Navigation Spiritualized, Caution 5
V. CAUTION.
THe fifth and last danger I shall warn you of, is, Your contempt and slighting of Death. Ah how light a matter do many of you (at least in words) make of it? It seems you have little reverential fear of this King of terrours; not onelyonly that you speak slightly of it, but also because you make no more preparation for it, and are no more sensible of your preservations and deliverances from it. Indeed, the heathen Philosophers did many▪ of them profess a Contempt of Death, upon the account of Wisdom and Fortitude; and they were accounted the bravest men, that most despised and slighted it: But alas, poor Souls, they saw not their enemy against whom they taught, but skirmisht with their eyes shut. They saw indeed its pale face, but not its sting and dart. There is also a lawful contempt of death: we freely grant, that in two Cases a believer may contemn it; first, when it is propounded to them in a temptation, on purpose to scare them from Christ and duty, then they should slight it; as Rev. 12. 11. They loved not their lives to the death. Secondly, When the natural evil of death is set in Competition with the enjoyment of God in Glory, then a believer should despise it, as Christ is said to do, Heb. 12. 2 though his was a shameful death. But upon all other accounts and considerations, it is the height of stupidity and security to despise it.
Now to the end that you might have right thoughts and apprehensions of death, which may put you upon serious preparation for it; and that when ever your turn comes to conflict with this King of terrours, under whose hand the Pompeys, Caesars, and Alexanders of the world, who have been the terrours of Nations, have bowed down themselves; I say, that when your turn and time comes (as the Lord onelyonly knows how soon it may be) you may escape the stroke of its dart and sting, and taste no other b…tterness in death, than the natural evil of it: To this end I have drawn the following Questions and Answers which, if you please, may be called, The Sea-man's Catechism. And Oh that you might not dare to launch forth into the deeps, untill you have seriously interrogated and examined your hearts upon those particulars▪ Oh that you would resolve, before you go forth, to withdraw your selves a while, from all clamours and distractions, and calmly and seriously Catechise your own selves in this manner.
Quest. 1. What may the issue of this Voyage be?
Answ. Death. Prov. 27. 1. Boast no… thy self of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Jam, 4. 13, 14. Go to now, ye that say, To day, or to morrow, we will go into such a City, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: VVhereas you know not what shall be on to morrow, for what is your Life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Quest. 2 What is Death?
Ans. Death is a separation of Soul and Body, till the Resurrection, 2 Cor. 5. 1. VVe know that if our earthly house of this T…bernacle be dissolved. Iob 14. 10, 11, 12. Read the words.
Quest. 3. Is Death to be despised and slighted if it be so?
An. O no! It's one of the most weighty and serious things that ever a creature went about. So dreadful doth it appear to some, that the fear of it subjects them to Bondage all their lives, Hebr. 2. 15. And to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lives subject to bondage. And in Scripture It's called, the King of terrours, Job 18. 14. Or the black Prince, as some translate. Never had any Prince such a title before. To some it hath been so terrible, that none might mention its Name before them.
Quest. 4. What makes it so terrible and affrighting to Men?
Answ. Several things concur to make it terrible to the most of Men▪ As first, its Harbingers and Antecedents which are strong Pains, Conflicts, and Agonies. Secondly, its office and work it comes about, which is to transfer us into the other world. Hence Rev. 6. 8. It's set forth by a Pale Horse: An horse, for its use and office, to carry you away from hence into the upper or lower region of Eternity; and a pale horse, for it's gastliness and terror. Thirdly, but above all, it's terrible in regard of its consequence; for it's the door of Eternity, the parting point betwixt the present world and that to come; the utmost line and boundary of all temporal things. Hence Heb. 9. It's appointed for all men once to die, and after that the Iudgment. Rev. 6. 8. And I looked, and behold a pale Horse, and his name that sat on him was Death: and Hell followed him. Ah it makes a sudden and strange alteration upon mens conditions, to be pluckt out of house, and from among friends, and honours, and so many delights, and hurried in a moment into the Land of Darkness, to be cloathed with flames, and drink the pure wrath of the Almighty for ever. This is it, that makes it terrible.
Quest. 5. If Death be so weighty a matter, am I prepared to die?
Answ. I doubt Not; I am afraid I want many things that are necessary to a due preparation for it.
Quest. 6. What are those things wherein a due preparation for Death consisteth?
