The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 14
CHAP. 14.
The ſecond Conſolation againſt the fears of Death, is to look upon God as a merciful Father, and to truſt upon his infinite Goodneſs.
THere is no Child well deſcended, but deſires earneſtly to ſee his Fathers Face, and eſpecially, the Face of a Good and Gracious Father. A great Princes Son, who hath been brought up in a Forreign Countrey, rejoyceth at his own Happineſs, when his Father ſends for him, to make him partaker of the Glory and Dignity of his Empire, he is not then grieved nor troubled, he ſeeks not to delay his going, but rather he embraceth, with tranſports of joy, the Meſſenger of ſuch good news; he thinks of nothing but of haſting his departure; if he could borrow wings, he would fly with an unſpeakable ſwiftneſs to his Fathers Palace, Now we are the Children of the Great God, whoſe Throne is Heaven, and whoſe Footſtool is the Earth; for our Faith that looks upon Jeſus Chriſt as our Saviour and Redeemer, conſiders God as our God and Father, for to them who have received this only Son of the Father, hath been granted the priviledge of being the Sons of God, to them who believe in his name, 1 Job. 1. So that we have juſt cauſe to be tranſported in an Holy Exceſs of Joy, with the Apoſtle St. John, Behold what manner of love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God, 1 Joh. 3.
We were by nature Children of Wrath, as others, but God, who is rich in Mercy, hath predeſtinated us unto the adoption of Children by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his Will, Eph. 2. He gives us the Gracious aſſurances of this free adoption, in this life; for as we are Children, he hath ſent the Spirit of his Son in our Hearts, to cry Abba, Father, Eph. 1. This Holy Spirit bears witneſs with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God, If we be Children, then Heirs of God, and Co-heirs with Chriſt, Gal. 4. Yea, if we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo Glorified with him, Rom. 8. That we might be the Children of God; he hath not only adopted us by Jeſus Chriſt, but alſo regenerated us by uncorruptible Seed. We are not born of Fleſh and of Bloud, but we are born of God. His infinite Goodneſs perſwaded him firſt, to grant us a Being, and his incomprehenſible love, hath moved him to reform our Beings, and reprint his Divine Image in our Hearts, John 1. 1 Pet. 1. He hath begotten us by his pure Grace, by the word of his Truth. that we might be the Firſt Fruits of his Creatures, Jam. 1. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant Mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance uncorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven for us, 1 Pet. 1.
Now although we be the Children of God, and the ſuppoſed Heirs of his Crown, our Glory and Dignity is not to be diſcerned during the years of our Earthly Pilgrimage. Our Heavenly Father ſuffers us here in an Eſtate contemptible in the eye of the World, that we might learn Humility, and deſire more earneſtly his celeſtial Inheritance. As it happens in a dark and obſcure midnight, Men tread under feet the Pearls, the Diamonds, the Scepters, and the Crowns; Thus it is now, that a groſs ignorance hath overſpread and covers the face of the World, the Children of God, who are the moſt precious Jewels of his Crown, are eſteem'd no better than the ſcum, or the filth of thē Earth. This conſideration cauſeth St. John to tell us, Beloved, we are now Children of God, it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be; but we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is, 1 Joh. 3. As David ſent for Abſalom out of the Philiſtins Countrey, and gave him leave to dwell in the City of Jeruſalem, but for the ſpace of two years, he would not ſuffer him to enter his Royal Palace, or ſee his Face; Likewiſe, God hath freed us from the Devils Tyranny, and Hells Power, he hath admitted us into his Holy Church, which is as his Jeruſalem, where he gives a fore-taſt of our Heavenly Peace and Reconciliation, but he delays for a time our reception into the magnificent Palace of his Glory, and to the enjoyment of his Divine Preſence, the higheſt ſatisfaction, and the greateſt happineſs. While we remain in the Body, we are eſtranged from God, ſo that we are ſaved, but by Hope, 2 Cor. 5. But when we ſhall depart out of this Body, we ſhall be with the Lord, and ſhall enter into a real fruition of his Celeſtial Inheritance, Rom. 8. Finally, while we dwell here below, we may ſee the Image of our Heavenly Father, and behold his Face as in a Glaſs, but when he ſhall have cauſed us to draw near his Throne, we ſhall ſee him face to face, we ſhall be transformed into his likeneſs, and be fully ſatisfied with his reſemblance, Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 3. 1 Cor. 13. Pſal. 17.
