo of our own hearts, with all the wicked Luſts that he nouriſheth there. To what purpoſe ſhall ſuch cry out at the great day? Lord, Lord, have not we propheſied in thy name? have not we caſt out Devils in thy name? have not we done many miracles in thy name? Jeſus will return them this ſad anſwer, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.

7. Conſider, that whatſoever be your ſhare of the advantages of this life, when you ſhall come to dye, you ſhall not carry away with you your Riches, your Honors, nor your Pleaſures, but if you be rich in Faith and good Works, if you be cloathed with Holineſs, and crowned with Righteouſneſs; If Piety, and the ſervice of God be your delight, you ſhall carry away out of the World, this Spiritual Treaſure, this Celeſtial Glory, and this Angelical Satisfaction. It is what the Holy Spirit teacheth, when it tells us; Bleſſed are the dead that dye in the Lord, for they reſt from their Labours, and their Works follow them.

p. 1568. Let us always have before our eyes the bleſſed examples of ſo many Saints, who have traced us the way to Heaven, by their Piety and good Works, they are enter'd into the Paradiſe of God, and the Glory of his Kingdom. It is reported of a Painter, that when he had a deſigne to repreſent an accompliſhed Beauty, he borrowed from divers Objects the Excellencies and Perfections with which he was to adorn his Picture, from the Lillies he took their whiteneſs, from the Roſes their red tincture, from another Object the wonder of the Eye, from another the coral of the Lips, and ſo of the other parts. Likewiſe to reſtore in our Souls the Image of God defaced by ſin, we muſt borrow the Vertues and Excellencies of former Men; for example, Repreſent always to your ſelves Abel's Innocency, Henoch's Holy life, Noah's Juſtice, Abraham's Faith, Lot's Hoſpitality, Iſaack's Obedience, the Faithfulneſs of Jacob, the Chaſtity of Joſeph, the Patience of Job, the Meckneſs of Moſes, the Zeal of Phineas, the Conſtancy of David, the Wiſdom of Solomon, the Piety of Joſias, the Prayers of Daniel, the Tears of Jeremiah, the Faſtings of Heſter, the Holy Earneſtneſs of the Woman of Canaan, the Devotion of Cornelius, the Charity of the Samaritan, the Alms of Dorcas, and of the poor Widow, the Publicans Humility, the good Thiefs Repentance, the Tears of Mary Magdalen, the Weepings of Peter, the undaunted Courage of St. Paul, and his indefatigable diſpoſition, and the glorious Martyrdom of St, Stephen, and of ſo many noble Souls, of all Ages and Sexes, who have gone to the torments with as much joy, as to Feaſts and to Triumphs; and who have ſealed with their Blood the truth of the Goſpel, with an undaunted reſolution. Seeing therefore that we are encompaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, let us purſue with conſtancy, the Race that is ſet before us.

p. 1579. Chiefly, Let us look to Jeſus the Author and finiſher of our Faith, for he hath left us an example that we might follow his footſteps; All the Vertues that we admire in theſe faithful Souls, are but like ſo many little beams of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, and a weak Image of his Glory. There is no Fire ſo perfect, but it ſends up a Smoak, nor Righteouſneſs ſo accompliſh'd, but hath its Imperfections, whiles we are cloathed with this weak fleſh. The behaviour of the moſt Holy and Perfect, is defiled by many infirmities; but our Lord and Saviour is the Lamb without ſpot or blemiſh, in whoſe Mouth there is no guile; for it was neceſſary that we ſhould have ſuch an High Prieſt, who is Holy, Blameleſs, ſeparated from Sinners. The perfect image of all Vertues was never found in any mortal Man on Earth, but Jeſus Chriſt is the faireſt amongſt the Sons of Men, his Lips are full of Grace, in him alone we have a perfect model of all Vertues, and of all Perfections that we can imagine. Therefore when the Apoſtle had perſwaded the Romans to renounce the Luſts of the Fleſh, Drunkenneſs, Anger, Envy, and ſuch like ſins, inſtead of making an enumeratiun of the Vertues oppoſite to theſe Vices, he thinks it ſufficient to propoſe Chriſt's Holy example, Put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſaith he, to teach us, that all the Vertues and Graces do enter and meet in the Sacred Perſon of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, in the higheſt degree of perfection.

10. We are ſo much the more obliged to imitate Jeſus Chriſt, and to imprint in our hearts his Holy Image, becauſe that he is not only our Father, our Lord, and our King, but he is alſo the bleſſed Head of that Body, whereof we are Members; It is not juſt to unite defiled and profane Members to an Head ſo Glorious, and ſo Holy; Whoſoever gives himſelf over to his Luſt and Delights, in the corruption of ſin, maimes, as much in him lies, the Sacred Body of the Son of God. p. 156This conſideration drew from St. Paul this expreſſion, Shall I take the Members of Chriſt for to make them the Members of an whore?

11. The Divine Spirits dwelling in our Hearts, is a great obligation to Holineſs of life; know you not that you are the Temple of God? and the Holy Ghoſt dwelleth in you? Ezek. 8. Shall we be ſo baſe as to uncover our filthy and dirty thoughts, before ſo Holy and Divine a Gueſt? Shall we be ſo bold as to erect upon his Altar, Idols that may provoke him to jealouſie? His eyes are ſo clean and pure, that they cannot ſuffer the ſight of iniquity and ſin; it is that which doth moſt afflict and grieve him; Therefore when St. Paul had advis'd the Epheſians, That no corrupt Communication ſhould proceed out of their mouth, but that which is good, to the uſe of edifying, that it may miniſter Grace unto the hearers, he adds immediately after, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed unto the day of redemption. And if there be any that are not moved with the preſence of ſuch a Glorious Perſon, let him tremble at this fearful threatening, If any deſtroy the Temple of God, God will deſtroy him, 1 Cor. 3.

12. There was two Tables of Stone in the Ark of God's Covenant, where God himſelf had written his Law, which he gave to his People by the Miniſtry of Moſes, 1 Kings 6. Seeing that the God of all mercy hath choſen thy Soul to be his Sanctuary, and the pavillion of his Glory, his Sacred Commandments muſt be there engraven upon the Table of thy Heart, thou muſt be moved with an earneſt deſire for the ſervice of God, and for an exact conformity to his Holy Will, that we may be able to ſay to you, what St. Paul ſaid to the Chriſtians of his days. Ye are manifeſtly declared to be the Epiſtle of Chriſt, written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not in Tables of Stone, but in fleſhly Tables of the Heart, And that you may ſay with the Royal Prophet, p. 157My God, my Delight hath been to do thy Will, thy Law is within me, 2 Cor. 3.

13. Let us repreſent to our ſelves continually, the great and many Obligations that we have to fear God, to love him, and to ſerve him; he is the moſt perfect of all Beings, he is perfection it ſelf, infinitely lovely, ſo that if there were neither Hell to puniſh us, nor Heaven to reward us, he ought to be ſerved and reverenc'd, becauſe of Himſelf, and of his Divine Perfections. This conſideration cauſeth Jeremiah to break forth into theſe lofty expreſſions, Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations, for to thee doth it appertain, foraſmuch as among all the Wiſe Men of the Nations, and in all their Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee, Jer. 10.

14. Whilſt we are travelling here below, we are not capable of ſuch an high and Celeſtial Meditation; it belongs only to the Angels, whom God hath inveſted with Light and Glory, and to the Heavenly Spirits whom he hath admitted to the contemplation of his Face. Let us therefore ſeriouſly conſider the Bleſſings and Favors which we have received from this great God, who hath created us in his own Image, and who hath made us to be the Maſter-pieces of all his inferior Wonders. He hath placed in us a breviation of all the Beauties and Perfections of the World, he hath given us a Being, as to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. A Life like the Plants, Sence as to the Animals, Underſtanding as to the Angels. In ſhort, he hath infuſed into this Body, faſhioned with his own fingers an immortal Soul of an Heavenly Subſtance, a beam of his Glory, and a living Image of his Godhead. My Soul therefore bleſs the Lord, and all that is within me bleſs his Holy name, my Soul, bleſs the Lord, and forget not all his benefits, Pſal. 103.

15. It is for mans ſake that God hath ſtretched out the Heavens eſtabliſhed the Earth, poured out the waters, and preſcribed Limits, to the roaring Sea. It is p. 160for Man's ſake that this Gracious Creator hath adorned the Heavens with ſuch a number of Beautiful Stars, that he hath given to the Moon its unconſtant Motions with its wonderful influences, that he hath ſetled in the Sun ſuch a bountiful ſource of Light, and that he hath appointed the unvariable ſucceſſion of the ſeaſons, of the Days, Months, and Years. It is for Man's advantage and lawful recreation, that ſo many Birds ſing and fly in the open Air, that ſuch prodigious numbers of Fiſhes ſwim in the Seas and Rivers; that the Earth is beautified with ſo many delicate Flowers; that it brings forth ſo many wholſome Herbs, and pleaſant Fruits; that it nouriſheth ſo many kinds of Animals, and engenders in its Bowels, Gold, Silver, and precious Stones. In a word, it is for Man's ſake, that God hath created the World, and hath filled it full of ſo many Riches, and beautified it with ſo many excellent Perfections; Therefore it is no wonder if the Royal Prophet is raviſhed into an Holy Admiration, and burſts forth into theſe expreſſions. O God, what is mortal Man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of Man that thou doſt regard him? Thou haſt made him a little leſſer than the Angels, thou haſt Crowned him with Glory and Honor, Thou haſt eſtabliſh'd him Governor over the Works of thine Hands; Thou haſt put all things under his Feet, the Sheep, and the Oxen, the Beaſts of the Fields, the Birds of the Heavens, and the Fiſhes of the Sea. If the example of this great Prophet hath not power ſufficient to ſtir you up, and perſwade you to the fear and worſhip of God, by the conſideration of the wonderful Works of the Creation; Hear what the Angel declares, who took his ſlight through the middle of the Heavens, having the Eternal Goſpel in his hand; Fear God and give him Glory, worſhip him that liveth for ever and ever, for he hath made the Heaven and the Earth, the Sea, and the Fountains of Waters.

p. 16116. We have not only in God our Life, Motion and Being, but he hath not left himſelf without witneſs, in doing good and ſending Rains from Heaven, fruitful ſeaſons, filling our hearts with Food and Joy. He doth nouriſh us with his Manna, and gives us to drink of his abundance, he overſhadows us with his Protection, and enlightens us with his Heavenly Fires; He hath always his Eyes open to our Miſeries, and his Ears to our Sighs and Groans: He is always near them that call upon him; yea them that call upon him faithfully. Let us therefore ſay as David, I love the Lord, becauſe he hath heard the voice of my Supplication, for he hath enclined his Ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him all the days of my life, Pſal. 14. Pſal. 116.

17. Meditate often upon the advantages that are common to thee with the reſt of Chriſtians, and upon the Bleſſings and Favours which God hath vouchſafed to thy Perſon in particular. Remember how many times he hath ſent his aſſiſtance from above, how he hath wrought Miracles to deliver thee from the Evils that did threaten thee. Conſider how liberal he hath been to thee in the whole courſe of thy life, what admirable and noble means he hath employed to crown thee with his moſt precious Favors, then thou wilt ſay with Jacob, O God, I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant Gen. 32. And with David, Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful Works, which thou haſt done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward, they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee, If I ſhould declare and ſpeak of them, they are more then can be numbred; and being raviſh'd into an Holy Admiration, thou wilt ſay in the language of the ſame Prophet, O God, who is like unto thee, who when thou hadſt made me ſee many diſtreſſes and evils, at laſt thou haſt reſtored me to Life, and drawn me p. 162out of the depths of the Earth, Pſal. 71. Thou ſhalt increaſe my greatneſs again, thou wilt comfort me. And elſewhere, What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me. Pſal. 116.

