Time and the End of Time, Treatise 2 · Part

Time and the End of Time · Treatise 2 · Part

p. 159The application.

If it be a duty ſo neceſſary to mind your end, I ſhall deſcend to improve it by way of; Application.

Ʋſe. This calls aloud unto all you unconverted ſinners that have made no preparation for Death and Judgement, to ſtand and wonder, or to ſit down and p. 160admire at the unwearied patience, the matchleſs and amazing mercy of the infinitely gracious and glorious God.

Hath the moſt righteous judge, and ſinrevenging God, held your ſouls in life, and kept you from death and Hell to this very day? And will you not, even to aſtoniſhment, adore the unſearchable riches of grace? Men commonly wonder at things above their reach, or that for which they can give no reaſon, and eſpecially at rare, ſingular and unmerited mercy. Now ſtop a little, and ſpend a few ſerious thoughts, and conſider what reaſon can be given that you ſhould be numbred among the living, when ſo many are dead; that you ſhould be in the world, and ſo many thouſands of Men, Women, and Children in their Graves, and their precious ſouls you know not where. Now that your bodies are not laid up in that dark and diſmal priſon of the Grave, and your dear never-dying ſouls, bound, fettered, and chained in that direful, painful, priſon of hell, is matter of the greateſt wonder in all the world. Have you not cauſe to doubt, that many of your neighbours, relations, and ſinful companions & accquaintance are gone p. 161down thither, & it may be ſome of thoſe you leaſt ſuſpect. And you know not how many are now in flames for the very ſame ſins that you ſtand guilty of, if not leſs ſinners then your ſelves. O admire and bleſs God with your whole ſouls, that you are yet on this ſide the grave, and not gone down into that place of torment; you enjoy many opportunities for your ſouls, and are ſtill exhorted to part with ſin, to turn to God, to accept of Chriſt, to think of death and hell, that ſo you might never ſee it or feel it, for there is much more in the paines of hell, and wrath of God, then ever you heard, or can imagine. According to thy fear ſaid Moſes, ſo is thy wrath, Pſal. 90. 11.

Poor ſinners! you are ſtill the living Monuments of infinite kindneſs, and therefore let not the living man complain. Suppoſe you had dyed when death ſeemed neer, when you were ſick and weak, ready to give up the ghoſt, or when thoſe many thouſands dyed by the Plague or Sword, in what a miſerable condition had your ſouls been, to be ſhut up with Devils and damned ſpirits in that Lake that burneth with fire and p. 162brimſtone. And will you ſtill maintain your enmity, encreaſe iniquity, and even dare God to damn you. Sinners, are you not beſides your ſelves, yea ſtark mad, to make God that ſhould be your beſt friend your worſt fo, for if his anger be kindled but a little, it will burn to the loweſt hell, and none can quench it or ſtand before it. Can thine heart endure, or thine hands be ſtrong in the day that I ſhall deal with thee? Ezek. 22. 14. Who can dwell with devouring fire, who would (ſaith the Lord) ſet the bryars and thorns againſt me in battel? I would go through them, I would burn them up together, Iſa. 27. 4. O when will you come to your ſelves, and throw away your arms, and conſider your ſouls; or will you not be ſaved? when ſhall it once be? why will you dye? Let theſe cords of love draw you, and cauſe you to ſay, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.

Conſider, others dreadful ruine hath been your warning, that are now lockt up in that dark dungeon, and ſhall come up no more, and whom the Devils are now tormenting, the worm biting, and the fire burning. You are at preſent free from that boyling Chaldron, and in the p. 163Land of the Living, O praiſe, praiſe the Lord for his long-ſuffering, you being but as it were under a repreive; O prize, and improve your life, and timely prepare for death, for if thy life were ended, thy ſoul ſeperated, and not peace with God made, thou wert an undone ſoul: There's no place for repentance in the Grave, no Chriſt or pardon to be obtained in hell. Bleſs God, your glaſs runeth, your Lamp burneth, the day of grace is yet continued, your dear Lord is upon the Mercy-ſeat, therefore there is hope.

Ʋſe 2. This juſtly reprehendeth all that flight or neglect this great duty, but eſpecially theſe three ſorts: neither of which do ſeriouſly conſider their latter end:

Viz.

1. The inſolent Atheiſtical Senſualiſts.

2. The Ignorant and conſiderate:

3. The Self confident & preſumptuous.

1. It condemneth Atheiſtical ſenſualiſts, that put the evil day far from them, Amos 6. 3. and who drown or baniſh the awful thoughts of God, Death and Eternity p. 164out of our minds and hearts? They take the Timbrel and Harp, and rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ, and ſay unto God, depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledg of thy wayes, Job 21. 12, 24. God is not in all their thoughts, Pſal. 10. 14. They are reſolved for a ſhort life and a merry, what ever the dreadful iſſue. They chant to the ſound of the Viol, and drink wine in bowls, and eat the Lambs out of the flock, and ſtretch themſelves upon their Couches, ſaying, in their hearts, as that wretch, Luk. 12. 19. take thine eaſe, eat, drink and be merry: they will ſatisfie their luſts, injoy the pleaſures of the fleſh, walk in the wayes of their heart, and in the ſight of their eyes, and hereby they make the breach wider, and themſelves ſeven times more the children of the Devil, though at laſt they ſit down in everlaſting ſorrow. Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we dye.

You poor deſperately deluded ſouls! did you beleive what you have read and heard of the other world, or what the Scripture of infalilble verity ſpeaketh of the infinitely holy, great, and terrible God (who will in no wiſe clear the p. 165guilty) you would quickly change your Courſe; did you now conſider you muſt dye, and be judged, that in a very little time you which hear me this day, muſt ſtand before the dreadful God; would you ſin ſo freely, love the world ſo immoderately, mock at a Deity, jeer at ſerious piety, neglect your Duty, trifle away your time, forget eternity, and hazard thoſe your precious ſouls as you have done and do? Such Rake hels and devils incarnate the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of, 2 Pet. 3. 10. Know this firſt, i. e. before the end of the world: There ſhall come in the laſt dayes ſcoffers, walking after their own laſts, and ſaying where is the promiſe of his coming? Nevertheleſs theſe Vipers, vile miſcreants, and, monſters in mens ſhape, think that they are wiſe, when indeed they have no underſtanding. Wiſe they are, but it is to do evil, to cavil againſt the truth, diſpute againſt the life of holineſs, but to do good they have no knowledg, Jer. 4. 22.

This was Jeruſalems great ſin immediately before the fierce anger of the Lord came upon them; and this is the ſad and dreadful caſe of many, yea thouſands in the world, and in theſe Nations; p. 166notwithſtanding all thoſe awakening deſolating providences, and amazing ſpectacles of mortality their eyes have ſeen.

There are but a few that look upon themſelves as concerned at all, juſt like a company of ſimple ſheep in a fat paſture. The Butcher cometh and fetcheth one to Day, another to morrow, the reſt feed on, and take no notice of what is become of their loſt companions. 'Tis as if a company of condemned perſons (reprievd for a time) ſhould be appointed to be executed one after another, within the ſpace of ſo many Dayes. This Day the firſt in order is brought forth and executed, the day following a ſecond, yet all the reſt that are to take their turnes, fall a Drinking, Carding, Singing, Swearing, and ſo continue to the very laſt, until they be all Hang'd, Dead, and Damn'd. We may compare this mad deluded world, to a company of poor blind men dancing about the brink of a very dangerous deep pit, but do not perceive it, or ſee how each falleth in one after the other; a firſt, ſecond, and third drops down, the reſt not diſcerning the danger runs the round: I ſhall thus apply it. This day or hour a Swearer p. 167tumbleth down to hell. The next a drunkard. This evening or morning the pale horſe mounteth one, it may be a curſed Atheiſt, or a malitious bloody perſecutor, or a filthy Adulterer, or an idolatrous worldling, and carrieth him to the place of Darkneſs. The next day he receiveth his Commiſſion to fetch ſome more of them; thoſe their brethren in iniquity that are leſt behinde, keep and continue their courſe, and dance about the pit, not conſidering they ſo muſt die, and come to judgement. How little do the living lay to heart this great buſineſs of their Mortality, inſomuch that when they would deny a thing with greateſt confidence, they will commonly ſay they thought no more of it then of their dying day, as if death were not a matter of any moment, but rather a meer toy, or trifle, not to be regarded. She remembred not her laſt end. Lam. 1. 9.