Let Death be never ſo hideous and ugly, it is the Meſſenger of our Heavenly Father, and if we can have but the confidence to open its iron hands, and look into them, we ſhall find Gracious Letters, full of Love, by which this Father of Mercy calls us, to the full enjoyment of our Eternal Happineſs. Death doth not only invite us to go to God, but it ſerves as a Veſſel to convey us through this tempeſtuous Sea of the World, to go to our good God, who expects our coming at the Haven of everlaſting Reſt; it is like to Eliah's Chariot of Fire, that carried him up to Heaven, 2 King. 2. If Death covers our eyes with one hand, and deprives us of the Light of the Sun with the other it rents in pieces that Vail which hinders us from the ſight of the varieties of God's immortal Sanctuary, and diſcovers to us the Glorious Face of the Father of Lights; with the one it digs for our Bodies a Grave to caſt them in, but with the other hand it flings open, for our Souls, the Gates of the Heavenly Jeruſalem, to uſher them into the Banqueting-Hall.
Therefore Death ſhould be ſo far from frighting us, that its arrival ſhould rather comfort us, and cauſe us to reſolve to follow it with an Holy chearfulneſs, for we ſhould not only be willing to go to God with tranſports of joy, when he is pleaſed to call us to himſelf, to behold his Face, and to eat of the Bread of Eternal life, in his Heavenly Kingdom, but, of our own accord, we ſhould be impatient to enjoy his Glorious Preſence, and in a continual longing, to ſee that happy day that ſhall bring us into him, and ſatisfy us with his unſpeakable Delights. A true Chriſtian ſhould be moved in this occaſion, with David's Spirit. As the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks, ſo panteth my Soul after thee, O God. My Soul thirſteth for God, for the living God, when ſhall I come and appear before God?
I confeſs that this Great God, before whom we are to appear, is cloathed with Glory and Majeſty, and dwels in the Light, which no man can approach unto; 1 Tim. 6. I know that he ſits upon a dreadful Throne of Fire, whereof the Wheels are like a burning Flame, Dan. 7. that a thouſand thouſand wait upon him, and ten thouſand Millions ſtand before him, Iſai. 6. I am not ignorant, that at his Preſence the Earth is moved, the Sea and the Rivers dry up, the Mountains tremble, and the little Hills ſhake, the Rocks decay, the Pillars of Heaven fail, and the Seraphims cover themſelves with their wings, Revel. 4. But let not this dreadful Majeſty and Heavenly Pomp, terrify thee, O believing, Soul, for this Great God is full of a Fatherly affection for thee. Round about this Throne of God there is a beautiful Rainbow of a Green colour, like unto an Emerald, to ſignify unto us, that God is reconciled, and that the Covenant of our Peace is to continue for ever. As out of this magnificent Throne, proceed the Thunders and Thunderbolts, that fright the Worldlings, and caſt the proud Souls down to the ground; ſo from thence proceed alſo Lightnings, and ſuch refreſhing Flames, as are able to comfort the Believer, and to guide him to his Celeſtial Inheritance. We are related to God more than the Angels and Seraphims, for we are not only his Creatures and Servants, but alſo his Children, and the Members of his Son; nay, we are but one with him, Joh. 17. Let us therefore return our hearty thanks to our Heavenly Father, which hath made us mete to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Coloſ. 1.
Let us go up with confidence to Mount Sion, for there are no ſignes of God's wrath to be ſeen, nor of his juſt vengeance; we ſhall find no bounds to ſeparate us from God's Gracious Preſence but we ſhall find Cords of Love to draw us, and unite us unto him; we ſhall ſee no fire to devour and ſcare us, but we ſhall perceive the comfortable Flames which burn without conſuming, and which bring Comfort rather than Fear; we ſhall not meet there a terrible Law-giver to derive us from him, to ſcare us with his Thunderbolts; but we ſhall meet a loving Father to embrace us, and open to us the boſom of his tender compaſſions. In ſhort, we ſhall not hear there the terrible ſound of the Trumpet, that cauſeth the Rocks to ſplit aſunder, that caſts to the ground the proud Cedars, and that makes the Deer caſt their young; but we ſhall hear the ſweet and melodious voice, that will ſettle our trembling Souls, refreſh our languiſhing Hopes, and fill us with Peace, and Eternal Comfort, Heb. 12.