18. The Conſideration of God's redeeming us, doth chiefly require us to deny our ſelves, and conſecrate our ſelves to his ſervice, for the Slave don't belong to himſelf, but to him that hath redeemed him and paid his ranſom. As when God had deliver'd the Children of Iſrael from the bondage of Egypt, he gave unto them his Law and his Ordinances in Mount Sinai. Thus God hath redeemed us from the Tyranny of the Devil, of the World, of Sin, of Death, of Hell, and from the power of all our Enemies, that we might ſerve him without fear, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all the days of our life, Luk 1. He hath given himſelf a ranſom for us, that we might become a peculiar people to him, given to good Works. Tit. 2. You are bought with a price, Glorify then God in your Bodies, and your Souls, that belong unto God, 1 Cor. 6.

19. One love muſt kindle another; the Sacred Fire that is come from Heaven muſt enflame our hearts with an Holy Zeal for his Glory. God hath loved us ſo much that he hath given his Holy Son, that believing we might not periſh, but have everlaſting life. He hath not ſpared him who is the brightneſs of his Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon. He hath deliver'd him to death for us, yea, to the ignominious death of the Croſs. And is it not juſt that we ſhould love him above all worldly things, a God ſo good and merciful? Is it not juſt that we ſhould love nothing but him, and for his ſake? Is it not reaſonable that we ſhould offer unto him our Bodies and Souls, as a Living and Holy Sacrifice, pleaſing to his Eye? And if we have any Luſt that offends him, is it not juſt that we ſhould willingly leave it betimes, when it p. 163ſhould appear as uſeful to us as our Hands and Feet, and as dear as the Apple of our Eyes? Whoſoever he be that doth not deny himſelf, is not worthy of him, Matt. 10.

20. We muſt treat the body of Sin, which the Holy Scripture ſtiles the Old man, and the Firſt Adam, almoſt in the ſame manner, as Chriſt the New Man; and the Second Adam was treated upon the Croſs, Rom. 6. Inſtead of flattering it, and ſeeking to ſatisfy its Luſts, we muſt deprive it of all its pleaſures, make it drink Vinegar and Gaul, teare its Head with Thorns, bind and chain its Affections, and nail them to the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with all its inordinate and brutiſh deſires: Mortify therefore your Members that are upon Earth, Fornication, Uncleanneſs, inordinate Affection, evil Concupiſcence, and Covetouſneſs, which is Idolatry, Gal. 5. Coloſſ. 3.

21. To live in ſin, and to delight our ſelves in iniquity, is to fruſtrate, as much as in us lies, our good Lord, from that principal end which he deſigned in leaving, for a while, the Celeſtial Abode of his Glory and Immortality; for he is come into the World to deſtroy the Works of the Devil. Now the chief Work of the Devil, the great Enemy of our Salvation, in which he takes moſt Delight and Glory, is Sin, with which he enſnares Mankind, for by Sin, Death and all kind of Calamities are enter'd into the World, John 3. Rom. 5.

22. It is to trample upon the only Son of God, to affront the Spirit of Grace, and eſteem the Bloud of the Covenant, a prophane thing; It is to deſtroy the Fruits of the Death and Paſſion of our good Redeemer, and pull down his Croſs, for he hath carried our Sins in his Body upon the Croſs, that dying unto Sin we might live unto Righteouſneſs. He hath given himſelf for his Church, to ſanctify it, and to render it a Glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, nor any p. 164ſuch thing. If the Bloud of Bulls and of Goats, and the Aſhes of an Heifer ſprinkled, did Sanctify the uncleanneſs of the Fleſh, how much more ſhall the Bloud of Chriſt, who through the Eternal Spirit, offer'd himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your Conſciences from dead Works, to ſerve the living God? Heb. 9.

23. Our Lord and Saviour was not only Dead, but alſo buryed, to teach us to bury alſo with him our ſins, and ſhut up in his Sacred Tomb all our carnal Luſts. Don't you know, all ye that have been baptized in Jeſus Chriſt, that you have been baptized in his Death; we are then buried with him in his death by Baptiſme.

24. This Glorious Saviour is riſen from the Dead, and hath left his Sepulchre with his Funeral Attire, to teach us to riſe to newneſs of Life, and to leave in our Grave, that ſin that encompaſſeth us, and the ties of our corruption, that bind us ſo faſt. To ſpeak in St. Paul's language. As Jeſus Chriſt is riſen from the dead by the Glory of the Father, we alſo ought to walk in newneſs of life; for if we are made one Plant with him, by a conformity to his Death, we ſhall alſo be One, by a conformity to his Reſurrection; and as Chriſt who is riſen from the Dead, dies no more, Death hath no more Dominion over him. Likewiſe we ought not to apply our Members as inſtruments of iniquity unto ſin, but we ought to apply them unto God, as being made alive from the dead, Rom. 6. He is dead and riſen again, that he might have dominion over the dead and the living; If any be in Jeſus Chriſt, let him be a new Creature, old things are paſſed away, behold all things are become new, Rom. 14. 2 Cor. 5.

25. Jeſus Chriſt after his Glorious Reſurrection, is aſcended up into Heaven, to lift up thither our Hearts, and to draw thither our affections, and to teach us to reform our manners, to live an Holy, Angelical, and Celeſtial life. If you are riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe p. 165things that are above, where Jeſus Chriſt is ſitting at the right hand of God, think upon things above, and not upon things upon Earth, Coloſſ. 3.

26. There is nothing in the World ſo lovely as Vertue; It is the delight and pleaſure of Heaven; it is the Daughter of the living God, and the true and lively Image of our great Creator. O bleſſed decking of a Chriſtian Soul, O rich and precious Ornament of God's Children; O Heavenly Grace, what rare and ſtrong Charms haſt thou to win the Hearts and Affections of all ſuch as behold thy Perfect and Divine Beauty.

27. On the contrary, there is nothing ſo ugly and illfavour'd as ſin; it is a woful Monſter of Hell, and a frightful Image of Satan; It is true, that it diſguiſes it ſelf, and takes a beautiful appearance, but if you lift up this borrowed Mask, you ſhall perceive the Devils fearful looks, and the depths of Hell.

28. Faithful Souls, weigh in the ballance of the Sanctuary, the fearful evils that ſin hath brought into the World; it hath blotted out God's Image, and defaced the Beauty of the Creation, it hath put a diviſion between Heaven and Earth, and kindled a grievous War between God and Man; it is an heavy burden under which Nature it ſelf groans, for becauſe of ſin, all Creatures ſigh, and are in labor until now.

29. It continues yet its woful Effects, for it is Sin that grieves the Holy Spirit, that afflicts the Angels, that offends the Weak, that hardens the Ignorant, and that gives an occaſion to the enemies of God, to blaſpheme his Holy Name, and to curſe his Goſpel, Rom. 8. It is Sin that pleaſeth the Devil, that rejoyceth Hell, that upholds the tottering walls of Babylon, that ſtrengthens the Kingdom of the Prince of Darkneſs, and that cauſeth him to work with efficacy in the Hearts of the Children of Rebellion, Eph. 2.

p. 16630. Lift up your Eyes to the Croſs of Jeſus Chriſt, and you ſhall perceive how abominable ſin is, for neither in Heaven nor on Earth, there could not be found an offering able to make expiation for it. God hath choſen rather to puniſh it in the perſon of his only begotten Son, than to leave it unpuniſhed. O that the ſtain of ſin is grievous and deep, ſeeing that nothing but the Bloud of a God can waſh and cleanſe it!

31. When you meditate upon our Lords Death and Paſſion, make it not your buſineſs to cry out againſt Judas's Treaſon; the Phariſees envy, the Peoples mutiny; don't lay the blame upon the Impiety of Caiphas, the unjuſtice of Pilate, or Herods Scoffs and Jeſts, nor upon the cruelty of the Roman Soldiers; but be angry againſt your own Sins, and let an Holy Diſpleaſure riſe in you againſt your iniquities and crimes. Say to your ſelves, our ſins, our ſins alone have betrayed Chriſts innocent Body, bound and faſtened the Lord of Glory, to this ignominious Croſs, and deliver'd him into the Executioners hands; our ſins have crown'd him with Thorns, nailed him to the Wood, deliver'd to him Gaul and Vinegar to drink. In ſhort, our ſins have pierced his Hands and Feet, and open'd his Side. You would abhor the ſight and acquaintance of the Hangman, that ſhould have faſtened your Father to the Gallows, and you would ſcorn to kiſs his bloody hands; how much more abominable ſhall we be to God and his Holy Angels, if we do cheriſh and delight to entertain Sin. whereas we ſhould be ſtirred up againſt it, with an Holy Zeal, and an earneſt deſire of Revenge? Inſtead of nailing to the Croſs this unmerciful Parricide, and cruſhing to pieces this helliſh Monſter; if we feed and nouriſh it in our bowels, we ſhall then be guilty of crucifying afreſh the Son of God, and of putting him to an open ſhame, guilty of treading him under feet, and of eſteeming the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith we were ſanctified, an unholy thing.

p. 16732. Conſider ſeriouſly the fearful effects that Sin produces in you; have you never been ſenſible of the horrid and cruel torments of a poor Soul, diſturb'd with the ſight of its crimes? How ſharp and piercing are the remorſes of a Conſcience, awaken'd from a prophane ſleep? It is a pain and an anguiſh that cannot be expreſſed; it cauſeth our head to diſſolve into water, our eyes to become a Fountain of Tears; it cauſeth our Blood to be congeal'd, our Skin to become black, our Bones to be crack'd and broken: It is a common ſaying, that the puniſhment follows the ſin cloſe at the heels, but imagine that it keeps always its company, and that it is a Rack and Torture that never leaves the guilty; for there is no peace for the wicked, ſaith my God, Iſai. 48.

33. Whereas there is no ſatisfaction like unto that of a good Chriſtian; who loves his God ſincerely, and worſhips him in Spirit and in Truth. There is no kind of delight to be compar'd to that of a regenerate Soul, that applies himſelf without hypocriſie to the works of Piety and Holineſs, John 4. for the quiet of the Soul, and the peace of Conſcience, are more worthy than great Treaſures, than Scepters and Crowns; therefore the wiſe Solomon tels us, That the Righteous mans Heart is a continual Feaſt, Prov. 15. To perſwade us that there is nothing like to this hidden Manna, to this ſpiritual Food, that the world knows not, and to theſe Angelical and Divine Pleaſures, the Holy Apoſtles inform us, that it is an unſpeakable and glorious Joy, and a peace of God that paſſeth all underſtanding, Phil. 4.

34. If any Delight or Pleaſure accompanies Vice, it is but in appearance ſuperficial, as a dream it vaniſheth away, for the Triumph of the wicked is of a ſhort continuance, and the Joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. There is always ſome Thorn, ſome Grief hidden, and ſecret in their laughter, their Heart is afflicted, and their Joy is cut off by Sorrow, Prov. 14.

p. 16835. But the Holy Joys and Celeſtial Delights of one that fears God, and that worſhips him in purity and innocency of life, are ſolid and laſting, they caſt a deep Root into the very bottom of our hearts, and enter into the Joynts and Marrow, and diſperſe themſelves all over the inward parts. The Gibbets, the Wheels, It is the French cuſtome to break notable offenders upon a Cartwheel.and the moſt grievous torments of this life, cannot pluck theſe joys from us, but they comfort the ſoul in the midſt of the greateſt diſtreſſes, and heal up the broken bones.