You ſelf deſtroying ſinners! Do you know that you muſt dye and leave the world for ever, and are you ſo ſtupified, and mad, as not to think of Death in many dayes together, yea, hardly to entertain a ſerious thought of death and judgment at a houſe of mourning; in the very p. 168ſight of the dead you can be vain, frothy, jeſt, pot, pipe, feaſt, diſcourſe of the world; a ſad proof that men do not conſider their latter end. Some at that ſolemn and ſad ſeaſon, ſeem a little ſerious, but as ſoon as the dead Corps is removed, and the Grave and Coffin out of ſight, Death is no more remembred. To make you ſenſible of this folly, let me reaſon with you in a few plain hints.

What, no thoughts of death, you that have been under a ſentence of death, and brought to the very pits brink, looking into Eternity! Oh how ſad is it to think how quickly thoſe thoughts and impreſſions of your mortallity have worn out and paſt away! Sinner, remember and forget not thoſe ſecret vows, promiſes, and engagements you then made to God, (viz.) that you would part with ſin, leave your wicked company, ſet looſe to the world, live godly, and make it your buſineſs to be religious, and looſe no more of your precious time and opportunities for your ſoul. If you have forgotten it, the all-ſeeing and heart-ſearching God remembers it. Know and conſider in thy heart, that death that did but warn thee p. 169then, by ſending his ſummons, will ſhortly come himſelf.

Forgetful of Death! and made of duſt, born of a woman, and under a Decree not to be revoked by men or Angels! Heb. 6. 27. Job 14. 3. As for man, his dayes are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou haſt appointed his bounds, that he cannot paſs.

Not mind your death! you that have ſickly, weak, diſeaſed bodies, full of paines and aches, that are ſo many partial quotidian deaths; yea a dying daily? What, put off the thoughts of death! thou that haſt been at ſo many Funerals, heard ſo many paſſing Bells or Knells, ſeen ſo many Graves, Skuls, and Coffins before thine eyes! Forget your death! and yet ſinners, and ſinning daily, carrying the cauſe and ſting of death in your boſoms! mors in corpore, the body is dead becauſe of ſin, Rom. 8. 11. Thy body is but a body of death, ſin hath kill'd it, the ſentence is paſt, Gen. 3. The wages of ſin is death, Rom. 6. 1. The ſoul that ſins muſt dye, Ezek. 18. 20. What put off this evil Day! and dead in part, old and cold, having one foot in the grave, viz. feeble knees, trembling hands, wrinkled faces, p. 170gray or bald heads, the grave being ready, for you? What, no more ſerious thoughts of death! and ſo many pieces and parcels of your ſelves gone before to this long home; ſo many Relations and Children now a ſleep in the duſt of death? are they buried in perpetual oblivion, never to be remembred any more?

What Sinner! What not think of Death! and Death at thy very heels, and before thine eyes, whither can you direct your eyes; and not ſee that which preacheth or repreſenteth Death? all the Winter Death is on the Trees, in our Gardens, in every flower; At your Table every day you feed on the fleſh of dead Creatures, to tell you that you muſt die; and is not death in your beds every night? what is ſleep but the picture and image of cold Death? and your beds but the repreſentation of your dark graves?

O careleſs beſotted ſinners! not conſider of death! and have precious ſouls, that muſt live or die, be ſaved or damnted to Heaven or Hell, to bliſs or burning, to God or Devils, to Saints or curſed Reprobates, as ſoon as the breath is gon, which may be the next day or hour? p. 171this pale horſe death, hath the red horſe Hell following him, Rev. 6. 8. Laſtly, what not think of, and prepare for Death! and called Chriſtians, that profeſs you beleive the Reſurrection of the body, and life everlaſting, a happineſs beyond the Grave, For in this life only (ſaith Paul) wt have hope in Chriſt, we are of all men moſt miſerable, 1 Cor. 15. 19.

Poor hardned ſinners! that now forget God, and this great and mighty concern of your eternal ſouls, what will you do in the day of Viſitation? when your iniquities ſhall compaſs you about, and no friend in heaven above, or in earth beneath, that can ſtand you in ſtead; and when conſcience, like a bold ſturdy Sergeant, ſhall take you by the throat, and ſummon you in the Name of the great Judge, to come and ſtand at or before the judgement ſeat. Ʋnderſtand ye brutiſh among the people, and ye fools, when will ye be wiſe? Pſal. 94 8. to underſtand this, to provide for your latter end.

2. This blames the ignorant pettiſh and conſiderate ſoul, who in an angry fit or paſſion wiſheth for death out of a baſe end, viz. as a writ of eaſe, or out-let to p. 172preſent pain, poverty, ſickneſs, and other worldly troubles and perplexities, not rightly conſidering how terrible death is, or what are the dreadful conſequences of it. Now that we may be convinced of this ſin and folly, give me leave to tell you, that between the worſt, longeſt, and deepeſt miſeries and calamities of this life, and thoſe after death, there is no proportion, but an exceeding diſtance.

Poor deluded ſouls! what is the bite of a flea, to the ſting of a Serpent? or a ſcratch on the hand, to a ſtab at the heart? what's the heat and ſmart of a little candle, to a hot fiery furnace, or a devouring flame? What's a drop of gall, to a Sea, or Ocean of poyſon? or what is pain, forture or anguiſh for an hour, to intollerable miſery time without end, into which to the unconverted death will certainly be the door? and are you ſo mad to imagine that there is nothing in the other world to be feared, or felt worſe then outward preſſures, perils, pains, which are but bodily miſeries, and that but for a moment? This ſin not only the prophane world are guilty of, but ſome of thoſe that profeſs the Name of God. Rebecah ſaid to Iſaac, I am weary of my p. 173life becauſe of the Daughters of Heth, Gen 27. 46. Rachel cryes out, give me Children, or elſe I dye, Gen. 30. 1. Eliſha being threatned by Jezabel ſaid, O Lord, take away my life, 1 Kings 19. 4. Jonah for the loſs of a poor gourd, ſaid, its better for me to dye then to live, and told God to his very face, that he did well to be angry, even unto death, Jonah 4. 9. The Iſraelites when they wanted water wiſht they had died in the wilderneſs. Theſe and the like wicked wiſhes are in the mouths of many poor ignorant, diſcontented perſons, who long to be out of this wretched world.

Now by way of conviction, I ſhall lay down theſe following particulars.

1. What think you of theſe inward, and ſoul-ſtraits, and conflicts with which Gods poor afflicted people are ſadly exercis'd. And were you but ſenſible of the guilt and weight of ſin, a wounded ſpirit, the wrath of God, and thoſe everlaſting burnings; it would quickly ſwallow up your outward miſeries, though never ſo many. This is evident in the example of the Jaylor, who for the loſs of his priſoners was ſo tormented, that he would have kill'd himſelf before p. 174he was convinced of the dreadful ſtate of his ſoul that was in danger of ruin, Act. 16. 27, 28, 29, 30. Then he fell, and cried out, Sirs, what ſhall I do to be ſaved?

2. To wiſh for death, becauſe of the evils attending this life, is very wicked, and dangerous, interpretatively, and in effect it is to wiſh your ſouls in hell.

Conſider and mind this alſo, that your preſent ſorrowes, croſſes, troubles, of what kind or degree ſoever they be, are the fruits of your ill-doings, and fatleſs then you deſerve, for its a wonder you are not in hell! and will you dare to be ſo audacious, as to flye in the face of your faithful Creator, when you ſhould be deeply ſenſible of your horrible wickedneſs, and humble under Gods hand, and accepting of the puniſhment of your ſinye ſhould repent and turn to God; take away the cauſe, and the effect will ceaſe.