I acknowledge that God is juſt, but he is alſo merciful, and his Mercy rejoyceth againſt Judgement; his Juſtice is like an exceeding high Mountain, but his Mercy may be compared to the bottomleſs deep, Pſal. 39. Therefore Moſes who had ſeen God more than any living Man, cannot be ſatisfied, to extol and magnify his infinite Mercy, and the overflowing Riches of his love, Pſal. 36. He names him but once, Juſt, but many times he calls him Merciful, Gracious, Long ſuffering, abundant in Goodneſs, and Truth, Exod. 4. It is not unworthy of our obſervation, that the word Righteous or Juſt, attributed to God, doth often ſignify alſo Merciful, Gracious, and Loving, in the Holy Tongue. It is true, God holds in his hand the ſword of his Juſtice, but he is girded, and cloathed with his Mercy, as with a Garment. In ſhort, God is not only Good and Merciful, but he is alſo Goodneſs and Mercy it ſelf, 1 John 4. His compaſſion and tenderneſs is far greater than that of the beſt Fathers or Mothers, as he himſelf declares by the Prophet, Can a Woman forget her Sucking-Child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her Womb; yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee: Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my Hands, yea, in the bottom of my Heart, Iſ. 49. Theſe fatherly Compaſſions force him to let fall the ſword of his juſtice, as he tells us in Hoſea, How ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together, I will not execute the fierceneſs of mine anger, Chap. 11. Therefore David had good cauſe to be perſwaded, That when his Father and Mother ſhould forſake him, the Lord would receive him. When all Love, Kindneſs, and Mercy were totally baniſhed from the Earth; when all natural affections ſhould be extinct, my God will not forſake me, while I live, and at the hour of my death, he will receive me into his boſom, and cover me with his wings. Chriſtian Souls, Let not the ſad remembrance of your former ſins and miſcarriages, diſcourage you; for when we appear before the Throne of Gods Majeſty; we muſt not truſt upon our own Righteouſneſs, nor be puſt up with the fancy of our merits; but we muſt place all our aſſurance and hope, in the Mercy of God alone; we muſt imitate Daniel, who ſpeaks thus of himſelf, and of his proceedings, We do not preſent our ſupplications before thee for our Righteouſneſſes, but for thy great Mercies, Dan 9. The compaſſions of God are our Mercies, while God hath ſtore of compaſſions, we ſhall not want merits, St. Bern. Now God's Mercies and Compaſſions can never fail; they renew every morning, his faithfulneſs is very excellent, Lam. 3. As I live, ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, Ezek. 33. I am he, I am he that blots out all thy ſins for mine own ſake, and will not remember thy tranſgreſſions, Iſai. 45. Although our ſins and iniquities appear to us with all the deformity and uglineſs of Hell; Be not overcome with grief, nor caſt your ſelves into deſpair; Let us rather ſay with the Prophet Jeremiah, Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the puniſhment of his ſins; Let us ſearch and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens. Or let us ſpeak in the language of Micah, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and paſſeth by the tranſgreſſions of the remnant of his Heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, becauſe he delighteth in Mercy. He will come again, he will have compaſſion upon us, he will ſubdue our iniquities, and thou wilt caſt out their ſins into the depths of the Sea, Micah 7. Let us comfort our ſelves with the words of the Prophet Daniel, To the Lord our God belongs Mercies and Forgiveneſſes, though we have rebelled againſt him, Dan. 7.