36. The Worldlings become weary, tired with the accompliſhment of their Luſts, and are afflicted at their greateſt ſucceſs, they loath at laſt, all their carnal ſports, and their greateſt ſweetneſs turns into bitterneſs; we grow out of taſte with the pleaſures of ſin, ſo that we begin to loath and abhorr them. It is what Zophar intends to ſhew us, when ſpeaking of the wicked, he ſaith, His meat in his Bowels is turned, it is the gall of Aspes within him, he hath ſwallowed down Riches, and he ſhall vomit them up again, God ſhall caſt them out of his belly, Job 20.

37. It is otherwiſe with them who apply their hearts to the fear and ſervice of God, and that find his Yoak eaſy and his burden Light, Matth. 11. They take great ſatisfaction in the ways of Righteouſneſs, they run with an holy freedom to their happy end, and to the price of their ſpiritual Calling, the more they drink of the Waters of Siloah, the more they thirſt; their Zeal is like an Holy Fire, that never ſaith that it is enough, Prov. 10. As the Prophet Moſes, after that he had been 40 days and 40 nights converſing with God in his Holy Mountain, came down with a Glorious Countenance, ſhining as bright as the Light, with two Tables of the Law in his hands, Likewiſe a Chriſtian Soul that hath bin lifted up to God by fervent Prayers, and bin converſing with him in devout Meditations, cannot hide its ſpiritual p. 169Joys, and its unſpeakable Delights; it burns with an earneſt deſire of glorifying God, and of pleaſing him in all things; when the Apoſtle St Peter ſaw our Saviour transfigured upon Mount Tabor, he was raviſh'd and tranſported in ſuch a manner, that he cryed out, Lord, it is good for us to dwell here, let us make three Tabernacles; Thus the good Chriſtian who is enlightned from above, is never weary in the company of his God, when he ſhould live ſeveral ages, he would not believe that he hath too much time to ſerve his Creator, to worſhip his Divine Majeſty, and to refreſh himſelf with the unſpeakable pleaſures of his preſence. As the time of Jacob's ſervice ſeem'd to him but a few days, becauſe of the love that he had for Rachel; thus the days that we ſpend in the ſervice of God, ſeem to be but of a few hours or moments, in caſe our love for God be earneſt and ſincere.

38. Repreſent unto your ſelves the fearful curſe denounced againſt the wicked and the prophane, Gen. 29. they carry about them every where the Works of God's anger, and juſt revenge; they are the objects of his hatred, and execrable to the publick; they who flatter and fawn upon them moſt for their own advantage, do abominate and curſe them in the bottom of their hearts; and they who out of a ſervile fear, ſeem to honor and worſhip them in the light of the Sun, would be many times very joyful to dance upon their Graves, and erect a Gallows to hang them thereon.

39. It is not ſo with good Men; they are honoured by God and Man, and their greateſt Enemies admire their Vertues; let us be never ſo poor and contemptible in the World, we are rich, and noble enough, if we fear God as we ought, and obey his Holy Will, for the fear of the Lord is our chief Treaſure, it is our Crown, our Diadem, and our greateſt Ornament,

40. The wicked Man is frighted and troubled of his own accord, he trembles in the midſt of his Guards, p. 170and he flies when no man purſues, all things ſcare him, he is jealous, and diſtruſts his beſt friends, his Children are ſuſpected, and in the embraces of his deareſt Wife, he ſlumbers with an unquiet Soul.

41. It is otherwiſe with a good Man, he marcheth every where with an Head lifted up, and his Heart rejoyceth in a perfect tranquility of mind, for there is no Bulwark like that of a good Conſcience; it is like a Wall of Braſs, that abides and withſtands the injuries of the times and ſeaſons; He that fears God, is free from all other fears, Pſal. 125. The finger of God that hath ſetled in his Soul, the dread of his Holy Name; baniſheth all other apprehenſions, Pſal. 112. He is like Mount Sion that cannot be moved, he fears no ill report, his Soul is firmly ſetled upon God; in the midſt of his greateſt dangers, and violent ſtorms, he ſaith with David, The Lord is my light and my deliverance, of whom ſhould I be afraid? the Lord is the ſtrength of my life, whom then ſhould I fear? O God, thou art a Buckler round about me, my Glory, and the lifter up of my Head, I have laid my ſelf down, I have ſlept, and I have awak'd, for the Lord upholds me, I will not fear thouſands of People when they ſhould ſett themſelves round about againſt me, when a whole Army ſhould camp againſt me, my heart would never fear. Pſal. 117.

42, Let the wicked be never ſo great and honourable, and never ſo highly advanc'd in the world, their Fame ſhall periſh Eternally. 'Tis to no purpoſe that they rear up ſtately Trophies, and fill whole Volumes with the remarkable paſſages of their lives, making the Marbles to ſpeak forth their Praiſes, whatſoever they do, to render their Glory Eternal, their name ſhall be always abominable to God, and all his Holy Angels, and Mankind ſhall never remember it, but with curſes and deteſtation: theſe infamous perſons are like unto a ſtinking Lamp, that gives light for a time, but when it is put out, it leaves a moſt odious ſtink; they p. 171may be alſo compar'd to certain Devils that never go out of a place, without cauſing an ill ſmell to be behind them.

43. It is otherwiſe with good Men, their Fame ſhall flouriſh for ever, and like the Palm, the more Men preſs it down, the more it will riſe, their name is Engraven in Heaven it ſelf, in the Glorious Temple of Eternity, it ſhall always be bleſſed by God and the Angels of his Glory, and the example of their Chriſtian Vertues ſhall remain after them, for a Model for their poſterity, to imitate a faithful Chriſtian; whoſe Soul is ſanctified by the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, is like to the Alablaſter-box af Ointment, which when it was broken, ſpilt upon our Saviour's Head a precious Liquor that perfum'd all the room, for ſuch an one lives after his death; when his Body is broken and reduc'd to Aſhes, his good name ſpreads abroad, to the Glory of God, and the edification of his Church. Mary Magdalene's Perfume filled only the Chamber where they were ſitting, and was ſoon ſpent; but the good Perfume of an innocent and Holy life, fills both Heaven and Earth, with a ſweet ſcent, and continues for ever and ever.

44. I judge that another powerful means to withdraw us from Vice, and to induce us to Vertue, is to repreſent unto our ſelves at every moment, the Excellency and Dignity of our Calling, to take a delight in beholding with the Eyes of our Soul, the white Stone where our new Name is written, which none know…, but he who receives it. It is the noble and high quality of the Children of God, and of Believers, which he beſtows upon none, but upon ſuch whom he hath elected from all Eternity, for the eternal enjoyment of Bliſs in his glorious Kingdom; It is reported of a certain young Prince, that when he had a deſigne to diſgrace himſelf by luſtful actions and debauchery, a wiſe Philoſopher p. 172reclaim'd him from his wicked purpoſe, by telling him, Remember that thou art a Kings Son. Thus you Chriſtian Souls, when Satan, the Fleſh, and the World, ſhall tempt you to filthy and unjuſt actions, or to any other ſin, call to your remembrance, that you are the Children of the King of Kings. Take heed you defile not ſuch a precious Crown; and as our Saviour ſaid to him who ſhould have followed him, but was deſirous firſt to go and bury his Father, ſuffer the dead to bury the dead; likewiſe we ſay unto you devout Souls, who have conſecrated your ſelves willingly unto God, and to his Service and Worſhip; caſt away theſe vain and baſe actions, and all theſe dead works, leave them to ſuch as are dead in their treſpaſſes and ſins; but for you, behave your ſelves according to your Celeſtial Calling, and apply your ſelves to Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, and to the practice of all other Vertues, as ſuch who were dead, but now are made alive.

45. We muſt continually meditate upon the Holineſs and Purity of our future abode in Heaven, and the expectation that we have there, Rom. 6 For as Jeſus Chriſt is gone to prepare a place for us, in the Houſe of his Heavenly Father, John 14. It is but juſt and reaſonable that we ſhould fit and prepare our Souls for ſuch Holy and Glorious Manſions, Revel. 21. It is not poſſible to go to Heaven by treading the paths of Hell. Nothing impure nor filthy, ſhall enter into the Holy City, which is the new Jeruſalem: As in Solomon's Temple, there was no way to the Holy of Holies, but through the Sanctuary, thus if we will one day enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary where Chriſt dwells, the true Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy ſeat, Eph. 2. It is abſolutely neceſſary, that we ſhould tread in the paths of good Works, which God hath prepared, that we ſhould walk in them, Tit. 2. It is upon this conſideration, that St. Paul grounds this exhortation to Piety and Chriſtian Vertues, The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, p. 173hath appeared to all Men, teaching us, that denying ungodlines and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good Works; ſeeing that we have ſuch promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filth of the Body, and of the Spirit, finiſhing our Sanctification in the fear of God. 1 Cor. 7. St. John makes uſe of the ſame reaſon, to perſwade us to Holineſs, Beloved, we are now the Children of God, but what we ſhall be, doth not yet appear; now we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be madè like unto him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is, and whoſoever hath this hope in him, let him purify himſelf as he is pure, 1 Joh. 2. The Apoſtle St. Peter employs the ſame conſideration, to kindle in our hearts this pure and celeſtial fire, We, according to his promiſe, look for new Heavens, and new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs; wherefore beloved, ſeeing that ye look for ſuch things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace without ſpot and blameleſs, 2 Pet. 3.

46. You know Chriſtians, that God created our firſt Parents, in his own Image, and Likeneſs, before that he brought them into his own terreſtial Paradiſe; there is a greater reaſon, that this Divine Image ſhould be imprinted in our Souls, before we enter into the Celeſtial Paradiſe; unto this the Apoſtle hath a regard when he tells the Epheſians, be ye renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and put on the new Man, created according to God in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, Chap. 4.

47. If the place of our future Abode, unto which we are deſigned, doth require from us Sanctification, the quality of the perſons, with whom we ſhall ſpend an Eternity doth no leſs oblige us to the ſame behaviour, for they ſhall be Angels of Light, and the Bleſſed Saints who have waſh'd and whitened their Robes, in the Bloud of the Lamb, Revel. 5. It is a glorious p. 174Church that hath neither ſpot nor wrinkle, nor any ſuch thing, Eph. 5. It is the Spouſe of the Son of God, cloathed in fine Linnen, clean and white, which are the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, Revel. 19. St. Paul had this ſame conſideration, when he ſaith, That we are fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houſhold of God, and That our converſation ought to be as becometh Citizens of Heaven, To wean us from the filthy Deeds of the Fleſh, and from the prophane diſpoſition of Eſau, he employs the ſame reaſon to perſwade us, in the 12 of the Heb. You are come, ſaith he, to the Mount Sion, to the City of the living God, to the Celeſtial Jeruſalem, to the thouſands of Angels, and to the Aſſembly and Church of the firſt-born, who are written in Heaven, and to the Spirits of the Juſt ſanctified.

48. As it is with a Child in his Mothers womb, he begins to live there the ſame life, that he leads when he is come into the World; likewiſe the Chriſtian ought to begin to live in the ſame manner upon earth, as he hopes to live for ever in Heaven; if we will live and Reign with Chriſt above in his Kingdom, we muſt at preſent have him Live and Reign in our Hearts here below by faith.