3. You can pleaſe and gratifie the Devil your deadly adverſaty in nothing more; you wiſh for death, ſo doth the devil too; if you are his now, you muſt be his then; his here, and his for ever: He waits, and longs that your breath were gone, your ſouls ſeparated, therefore he would have you poyſon, hang p. 195drown, ſtarve, or ſtob your ſelves that you might be dead, damn'd and burn'd with him in hell.

4. Moreover, if you were dead you would ſuddenly repent, and change your mind, and, if it might be, give the world to be alive again, with all the wants, pains, and greif you now endure. Had you but a peeping hole into hell, to ſee and here what they endure, you would confeſs your ſins, judge your ſelves, and cloſe with Chriſt before you dye, that ſo you might not come into that dreadful place of torment. Now that you may hear, and fear, and do no more ſo wickedly, Let me ask you.

1. What think you of the ſting and bitterneſs of death, when a man comes to dye, Conſcience being awakened, roaring like a Lyon, death the King of terrours ſtanding by, when the guilt of paſt-ſins and loſs of precious time, will be as ſo many fiery darts, and ſtinging ſcorpions, biting and gnawing on the heart? What think you it will be to dye unconverted, to dye in a ſtate of ſin, and wrath, a Trator to God, in a ſtate of unbelief and impenitency (the ſoul-damning ſins) to dye with an evil heart, an accuſing conſcience, p. 176ſelf condemn'd, caſt in your own breaſt, to dye, which is worſt of all.

2. What think you of the ſadneſs and amazing terrour of approaching judgment, the ſecond death, when a man comes to take a dreadful view of the other world, and begins to reflect and think. Wherefore was I born, what have I been doing, are all theſe my ſins? O where ſhall I leave them? or how ſhall I be rid of them, now I am dying? whither am I going? what will be my company? where ſhall be the place? and how near am I to it? what muſt I endure? and how long? how long? and conſcience will anſwer, to all eternity, miſery without end. This will amaze, confound and overwhelm the ſoul with fear, and perturbation, when it ſees that heaven is loſt, and that it muſt down, down to the Region of darkneſs, and company of Devils, in that ſtate of everlaſting wo. The killing thoughts of which made a great man wiſh, that he might live, though bur the life of a Toad.

3. What think you of the impartiality of the Judge, that will not ſpare the guilty, muſt and will Judge and ſentence according to the fact, and reward every p. 177man according to his works? He would not ſpare the Angels that ſinn'd, but caſt them down to hell, 2 Pet. 2. 4. not Adam, but caſt him out of paradiſe, and ſet a flaming (word againſt him, neither will he ſpare any impenitent ſinner in the day of his wrath; juſtice obliges him to juſtifie the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

4. What think you of the impoſſibility of having any appeal? There will be no Moſes to mediate, no mediator to plead, no Daniel, Noah, or Job to intercede or to ſtand in the gap, not an Interceſſor in Earth or Heaven to be found to ſpeak a word. There can be no appeal to God, his Calls and Councels have been refuſed, his Intereſt oppoſed, his Enemies countenanced, his laws violated, his Anger will burn like fire. No appeal to Jeſus Chriſt, his Government hath been ſlighted, his Grace and Perſon rejected or to the, Holy Ghoſt, he hath been quencht and greived: or to angels or Saints; all will be againſt you.

5. Whar think you of the reſignation of ſoul and body to the executioner and tormentor, the red dragon? 'tis ſad to ſee a poor malefactor committed to the p. 178Jaylor or Hangman, but O how much more dreadful will it be for ever-living ſouls in the face of men and Angels, to be delivered into the hands of that raging, roaring Lyon, the Devil? When God the righteous Judge ſhall ſay in ſight of the whole world, here are the men that brak my Statutes, prophaned my Sabbaths, that hated my Saints, that ſerved the Devil, in the ſatisfying their Luſts, the open and profeſſed Adverſaries to my Name and Intereſt, that would not, though I often intreated them, come at my call, accept of my love, receive my Son, or endure a life of holineſs, or by any means be drawn and perſwaded to think of and prepare for death and judgement, though they had time and opportunity enough: Now take them devil, and away to hell with them; for my ſoul abhors them. Thy Covenant ſervants and voluntary ſlaves they were in time, and thy priſoners in chains of darkneſs they ſhall be eternity, to be tormented day and night for ever. Rev. 20. 10.

6. What think you of eternal baniſhment and ſeparation from God, Chriſt, Angels, Saints, Heaven? This is p. 179the puniſhment of loſs, and the worſt of hell, Matth. 25. 41. Then ſhall he ſay unto them on the left hand, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels: O terrible, terrible! to be doom'd or ſentenc'd to lye under the wrath and hatred of the infinitely great and dreadful God for ever and ever, as long as God ſhall live, whoſe being is to eternity, as long as there is a Devil to torment, or to be tormented, ſhall their plagues laſt. The fearful and unbeleiving, and the abominable, Murderers, Whoremongers, Lyars, Dogs, Sorcerers, carry all their ſins down to hell with them, the fuel that feeds the wrath of God, ſo that the Oyl of ſin cauſes the Lamp of wrath to burn & flame everlaſtingly. The debt of ſin can never be paid, juſtice never ſatiſfied, for the damn'd ſoul remains impenitent, and God implacable, ſo that there can be no hope of pardon. The ſentence is ſtrict, unchangeable, irreverſable, eternal. O eternity! eternity! this ſtings, plagues, and augments, and aggravates the moſt intollerable puniſhment of the damn'd. After an innumerable thouſands of years they ſhall think it but the beginning of their ſorrows, and ſhall be p. 180ſo far from an end, as if they had been in hell but an hour. It will be everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, 2 Theſ. 1. 9. In compariſon of which, all the rendings, rackings, tearings, torturings of mens bodies here, by the moſt exquiſite torments upon racks, gibbets, wheels grid-irons, boyling lead, boyling oyl, and other bloudily invented engines and inſtruments of amazing cruelty, are but a flea-biting.

Sinners! 'tis hell, hell, that will make the ſadly tormented ſoul ſeek death, wiſh, and long for that which ſhall never be, Rev. 9. 6. And will you deſire and wiſh for the woeful day? God forbid! now your condition may be changed, then it will be ſtated. Wo, wo unto you that deſire the day of the Lord, to what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkneſs, and not Light, Amos 5. 18. A day of glosmineſs, a day of clouds, and of thick darkneſs, at which the people ſhall be much pained, and all faces ſhall gather blackneſs, the inhabitants of the Land ſhall tremble, for the day of the Lord is very terrible, Joel 2. Now therefore do not wickedly wiſh it, but wiſely conſider and prepare p. 181for it: And bleſſed is that ſervant whom when his Lord cometh, findeth ſo doing.

3. It reproves the ſelfc-onfident and preſumptuous, who conclude upon a fitneſs and preparedneſs for death and judgment upon very ſlight and unwarrantable grounds, namely, becauſe they ſeparate from the notoriouſly wicked, are not prophane, make a profeſſion, ſhew ſome legal ſorrow for ſin, run the round of duty, though carnal and heartleſs enough in thoſe duties, from hence they eaſily perſwade themſelves that all is well, viz. That they are the Children of God, in a ſtate of grace, and going to Heaven, and as fit to dye as the very beſt. How many thouſands are there in the Chriſtian world, that ſecurely ſleep and dream of an intereſt in Chriſt, that hope and promiſe themſelves a future and glorious felicity, who are but meet moral men, and worſe, or rotten painted Hypocrites at the beſt, having only a form of Godlineſs, reſtraining, p. 182counterfeit, or common grace? Such were the Scribes and Phariſees, & the fooliſh Virgins, & yet confident to the very laſt; they came to the door with a Lord, Lord, open unto us. They had blazing Lamps, but no oil in their Lamps or Veſſels, no real union with Jeſus Chriſt, no precious faith, no ſincere love or evangelical repentance, the root of the matter was not in them.