Answ. Many things are necessary. First, Special and Saving Union with Jesus Christ. This is it that disarms it of its sting; O Death, where is thy sting? Thanks be to God who hath given [us] the victo…y through [our] Lord Iesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56. So Joh. 11. 26. VVho soever [liveth] and] [believeth] in me, shall never die. Whosoever liveth (i. e.) is quickned with a new spiritual Life and Principle, and so puts sorth the principal act of that life, viz. Faith, he shall never die, (i. e.) eternally; This hornet, Death, shall never leave its sting in his sides. Secondly, To entertain Death comfortably, the evidence and knowledge of this Union is necessary, 2 Cor. 5. 1. …or we [know] that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, &c. And then he cannot only be content, but groan to be uncloathed, vers. 2. A mistake in the former will cost me my Soul; and a mistake here will lose me my peace and comfort. Thirdly, In order to this evidence▪ it's necessary that I keep a good conscience in all things, both towards God and Man, 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing, even the testimony of our Conscience, that in sincerity, and godly simplicity, not in fleshly wisdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. This good Conscience respects all and every part of our work and duty to be done, and all and every sin to be renounced and denied: So that he that is early united unto Christ by Faith, hath the clear evidence of that Union; and the evidence fairly gathered from the testimony of a good Conscience, witnessing his faithfulness as to all duties to be done, and sins to be avoided, he is fit to die; Death can do him no harm: but alas, these things are not to be found in me.
Quest. 7. But what if I die without such a preparation as this is, what will the consequence of that be?
Answ. Very terrible; even the separation of my Soul and Body from the Lord to all Eternity, John 3. 36. He that believeth on the Son, bath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him. He shall not see life: there's the privative part of his misery, separation from the blessed God. And the [wrath] mark it, not anger, but wrath; not the wrath of a man, bat of [God] at whose rebukes the Mountains skip like frighted men, and the Hills tremble: The wrath of God not only flashes out upon him, as a transient flash of lightinng, but [abideth] dwells, sticks fast, there is no power in the world can loose the soul from it. [VponUpon him] not the body only, nor the soul only, but on [him] (i. e.) the whole person, the whole Man. Here is the principal positive part of that man's misery.
Quest. 8. Can I bear this misery?
Answ. No: My heart cannot endure, nor my hand be strong, when God shall have to do with me upon this account. I cannot bear this wrath; Angels could not bear it; it hath sunk them into the depths of misery. Those that feel but a few sparks of it in their Consciences here, are even distracted by it, Psal. 88. 15. Christ himself had never born up under it, had he not been subported by the infinite power of the▪ divine nature, Isai. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold. How then shall I live when God doth this? what will be done to the dry tree? Oh! there is on abiding of it, it is insufferable. The sinners in Zion are afraid, trembling surprizeth the hypocrite: who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who can endure the everlasting burning? Isai. 33. 14.
Quest. 9 If it cannot be born, is there any way to prevent it?
Answ. Yes; there is hope in I srael concerning this thing. And herein I am in better case than the damned; I have the [may-be's] of mercy, and they have not. Oh what would they give for a possibility of Salvation! Isai. 1. 16, 17, 18. Wash ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well, &c. Come now, let us reason together: and though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as snow. Isai. 55. 7. Let the wicked for sake 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. Though my disease be dangerous, it is not desperate, it doth not scorn a remedy. Oh there is Balm in Gilead, and a Physician there. There is yet a possibility, not only of recovering my Primitive glory, but to be set in a better case than ever Adam was.
Quest. 10, How may that be?
Answ. By going to the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus. Rom. 8. 33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again.
Quest. 11. But what is it to go to Christ?
Asw. To go to Christ, is to*Iohn 1. 12. embrace him in hisaIohn 3. 36. Person, andb1 Cor. 1. 30. Offices, and to restc1 Acts 4. 12. intrely and closely upon him fordActs 12. 29. pardon of sin, andeIsai. 45. 22. eternal life; being deeplyfActs 2. 37. sensible of the want and worth of him. Joh. 1. 12. To as many as [received] him, he gave power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believed on his Name. John 3. 36. He that believed [on the Son] hath life. 1 Cor. 1. 30. And of him are ye in Christ Iesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other, &c. Acts 13. 39. And by him all that believe are [Iustified from all things] from which ye could not be Iustified by the Law of Moses. Isai. 45. 22. Look unto me, and be ye saved. Acts 2. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, &c.
Quest. 12. B…t will Christ receive me, if I go unto him?
Answ. Yes, yes; He is more ready to receive thee, than thou are to come to him. Luk. 15. 20. And he, …ose and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. The Son doth but go, the Father ran: if he had but received him into the house, it had been much; but he fell on his neck, and kissed him. He bespeaks him much after that rate he exprest himself to returning Ephraim. My Bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy on him, Jerem. 31. 20. There is not the least Parenthesis in all the pages of Free Grace, to exclude a Soul that is sincerely willing to come to Christ.