49. The chief happineſs of Man conſiſts not only in the true knowldge of God, and of him whom he hath ſent to ſave us, nor in the Spiritual Peace, nor Celeſtial Tranſports of the Holy Spirit, but it conſiſts in Holineſs, without which none ſhall ſee God, John 17. Rom. 5. Therefore the Apoſtle inquires from the Romans of his time, What fruit had you in thoſe things whereof ye are now aſhamed, but now being free from ſin, and become ſervants of God, ye have your Fruit unto Holineſs, and the end everlaſting life, Heb. 12. Rom. 6.

50. I find alſo, that this is a very good remedy to keep our ſelves free from the Debaucheries and Corruptions of the Age, to abſtain from the company and acquaintance of vicious perſons, for as he who did touch p. 175things unclean, did become thereby unclean, and as ſuch as haunt amongſt the ſick of the Plague, are infected with their Diſeaſe; Likewiſe it is the property of evil company to corrupt the beſt manners. 2 Cor. 15.

51. Whereas we ſhould accuſtom our ſelves to the company and acquaintance of good Men, and Delight in the ſociety of ſuch, who like the Seraphims, excite and enflame one another, to glorify God, and ſing forth his praiſes, we muſt frequent ſuch unto whom we deſire to be like; for as Jacob's Sheep Ewned Lambs, ſpotted and marked, as the Rods upon which they did caſt their eyes; Thus, if we have our joyes fixed upon the Holy examples of Piety and Vertue, we ſhall ſee our ſelves inſenſibly transformed into their Image and Reſemblance; we muſt delight our ſelves in the company of them with whom we hope to live for ever in the higheſt Heavens.

52. The moſt powerful, and the moſt effectual means to oblige us to the practice of Piety and of Holineſs, and purity of Life, it is to look with the eyes of faith upon him who is inviſible, and to repreſent unto our ſelves the great world as a large Temple where he dwels; Let the voice that came unto Moſes out of the burning Buſh, ſound continually in our ears, and in our mind; Put off thy ſhooes from thy feet, for the place where thou ſtandeſt is holy ground, Exod. 6. Caſt off there thy baſe and earthly affections, and renounce thy ſottiſh and filthy Luſts, for thou art always before my eyes, that are too clean and pure to ſuffer the ſight of evil, and the place where thou ſtandeſt is ſanctified by my preſence, Heb. 1. Remember that I ſee thine Heart, that I ſearch thy Reins, and that I read thy moſt ſecret thoughts, Revel. 2. Chriſtian ſouls imagine that God calls unto you from Heaven continually, as hed id unto Abraham, Walk before me and be perfect, Gen. 17. Let therefore the dread of this Divine Majeſty, ſeize upon thee, and poſſeſs thee. When p. 176Potiphar's Wife tempted chaſte Joſeph to defile himſelf with Adultery, ſhe perceived nothing in the room but this object of her Luſt; but this Holy man perceives the Glorious Godhead between him and this laſcivious Woman; he perceives God's Eye, that ſeeth into the greateſt depths: This made him break out into this expreſſion, How can I do this thing and ſin againſt God? Thus, if our Fleſh tempts us, and if the vicious and prophane intice us into ſecret and ſhameful retreats, to ſhare in their filthy crimes; Let us then remember, that God is every where, and whereſoever we hide our ſelves, God hath an Ear to hear us, an Eye to ſee us, an Hand to record our Deeds, Words, and Thoughts; God is all Ear, all Eye, and all Hand: he diſcovers us as eaſily under the dark ſhadows of the night, as at break of day; he ſpies us through our Fig-leaves, and beholds us in our moſt ſubtle diſguiſes; he underſtands our moſt inward thoughts, and liſtens to the ſilent language of our Hearts, he ſearcheth into all the Cloſſets of our Souls, and into all the foldings and windings of our Conſciences, In a word, all things are naked, and altogether open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to doe. An antient Philoſopher did perſwaded ſuch as deſire to be vertuous, to chuſe ſome grave and vertuous perſon, and to repreſent him always in their preſence, and to live as in their ſight, Seneca. We need not repreſent unto our ſelves imaginary appearances, for in every place where we are, and what ever we can do or think, we are always in the ſight of the Holy of Holies, who is both our Witneſs and our Judge; It was David's Meditation when he cried out, O Lord, whither ſhall I go from thy Spirit? or whether ſhall I flye from thy preſence? If I mount up to Heaven thou art there, if I go down into the pit thou art there alſo; if I take the wings of the morning and fly to the uttermoſt parts of the Sea, thither ſhall thine hand guide me, and thy right hand uphold me, If I ſay, the p. 177darkneſs ſhall cover me, behold, the night ſhall be like light round about me, darkneſs ſhall not hinder me from thee, and the night ſhall ſhine as the day, the night and the day are to thee alike.

53. If the Devil and the World have enſnared us in their Nets, and if we have been unhappily lull'd aſleep in the boſome of ſome deceitful pleaſure. This conſideration alone, that God ſees and underſtands us, is able to awake us with an Holy dread and fear, Let therefore the words of St. Paul ſound continually in our minds, Awake thou that ſleepeſt and ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall enlighten thee; or, Awake to Righteouſneſs and ſin not, Eph. 5. 1 Cor. 15. Truly if we be not ſtupified and beſotted above meaſure; This dreadful voice that God thunders from Heaven, is able not only to awake us from the ſleep of iniquity, but to oblige us alſo to cry out with Jacob, God is here, and I knew it not! O that this place is dreadful! it is the houſe of God, it is the Gate of Heaven Gen. 28. Aſſoon as Peter had taken notice of our Saviours looks, that were caſt upon him, he went out of the High Prieſts Hall, and wept bitterly, for his Apoſtacy; Thus if we could but perceive and acknowledge, that God caſts his eye continually upon us, we ſhould repent of our Vices, and our Hearts would quickly melt into Tears of Contrition.

54. And becauſe it is ſometimes neceſſary to retain our ſelves with an Holy awe, and to withdraw our ſelves out of Luſt, as out of the Fire; you Religious Souls, keep always in your mind a ſhort Collection of the Judgements of God, that have happened from time to time, upon all manner of ſinners; Conſider how God dealt with the Celeſtial Spirits, who have not kept their original purity, they are reſerv'd for utter darkneſs, and for eternal Chains, until the great day of Judgement, and ſay unto your ſelves, If God hath not ſpared the Apoſtate Angels with he ſpare Man that rebels againſt him, and offends him with delight; p. 178remember the dreadful fall of our firſt Parents, who although they had been faſhioned with Gods own hand, and inſtructed by himſelf, have loſt both themſelves and all their poſterity, by liſtning to the deceitful ſuggeſtions of the old Serpent. Caſt your thoughts upon the firſt wicked World that was deſtroyed by a Deluge, and upon the Cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zebolim, upon whom fell the Fire and Brimſtone of God's hot diſpleaſure. Look upon Pharaoh, and the Egyptians overwhelmed with all their pride, in the waves of the Red Sea. Conſider the three thouſand that were kill'd with the Levites Swords, becauſe of the Idolatry of the Golden Calf, and the four and twenty thouſand, whom a ſuddain death ſwept away, becauſe they went a whoring after Paal-Peor. Look with fear upon the burning Serpents of the Wilderneſs, that did caſt their poiſon upon the Murmurers againſt God, and their Superiors upon the Earth, that open'd its mouth to ſwallow Corah, Dathan, and Abiram; upon that Heavenly Fire that conſum'd Nathan and Abihu, who offered ſtrange Fire unto the Lord, upon the Bears that went out of the Forreſt to devour two and forty young Raſcals who mock'd Eliſha the Prophet; upon the Lion that devour'd the Prophet, who diſobey'd God's Command, and hearkened to a lying Brother. In ſhort, caſt your eyes with aſtoniſhment upon Nebuchadnezzar, feeding amongſt the Beaſts of the field, Jezabel eaten up by Dogs, Agrippa conſumed with Worms, and the rich Miſer burning in the flames of Hell. Dan. 4. 2 Kings 9. Acts 12. Luke 16.

55. Above all things, think upon the laſt Judgement, and conſider this laſt day, in which we muſt all appear before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt, to receive in our Bodies that which we ſhall have done, whether it be good or evil; remember that in this dreadful day God will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, the p. 179ſecret contrivances and thoughts of the Heart; before this Throne of Fire, the Books ſhall be opened, not only God's Books, where all our Sins and Impieties are Regiſtred, but alſo the Books of our Conſciences, where the frightful Image, and grievous remorſes of Conſcience will appear. In the day of this glorious coming, the Heavens ſhall melt, the Elements will be diſſolved, the Earth and all its works ſhall be burn'd with fire, and every man ſhall give an account of every idle word, how much more of every wicked action, and prophane diſcourſe? Matt. 5.12.

56. That we may not be confounded nor aſhamed in this fearful day, in which God will judge the world by the man whom he hath ordained; Let us be inwardly perſwaded, that it is not ſufficient to abſtain from outward ſins, but we muſt alſo hate, and inwardly abhor them, Acts 17. For as the Leopard in Chains leaves not his Skin nor his Spots, and changes not for all his reſtraint his rapacious and cruel nature, for it continues nevertheleſs to be a Leopard; and as a Thief in Fetters ſhut up in a Dungeon, remains a Thief in his heart and diſpoſition; likewiſe ſuch as abſtain from exterior ſins, for fear of Man, and the ſeverity of the Laws are nevertheleſs eſteem'd to be vicious and abominable in the ſight of God, and of his Holy Angels; if every time that he thinks upon his crimes, he is not moved with a true contrition, and an inward abhorrency of his ſoul, to abominate them. The beſt means to render our Conſcience whole, is to tear it in pieces with the ſorrows of repentance.

57. It is not ſufficient to abſtain from the thoughts, words, and actions that God prohibits, but we muſt alſo apply our ſelves to the ſtudy of true Piety, of Vertue, and generally of all the good Works that God requires: for as the Praiſe and Honor of a good Bow-man is never beſtowed upon one who hath only the skill of not breaking his Bow, his Arrows, or his Quiver, p. 180but to him who ſtrikes the mark, and aims well, and he is not to be reckoned a good Artiſt, who works not ill, becauſe he doth nothing at all, but he who works well, and ſhews excellent pieces of worknanſhip: likewiſe he is not to paſs for a good and Religious Chriſti-who only abſtains from evil, and commits no outward ſins, but he who doth good, and applies himſelf to Vertue: Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit, although it bears no evil Fruit, is hewen down, and caſt in the fire, Matt. 2. our Saviour curs'd the Fig-tree, not becauſe that it brought forth evil Fruits, but becauſe it brought forth no good Fruit, but was altogether barren. The wicked ſervant was caſt out into utter darkneſs, where there is weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, not becauſe he had loſt, or miſpent his Talent, but becauſe he had not employed it well, and turned it to his Lords advantage, Matt. 25. Not only ſuch ſhall be condemned to the Flames, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, who afflict God's Children on Earth, and ſpill the bloud of his ſervants; but ſuch as have not cloathed his Members, viſited and comforted them, nor given them to eat and drink. In ſhort, if you enquire from the rich Miſer, how he comes to be condemned to Hell, tortured in the Flames, he will not tell you it was becauſe he took what was not his own, or becauſe he committed no Murders, Violences, and other horrid Deeds, but becauſe he lived without Charity, and had no pity of the poor.