You that have a name to live, take heed you be not deceived; if you are not truly united unto Jeſus Chriſt, he will certainly diſown you. The Lord Jeſus tells us of ſuch ſadly deluded ſouls, that ſhall ſtand up at the laſt day, and challenge a reward in Heaven, to whom he will proteſt, I know you not, Matth. 7. 23. they never ſavingly knew him, had never any union or communion with Chriſt in the world. Many are called, but few choſen, the Children of the kingdome (ſaith Chriſt) ſhall be caſt out. And I muſt tell you, who-ever comes to heaven, will miſs many there which they thought to find, and find others there they little expected. The Sinners in Sion are more then a few, the Goates p. 183more then the Sheep, the Tares more then the Wheat, more reprobate ſilver then pure tryed gold. The pure in heart and truly godly man that mourns and bleeds for ſin, that loves God, and prizes Chriſt above the world, is many times full of feares and doubts about his ſoul, and the eternal condition of it: O what would he not give to be aſſured that all is well between God and him? to know that God and Chriſt is his, that he is fit to live or die, becauſe a miſtake here is very dreadful, and of an infinite conſequence? But on the contrary, the fooliſh, diſobedient, and that are deceived, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, living in ſin, and alienated from the life of God, having no hope, and without God in the world, are highly confident, and ſtrongly perſwaded that it ſhall go well with them in the world to come. I knew a poor ignorant prophane wretch, being told on his death bed (and but a little before he entred into eternity) that death was come; replied, where is it, i'le go forth and meet it? putting his legs over the beds ſide, in a little time gave up the Ghoſt. Therefore in this great ſoulaffair, p. 184let none be ſo fool-hardy, as to truſt without tryal. But let every man prove his own work, and then ſhall he have rejoycing in himſelf, and not in another, for every man ſhall bear his own burthen, Gal. 6. 4, 5.

Queſt. If the conſideration of our latter end is a matter of ſuch moment, why do men and women that have immortal ſouls think no more of it?

Anſw. 1. The great cauſe is from that horrid curſed atheiſm and unbeleif, which is deeply rooted and riveted in mens minds and hearts. They do not credit that wonderful and aſtoniſhing Doctrin of the other world, according to the beleif of which they muſt live or die to all eternity.

If we ſhould take a ſerious proſpect of endleſs eternity, & of thoſe great things men ſeem to beleive, namely, that they muſt dye, that in every mans body there is a never dying ſoul, that there will be a different and unchangeable eſtate of men after death, and that without holineſs, real holineſs of heart & life, no man ſhall ſee the Lord; and compare the lives and practiſes of thoſe that pretend to beleive theſe things, & we may ſee them as buſie p. 185as a company of Ants in a ſunny day; and that the general courſe of men, hath no tendency towards this end, but indeed a ſad and woeful incongruity.

2. The ſecond cauſe is want of ſpiritual and divine wiſdom. It was for want of that wiſdom which is from above that the Iſraelites did not conſider, O that they were wiſe! ſaid God. They are a Nation void of counſel, neither is there any underſtanding in them, Deut. 32. 28. If men were wiſe for their precious and eternal ſouls, they would conſider what is here to be done, and what is like to be their condition in the other world. The prudent man fore-ſeeth the evil, or conſidereth the evil, and hideth himſelf. When God by the mouth of Moſes, threatned to plague the Egyptians by the Peſtilence, Haile, and Fire, he that beleived and feared the word of the Lord, amongſt the ſervants of Pharoah, made his ſervants and cattel flee into the houſe, and were preſerved, Exod. 9. 20. So the ſoul that is truly wiſe to conſider of the danger of beingdeſtroyed by the grievous hail and fire of Gods wrath, will flee into the hiding place viz. under the wing of the great and glorious Mediator, where alone there is true p. 186ſuccour. But he that did not fear or conſider of the danger, left his ſervants and cattle in th… field, and were deſtroyed, Exod. 9. 21, 25.

3. The third hindrance is ſenſuality, worldly pleaſures, and cares, theſe carry away the heart from the true conſideration. The Iſraelites confluence of creature-comforts, cauſed them to forſake and to forget God, Deut. 32. 14. 15, 16, 17 18. The old world was eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, not conſidering of their danger till the flood came and took them all away, Matth. 24. 38, 39. The men of the earth do ſo mind earthly things, that their hearts are ſurfeited and drunken with the care of it, Luke 21. 34. And while mens minds and thoughts are carri'd ſo vehemently after the world to make proviſion for their life, they can think but little of their death, Luk 12. 15, 16, 17, 18.

4. The fourth obſtruction, is a plague upon the heart, and deſperate ſecurity proceeding from it. No bonds next to death are ſo ſtrong to keep men under, as ſecurity and ſenſleſneſs of Spirit. So dead a ſleep poſſeſſeth p. 187more of the ungodly world, that they are paſt feeling, and become ſo ſtark dead, that the voice of God in the dreadful threatnings of his word, and the alarum of his amazing tremendous judgement, and deſolating providences prevail not to awaken them. The Lord hath poured out upon them the ſpirit of a deep ſleep, and hath (in judgement) cloſed their eyes that they can ſin in the very face of the Judge, at the very brink of hell, at the very mouth and entrance into that great gulf of Eternity.

5. A fifth hindrance to mens conſideration of their latter end, is a ſtrong deluſion of heart, or ſatanical ſuggeſtions. The old ſerpent, and deſperatively deluded hearts, make them dream that God is all love, that they ſhall have a long life, that preparation for death and Eternity is a ſhort work; and that it may be done at any time, namely, when they have done with the world, when they are old, or lying on a ſick bed. They ſay in their hearts, 'tis but beleiving or repenting, and ſaying, Lord have mercy upon me, let me die the death of the righteous. Under this p. 188deadly deluſion they dream of heaven, and go laughing to hell, 1 Theſ. 5. 3.

And that which doth much encreaſe this ſtupidity, may be the want of, or neglect of a powerful and ſoul ſearching miniſtry, whoſe office, as watchmen, is to foreſee the danger, and to warn and awaken ſecure ſinners, crying aloud to them in the name of the Lord, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee light, Epheſ. 5. 14. But ſom cannot endure that Miniſters ſhould be ſo ſevere, plain and peircing in their Doctrin, ſo as to thunder and lighten in the eyes and ears of ſleepy ſouls; They are well contented to ſit under thoſe that daub with untempered mortar, and who ſow pillows for their arm holes, under whoſe miniſtry they may take a nap and ſleep it out. But they hate him that reproveth in the Gate, that galls, cuts, and wounds their Conſciences, juſt like the gall'd-backt horſe, that bites and kicks at him that would heal him.

A perſon of no mean quality ſpeaking his opinion of ſeveral miniſters, ſaid, ſuch a man I can hear, and ſuch a one I can hear very well, but for the third he p. 189mentioned, that was wont to lay the ax to the root of the Tree, and grapple with the heart; I cannot endure to hear him, for he alwayes grates upon my conſcience.

6. Men do not conſider their latter end, becauſe they are afraid to do it,

1. Firſt, to wanton ſinners, the remembrance of death is a bitter Pill that will not ſuffer the pleaſures of ſin to go down ſo ſweetly. Therefore they ſay to the thoughts of Death, as the Governour to Paul, Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient ſeaſon I will ſend for thee. Serious thoughts of death and Judgement to come, as the hand-writing on the wall, will damp the ſpirits, and mar the mirth of the greateſt Prince or gallant in the world.

2. They fear to think of death, becauſe they have made no preparation for it, (viz) They have not believed, repented, liv'd a life of holineſs, ſo as to make God their friend. A bankrupt that oweth many hundred pounds more then he is worth, is afraid to caſt up his Accompts; ſo poor and impenitent ſinners, that are indebted to God, that owe him ten thouſand p. 190talents, are unwilling to think of death, becauſe death will ſay unto them, come give an account of your Stewardſhip, for you muſt pay the utmoſt farthing.