Tell me not again, I know that God is Good and Merciful, but I have offended him too much, to believe that he will vouchſafe me a Pardon, and have Mercy upon me. After many repented Vows, after many Groans, Sighs, and Tears of Repentance. I have returned as the Dog to his Vomit, and as the Swine to wallow in the Mire, 2 Pet. 2. But wretched ſinner, learn for thy comfort, that when thy ſins ſhould be as many as the Sand of the Sea-ſhore, or as the Stars of the Sky, Iſ. 44. If thou doſt now ſincerely repent of them, with a contrite Soul, God will blot them out as the Cloud, and will caſt them into the Sea; for God's Mercy hath no bounds, and his Compaſſions are infinite, Micah 7. When thy Brother hath offended thee, if he aske forgiveneſs, the Lord Commands that thou ſhouldeſt pardon him, not only ſeven times, but ſeventy and ſeven times, Matth. 17. How much more reaſon haſt thou to believe, that God, of his infinite Goodneſs and Mercy, will pardon thee more ſins, and oftener; therefore inſtead of murmuring over thy miſcarriages, accept of the precious Balm of his Divine Conſolations, and ſay with the Royal Prophet, Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me, bleſs his Holy Name; Bleſs the Lord O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes, who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindneſſes and tender mercies, who ſatisfieth thy mouth with good things, ſo that thy youth is renewed, like the Eagles. The Lord executeth Righteouſneſs and Judgement, for all that are oppreſſed; the Lord is merciful and gracious, ſlow to anger and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever; he hath not dealt with us after our ſins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; for a the Heaven is high above the Earth, ſo great is his mercy towards them that fear him, as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, ſo far hath he removed our tranſgreſſions from us. Like as a Father pitieth his Children, ſo the Lord pitieth them that fear him, Pſal. 103.
Don't anſwer me, that your ſins are ſo grievous and abominable, that you cannot expect a Pardon, for when they ſhould be as high as the proudeſt Mountains, if thou art really ſenſible of their weight, if they make thee to ſigh and groan, God's infinite Mercy, like a Deluge, ſhall cover and waſh them away, Lam. 5. or like a Torrent, it ſhall tranſport them out of his ſight▪ for when ſin abounds, God's Grace will ſuper-abound, in caſe there be true Repentance, Iſ. 1 When your ſins ſhould be as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow, when they ſhould be as red as Vermilion, they ſhall become as white as Wooll. All the offences that you are guilty of ſince you are in the World, are finite, and limited, but God's Mercy is infinite. O Lord, if thou ſhouldeſt mark iniquities who ſhall ſtand, but there is forgiveneſs with thee, that thou mayeſt be feared, Pſal. 130.
He that hides his tranſgreſſions ſhall not proſper, but he that confeſſeth and forſaketh them, ſhall obtain Mercy, Prov. 1.8. It is certain that there is no ſinner never ſo guilty, that ſhall ſeek unto God's Mercy, by a true Repentance, but ſhall obtain his Requeſt, Pſal. 113. David had defiled himſelf with an horrible Adultery, and imbrued his Hands in the Bloud of one of his moſt faithful Servants; but aſſoon as he made his Suit unto God, with a broken Heart, and a contrite Spirit, this good and merciful Creator cleanſed this foul Sinner from all his guilt, at the fountain of his infinite Mercy; he made him whiter than Snow, and comforted his bruiſed Bones. This conſideration cauſed him to cry out, I ſaid I will confeſs unto God my tranſgreſſions, and thou O God, haſt taken away the puniſhment of my ſin, Pſ. 52, King Manaſſeh had been addicted to deviliſh Arts, and to the moſt abominablee and grievous Idolatries, 2 Chron. 33. Nevertheleſs, as ſoon as he ſighs in his Chains, his Prayers and his Groans found a Gracious reception at the Throne of Grace. The poor Publican in the Gospel being aſhamed to lift up his Eyes to Heaven, ſtruck upon his Breaſt with this expreſſion of his penitent Soul, O God be merciful to me a ſinner, Luk 18. And God look'd upon him with an Eye of Mercy, and ſtretched out unto him his Gracious Hand, ſo that h… departed to his home juſtified. The penitent Magdalen was inwardly grieved at her former filthy and debauched behaviour, ſo that ſhe came and caſt her ſelf at our Saviours Feet, watering them with her Tears, and wiping them with the Hair of her Head, Luk 9. but Chriſt ſoon lifted her up with theſe comfortable words, Thy ſins are pardoned, thy faith hath ſaved thee, go in peace. St. Peter by an unconſtancy, that ſhould cauſe the beſt Chriſtians to tremble for fear of falling into the ſame Apoſtacy, denied his Lord and Maſter three times, with curſing and ſwearing, Matth. 