Quest. 13. But how may it appear that he is willing to receive me?
Answ. Make trial of him thy self. If thou did but know his heart to poor sinners, you would not question it. Believe what he saith in the Gospel; there thou shalt find that he is a willing Saviour: for therein thou hast, First his most serious invitations, Matth. 11. 28. Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden. Isai. 55. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. These serious Invitations are, Secondly, backt and confirmed with his Oath, Ezek. 35. 11. As I live I desire not the death of a sinner. Thirdly, amplified with pathetical wishes, sighs and groans, Matth. 23. 29. Oh that thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day. Fourthly, Yea, delivered to them in undissembled tears, Matth. 23. 37, 38. He wept over it, and said, O Ierusalem, Ierusalem. Fifthly, Nay, he hath shed not only tears, but blood, to convince thee of his willingness. View him in his dying posture upon the Cross, stretching out his dying arms to gather thee, hanging down his blessed head to kiss thee: every one of his wounds was a mouth opened to convince thee of the abundant willingness of Christ to receive thee.
Quest. 14. But my sins are died in grain: I am a sinner of the blackest hue; will he receive and pardon such an one?
Answ. Yea, Soul, if thou be willing to commit thy self to him, Isai. 1. 18. Come, now let us reason together: Though your sins he as scarlet, I will make them as snow; though they be red like crimson, I will make them as wool. See p. 10, 11.
Quest. 25. This is comfortable news; but may I not delay my closing with him for a while, and yet not hazard my eternal happiness, seeing I resolve to come unto him at last?
Ans. No. There must be no delays in this case: Ps. 119. 60. I made hast and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Quest. 16. Why may I not defer it, at least for a little while?
Ans. For many weighty reasons this work can bear no delays. First, the offers of Grace are made to the present time, Heb. 3. 15. Wbile it's said to day, harden not your heart. There may be a few more days of God's patience, but that is unknown to thee. Secondly, your Life is immediate uncertain; how many thousands are gone into Eternity since the last Night? If you can say to sickness when it comes, Go, and come again another time, it were somewhat. Thirdly, Sin is not a thing to be dallied whith. Oh! who would be willing to lie down one Night under the guilt of all his sins? Fourthly, delays increase the difficulty of Conversion: Sin still roots itself deeper, habits are the more strengthened, and the heart still more hardned. Fifthly, There be thousands now in Hell, that perish through delays: Their Consciences often urged and prest hard upon them, and many resolutions they had, as thou hast now; but they were never perfected by answerable executions, and so they perisht. Sixthly, Thy way of sinning now is desperate; for every moment thou art acting against clear light and conviction; and that is a dreadful way of sinning. Seventhly, There can be no solid reason for one hours delay; for thou canst not be happy too soon: And be sure of it, if ever thou come to taste the sweetness of a Christian Life, nothing will more pierce and grieve thee than this, that thou enjoyedst it no sooner.
Qu. 17. Oh, but the pleasures of sin engage me to it, how shall I break these cords and snares?
Ans. That snare may be broken by considering solemnly these five things. First, that to take pleasure in sin, is an argument of a most deplorable and wretched state of Soul. What a poysonful nature doth it argue in a Toad, that is sucking in nothing but poyson and filth wherever he crawls! Oh what an heart hast thou! hast thou nothing to find pleasure in, but that which makes the Spirit of Christ sad, and the hearts of Saints ache and groan; which digged Hell, and let in endless miseries upon the world? Secondly, think that the misery it involves thee in, is infinitely beyond the delights it tempts thee by: It doth but delight the sensual part and that but with a brutish pleasure; but will torment thy immortal Soul, and that for ever. The pleasure will quickly go off, but the sting will remain behind. I tasted but a little honey on the top of my rod (said Ionathan) and I must die, 1 Sam. 14. 43. Thirdly, Nay, that's not all; but the Lord proportions wrath according to the pleasures souls have had in sin, Rev. 18. 7. How much she hath lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give unto her. Fourthly, What dost thou pay, or, at least, pawn, for this pleasure? Thy soul, thy precious soul, is laid to stake for it: and in effect thus thou sayest, when thou deferrest the closing with Christ upon the account of enjoying the pleasures of sin a little longer: Here, Devil, take my Soul into thy possession and power; if I repent, I will have it again; if not, it is thine for ever. Oh dearb ought pleasures!