3. They are afraid to think of death, by reaſon of the dreadful conſequences of death, as it relates to both worlds. The change that death makes as to this preſent world, is very amazing.

1. It brings unavoidable diſſolution or ſeparation of ſoul and body; theſe two dear companions, that have lived and converſt together, and ſin'd together for many years, muſt then part, and a living man will become a dead Carcaſe, fit for nothing but a grave, and the ſoul muſt have another habitation, Job 17. 13, 14. Job 19. 26. Well might Death be called the King of terrours.

2. It is matter of fear to leave this world that hath been ſo pleaſing and delightſom, and for which we have toyl'd and labour'd ſo many years, in one night to looſe it all! For when the departing hour cometh, you may take a view of all your comforts which you have had under the Sun, and helps for p. 191heaven, (viz.) Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Kinsfolk Friends jolly Companions, Gold, Silver, Houſes, Lands, ſweet and delicate Banquets, pleaſing Bargains, and ſay, we muſt now part, farewell for ever: We ſhall never ſee or enjoy you more, we ſhall never eat, drink, or converſe more, buy or ſell more: all our fleſhly and ſenſual delights are ended; our joy, our mirth is ceaſed, and all the bleſſed advantages for our ſalvation now will terminate. Farewel the means of grace, and all the golden opportunities for our ſouls, farewell all thoſe faithful Miniſters that we have heard, farewel all thoſe powerful awakening Sermons that have ſounded in our ears, farewell all the bleſſed Sabbaths, farewell all the Counſels, Examples, Reproofs, Prayers of our ſerious and religious friends and Relations, we ſhall never ſee the face of a Miniſter more, or hear a Sermon more, never have the door of grace and life opened to us any more for ever. And what remains, but a doleful remembrance of thoſe good things that are paſt and gone, and a ſevere ſtrict account that is yet behind?

O dreadful change and loſs indeed to p. 192them that make the world their home, that have their heaven on this ſide heaven, and no proviſion or portion beyond the grave. The thoughts of which made a wicked young man (very thriving in the world) to utter theſe words, If I live I ſhall be a rich man, but this is the plague of it I muſt die; which accordingly came to paſs not long after.

3, No wonder death is ſo terrible, for after death the judgement. Death is a Purſervant that ſummons guilty ſouls to comend give an account at Gods dreadful bar. And what more terrible to the Maleſactorthen the ſight and preſence of an angry Judge. While Paul reaſoned of judgment, Felix trembled, and bid him be gone; that Doctrine did ſo gall him that he could not endure it, Acts 24. 25.

Ʋſe 2. The ſecond uſe is to exhort, perſwade, and ſtir you up, to put this duty of ſo great and infinite concernment into practice. O Sirs, I beſeech you to entertain ſome timely thoughts of your dying hour, that death and you may be more familiar. The beſt friend you have in heaven and earth longs to ſee it done, O that therewere ſuch an heart in them: Now if p. 193you would do any thing in this bleſſed work, (viz.) to prepare for death and judgement, it muſt be done, 1. Suddenly. 2. Seriouſly. 3. Effectually.

1. It muſt be done ſuddenly, its a buſineſs of that importance that muſt not be neglected or delay'd for a moment of time Did you but ſee that you are upon the confines of eternity, and in danger every day of being undone for ever, you would quickly come to a reſolution: To further and encourage you, conſider,

1. Life (as dear and precious as it is) is very uncertain. What a nothing is this life? a wind, a vapour, a dream, a breath, a bubble.

How ſoon may the Thread be cut, the Glaſs run, or this bright burning Lamp be dim and out; when, how or where this ſhort dying life will terminate thou doſt not know? Whether at home or abroad, among they friends or ſtrangers, in the field or houſe, at thy table or in thy Bed, who can tell?

2. Death may come ſuddenly. When the paſe horſe will ſet forth, whether in the morning, or at mid-day, or midnight, no man can tell thee. There is a fatal hour p. 194which none can paſs, Luk. 12. 20. Pſal. 73. 18. 19. Pſal. 64. 7. 1 Theſ. 5. 3.

3. When death comes it ſtrikes ſure. This King of terrors on the pale horſe always rides the circuit, and doth execution where-ever he cometh, no ſhield, or buckler, or armour of proof can defend us, no not an army of guard of men or Angels. If dreadful death finds a King on, his Throne, or a beggar on the dunghil, it's all a caſe. The ſtrength of man, though a Sampſon, this great Leviathan Death counts but a ſtraw; death doth his work ſpeedily, eaſily, witneſs the laſt plague. I ſhall adde here.

1. Death, calls warnings and alarums are very frequent, not one of you, but have had many a call and knock to mind you of death.

2. Deaths commands are peremptory he brings his warrant a long with him. Death coms in the name of the terrible Judge, & takes his Commiſſion out of the court of heaven in order to the accompliſhment and execution of an eternal & irrevocable decree, ſo that he muſt doe his work, will have his Errand: If a man had Mines of Gold and Silver to give, it cannot deliver p. 195from the arreſt of this inexorable Serjeant.

3. Deaths Conqueſt is great. I know thou wilt bring me to death, and the place appointed for all living. What man is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee death? Thou haſt ſet his bounds that he cannot paſs. They that have conquer'd Kingdoms and Countries, and carried all before them have been ſubjected by death: when death comes and takes a man by the throat, though the proudeſt, ſtouteſt, ſtrongeſt in the world, he muſt go, willing or unwilling, 'tis all one to death. 'Tis obſervable, that of bad men, their ſouls are not reſign'd, but taken away. What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his ſoul, Job 27. 8, 20. A tempeſt ſtealeth him away in the night. This night ſhall thy ſoul be required, death will not ſtay a night. Tis in vain for them that are ſtrong and lively, to ſay to death, go to the wrinkled faces, to the gray heads to the pile cheeks, to the naked backs, the dry bons, to the dry breaſts, meddle not with this young man, ſtrike not this comely beautiful woman, that is in the flower and prime in nature. Go to yonder conſumptive, declining decaying, p. 196dying old man, go to that weak wither'd old woman. Let me alone or be excus'd: O but death regards it not. For this great Conquerour death, knocks as often at the young mans door, as at the door of the old woman. Death arreſts and carrieth away the ſtrong, the healthy, the rich, the honourable, the learned, priſoners to the grave, as often as the weak the ſickly, the poor, the baſe and ignorant.

2 You are to do it ſeriouſly, with thy ſoul: The living will lay it to heart, Eccl. 7. 2. The dead cannot, there's no device in the grave; Then go about it now in good earneſt, before old age and death cometh.

3. Do it effectually, go thorow with the work, leave it not undone, or but done to halves; let every luſt be mortified, every duty performed, every grace exercis'd. As good never a whit, as never the near. Now you have opportunity before you, the day of grace is continued, Chriſt is at the door, open to him, and make all ſure; for if ever thou be juſtified, pardoned, ſanctified, it muſt be now. The conſiderations to perſwade you are theſe following.

p. 197Motive 1. Conſider there's an abſolute and indiſpenſible neceſſity for the doing of it, a preſent neceſſity, an infinite and eternal neceſſity, other things may be done this muſt be done, and its more then time this great work were done and finiſhed 'Tis the grand buſineſs of your life timely and truly to prepare for death and judgment. It were better that all your concerns in the world were wholly neglected namely, Husband, wife, Children, buying, ſelling, ſeed-time, harveſt omitted, & let all run to ruine, then to hazard, loſe and undo your ſouls, for this will certainly ruine body and ſoul for ever.

O ſeriouſly mind how little you have done in the time of your life paſt, and how uncapable you will be to do any thing at the end of time, when you come to take up your lodging in a grave. O remember the dayes of darkneſs, they will be many, Eccl. 1. 18. They that have been in the Grave a thouſand years have done nothing, neither can you when you come there, Eccl. Now for you that have lived p. 198ſome twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or threeſcore years, and done nothing in order to a preparation for your everlaſting ſtate, it is high time to begin the work.