26. but this merciful God looked upon him with an eye of compaſſion, and gave him grace to repent moſt bitterly, of ſuch a foul crime. I doubt not, but at the ſame time, that this wretched ſinner poured forth his Tears in God's preſence; doubtleſs, he poured into his Heart the Oyl of Joy and Gladneſs, and comforted him moſt effectually, by his Divine Spirit. Likewiſe, although your ſins be grievous and abominable, if your Souls be ſtruck with grief and diſpleaſure, if your Hearts be truly penitent, ſo that you ſhed ſincere Tears of Repentance; and in caſe you are heartily ſorry for the want of a ſufficient diſpleaſure for your ſins, in caſe you proſtrate your ſelf before your Heavenly Father, he will raiſe you up again by his infinite Goodneſs, he will caſt all your ſins and tranſgreſſions behind him; he will cry unto you in your Hearts, by the voice of his Holy Spirit, My Son, or, My Daughter, thy ſins are forgiven thee, John 5. He will fill your Souls with an unſpeakable Joy, Luk 9. and will cauſe you to ſing with the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſed is he whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, whoſe ſin is covered. Bleſſed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile. Pſal. 32. Finally, think not that it is ever too late to repent, and that when Death is upon your Lips, it is no time to ſeek to the Mercy of God. As the buſineſs of Repentance cannot be too ſoon, becauſe we know not when God will call us to himſelf; It is moſt certain, that it can never be too late; for at what time or ſeaſon ſoever the poor ſinner melts into Tears of Repentance, in caſe his Repentance be real, and his Tears proceed from a penitent heart; God will always have the Arms of his Mercy wide open to receive him. The Thief crucified at our Saviours ſide, was at the laſt gasp, when he was converted, and when he uttered this excellent expreſſion; Remember me Lord, when thou comeſt into thy Kingdom, Luk 23. Our good and merciful Saviour, granted his Requeſt, and encouraged him with the moſt excellent and comfortable promiſe that we can imagine; Verily I ſay unto thee, To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. In like manner, when thou art at the point of death, if God ſpeaks unto thee, and awakens thy Conſcience; it is an infallible ſigne, that he hath compaſſion upon thee, and that he will not deſtroy thee. It is a ſigne that he opens for thee his Heaven, full of Light and Glory, and offers unto thee his Paradice, with all its Divine Excellencies. Doubt not, penitent ſinner, that this is the acceptable day, the day of Salvation, and the time of Gods good pleaſure; ſeeing that this good God draws ſo near thee, thou mayeſt with freedom draw near him. And ſeeing that he beats and knocks at the door of thine Heart; it is an infallible token, that thou mayeſt alſo beat at the door of his Eternal Mercies, and that he intends to open, to ſatisfy thee. In ſhort, at what hour ſoever we go unto God, and appear before his Throne; he ſtretcheth out unto us the Golden Scepter of his Goodneſs, that we ſhould obtain Mercy, and find Grace, to be helped in time of need.
It is not needful that we ſhould prepare long and elaborated Speeches or Prayers, to perſwade God to vouchſafe his Grace and needful help, in ſuch an urgent neceſſity. It is not neceſſary that we ſhould compoſe them, with the Art and Induſtry of humane Wiſdom. We need but pray unto God, as unto our Father, and weep in his boſom; we need but open unto him our Hearts, and call our ſelves his Children; that alone, is ſufficient to move him to compaſſion, and to ſtir up his Fatherly affections, to appeaſe his anger, and to draw upon us his moſt excellent Bleſſings. The Prophet Iſaiah, the moſt Eloquent of the Men of his time, ſeeks no other argument to perſwade God to have Mercy and compaſſion but this, Look down from Heaven, and behold from the Habitation of thy Holineſs, and of thy Glory; where is thy Zeal and thy Strength, the ſounding of thy Bowels, and of thy Mercies towards me? are they reſtrained? doubtleſs, thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledgeth us not. Thou O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, thy Name is from everlaſting, Iſai. 63. Likewiſe, after that he had made this confeſſion, We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteouſneſſes are as filthy Rags, and we all doe fade as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away, and there is none that calleth upon thy name, that ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold of thee, for thou haſt hid thy face from us, and haſt conſumed us, becauſe of our iniquities, Chap. 64. He adds, But now O Lord, thou art our Father, we are thy Clay, and thou art our Potter, and we all are the work of thine Hand; Be not wrath very ſore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, ſee, we beſeech thee, we are all thy People.