58. And becauſe God requires, that we ſhould proceed daily forward, until we become to the meaſure of the perfect ſtature in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we muſt very frequently take a view of our former life, and feel the pulſe of our Luſts, to ſee whether they be not more fervent and violent than before, whether the old Man continues to decline, and how much we have gain'd upon our wicked affections, and reformed our corrupt diſpoſition; for as thoſe who ſwim againſt p. 181the ſtream, if they ſlack but a little, are carried downwards by the violence of the Current. Likewiſe if we employ not all our ſtrength to ſwim up to our Heavenly Source, Integrity, and Perfection; the torrent of our Luſts, and of evil Cuſtoms, will hurry us down into the deep Abyſſe of Death, and Eternal Deſtruction; we muſt therefore often examine every day, what progreſs we have made in Piety and Holineſs; and whether ſince ſo many years that God ſpeaks to us and inſtructs us to diſcover to us what is pleaſing to hime if we have more Piety, Zeal and Charity, and mors Holineſs, than before; we muſt imitate the ſolicitou, care of ſuch as have transplanted ſome rare plant of the Eaſt, in this Northern climate; they have always the eye upon it, to take notice of every thing that happens to it. We muſt propoſe for our example a Steward who hath a great account to make up, he looks often upon his Memorials and his Regiſters. An Heathen Philoſopher was highly prais'd, becauſe he did never lay himſelf down to ſleep, until he had well examin'd what progreſs he had made in Philoſophy, and Moral Vertue: Likewiſe a good Chriſtian ſhould never caſt himſelf upon his Bed to ſleep at night, until he hath ſeriouſly conſidered how he hath proceeded forward in Piety, and the love of God: In a word, a true Chriſtian by this means ſhall never be leſs alone, than when he is alone; for thon he ſhall entertain himſelf with his God, and ſhall diſcover unto him his Heart, and his moſt ſecret thoughts, then he ſhall ſpeak ſeriouſly unto his Soul, and ſhall examine exactly his Conſcience, then he will look to his wicked deeds, to weep and lament for them with Tears of a ſincere repentance, then he will caſt himſelf upon the infinite Mercy and Goodneſs of his God, to embrace it with a lively Faith and aſſurance; then he will make a reflexion upon God's Commands, to walk in them with an Holy Zeal and Earneſtneſs all the days of his life.

p. 18259. Amongſt theſe directions that I intend to give to him that deſires to apply himſelf to the practice of Piety, and to abandon Vice; I muſt not forget this advice, that he muſt never ſatisfy his carnal Luſts and Pleaſures, but he ſhould rather check and bridle them, for when we grant them what they deſire, we are ſo far from extinguiſhing the feavoriſh Flames, and ſatisfying theſe helliſh longings, that we do but increaſe and encourage them the more; as he that loves Money is not ſatisfied with Money; and as the ambitious is never exalted high enough in Honor: Thus the luſtful Worldling is never contented with the fulleſt enjoyment of the carnal pleaſures; It is a Fire that kindles another, and a Flame that never ſaith. It is enough. Theſe filthy Luſts are like the Serpent that ſtings the boſom of the perſon that warms it in his Breaſt; or as the Furnace of Babylon that burnt up thoſe who had firſt lighted it: for ſuch as entertain the Flames of their fleſhly Luſts, they keep in their boſoms a Fire, that will at laſt burn and totally conſume them.

60. We muſt reſiſt the firſt motions of the Fleſh, and with the ſhield of Faith, extinguiſh the firſt enflamed Darts of the Devil; for as it is very eaſy to put out the firſt ſparkles of an increaſing fire, but if we neglect or cheriſh it, it may come to be a fearful burning, and as we can without pain pluck up with one hand a young Tree planted but a few days, but if we ſuffer it to take root, and to get ſtrength, we ſhall not be able to pluck it up with both our hands, but muſt be forced to employ the Axe, the Wedge, and the Sawe. Likewiſe, if we reſiſt ſin in its beginning, we ſhall eaſily overcome and tame it; we ſhall put out without labor theſe firſt beginnings of a ſtrange fire, and we ſhall pull up with eaſe this bitter plant that will grow to our ſorrow, but if we ſuffer this infernal Fire of Luſt to increaſe all the Water of the Sea will not be able to extinguiſh it, and if we give leave to this curſed Plant p. 183to grow, it will never be pluckt up without much ſweat and labor; Sin never begins by the ſame means that it ends, and it diſcovers not all its poiſon at once; As the Child in his Mothers Womb is not made in an inſtant: Thus this Monſter of Satan is formed by degrees, one Chain of Hell is link'd into another, when Luſt hath conceived it brings forth ſin: from the thought proceed the ſuggeſtion, and from the ſuggeſtion pleaſure and delight, and from delight conſent, and after conſent then follows the deed, which begets the Habit; from thence, the ſinner proceeds to be hardned in a cuſtom of ſin; thus the Devil aggravates the yoke of Tyranny, and of our Bondage, and ſtrengthens the tye and chains, by which he drags us into eternal damnation.

61. As amongſt the Planets, there is always one that rules and cauſeth its influences to be felt upon earth, more than the reſt; thus amongſt Sins and Luſts there is always ſome one or other that rules in us, unto which we are more addicted, than to the reſt by a natural propenſity; unto this therefore we muſt chiefly take heed here we muſt declare our ſtrength and induſtry, for fear that the Devil ſhould employ it as a means to enter into our Souls, and eſtabliſh there his Tiranny; we muſt imitate the wiſe and valiant Captains, who having a place to defend againſt a vigilant and an active Enemy, do fortify the places that are naturally the weakeſt, and furniſh them with the beſt Soldiers, cauſing there a watchful and continual Guard to be kept. Chriſtian Souls be ſure you take all the Armor of God, that you may be able to reſiſt in the evil day, and having overcome all, that ye may continue ſtedfaſt. Eph. 6.

62. We muſt not neglect any ſin, nor imagine that there are ſome light and unconſiderable, that God regards them not, for a little Leaven, ſeaſons and Leavens the whole Lump, and the leaſt dead Fly corrupts and cauſeth ſeveral confections to bubble up and ſpoil. p. 184The leaſt ſcratch may cauſe a feavoriſh Inflamation, and but little poiſon can lay us in our graves; The Devil cares not by what Gate he enters into our Souls, and by what tye he takes hold of our Hearts; This curſed Serpent ſlides through the leaſt, and the narroweſt cranies and holes of the Houſe, as well as through the wideſt Gates. Chriſtian Souls, give not place to the Devil, but ſhut your Ears to all his Enchantments.

63. We muſt not only eſchew all manner of ſins, and abſtain from all appearance of evil, but for our better ſecurity, that we may not endanger our Salvation, we muſt take heed of all thoſe things whereof our Souls are doubtful, and upon which our conſciences cannot reſolve. We muſt never do any thing, but we muſt be fully perſwaded, that it is acceptable unto God, and agreeable to his Holy Will, for Whatſoever is done without Faith, is ſin.

64. As thoſe who intend to ſtop the currant of a running Water, are wont to cut for it a new Channel and Gutter; Thus if your vicious Luſts and Paſſions are too violent, you muſt divert them, and propoſe unto your ſelves new and freſh objects: are you Cholerick? be angry and ſin not, fret and fume againſt your own Sins and Luſts, and cruſh in pieces theſe Children of Babel. Are you oppreſt with ſadneſs and grief? Let the cauſes of your ſadneſs be your offences againſt God, and the ſcandals of his Church. Are you furious and violent? Remember to be of the number of thoſe bleſſed violent perſons, who raviſh the Kingdom of God by violence. Are you inclined to Covetouſneſs? Covet and be greedy for the Riches and Treaſuries of Heaven. Matt. 21. Are you lifted up with ambitious thoughts? Let your ambitious aim be to raiſe you upon the immortal Throne, and to attain to the uncorruptible Crowns of Glory. Are you luſtful and given to your pleaſures? Labor to enjoy the Divine and raviſhing Delights of the Holy Spirit, and p. 185meditate often upon the eternal pleaſures that are reſerved for you in Heaven.

65. Devout Souls, who ſigh and groan for your infirmities, who labor to attain to perfection, apply your ſelves to read and meditate upon God's Holy Word, with a Religious attention, and before you enter into this Holy Reading, ſay with the Prophet David, Lord open mine eyes, and I ſhall ſee the wonders of thy Law, Pſal. 119. Intreat your good God to open your Hearts as he did Lydia, to receive this uncorruptible Seed of your Regeneration, and that he may give you a filial obedience, Acts 16. In ſuch a caſe, aſſoon as you ſhall hear the Lord's voice, you will find your Souls enflamed with his Holy Love, 1 Pet. 1. When we do but only behold a beautiful countenance, we become not more beautiful thereby, nor do we take from it its excellent features, 2 Cor. 3. but it is otherwiſe with us, who behold as in a Glaſs openly, the Glory of the Lord; we are transformed thereby into the ſame image of his Glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

66. Take pleaſure to meditate often upon God's wonderful works, and to ſing forth his Praiſes. The Spiritual Songs inſpired by the Holy Ghoſt, do commonly appeaſe all the evil notions of our mind, and beget in us an Holy Joy, and Celeſtial Peace; as when Saul was tormented with a wicked Spirit, David was appointed with his Harp to play before him, and by that means he quieted his troubled mind. Likewiſe when Hatred, Anger, Revenge, Covetouſneſs, Ambition or Luſt, or any other of the unruly paſſions, which are as ſo many evil Spirits that diſturb and torture our Souls within us; we muſt ſeek a remedy from David's Harp, and ſing unto the Lord in Spiritual Songs and Hymns.

67. We muſt carefully attend at all the publick exerciſes of Devotion, and not leave off the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is; for p. 186where there are but two or three met together, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, he is there in the midſt of them. St. Thomas, who was not with the Apoſtles when Chriſt firſt appeared amongſt them, loſt the comfort then of ſeeing him riſen from the dead; And if this merciful Redeemer had not had compaſſion of him, he had periſh'd in his unbelief for ever. If upon the day of Penticoſt, any of the faithful had been found abſent from the Holy company of the Faithful in Jeruſalem; they had not ſeen the Glorious appearance of the Holy Ghoſt; who knows but in a Sermon that we have neglected, we have loſt ſome pious advice, ſome ſeaſonable exhortation, by which God might have brought our hearts to repentance? Who knows, but inſtead of that Fire that devours us, we might have felt the Holy Flames kindled in us, like unto thoſe Flames of the burning Buſh, that would burn in us and not conſume us? Who knows, but at the breaking up of the Aſſembly, we might have ſaid as the two Diſciples of Chriſt going to Emaus, Did not our heart burn within us when he ſpoke to us, and opened the Scriptures.