The moſt of you are ſo ſenſleſs, as not to conſider, or entertain a thought of death, till you hear the Bell, or ſee a Grave or Coffin or till death comes within your walls and knocks at your beds head; when you ſee a Friend, a Child, a brother, a Husband or Wife, gaſping and dying, till you ſee him bedewed with his cold ſweats, and groaning with dying pangs; till your eyes thus affect your hearts, your hearts are ſeldom affected with the ſence of your mortality: Now ſith it muſt be done and done ſuddenly, reſolve in ſpight of men and devils, and all the world to ſet about the work.

Motive 2. Conſid. It may be done, you are in a capacity to do it adored for ever be free grace.

1. Time and opportunity is yet before you. The Torch burns, the Sun ſhines, yet it is day, though not morning, ſome ſands p. 991are behind, though not a whole glaſs. Some of you are old, lame, deaf, but not dead; others weak, ſick, langiſhing, but alive: If the Sun were ſet, the Candle out; the Glaſs run, farewell all hope of heaven, or of altering your condition for ever. They that are gone down to the dead and among the damned, may and do reflect with torment upon the opportunitiesonce offered to make them happy, but can call back none: that's impoſſible.

2. God is willing to help if you go to him; Thine is the power, and he gives it to them that have no ſtrength, Iſa. 40. Duty is ours, aſſiſtance and ſucceſs is Gods. That God who hath given you a conſidering ſeaſon, can alſo give a conſidering ſoul; go to him upon thy knees, and beg as for thy life his a ſpeedy aid, ſay as the woman to David, Help O King, or as the Father for the diſtreſſed Son, Mark 9. 22. If thou canſts do any thing, help us; Chriſt did help; 'tis his promiſe, ſeek and you ſhall find. But it cannot be ſaid ſo of ſeparated ſouls, becauſe time and meanes from them is gone for ever.

p. 200Then in the name of the Lord, quit your ſelves like men, Wiſemen, that are endued with precious, rational, conſidering ſouls, that difference you from bruits. Let that noble faculty of reaſon be exerted in conſidering your latter end. For conſideration is a ſerious, eager, & lively act or exerciſe of the underſtanding about things to be done, or not to be done, furthering or impeding the execution of them as it ſees good. It is the exerciſe of the mind and heart, theſe are at work in this divine conſideration. Contemplatio… (as one obſerves) looks upon things as the eye upon the object. Judicium diſcerneth things whether good or bad; but meditation or conſideration is a further inquiſition into the truth. Set conſideration at work, and not like bruits, ſuffer your eyes, ears, luſts and ſenſes to be your guides, but commune with your heares, conſider your wayes, reflect upon your actions, look to your end; which if you did, you would not be ſo ſenſual, ſo ſinful, as you have been and are, Iſa. 1. 3.

p. 201Motive 3. Conſider the omitting or neglect of it, will render you the worſt of fools. If the doing of it be your higheſt wiſdom, the not doing muſt needs be the greateſt folly; this will make you like Ephraim, a ſilly Dove without an heart. Do you know that you muſt die, and die but once? and will you not indeavour to do that well which cannot be done the ſecond time? As Luther ſaid to his adverſaries, You can kill me but once, ye are not able to raiſe me to life again, and kill me the ſecond time: So ſay I to thee, O thou ſeeuer, ſinner when thy breath is gone, it will return no more.

O conſider with a trembling heart, how much depends upon this dying once, namely the gaining or loſing of thy dear precious ſoul, the gainingor looſing of the favour of God, the fruition of God, the joyes of heaven, or the torments of hell hangs upon it.

When death comes, your eternity is caſt, the very next moment after you have ſhot the black & a mazing gulf, you ſhall p. 202ſee & know what you ſhall be, and where you ſhall be to all eternity. And will you judg the men of the earth, or worldly wiſe men, the wiſeſt men, who take care for the body, and neglect the ſoul? that make proviſion for time, but none for eternity? O Sirs, if you would but trace them to a ſick bed, a death-bed, from thence into eternity, and to Gods dreadful tribunal, you might eaſily determine, Ier. 17. 11 Luke 12. 19, 20. Luke 16. 22, 23. Rev. 6. 25.

Mot. 4. In a every little time you preſent, powerful and awakening helps and advantages, to excite and put you in mind of the other world; will be paſt and gone. And theſe are cheifly three, viz. 1. Awakening Ordinances. 2. Awakening Providences. 3. Awakening Convictions.

1 Awakening Ordinances will have an end. The faithful, powerful Miniſters of the Goſpel that watch for your ſouls, and whoſe office it is to fire the Beacons, and give the alarum, will, we know not how ſoon, finiſh their work. Theſe Boauergeſes and Embaſſadours of the Lord, that p. 203preach the dreadful and amazing Doctrine of death and judgement, and that with loud and earneſt cries, tears and fervour of ſpirit, to make you ſenſible of your ſin and danger, will ſhortly be called home. Moſes that great Prophet, after he had compoſ'd this excellent Song (of which my Text is a part) was gathered to his Fathers. Noah that Preacher of Righteouſneſs, after he had for many years together warned the old world, was called into the Ark and they had never a Sermon more, till the wrath of God came upon them, and there was no remedy; 2 Pet. 2. 5. Be not therefore as your Fathers, unto whom the former Prophers, have cryed. ſaying, Turn ye from your evil wayes, for they have not long to cry: The Prophets do not live for ever, Zech. 1. 4, 5. You cannot rationally expect alwayes to hear the pleaſant noiſe of Aarons Bells, or the ſound of the Silver Trumpet, the Sun will go down over the Prophets; Therefore while the watchmen are upon the walls take warning, and finiſh your work while you have the light: O Sirs, improve for your eternal advantage thoſe plain and powerful Sermons which you hear p. 204and read, and let it not be accounted legal preaching. Who were more ſevere in their preaching then our Lord and his fore-runner? whom we ought to imitate, otherwiſe we draw the horrible ſin of bloud-guiltineſs upon our ſouls; Ezek. 3. 18, 9. 'Tis obſerv'd, that there are more dreadful doctrines ſcatter'd up and down in the New Teſtament then in the Old, the powerful application of which is very neceſſary both for ſecure ſinners and drowſie Saints, Holy David, after his fall, fell into a deep ſleep and did not awake until Nathan came and told him plainly and particularlly of his ſin. And of the Virgins we read, while the Bridegroom tarri'd they all ſlumbred: and ſlept, Mat. 25. O how many ſleepy ſouls are there in the world, and in many Cities, Towns and Pariſhes in this Nation that will either living, dying or after death, ſadly bewail the not improving the labours of their faithful Paſtors.

2. All your awakening Providences, by which God warns and calls, will have an end. The great and glorious God for a long time together hath been ſpeaking and calling to us by his Word, and of late p. 205year she hath ſpoken by his dreadful Rod, and that very terribly. The Sword, the Plague, the Fire, the decay of trade and other Judgements, are the loud voice of an angry God. Thoſe afflictions on our Families, Relations, Eſtates, Perſons, are in order to awakening us out of ſleep, and ſo for our profit. When Manaſſch was among the thorns, & bound with fetters, & carried into Babylon, he be ſought the Lord and humbled himſelf greatly, 2 Chron. 33. 11, 12, 13. After Ephraim was chaſtiſed, he awaked, turned and repented, for the bonds and cords of affliction do open the car to inſtruction; then he ſheweth them their work, and their tranſgreſſion, and commandeth that they turn from iniquity, Jab 6. 9, 10. Jer. 13, 18, 19. Now to have a deaf ear to the rod and word, to be hardned and ſecure, and go on in ſin under awaking and amazing providences, is a dreadful judgement, & that which ripens men for ruine, 2 Chron. 28. 22. This is that King Ahaz, who in the time of his diſtreſs did treſpaſs yet more againſt the Lord, Jer. 5. 3.