By this gracious and loving Title of Father, the prodigal Son is perſwaded to be able to oblige his Father to have compaſſion of him; I will riſe and go to my Father, and will ſay unto him, Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven and againſt thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired Servants. Thus, although we have forſaken our Heavenly Father, miſpent the Riches of his Grace, and lived a filthy and a prophane Life; Nevertheleſs, if we can be but moved with a ſerious and a true repentance, and ſay to him from our hearts, Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven and againſt thee, I am no more worthy to be called thy Son. He will forget all the miſcarriages of our youth, and will paſs by all the offences that we have committed, out of ignorance or miſtake; nay, he will blot out all our wilful and deliberate ſins; he will not only embrace us when we ſhall caſt our ſelves at his feet, and in the arms of his Mercy; but he will meet and receive us as his deareſt Children: he will kiſs us with the bleſſed kiſſes of his Fatherly love; he will give unto us his Holy Spirit, that ſhall ſeal us for the day of Redemption, and ſhall aſſure us, that we are admitted to the liberty and all the priviledges of his Children; he will ſhooe our Feet with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace, and will give us all the aſſurances of our entire and perfect reconciliation. He will cloath us here upon Earth with the Robes of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, and in Heaven, he will beſtow upon us uncorruptible Robes of immortality and Glory. In this life he will give us the foretaſts of Eternal Happineſs, and in the life to come he will lead us by the hand into the Banqueting Chamber, and will cauſe us to ſit there at Table with Abraham, Iſaack, and Jacob, and with all the Firſt-born whoſe names are written in Heaven. Out of this celeſtial abode, all murmurings and complaints, ſhall be baniſhed, but here ſhall be rejoycing and gladneſs, for the converſion of poor ſinners, and for their admittance into the Kingdom of Heaven. God himſelf ſhall invite the Holy Angels and bleſſed Spirits, to ſhare in theſe publick rejoycings; ſaying to them, We muſt rejoyce, for theſe my Children were dead, but now they are alive, they were loſt, but now they are found again.
Let the miſerable ſlaves of the Devil, and of their filthy Luſts, tremble at the approaches of death, and let them look upon God as a dreadful Judge, Rom. 2. For our parts, we have not the ſpirit of Bondage to be again in fear, but we have the ſpirit of Adoption, whereby we may cry Abba, Father. Let the Sons and Daughters of Adam, who have no other Being nor Life, but that which they have received with their corrupted Nature, fly from God's Preſence; for our parts, we that are Regenerated by the Spirit of the ſecond Adam, we will draw near to him with boldneſs. We will not ſay as that wretched Soul, diſturbed and frighted at the conſideration of its crimes. I heard thy voice, I was afraid and hid myſelf, Gen. 3. But rather having been brought up in the Schools of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and having learn'd, that we muſt prefer our Obedience to God's Will, to all other things whatſoever; we ſhall ſay unto him with Samuel, Speak Lord, for thy ſervant heareth, 1 Sam. 8. Or rather, we will ſpeak unto him in plainer terms; O my God and Heavenly Father, ſpeak when thou wilt, for thy ſervant is ready, and reſolved to obey thy Commands; we will ſtay till God ſhall call the fourth time, as that Holy Man, Numb. 31. Who becauſe of his tender and unexperienced years, could not diſtinguiſh between God's voice, and that of a Man; but we will have our Ears always open to his Divine Orders, and at the firſt motion and ſummons of his Will, we ſhall be ready to follow him, as the Children of Iſrael were in the Wilderneſs, when they raiſed their Camp, and marched according to God's directions, Numb. 3.
And as when the Levites ſtopt, and put down the Ark in its own place, 2 Chron. 3. Moſes did commonly pray, O Lord give reſt to the thouſands of Iſrael. Likewiſe, you believing Souls, whom God hath choſen for his Ark and Temple, aſſoon as you ſhall perceive that this wiſe Governor of Mankind, intends to put a period to your painful Journey, and laborious Race; that is to ſay, aſſoon as you ſhall perceive the leaſt ſigne of death, ſpeak with an Holy confidence and joy; Rejoyce, O my Soul, the time of thy freedom, and of thine Eternal Reſt approacheth; Here is the Meſſenger of good news; here is Death that will uſher me in to the Glorious Palace of my Heavenly Father. Father, the hour is come, Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may Glorify thee, John 17.