What is the the world? A great exchange of ware,
Wherein all Sorts and Sexes cheapning are:
The Flesh, the Devils, sit and, cry What lack ye?
When most thay fawn, they most intend to rack ye.
The wares are cups of joy, and beds of pleasure;
There's goodly choice, down-weight, and flowing measure.
A soul's the price, but they give time to pay
VponUpon the Death-bed, or the Dying-day.
Hard is the bargain, and unjust the measure,
When as the price so much outlasts the pleasure.
Quarles.
Lastly, It's thy gross mistake to think thou shalt be bereaven of all delights and pleasures, by coming under the government of Christ: For one of those things in which his Kingdom consists, is joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17. Indeed, it allows no sinful pleasures to the subjects of it, nor do they need it; but from the day thou closest in with Christ, all thy pure, real, and eternal pleasures and delight begin and bear date▪ When the Prodigal was return'd to his Father, then, saith the Text, They began to be merry, Luke 15. 24. See Acts 8. 5, 6. No, no, Soul, thou shalt want no joy; for the Scripture saith, They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink the rivers of thy pleasures; for with thee is the fountain of light, &c. Psal. 36. 8, 9.
Qu. 18. But how shall I be able to undergo the severities of Religion? There are difficult Duties to be done, and an heavy cross to be taken up; these be the things that daunt me.
Ans. If Pain and Suffering daunt thee, how is it thou art not more out of love with sin than with Religion? For it is most certain, that the Sufferings for Christ are nothing to Hell, the just reward and certain issue of sin: the pains of Mortification are nothing to the pains of Damnation. There is no compare betwixt suffering for Christ, and suffering from Christ, Matth. 5. 29. If thy right hand, or eye offend thee, cut it off, and pluck it out: It is profitable for thee that one member suffer, than that the whole body be cast into Hell. Secondly, thou …eest the worst, but not the best of Christ. There be Joys and Comforts in those difficult Duties and Sufferings, that thou seest not. Col. 1. 24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings. Jam. 1. 2. My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverstemptations, &c. Thirdly, Great shall be thy assistance from Christ, Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through him that strengthens me. The Spirits helps our infirmities, takes the other end of the burden, Rom. 8. 26. What meanest thou to stand upon such terms, when it is Heaven or Hell, eternal Life or Death, that lie before thee?
Qu. 19. But to what purpose will all my endeavours to come to Christ be? unless I be elected, all will be to on purpose.
Ans. True: If thou be not elected, thou canst not obtain him, or happiness by him: But yet, that is no discouragement to strive. For in thy unconverted state, thy Election or Non-election is a secret to thee; the only way to make it sure, is by striving and giving all diligence in the way of duty, 2 Pet. 1. 10. And if you ponder the text well, you will find, that Election is not only made sure in the way of diligence and striving; but Calling is put before it, and lies in order to it. First secure thy effectual Calling, and then thine Election.
Qu. 20. But I have no strength of my own to come to Christ by; and is it not absurd to urge me upon Impossibilities in order to my Salvation?
Ans. First, Certainly you are more absurd in pleading and pretending your impotence against your duty: for you do think you have a power to come to Christ, else how do you quiet your Conscience with Promises and solves of Conversion hereafter? Secondly, Though it be true, that no saving Act can be done without the concurrence of special Grace; yet this is as true, that thy inability to do what is above thy power, doth not excuse thee from doing what is in thy power to do. Canst thou not forbear, at least, many external acts of sin? And canst thou not perform, at least, the external acts of duty? Oh, if thou canst not come to Christ, yet, as the blind man, lie in the way of Christ; do what thou canst do, and confess and bewail thine impotency that thou canst do no more. Canst thou not take thy Soul aside in secret, and thus bemoan it; My poor Soul, what wilt thou do? Oh what will become of thee, thou art Christless, Covenantless, Hopeless, and, which is most sad, sensless and bowelless. O! thou canst not bear the infinite Wrath of the Eternal God, whose Almighty Power will be set on work to torment such as thou art, and yet thou takest no course to prevent it. Thou seest the busie diligence of all others, and how the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence by them; and art not thou as deeply engaged to look to thy own happiness, as any in the world? Will Hell be more tolerable to thee than others? Oh what a composition of stupidity and sloth art thou? Thou livest after such a rate, as if there were neither Fire in Hell to torment thee, nor Glory in Heaven to reward thee. If God and Christ, Heaven and Hell, were but dreams and fables, thou couldst not be less affected with them. Ah, my Soul! my Soul! my precious Soul! Is it easie to perish? Wilt thou die as a fool dieth? Oh that men would but do thus, if they can do no more!