3. Your awakening Convictions will have an end too. Thoſe ſecret and powerful p. 206workings, ſtrivings and ſtruglings of the Spirit of God under the rod and in the word will be ſuſpended. Chriſt will not always be at the door calling, knocking, and his Spirit that is ſo much greived and oppos'd, will not alwayes ſtrive and ſtruggle with your hearts and conciences, Gen. 6. 3. Now ſinners, if you have any love or regard to your immortal ſouls, before all theſe helps be taken away, be wiſe to conſider, and prepare for your end: Leſt God ſhould ſpeedily reſolve, and ſay to you as to the Jews, Iſa. 1. 5. Why ſhould ye be ſtriken any more; or as Hoſea: 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to Idels, let him alone. They will have their luſts, and they ſhall have them: As I live, ſaith ſaith the Lord this iniquity ſhall not be purged till youdie: Sith nothing will prevail, I am reſolved, ſaith God, they ſhall never hear an awakening ſoul-Searching Sermon more, never have a Correction or Conviction more till they go down to hell.

Motive 5. Conſider that the earneſt cries tear, prayers of unbeleivers, when they comes p. 207to die, it will be in vain, fruitleſs and unſucceſful: though you ſpeak in the anguiſh of your ſouls, and complain in the bitterneſs of your ſpirits; when your fleſh upon you ſhall have pain, and your ſouls within you ſhall mourn, it will be to no purpoſe.

You that will not ſeek God betimes, and make ſupplication to the Almighty, that will not pray while you have time to pray, helps to pray, health to pray, encouragements to pray.

Now God invites, you may have audience, and find acceptance; your prayers in a dying hour, will be but the expreſſions of your fears and terrors, ariſing from the ſence and nearneſs of your danger, when there will be but a ſtep between your departing ſouls and the ſtate of Devils. God ſeldom hears from ſome men unleſs trouble, ſickneſs, fear, diſtreſs and anguiſh cometh upon them; then pain will make them pray and how upon their beds; and 'tis but howling, not Praying, Hoſ. 7. 14. But will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? ſaith Job 27. 9. No, ſaith the Lord, I will not be enquired of by you, Ezek. 20. 3. Becauſe it cometh from an p. 208evil mind, or ſtinking breath, proceeding from a corrupt, rotten, curſed heart, and then it muſt needs be abominable, Prov. 21. 27, 15. 8. I will (ſaith David) waſh mine hands in innocency, and then compaſs thine Altar; for if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer, Pſal. 66. 18. If God would not hear a Davids prayer, a man after Gods own heart, he will not hear a Devils prayer, nor the prayer of a Swearer, Sabbath-breaker, Drunkard; he heareth not ſinners that like and love their luſts. No, ſaith the holy God, though they ſeek me early, they ſhall not find me. Here note, That there is a two fold early, namely, Gods early, and mans early. Gods early is in the morning of our life, in the time of youth, then God cals and invites to come, Prov. 1. 24. Eccl. 12. 1. Mans early is in the evening, or at the end of life, or when man is high unto death, when pain, ſorrow and anguiſh cometh upon him. In their afflictions they will ſeek me early, Hoſ. 5. laſt When fear cometh as deſolation, and deſtruction cometh as a whirlwind, then ſhall they call upon me, but I will not anſwer, they ſhall ſeek me early but ſhal not p. 209find me, Prov. 1. 27, 28. God will ſay to all ſuch ſinners, remember it, as Iſaac to Abimelech, Gen. 26. 27. Wherefore come ye to me ſeeing you hate me, and have ſent me away from you: Or he will ſay, as once to the Children of Iſrael, that cryed to him in their ſore diſtreſs; Go cry to the Gods which ye have choſen, let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation; as for me, I will not deliver you, Judg. 10. 14. You have ſerved the Devil, embrac'd the world, ſatisfied your luſts, joyn'd with mine enemies, go to the Devil, go to your luſts, to your wicked company, let them deliver, you in your diſtreſs: Now death and devilsare come for you, I will not own you, nor your prayers, your ſoul abhorred me & my ſoul abhors you, and your prayers, depart from me, I know you not.

Motive 6. Its the great comfort of the godly mans life to hope, and know that he is fit for death. Whatever be their lot and Portion in this world, be aſſured it ſhall go well with them in the other world. Art thou in aſtate of grace, at odds with p. 210fin, and truly in love with Chriſt and holineſs? Be of good chear, go thy way, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for the bitterneſs of death is paſt. The king of terrors that had the power of death is conquered by the Lord of life. Terrible death that rides on the pale horſe, is diſmounted by thy dear Lord that rides on the white horſe, under whoſe bloody Croſs thou mayeſt ſee him diſarmed, wounded and dead; death that raigned from Adam to Moſes, is now ſwallowed up in victory, Iſa. 25. 8. I will ranſoms thee from the power of the grave, I will redeem thee from death; O death I will be thy plagues. O grave I will be thy deſtruction. The beleiving ſoul is dead with Chriſt while he lives, Rom. 6. 8, and is delivered, not only from the damnation of ſin, but the dominion of ſin, and there is hope in his death: When he dyeth he ſhall die in the Lord, Rev. 14. 13. he ſhall ſleep in Jeſus, 1 Theſ. 4. 14. his end ſhall be peace, Pſal. 37. 37. This made the Apoſtle after his ſad conflict Rom. 7. to triumph over the laſt enemy death, 1 Cor. 15. 55.

p. 112Motive 7. If you ſhould not prepare for death yet you will wiſh you had (as many do when it is to late.) You that are for making proviſion for the fleſh, and ſo eagerly purſuing the world. When you ſhall be caſt upon the bad of languiſhing, you will wiſh in the very torment of your minds and flames of horrour, that I had parted with my ſin: O that I had been careful to pleaſe and honour God, and to get an intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt! then ſhould I have now dyed the death of the righteous; but this I wholly ſlighted. I proſecuted the world with might and main, and got ſo many thouſands for my Poſterity & I liv'd a merry and jovial life, but for my ſoul, for my eternity, things of infinite worth, I have done nothing, I forgat my ſoul. Now here's the Meſſenger of death come for me, to impriſon my body in the Grave, the Chambers of darkneſs, and to carry my ſoul I know not whither, I fear to hell: O that I had been wiſe to under ſtand this, to conſider my latter end! What would I now give to live but a few years more, to make proviſion for this ſoul, that p. 213muſt now enter the gulf of endleſs eternity.

Motive 8. Conſider the gaines will be exceeding great: As will appear by theſe following particulars.

Would you hauehave ſin as hell, and be more truly holy, Conſider your latter end. This is moſt certain that all the evil antecedents, and dreadful conſequences of death, ſpring and grow out of this bitter root; what is it that wounds, ſtings, paines and kills? what is it that brings Diſeaſes & threatens death? that murders the body, and that damns and burnes the ſoul? What is that doth neceſſitate the to make uſe of Phyſick & Phyſicians whilſt alive? and bringeth thee to a Coffin and Grave when thou art dead? is it not ſin which thou embraceſt in thy boſom?

You poor, blind, deluded ſouls, as little and as lovely as ſin looks in your wanton eyes, it is the Mother and Nurſe of all your miſeries, hacht in hell, the Devils ſpawn or excrement. He that committeth ſin is of the devil, 1 Joh. 3. 8. This is that p. 312evil thing and bitter that hales death and hell at the heels of it, yea, that arms death, devils and hell againſt us. Were it not for this black, ugly, fierce, ouer and bloudy adverſary, Law or Juſtice could not condemn us, Death could not kill us, Devils could not torment us, Hell could not burn us.

Sin is the Traitor and Murderer of your immortal ſouls, and thoſe nails that will ſhortly dig your Graves: & will you hug, hide and hold it faſt? Will a woman put that knife into her boſom, that hath kill'd or murder'd her dear Child or Husband? no by no means, it muſt be broken and caſt away for ever. Now Sirs, if ſin be the enemy, uſe it as an enemy or murderer, kill it, take the ſacrificing knife and cut the throat of it, or ſtrike the heart vein, and let it bleed until it dies. Deal by it as Samuel by Agag, cut it in pieces. Did you think ſeriouſly of death and hell, you would hate it to purpoſe, and ſay, away to hell with it, from whence it came; and it would put you upon a deſire and earneſt endeavour after holineſs: Being expos'd to a diſſolution, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs, p. 2142 Pet. 3. 11. But if you forget death, you will make dreadful work; namely, your accounts greater, and hell the hotter; you will increaſe your ſin, and God will heap up wrath againſt the day of wrath. And if ever God ſh…w mercy it will coſt you dear, your ſouls muſt mourn, your hearts muſt break and bleed for ſin; for unleſs you repent, you will certainly be damned, Luk. 13. 5.