68. We muſt be fervent, zealous, and perſevering in Prayers, and other Holy Duties, and embrace our Lord and Saviour with the Arms of Faith and Repentance, and ſay unto him as Jacob, I ſhall not leave thee until thou haſt bleſſed me; eſpecially, we ought to apply our ſelves to theſe bleſſed exerciſes, when we feel the inward and trobleſome ſtruglings of the Fleſh againſt the Spirit; we muſt imitate that Holy and vertuous Woman, who feeling two Children ſtirring in her Womb, fell to her Prayers, and unburdened her ſorrows in the boſome of our Heavenly Father. And as St. Peter when he began to ſink, lifted up his Hands in Prayer, ſaying, Lord ſave me, Matth. 14. Likewiſe we who walk upon this dangerous Sea of the World, aſſoon as we feel our ſelves ſinking into the Delights of the World, or aſſoon as the Waves of vicious examples p. 187and dangerous cuſtoms do hurry us away; Let us cry out from the bottom of our Hearts, O merciful God, ſtretch out thine hand from above, and deliver me from theſe Waters of Hell that carry me away, accompliſh thy vertue in mine infirmities, and give me Grace in reſiſting againſt ſin, to reſiſt unto Blood, Pſal. 69. Heb. 50. 2 Cor. 22. Let thine Holy Spirit overcome mine let Heaven command the Earth, and let Paradiſe lead Hell in Triumph. If we make this Petition with all our Hearts, God will grant it from his Holy Sanctuary, He will extinguiſh the Fire that burns us, He will ſhut the Lions mouth that intends to devour us, He will appeaſe the Winds and the Storms that the Devils have raiſed in us, and at his firſt entrance into our Ship, toſt up and down with fears and apprehenſions, he will bring Peace and a bleſſed tranquility, and will lead us to the ſafe Haven of Eternal Happineſs; as the Prophet Moſes when he had been familiar with God, came down from the Mountain with a ſhining countenance; and as our Saviour when he was in Prayer upon Mount Tabor, was transfigured, his Garments were white as the Light, and his Face appeared as glorious as the Sun; Likewiſe if we lift up our ſelves above all theſe earthly and corruptible things, and pray unto God with an Holy Earneſtneſs and Zeal, we ſhall ſee that our Souls ſhall be thereby cloathed with Holineſs and full of Glory and Light; they will be transformed into the bleſſed Image of the great God whom we adore, for as ſoon as we behold him, we become enlightened.

69. To the end that we may tame this Body, and reduce it to obedience, and to overcome all our wicked and dangerous Luſts, Pſal. 69 34. It is neceſſary that we ſhould joyn Faſting to our Prayers; we muſt not always expect a time appointed by the Rulers of our Church upon ſolemn accaſions, but we muſt order unto our ſelves a Faſt, according as we ſhall ſee it expedient and uſeful; for if this Fleſh is unruly, it is rebellious p. 188againſt God and his Holy Commandements, if becauſe it is fed in Eaſe and Plenty, it is Luſtful, Impure, and Inſolent; Let us cut off from it all its dainties and labor to mortify it by Faſtings and Abſtinence, and remember what our Saviour Chriſt ſaith in the Gospel, That there are ſome evil ſpirits that are not to be driven out but by Faſting and Prayer, Matth. 27.

70. If God gives us the Grace to overcome Sin and weaken our Luſts, by fervent and earneſt Prayers, and by auſtere Faſting, and hot tears of Repentance, and by the aſſiſtance of his Divine Spirit, that will pour his Bleſſings upon our Devotions; take heed that we become not careleſs and negligent in good Works; deceive not your ſelves Religious Souls, and be not ſurprized, for many times the old Man looks as if he were dead, that we might not offer to ſtrike him again to the Heart, and give him the laſt blow, that he may recover more ſtrength; there is always in the Aſhes ſomething of that infernal Fire, that is able to do much miſchief. Luſt is not rooted out ſo perfectly, but that there remains ſome ſtrings in our Hearts that may grow again. This ſource of Iniquity is not ſo dry, but that it may run afreſh. As it is during the time of Peace; Men exerciſe themſelves in feats of Arms, and prepare new Armor for the War Likewiſe during the calm and reſt of our Souls, we muſt prepare ſome Armor for our Spiritual Warfare; And as it is not ſufficient to win a place by Aſſault, and to have driven out the Enemies Forces, but we muſt alſo watch day and night, and keep a conſtant, and a ſtrong Guard, that we may not be ſurprized and driven out again. Thus when we have forced out the Devil, and baniſh'd him out of our Hearts, we muſt be always upon our Guard, and ſtop all the Avenues, for fear that this evil Spirit ſhould come upon us, accompanied with ſeven worſe Spirits, and that our laſt condition ſhould be worſe than the firſt.

p. 18971. To theſe Works of Piety and Devotion, in which we cannot be always employed; we muſt remember to add a lawful Calling, for Idleneſs is the Mother of all Vices; when we are doing nothing, the Devil prompts us to evil; this happened to David, a man after God's own heart, for when he gave himſelf over, contrary to his former practice, to an unworthy idleneſs, whilſt he was looking into his neighbors Houſe, the Devil entred into his Heart, and, by the aſſiſtance of a luſtful Object, inflamed his Soul with an unlawful deſire: as the Iron that is not us'd becomes Ruſty, as the ſtanding Water putrifies, and as the Earth that is not manur'd, begets inſects and venemous Serpentss. Likewiſe a Soul that is not employed, is ſoon cover'd over with the ruſt of Vice: It is eaſily drag'd along into the corruption of the age, and apt to beget and bring forth Monſters; therefore the Prophet Ezekiel examines the very beginning and firſt ſpring of Solomon's Sin, ſaying,, That it was the plenty of Bread, Eaſe, and Idleneſs, Ezek. 16. Chriſtians, if you deſire to keep your Souls pure and undefiled, that the Holy Spirit may Reign in them, give no entertainment to the Devil, let him find you always well employed, and let him never ſee you at leaſure, to aſſault you with his helliſh temptations, Eph. 4.

72. After all, we muſt ſeriouſly think upon death, and repreſent it always before our Eyes; for as a Pilate that will govern and ſteer the courſe of this life as we ought, we muſt conſider our latter end, live always as if we were ready to dye, and to breath forth the laſt gasp; therefore this Sentence is worthy to be Engraven upon Cedar- in Golden Characters, What ever thou ſayeſt, or what ever thou doeſt, remember thy latter end, and thou ſhalt never ſin, Eccl. 7.

Wonder not, Chriſtian Souls, if in this Treatiſe, where I am to furniſh you with Remedies, againſt the fears of Death; I would have death it ſelf to be a p. 190Remedy againſt Sin, for theſe things are united and linked together, or rather they hold one another by the hand: for as a good and Holy Life is a ſafe preparation to an happy Death. Likewiſe Death is a ſtrong motive to oblige us to live well, for there is none, unleſs it be a brutiſh and a furious Varlot, but at the hour of Death laments at the conſideration of his former wicked Life, and grieves that he hath not applyed himſelf to the fear of God, and to the practice of Chriſtian Vertues. If a Malefactor after that he is condemn'd to dye, and hath heard the Sentence of his doom, did mind nothing but drinking and playing, and neglect Prayer and Repentance, by which ſuch an one is to diſpoſe himſelf, to go to God, every one would wonder at him, as at a Monſter and a Madman, likewiſe if we conſider as we ought, that Death is certain and unavoidable, and that God hath pronounced the Sentence in his anger, and that not one ſhall be excepted; this will be able to withdraw us from Vice, and to perſwade us to Holineſs, without which none ſhall ſee God, Heb. 12. Therefore at every moment, when Satan, the World, our own Fleſh, ſhall ſolicite us to any evil action, let us think within our ſelves, would I have death find and ſeize upon me in this employment? Am I in a good diſpoſition to go thus unto my God, and to appear before his Tribunal? Jeſus the Son of Syrac had well conſider'd this when he pronounc'd this excellent Sentence, which I could wiſh were engraven in the Soul of every Chriſtian. Remember thy latter end, and thou ſhalt not ſin.

We muſt therefore live in the World without being guilty of its corruptions and abominations: As the Fiſh preſerves its ſweetneſs in the midſt of the Salt Waves of the Sea; and as the Sheep never learn to bark nor to bite, although they be always with Dogs; Likewiſe, although our converſation be in the World amongſt the prophane and vicious Men of this Age, p. 191we muſt not imitate their filthy Words, their Oaths, their Blaſphemies, and leſs Reaſon have we to follow their wicked and abominable Deeds, we muſt live among them as Lot lived in the City of Sodom, as Joſeph in Aegypt, as Daniel in Babylon. Bleſſed and Holy is he who hath part in the firſt Reſurrection, the ſecond Death ſhall have no power upon him.

When Jacob by God's Command went to Bethel, he Commanded his Wives, his Children, and all that were with him. Put away the ſtrange Gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your Garments, and let us ariſe and go up to Bethel, Gen. 33. And I will make there an Altar unto God, who anſwered me in the day of my diſtreſs, and was with me in the way which I went. Then they delivered into Jacob's hands, all the ſtrange Gods that were in their poſſeſſion, and he hid them under an Oak in Sechem. Thus before we go to the true Bethel, to the dwelling where we ſhall eat our fill of the Bread of the Kingdom of Heaven. Before you offer unto God the Sacrifice of your Souls, you muſt, if you be true Chriſtians, renounce Sin, and all wicked Luſts, which have been formerly your Idols; I ſhall deſire of you willingly, that you would bury them deep in this baſe Earth, but you had better do as God Commands you from Heaven, Trample under foot all theſe abominable Vices, and all theſe worldly Luſts that are to you as ſo many falſe Gods that you worſhip, Ezek. Put away from before me theſe Idols of jealouſie that provoke me to jealouſie and ſanctify this Temple of my Holineſs. Cleanſe your hands ye Sinners, and fanctify your ſelves ye double-minded; put off the Old man with all his Deeds, and put on the New man created according to the Image of God, Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, and then you ſhall be admitted to the Holy Temple of my Glory, to offer unto me in the innumerable Companies of Saints, the acceptable perfume of Praiſes and Thanſgivings, Jam. 4. Eph. 4.

p. 192This is a Duty ſo juſt and neceſſary, that natural reaſon it ſelf, enlightned by Grace, acknowledges it to be ſo; nay the moſt wretched Varlets are conſtrain'd to give Glory to God, and to condemn themſelves; they confeſs that they are indebted to the Divine Majeſty, but the payment of this debt they put off from day to day, and when ever you come to them, they are ready to demand a delay, they acknowledge their faults, the hainouſneſs of their Crimes, and the neceſſity of Repentance, but they are always putting off Repentance and Reformation of life; As when a ſluggard is newly awak'd out of his ſleep, he deſires yet a little ſleep, a little ſlumber, a little folding of the hands to ſleep, Prov. 24. Thus when ever Death appears, the Voluptuous are yet requeſting to enjoy their carnal Delights, when the Lords Meſſengers are calling upon us to repair the breaches that the Devil hath made in our Souls, we could willingly anſwer as the Jews did to the Prophet, That the time is not come that the Lord's houſe ſhould be built, Hag. 1. The young man in his Youth and Strength is apt to ſay, that it is not yet time to buſy himſelf about Wiſdom and Reformation, and that when he comes to be old, he will then repent of the ſins of his Youth; and the old man he endeavours to put his Repentance until the hour of his departure: He expects to make then a general confeſſion of all his crimes, to ſatisfy all his neighbors, and to reſtore what he poſſeſſeth ſo unjuſtly. In ſhort, all Men in general do flatter themſelves in their evil courſes, and moſt are ſo extravagant, as to be perſwaded, that when they have lived in ſin and iniquity all their life, miſpent, God's Bleſſings, abuſed his Mercies, a Tear or a Sigh at the time of our Death will make a ſufficient amends for all, and that he will be fully ſatisfied, if we ſay then as the prodigal Child, My Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven, and againſt thee. Or as the good Thief, Lord remember me, Luk 15. Luk 23.

p. 193I have much to ſay againſt ſo great a miſtake, ſo dangerous and prophane a perſwaſion; Firſt, what reaſon have we to believe that God will accept our Repentance, when we cannot endure to accept of his Graces and Redemption; that he will hear our Sighs, and grant our Prayers, when we will by no means give ear to his voice, nor obey the Command that he ſends us of repenting?