And now, Soul, you see what death is, that you have made so slight of; and what is the only way that we, poor Sons of Death, have to escape its sting. You have here seen the vanity of all your pleas and pretences against Conversion, and the way to Christ prepared and cast up for you. Now, Sirs, I beg you in the name of God that made you, and as if I made this request upon my bended Knees to you, that you will now, without any more delays, yield your selves to the Lord. Soul! I beseech thee, hast thee into thy …hamber, shut thy door, and bespeak the Lord after some such manner as this, before thou darest to launch out into the Deeps again:
O dreadful and glorious Majesty! thou hast bowels of mercy, as well as beams of glory: I have heard the sounding of these bowels for me this day. Lord, I have now heard a representation of the grim and ghastly face of Death! Ah! I have now seen it as the King of Terrors, as the door of Eternity, as the Parting-point, where sinners take their eternal farewel of all their delights. I have seen this black Prince mounted on his pale Horse, and Hell following him. I have been convinced this day, that if he should come and fetch away my Soul in that condition it is, Hell would follow him indeed. Lord! I have now heard of the Prince of Life also, in whose bleeding side Death hath left and lost its envenomed sting; so that though it may kill, yet it cannot hurt any of his Members. To this glorious Redeemer I have now been invited; all my pretences against him have been confuted, and my Soul in his Name assured of welcome, if I come unto him, and cast my self upon him. And now, Lord, I come, I come, upon thy call and invitation; I am unfeignedly willing to avouch thee, this day to be my God, and to take thee for my portion. Lord Iesus, I come unto thee; thy Clay, thy Creature moves towards the Fountain of pity, look hitherto: Behold a spectacle of misery. Bowels of mercy, hear, behold my naked Soul, not a rag of righteousness to cover it; behold my starving Soul, not a bit of bread for you to eat; ah! it has fed upon wind and vanity hitherto: Behold my wounded soul bleeding at thy foot; every part, Head and Heart, Will and Affections, all wounded by sin. O thou compassionate Samaritan, turn aside, and pour thy Soveraign blood into these bleeding wounds, which like so many opened mouths plead for pity. Behold a returning submitting Rebel, willing to lay down the weapons of unrighteousness, and to come upon the knee for a pardon. Oh I am weary of the service of sin; I can endure it no longer. Lord Jesus, thou wast anointed to preach glad tidings to the meek, and to proclaim liberty to the …aptives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Come now, and knock off those fetters of unbelief; Oh set my soul at liberty that it may praise thee! For so many years Satan hath cruelly tyrannized over me, oh that this might be the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of the salvation of my God! Lord, thou wast lifted up to draw Men unto thee; and indeed thou art a drawing Saviour, a lovely Jesus. I have hitherto slighted thee, but it was because I did not know thee: mine eyes have been held by unbelief, when thou wast opened in the Gospel; but now I see thee as the chiefest of ten thousands. Thou art the glory of Heaven, the glory of Earth, the glory of Sion; and oh that thou wouldst be the glory of my Soul! I confess, I am not worthy that thou shouldst look upon me; I may much rather expect to be trampled under the feet of Justice, than to be embraced in thine arms of Mercy; and that thou shouldst rather shed my polluted blood, than sprinkle thine own upon me. But Lord, what profit is there i… my blood? Wilt thou pursue a dryed leaf? Shall it ever be said, that the merciful King of Heaven hang'd up a poor soul that put the rope about its own neck, and so came selfcondemningly to him fot mercy? O my Lord! I am willing to submit to any terms, be they never so hard and ungrateful to the flesh. I am sure whatever I shall suffer in thy service, cannot be like to what I have suffered, or am like to fuffer by sin: henceforth be thou my Lord and Master; thy service is perfect freedom; be thou my Priest and Prophet, my Wisdom and Righteousness, I resign up my self unto thee: my poor Soul with all its faculties, my body with all its members, to be living instruments of thy glory. Let Holiness to the Lord be now written upon them all; let my tongue henceforth plead for thee, my hands be lifted up unto thy testimonies, my feet walk in thy ways. Oh let all my affections, as willing servants, wait upon thee, and be active for thee. Whatever I am, let me be for thee; whatever I have; let it be thine; whatever I can do, let me do for thee; whatever I can suffer, let me suffer for thee. O that I might say before I go hence, My beloved is mine, and I am his! Oh that what I have begged on Earth, might be ratified in Heaven! My Spirit within me saith, Amen. Lord Jesus, say thou. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Flavel, Navigation Spiritualized (1698)