When the hour was come that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was to go out of this World to the Father; he ſaid unto his Diſciples who were grieved for his going from them, If ye loved me ye would rejoyce, becauſe I ſaid, I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I, John 13. John 14. Chriſtian Souls, ſpeak in this manner at the hour of your departing. If ſuch as are about you happen to weep and lament, if they endeavour to move and ſtop you, by the conſiderations of Fleſh and Bloud, tell them, why are you grieved at my deliverance, and at the end of my miſery? why would you hinder and retard my Glory and Happineſs? O how cruel is your Love, how blind and unconſiderate is your Affection? Certainly, if ye did love me as ye ought, ye would prefer my ſatisfaction, and the accompliſhment of my happineſs, to the ſmall advantages that ye might gather from my abode with you; ye ſhould conſider, that the leaſt part of the joy that I ſhall feel in my Heavenly Fathers Houſe, is a thouſand times more worth, than all the Pleaſures of the Earth, than the Honors of the Age, and the Pomp and Glory of the World. My friends, or rather my enemies, let me go, for I go to my Father, I go to behold his Face, which is the moſt Divine ſatisfaction; I go to take poſſeſſion of that Inheritance, prepared for me, from the foundations of the World, John 20. Matth. 21.
A Prayer and Meditation for a believing Soul, that ſtrengthens it ſelf againſt the fears of Death, by an Aſſurance, and Truſt upon God's Fatherly Goodneſs, and Infinite Mercy.
MY God and Creator, I perceive that the time of my departure draweth near, and that Death preſſeth ſore upon me. It ſummons me to appear before thy dreadful Tribual; it frights me, when it brings to my remembrance all my former ſins, and repreſents unto me, the hainouſneſs of my crimes. O Great God, when I ſeriouſly think upon what I am, and conſider what thou art, I am aſtoniſhed, and the ſight of thy Divine Majeſty frights me, for I am but Duſt and Aſhes, and my Being is leſs than nothing; but thou art infinite in thy Being and Glory; the Heaven is thy Throne, and the Earth is thy Footſtool: I am cloathed with darkneſs, but thou dwelleſt in a light, that no man can approach unto. How dare I, that am all covered with ſin, draw near unto thee, who art the Holy of Holies, and Holineſs it ſelf. How can I that am but dry Straw and Stubble, ſtand before an everlaſting burning. O God of Gods, if I did ſee thee ſitting upon the Throne of thy Glory, as Judge of thouſand thouſands of immortal Spirits wait upon thee, and ten thouſand Millions worſhip thee; if I did ſee thee armed with Thunderbolts, encompaſſed with Flames of Fire, like to thoſe of Mount Sinai: I ſhould not be only afraid, but I ſhould fall into deſpair. Inſtead of drawing near to thee I ſhould fly from thee, as Adam, and endeavour to hide my ſelf from thine Eyes, that cannot ſuffer the ſight of evil; I ſhould cry out as Moſes, I am afraid, and I tremble all over. Or, as the Prophet Iſaiah, Woe is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of unclean Lips, and I dwell in the midſt of a People of unclean Lips, Iſai. 6. Or, it may be I may ſay with the Holy Apoſtle, Depart from me, for I am a ſinful Creature. But good God, I ſee that thy Throne, ſo full of Glory, is encompaſſed about with a Rainbow of an immortal and a refreſhing Colour. I ſee in it the undoubted aſſurances of my Peace, and Eternal Reconciliation with thee; therefore I dare go to it with confidence, as to the Throne of Grace, to obtain Mercy, and find Grace, to be helped in time of need. Although thou art Clothed with Majeſty, and Crowned with Glory, thou doſt ſtretch out unto me the Golden Scepter of thine infinite Mercies. I ſee that thou haſt put off the Arms of thy Juſtice and Vengeance, to put on the Bowels of Love and Compaſſion. I hear no more over my Head, the dreadful Thunder of thy Curſes, but I hear the ſtill voice of thy Mercy, that comforts my trembling Soul, that raiſeth up my drooping Spirit, and that cauſeth me to conceive the aſſured hopes of Happineſs and Glory, in thine Heavenly Paradiſe. I ſee no more about thee the grievous flames and burnings, to devour ſinful Men; but I perceive the pleaſant and refreſhing flames of thy Love, that rejoyce and comfort me, and that do not deſtroy me as they did the two Captains and Soldiers of Ahaziah, but they carry me up to Heaven as the Prophet Elijah was. The ſpirit which thou haſt given me, is not the Spirit of Bondage, to encline me to fear, but the ſpirit of Adoption, whereby I cry Abba, Father. It is this