Wretched Man! doſt thou ſtay to glorify God till the moment when thy breath ſhall fail thee? Is it juſt that thou ſhouldeſt then begin to ſerve him, when thou ſhalt be able to ſerve and pleaſe thy fleſh no longer, nor ſatisfy thy fooliſh Luſts?

This great God who had Commanded, during the Shadows and Types of Moſes Law, that the Children of Iſrael ſhould offer unto him their Firſt-born, and the Firſt-Fruits of their Inheritances, will he take it well now in this admirable Sun-ſhine of the Goſpel, that thou ſhouldeſt offer to the Devil, and to the World, the Firſt-Fruits of thy Youth, the ſtrength of thy years, and that thou ſhouldeſt reſerve for him only the dregs and the corruption of a decaying old age?

It is to mock God and Man to dream of living well when our life is far ſpent and gone. To lift up our Eyes and Thoughts to Heaven, when the Earth fails us under our feet. To reſtore other mens Goods, when we can keep them no longer. To renounce all deſires of Revenge, when we have no power of being revengeful. To abſtain from the foul Luſts of the Fleſh, when we are able to continue in them no longer, to abhor Theft, Uſury, Rapine, and Extortion when a Coffin is preparing to receive us, and that Death looks us in the Face. Such perſons cannot be ſaid to leave Sin, but rather Sin leaves them as the Ravens leave a Tree that falls down by age, or that is ſtruck with the Thunder.

p. 194By our unreaſonable delays, Evil and Sin grow older, and the cure becomes every day more uneaſy, for the more thou ſhalt be hardened in thy corruption, and confirmed in thy ſins, the harder it will be for thee to break and melt thy corrupted Heart. The more Luſt ſhall have ſunk its Roots in thy Soul, the more labor thou wilt find in plucking them out. In ſhort, he that gives too much liberty to his unlawful affections, makes his Vices, by cuſtom, become natural, and cannot be converted without a great miracle.

Man's moſt important and difficult affair in the world is his Converſion to God, Therefore it is a notable folly to put it off to ſuch a time as we ſhall be in the feebleſt and weakeſt condition; to a time, when we ſhall have moſt buſineſs to do, and moſt trouble. Certainly he doth not order his affairs well, who puts off his praying unto God, and his thoughts of Heaven, until he comes to be ſtretch'd on his death bed, for then we know not to whom we are to turn. An account of our worldly Concerns is then required from us; we are then to make our laſt Will and Teſtament, we call for a Scrivener, and are inwardly vex'd to behold him; the viſit of friends trouble us, and their abſence doth as much diſpleaſe us; Pain doth ſeize upon us, Defluxions are ready to choake us, Feavers burn us and diſturb our minds, Phyſitians oppreſs us with unpleaſant Remedies, the noiſe is a trouble to us, and ſilence is ſuſpected; our Parents and Friends torment us by their officious in officiouſneſs, our Children, and our greateſt Darlings melt our Hearts, and their Tears do force us to weep. But the worſt is, the Devils are then moſt buſy and active. Theſe helliſh Fiends, like the devouring Ravens, fly about us, endeavouring to fright us. In ſhort, it is then that the Prince of the Powers of the Air ſtir up againſt us furious Storms and Tempeſts, to cauſe us to periſh in the very Haven. In the midſt of ſo many diſturbances, and of ſo many powerful Waves, p. 195it is a difficult task to poſſeſs our Souls in peace, to think upon our Conſciences, to hear God ſpeaking to us to fear death as we ought, and to keep our ſelves from ſinking, and from being ſwallowed up with its apprehenſions and frights.

Old Age hath infirmities enough, we need not defile it with youthful Sins and Luſts, for many times it cauſeth more wounds in our Souls, than there are wrinkles upon our Skin. When the Body decays and grows weak, the Luſts of the fleſh become ſtronger, and oft-times when it whitens the Face, it ſpots the Conſcience In a word, The bones of old Age are weak enough, and ſufficiently full of pain, that we need not over-burden them with the ſins committed in the flower and ſtrength of our Age.

Moreover, we know not when, nor how Death will aſſault us, nor what favor we are to expect from it; who knows but that it intends not to give us the liberty of ſpeaking to our Friends, nor of thinking upon our Conſciences, for it ſends not always a warning to us, as to the good King Hezekiah, Set thine Houſe in order, for thou ſhalt dye, 2 Kings 20. For as we have already taken notice, it ſurpriſeth us in every Age, in every Time and Place, and in the midſt of all manner of Employments. Old Eli fell down backwards and broke his Neck, when he heard the unhappy news of the taking of the Ark, and the death of his Sons. Job's Children dreamed of nothing but of ſolacing and delighting themſelves in their Feaſts and Jollity, when the Houſe, where they were, fell down, and buried them in the ruines. But beſides theſe unhappy accidents, how many are there whoſe mouth Death cloſeth on a ſuddain, without ſuffering them to ſpeak a word? How many are there in the World, who are thought to be in perfect health, and yet ſuddainly fall into an Apoplexy, and into other quick diſeaſes, ſo that they are ſeen to be ſooner dead, than thought to be ſick?

p. 196Beſides, when we ſhould have a greater ſtrength, and more vigor, ſo that we might foreſee the time of our departing, drawing near, Repentance, is not at our Command it is given to us from above, and a ſpecial favor of the Holy Spirit; God works not miracles every day, he changeth not, at every moment, Rocks into Springs of Water, nor Stones into Rivers of Oil; He grants not the favour to all Sinners hardened in their Luſts, and confirmed in their Apoſtacy from him, to be converted, and to be waſh'd with the Tears of Repentance.

If thou ſeeſt a Thief repenting at the time of his ſuffering; it is a particular example that doth not aboliſh the general Rule. By this Man God doth intend to comfort Sinners, who truly Repent at the end of their days, and to aſſure them that the Arms of his Mercy is always open to receive them into his favor. I confeſs, that true Repentance can never be too late, but I maintain that it can never be too ſoon; It is moſt certain that at every moment when the Sinner repents, God will ſhew him Mercy, but that moment is not in our power; for one ſinner that repents at the hour of death, there are thouſands that depart in impenitency. And to ſeek no other example, but that which Mount Calvary offers to us; If thou ſeeſt on one ſide of Chriſt a Thief converted, and believe, look on the other ſide, and thou ſhalt perceive a Wretch, who having lived in unrighteouſneſs and impiety, expires in his Sins, belching forth grievous Blaſphemies and Reproaches againſt the King of Glory: So that if one of theſe remarkable paſſages flatters thee, and lulls thy conſcience aſleep, the other ſhould move and awaken thee with an holy Fear. Moreover, the good Thief was converted at the firſt moment, when Chriſt called and invited him; Therefore, now that you hear the voice of God calling, Harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, for fear that God ſhould ſwear in his anger, p. 197that you ſhall never enter into his Reſt. Now, yea, at this very inſtant, that you read this, turn unto God with all your heart, and he will have pity and compaſſion upon you.

When the opportunity is once loſt, it is not eaſily, and at all times, recover'd, therefore the Painters have repreſented Occaſion with a great Tuff of Hair on the Forehead, but all bald behind, unto every thing there is a ſeaſon; God hath vouchſafed unto us a time, and reſerved another for himſelf. Our time is when we are invited to Repentance, but God's time is when he manifeſts and declares his Juſtice and Judgements. During the ſpace of One hundred and twenty years, Noah, an Herald of Righteouſneſs preach'd Repentance to the old World, this was their time; but when God's abuſed patience was juſtly provok'd, it turn'd into fury; then he ſent a fearful Deluge, that covered all the face of the Earth; This was God's time, and the day of his juſt Vengeance. When Lot ſpake to his Sons-in-law to perſwade them to go out of Sodem; this was the time of their Salvation and Deliverance; but when Fire and Brimſtone overwhelmed and burned them alive, their cries and gnaſhing of Teeth were as uſeleſs as their laughter and mocking had been formerly unjuſt. When Eſau ſold the priviledges of his Birth-right, it was the time of thinking ſeriouſly upon the true and heavenly Bleſſing, but when lie had ſold it for a ſup of Pottage, all his Tears and Weepings were as fruitleſs as his Gluttony had been unſatiable, and his Diſpoſition profane: When the Bridegroom in the Canticles, was at the door with the dew of his Heavenly Joys, and the Myrrh of his Eternal Comforts; it was the Brides time, and the occaſion that was offerd to her, to enjoy the heavenly Delights; but when ſhe had delayed a while, unwilling to riſe from her Bed, and put on her Coat, he was gone, and it was to no purpoſe that ſhe ſought him about the City; for inſtead p. 198of meeting with the embraces of her Beloved, ſhe finds her Enemies that beat and wound her. When the poor Lazarus did beg his Bread at the Rich man's Gate it was the time when this unmerciful Man ſhould have repented, and ſhewed Mercy to the Poor Man; but when he is in Hell, burning in the Flames, it is in vain that he lifts up his eyes to Heaven, to ſeek for ſome comfort. When our Saviour exhorted the Jews to believe in him, and that he wept ſo bitterly upon Jeruſalem, that had killed the Prophets; it was the time and opportunity of this unhappy Nation, it was the time of their Salvation, and of God's Bleſſings, but when they had obſtinately rejected this great God and Saviour, and deſired that his Bloud might be upon them and their Children, God hath caſt them away from him, and they are become a ſcorn and a reproach amongſt all the Nations of the Earth. Finally, as it is to no purpoſe, that a Malefactor reſolves to amend his life when the Judge is at the door, and when the Sergeants have caught him by the throat, or when he is upon the Gallows ready to be ſtrangled and executed; Likewiſe it is too late to begin to think upon God, when Death ſeizeth us, and that Hell opens its jaws to ſwallow us. Miſerable wretch! Why deſpiſeſt thou the Riches of God's goodneſs and patience, and of his long ſuffering, not conſidering that the goodneſs of God invites thee to repentance; but by thine hardneſs of thine heart that is without repentance, thou treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the Righteous judgement of God, who ſhall render unto every man according to his Works? Rom. 11.

Certainly our Salvation is a matter too important to be neglected, our Life too uncertain to delay it till the next day, and our Soul too precious to run the hazard of looſing it; if we had many, we might venture the loſs of one, but ſeeing that we have but one p. 199only, and that if it be loſt, all the Riches and Treaſuries of the World cannot redeem it, we ſhould watch night and day to preſerve it; We ſhould be moved with an Holy fear of ſo great a loſs, and decline whatſoever might caſt this our precious Soul, into the ſecond Death, and Eternal damnation.

It is our Lord and Saviour's Exhortation, Watch, ſaith he, for you know not the hour when your Lord is to come. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, for the Spirit is willing, but the fleſh is weak, Matt. 14. Mark 16. Luk 22. This advice was ſo neceſſary, that he doth often repeat it, Take heed to your ſelves, watch and pray, for you know not when that time ſhall be. Take heed to your ſelves leſt your hearts be overcharg'd with gluttony and drunkenneſs, and the cares of this life, and that day ſurprize you unawares, for as a ſnare it ſhall come on all them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe things that ſhall come to paſs, and to ſtand before the Son of Man. Mat. 13. Luke 21.

To awaken us the more from our Spiritual drowſineſs, and profane ſleep, our Saviour brings the example of the wicked Servant, who ſaid in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, Matt. 24. And therefore he began to beat his fellow ſervants, to eat drink, and be drunk; our Saviour adds, That the Lord of that ſervant ſhall come in a day, when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not expected, and ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth, Mat. 24. The Parable of the fooliſh Virgins hath the ſame intent, they being fallen aſleep without any Oil in their Lamps, were ſo ſurpriz'd at the Bridegrooms coming, that they could not be admitted into the Marriage Chamber; it was in vain that they did beat at the gate, with a Lord, Lord open unto us, Matt. 25. The door could not be open'd to them, but it was anſwered p. 200from within, Verily I ſay unto you I know you not.

I know that the chief and principal purpoſe of this and other Parables, is to teach us how we ſhould be prepar'd to expect the Glorious coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but they may very well be applied unto Death; for it hath pleaſed God to keep ſecret and hidden the day, in the which he will call us to himſelf, and that of our Saviours coming to judgment, that we may be equally prepar'd, and diſpos'd for the one as well as for the other. As we ſhall be found at the time of our death, ſo ſhall we be judged at the great day when Chriſt ſhall come down from Heaven with the Angels of his Power, and from that judgement there ſhall be no Appeal. Let us therefore put off the Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us and break all the Chains of our filthy Luſts. Let us diſarm death, and take from it its venemous Darts, and its piercing ſtings. Let us pluck off the Claws, and the Teeth of this furious Beaſt, and extinguiſh all its fires, and it ſhall never be able to terrify us Let us live the life of Saints, and God will give us grace to dye the death of the Righteous, and to end like unto them. Let us live as we would that we had lived at that inſtant when Death is upon our Lips. Let us live, as if at every moment we were to dy, and at every hour God did call unto us from his Heaven, Come and appear to Judgement.

And when Satan, the World, and our own Fleſh ſolicite and draw us to evil, let us ſay within our ſelves, Is it thus that thou wilt reward the Lord thy God, and acknowledge all the Bleſſings and Favors that thou haſt received from his bountiful hand? O Fool, doſt thou conceive that thou canſt go to Heaven by marching in the Read to Hell. If thou doſt wilfully caſt thy ſelf away into the depths of ſin, what aſſur…n… …aſt thou of riſing again by Repentance? If … …orſakeſt God, art not thou afraid God will forſake p. 201thee? Is it thus that thou prepareſt thy ſelf to dye? Are theſe Luſts the Arms with which thou muſt encounter Death? Art thou ready to draw near to the Sacred Majeſty of thy God, and to appear before his great Tribunal. The night is far ſpent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore caſt off the works of darkneſs, and let us put on the Armor of Light, Rom. 16. Let us live as Children of God, and Heirs of his Kingdom, Phil. 3. Let us be blameleſs, and ſhine as Lights in the World; Let our converſation be as Citizens of Heaven, from whence we expect the Lord Jeſus, Eph. 2. Let us go to the Holy and Heavenly Jeruſalem, by the way of good Works, which God hath prepared, that we might walk in them, Zach. 13. In all our Actions, Words, and Thoughts, let there be engraven Holineſs to the Lord. Let us declare by our Deeds, that we really believe, without doubting, whatſoever the Holy Scripture declares of the Eternal pains of Hell, and of the unſpeakable joys of Heaven, Gal. 6. Whilſt we have time, let us do good to all, but chiefly to the Houſhold of Faith, Eph. 5. Let us redeem the time, for the days are evil. Doe not as Adam did, who to eat of the forbidden Fruit, ſo pleaſing to his taſte, loſt the Paradiſe which God had given him. Let us not looſe the Eternal Delights that God hath prepared for us from the beginning of the World, for a moment of carnal pleaſure.

Let us imitate the Holy and Wiſe Virgins, put Oil in our Lamps betimes, let us fill up our Hearts with Faith, Hope, and Charity, and put on the Robes of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs. As God's faithful Servants, Let us labor to accompliſh our Taske. Let us be ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; that when Death ſhall appear, or rather when the Prince of Life ſhall call us to himſelf, we may be ready to give him an exact account of our Talents, with which he hath intruſted us, and that we may p. 202ſay unto him in ſincerity and truth, I have done the work that thou haſt given me, I have fought the good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith. O moſt excellent Lord, I have nothing elſe to do, but to receive from thy hand, the Crown of Righteouſneſs which thou haſt promiſed to all that love thine appearance; I have nothing elſe to do, but to enter into thy Glorious Reſt, where thou doſt embrace, in thine infinite Mercies, all ſuch as have overcome Sin and Death, and kept thy Works unto the end.

A Prayer and Meditation for him that prepares for Death by Repentance, and an Holy Life.

O God, the Holy of Holies, who art Holineſs it ſelf; Sin hath introduc'd Death into the World, and rendred this our Enemy ſo terrible. Strengthen me with thy Divine Vertue, that I may be able to take from it betimes its mortal Weapons, and its fiery Darts, and that ſtrength and poiſon which is ſo natural to it. Seeing that ſince the Creation of the World, thou haſt prepared thine Heavenly Kingdom for me, give me Grace to employ the remainder of my life, to purge my Conſcience from dead Works, and to ſanctify my Body and Soul, that I may be in an Eſtate convenient for ſuch an Holy Abode, into which no impure nor defiled thing ſhall enter, that I may be in a diſpoſition fit to behold thy Glorious Face, that cannot be ſeen without Holineſs. O Heavenly Father, enlighten mine underſtanding with the light of thine Holy Spirit, that proceeds from thee, that I may diſcover the uglineſs of ſin, and its dangerous conſequences, that I may abhor and abominate it with all mine heart, that I may look upon it as an infernal Monſter, and as Satans Image, as a grievous filth which hath disfigured the Maſter-piece of thine hands, and blotted out p. 203of our Souls the chief features of thy Divine Image. Give me grace to eſteem it as that curſed Fire that hath kindled thy wrath, ſet the whole world in a flame, as that unfufferable burden, under which Nature it ſelf ſighs and groans, and under which, Heaven it ſelf complains, as the murderer of our firſt Parents, and of all Mankind in general; as the Executioner that crucified the Lord of Glory, and ſpilt his precious Bloud. In ſhort, give me grace to treat it as our moſt unreconcileable enemy that provoketh thy vengeance, and that labors to caſt us headlong into the Abyſſe of Eternal Torments. O Father of Mercies, give me grace to perceive all the Beauties of Holineſs, and the Glory that ſhall reward it; that I may be enflamed with its love, and embrace it with all the affections of my Soul, that I may look upon it as the the off-ſpring of Heaven, as an image of thy beautiful Face, and as a beam of thy Glory; as the rich Jewel which the Devil had taken from us, as the higheſt perfection repreſented by thy Son Jeſus Chriſt; and as the chief part of that felicity unto which we pretend, and into which thou wilt bring us in thine heavenly Paradiſe. O God of my Salvation, how bitter are the fruits of ſin? thou ſeeſt my diſpleaſure, for having yielded ſo long to that loathſome Tyrant, and aſſiſted my carnal Luſts that war againſt the Soul. Thou ſeeſt the inward grief of my mind, for having neglected to employ that life which I have received from thy Mercy and Goodneſs, that I might live to fear, ſerve, and obey thy Sacred and Divine Commands; What ſhall I ſay, O Soveraign Lord of the World? I have ſinned againſt thee, againſt thee have I ſinned, and done that which is abominable in thy ſight, but I repent in Duſt and Aſhes, my ſins appear before me day and night, I conſider them with horror. Alas O Lord, before whom all things are naked and open, thou knoweſt that my greateſt grief proceeds from my not grieving enough, and that my moſt ſenſible affliction is of not being afflicted ſufficiently, becauſe I cannot feel a Repentance anſwerable to the greatneſs and number of mine offences. O God that ſearcheth the Heart and knoweſt p. 204all things, thou underſtandeſt the greatneſs of my crimes, and what ſhould be my ſorrow for their Commiſſion; thou deſireſt not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould turn and live; Turn me, O Lord, and then I ſhall be turned. Almighty God, who fetcheſt Water out of the hardeſt Rocks, draw out of my ſtony Heart the tears of ſincere Repentance, which might he acceptable unto thee? Break and mollify this hard heart, that it may receive the Waters of Eternal life, but rather pluck out this wicked heart, and give me a new heart, faſhioned with thine own hands, an heart where thy Glorious Image, with all its moſt beautiful features, may appear with the moſt ſacred beams that proceed from thy Divine Face, an heart that may be enflam'd with an Holy Zeal for thy Glory, and burn with a love for thee. O God of all goodneſs, who haſt not ſpared the bloud of thine only Son, to blot out the ſentence of my doom, grant me thine Holy Spirit, that may ſanctify me, and make me a new creature, that I may bear the marks and the Livery of thy choſen, and that I may ſhine in the World as a Lamp that burns with an Heavenly Fire. Crucify this miſerable fleſh with all its Luſts, that I may live, not I, but that Chriſt may live in me, that from henceforth I may live in the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me, and given himſelf for me, that he might redeem and cleanſe me from all iniquity; Animate my Soul, enlighten mine underſtanding, direct and govern the actions of my life; take poſſeſſion of me, and rule me in ſuch a manner, that all mine affections, words and thoughts, may be ſanctified by thy Grace, and tend to the promotion of thy Glory. That I may not only abhor all ſuch things as are diſpleaſing to thee, but that I may alſo ſhun thoſe, which I know not whether they will be acceptable to thee; that I may not only abominate the filthy vices, but alſo hate the Garments infected with ſin, and that I may abſtain from all appearance of evil, If the Devil, the World, and mine own fleſh tempt and ſtir me up to any ſin, let the dread of thy Divine Majeſty ſeize upon my Soul: let Death enter into my mind, and fill me with p. 205ſuch an holy fear, as may ſtop and hinder me, Give me grace to conſider, that I ſhould be the moſt miſerable of all Creatures, if I did dye in offending and ſinning againſt thee; if I were buried with my crimes. Let me always think upon St. John's ſaying, Bleſſed and Holy is he, who hath part in the firſt Reſurrection, the ſecond death ſhall have no dominion over him. Seeing that thy ſaving grace unto all men, hath appeared ſo openly unto me; Grant that renouncing all impiety, and worldly Luſts, I may live ſoberly, juſtly, and religiouſly in this preſent life, that I may apply my thoughts to all thoſe things that are True, Honourable, Juſt, Pure, Lovely, of good Renown, and generally to all things that are vertuous and worthy of praiſe. More eſpecially, grant O good God, that I may be poſſeſſed with a violent Charity, which may carry me to actions of Love and Mercy, for thou delighteſt in ſuch Sacrifices. Charity covers a multitude of ſins. O merciful Lord, the task which thou haſt given me, is long and tedious, my life is but ſhort, and I know not how ſoon thou wilt come to knock at the door of mine houſe. O God, whoſe Mercies are for ever, performe in me, that which thou doſt command, and then command what thou wilt produce in me with power, both the Will and the Deed, according to thy good pleaſure. Give me grace to employ myſelf in thy work with Diligence, Faithfulneſs, and Zeal, that I may not be troubled at thy Glorious coming. Give me the Lamp of thy Sanctuary, lighted at the beams of the Sun of Righteouſneſs. Fill my Soul with the precious and Divine Oil that runs from thy Spirit; and cloath me with the Robes of Holineſs and Light, that I may be ready to follow the Bridegroom into the Banqueting Chamber, and ſit at thy Table with the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and the Holy Virgin, and with all thoſe who have waſh'd, and whitened their Robes in the Bloud of the Lamb. Let me live the life of the Saints, that I may dye the death of the Righteous, that I may be admitted into thy Glorious Reſt with thy Choſen; and that when I am p. 206breathing forth thy laſt gasp, thy Son Jeſus Chriſt may call to me from Heaven, Come good and faithful Servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord, Amen.