ſpirit that witneſſeth with my ſpirit, that I am thy Child, thy Heir, and Co-heir with thy Holy Son Jeſus. Seeing thou haſt reconciled me to thy ſelf by the Bloud of thy Beloved Son, when I was a Slave of Satan, and thy ſworn Enemy; now that I am ſo nearly related to thee, wouldeſt thou refuſe me mine Inheritance? O my God, my Heavenly Father, I know that I have grievouſly offended thee, and that if thou didſt treat me exactly according to thy Juſtice, of a thouſand Articles, I could not anſwer one; therefore I ſhould have cauſe to expect to be caſt into the Eternal Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels; but Lord thou doſt not deſire the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould turn to thee and live. Moreover, thou haſt confirmed this with an oath, and thou wilt never break it. I confeſs that my ſins are many, and that their hainouſneſs appears unto me day and night; but Lord, where ſin abounds, thy Grace, or thy Mercy ſuperabounds: and when mine iniquities ſhould be as red as Vermilion, thou haſt promiſed to render them as white as Snow; Thou ſhalt be moved for me with the ſame compaſsion as a Father is moved for his Child, and thou wilt put away from thee all mine offences as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt. O my Soul, why art thou afflicted? why doſt thou fret within me? return to thy Reſt, my Soul, for the Lord hath done thee good; he prepares for thee an Eternal Felicity. It is not Death's voice that I hear, but the Call of mine Heavenly Father, who invites and commands me to come away to him: Therefore, though I am a moſt miſerable ſinner, I am going to caſt my ſelf at thy feet, and to ſay to thee as the prodigal Child, Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven, and againſt thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. O my God, and Father, thou haſt beſtowed upon me, thy moſt Divine Favours, thy greateſt Riches and Bleſſings; nevertheleſs, I have been eſtranged from thee, and have unhappily abuſed all thy Mercies. I have too much given my ſelf over to the debaucheries of the Fleſh, and of the World; evil company hath corrupted my behaviour; ſo that from the ſole of the Foot, to the crown of the Head, there is nothing whole in me. In this miſerable Eſtate, I fly to thee my Judge for Mercy, or rather, I implore and intreat with all my Heart thy Fatherly Love, to have compaſsion of me. O Divine Flames, O Abyſſe of Charity, O God, whoſe tenderneſs for me is far greater than that of the beſt Fathers, and of the moſt tender hearted Mothers for their Babes; I ſee thy Bowels move for me, thy compaſſions kindle, and thy Arms wide open to receive me; thou art not only ready to embrace me, but thou meeteſt me in the way; not only as the Father of the prodigal Son, thou doſt not only receive me, but thou haſt ſought me out in my former abode of corruption, and drawn me out of thoſe depths of Miſery. O unparalell'd Love! what may not I expect from thy Fatherly kindneſs; thou ſhalt embrace me with the Arms of thy Mercy, and kiſs me with the kiſſes of thy Love; thou ſhalt confirm my aſſurance, of being admitted into the liberty of thy Children, and give unto me a white Stone, where thou ſhalt write the new Name of Elect, or Believer, that none knows but him that hath it. Thou wilt ſhooe my Feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; or rather, thou ſhalt give unto my Soul, that peace of God that paſſeth all underſtanding. Thou ſhalt put upon me the Robes of fine and white Linnen, which are the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, and thou ſhalt cloath me with the Rayes of the Sun of Juſtice. Thou ſhalt lead me into thy Dwelling, I mean, thy Glorious Palace, where, inſtead of killing the fatted Calfe, we ſhall ſolemnize the Nuptials of the Lamb, offered from the foundation of the World, there we ſhall meet with the Angels, the immortal Spirits, and all the Firſt-born, whoſe names are written in Heaven, who ſhall not murmure nor complain, but ſhall be tranſported with joy, and adore that infinite Goodneſs which thou haſt declared to us poor and miſerable ſinners, who out of thine incomprehenſible Love, haſt made us thy Children and Heirs of thy Kingdom. O Goodneſs, worthy of the admiration of Heaven and Earth, we were all loſt, but we ſhall be all found in God, we were dead, but by death, we ſhall return to life; we were over-whelmed in a grievous miſery, but by this means we ſhall attain to the greateſt happineſs. O my God, I recommend unto thee my Soul, as to a faithful Creator, Heavenly Father, my Spirit I leave in thy Hands, Amen.