2. Would you ſpeedily call off your hearts from the world, & lay up treaſure in heaven, Remember your latter end: In the greateſt affluence of worldly proſperity alwayes conſider that you muſt die.

Poor worldlings! that make gold your hope, whoſe plottings and ploddings are for earth. If death and eternity were more in your thoughts, you would let go that in your affections which you cannot hold in your poſſeſſion, and love that but a little that will be loſt, and which you cannot love long; Riches have wings, and they will be gone. Conſider how little the things of the world will ſtand you in ſtead in the evil day: your gold and ſilver cannot keep you from diſeaſes while you live, nor from p. 512hell after you are dead, Prov 11. 4. Pſal. 49. 6, 7.

It falleth out with many of the great ſtorers of this world, as it doth with a Sumpter Horſe, who all the day carrieth a great treaſure on his back, but at night it is taken from him, and he thruſt into a foul Stable. So many wealthy worldlings that tire them ſelves to get and carry worldly treaſure, when death cometh, its taken, from them and they for their ill getting or ill uſing of it, are thruſt down to hell: the rich man dyed, and in hell lift up his eyes.

And if you would deaden your hearts to this empty earth, and look after a treaſure above, a happineſs beyond the grave, that ſhall laſt as long as your ſouls ſhall laſt; think often of death, this would divert your worldly cares and projects.

Remember from this day to your laſt day cannot be long, your Journey or Voyage is ſhort, and a little Proviſion is enough; neither Poverty nor Riches, but food convenient, is the deſire and choice of a Citizen of Sion. Converſe more with death, and be often looking p. 412into eternity, and thou mayeſt here (as it were) a voice ſpeaking to thee, as God to Baruch, Jer. 45. 4, 5. I will break down, and pluck up, and ſeekeſt thou great things, ſeek them not. Death is the great Leveller that will make all equal, and you that graſp the world moſt greedily, will find it but vanity, for all is vanity, is the language of experience, Eccl. 1. 2. 1 John 2. 17.

When Samuel was to anoint Saul, he brought or directed him to Rachels Sepulcher, and to this end (as is ſuppos'd) namely, to ſuppreſs or prevent haughty, proud thoughts that might ariſe from that new and great preferment. And if the ſuppoſition be true, it is as if he had ſpoken thus. Saul, God hath highly honoured you, and I annoint you King: But remember, here lies the duſt of that beautiful Rachel, and though you are, now King in Iſrael, yet you muſt be as Rachel, viz. laid in a Grave or Sepulcher, the thoughts of which is a very mortifying Meditation. You that have the waters of a full Cup, that wallow in wealth, and ſwim in worldly glory, to wean you from the world (that your hearts may p. 712not be turned into Earth, and buryed before you are buryed) keep freſh in your thoughts death and eternity, Job 14. 14.

3. Would you be deeply ſenſible of the ſad and doleful condition of unbeleivers when they come to dye? think ſeriouſly of your latter end. What will you do in the hour of diſtreſs, when God ſhall call for your breath, change your countenance, and require your ſouls, if you have made no preparation for death and Judgement?

Poor ſouls! I would pity you with my very heart, to think how ignorant you are of your great concernment; you eat, drink, ſleep, buy, ſell, and get gain; but ſlight your ſouls, and do not conſider of the evil day.

We be unto him that is alone, that is alone in life, and alone in death, that hath no Chriſt to befriend him, or ſtand by him in that woeful day, that cometh to lye down in the death-bed without peace or pardon, who ſhall go into a Grave, and ſtand before the Ba without an Advocate to plead for him.

It is moſt probable, you may have dife p. 218ferent apprehenſions of yout ſelves and others in your dying hour; ſo the nearer the object, the clearer the ſight; O ſinners! when the door of eternity begins to open (as uſually it doth to men dying) you will have other thoughts of your ſelves, and other men. Here you ruffle it out, thinking your ſelves above, and better then others; behold great Babel, ſaid that proud perſon in his Princely Palace; but when pale death appears, it will pull down thoſe Peacocks feathers, and cauſe their creſts to fall. Now the world ſhines and ſparkles in your eyes, which makes you judge and think that nothing but Riches, Honor, and Greatneſs can make you happy, then it wil appear (the pant being off) to be an empty nothing. As for the pure …n heart, who mourn for ſin, and mind itheir ſoules above the world, who are ſcorn'd, jeer'd hated, being look'd upon as a company of poor, penſive, ſneaking, beſotted fools, will then be adjudged the beſt, wiſeſt, and happieſt men on earth. Now ſin is excuſed, and called a light and little thing, for trick of youth, but then it will have at p. 219black and dreadful face and feel more heavy then lead, taſte more bitter then death it ſelf.

Now the Damned and curſed Crue, are your brave Boon companions, and boſom friends? but when you are come to your dying groanes, and cold ſweats, away with them, their ſight is terrible: But know, that you who have been companions in ſin, muſt be companions in ſufferings, and lye down together in everlaſting chaines and flames; you ſhall be fettered and bound together and never part any more for ever.

Now an intereſt in Chriſt, and a life of holineſs is little valued, and every luſt and triffle preferred, then a world, a world for a Chriſt; forty thouſand pound for a good Conſcience, cryed out a wicked wealthy worldling, when dying and paſſing into eternity.

4. Would you expedite your Repentance, try your ſtate, and make all ready for the other world; think upon this laſt enemy, the King of terrors, that will ere long terminate your dayes, and then all your opportunities will be gone for e

p. 220If the thoughts of death, eſpecially the ſecond death, did but influence your hearts, and penitrate npon your Conſciences, you would eaſily be perſwaded to caſt away your ſins: namely, to cut off a right hand, or pluck out a right eye, and to rent your hearts to mourn in ſecret, to afflict your ſouls and to put your mouths in the duſt if ſo be there may be hope, Lam. 3. 28. 29. We ſee that men in a journey if they think they have daly enough, they are ſlack and ſlow enough; but if they ſee but a little time, they will make ſpeed. If a man muſt do the work of a whole day in half a day he will make haſt: Repentance is not a work for a day, though a daly work, our whole life is little enough to compleat and perfect it. As long as we ſin, we muſt mourn, while we provoke the Judge; we muſt plead guilty and ſue our out pardon with Ropes a bout our necks, and ſmiting on our breaſts (and if it might be) with tears of blood. And the great things of death and Judment will prepare and prompt you to do it ſuddenly; for when the p. 221day is gone, the night comes, and the Grave and Hell have ſhut their mouths upon you, what can be done? Eccleſ. 9. 10.

5. Would you pray more frequently? more fervently then ever you have done, remember you muſt dye.

The Monuments and Statues of the dead (as one notes) are made in a praying poſture, viz. kneeling, and with hands lifted up to heaven (as if the remembrance of them now dead) ſhould teach us our duty, what we muſt do whilſt living. One that was wont to pray often in a day, being asked why he ſpent ſo much time in prayer, gave no other anſwer, but this, I muſt dye, I muſt dye, An awakening apprehenſion of a mans entrance upon an endleſs ſtate, and a ſpeedy approach before the holy God, will make him pray, and that importunately. If there be in the Family a Husband, wife, or Child near unto death, almoſt every one that cometh about the bed will be lifting up hands, and putting up of prayers, and then you cry out, ſend ſpeedily for ſome ſober, ſerious Miniſter, or for ſome p. 222ſolid, ſavoury, praying Chriſtian, to commend his ſad caſe to God; The young man that lately ſuffered for Murder, who came into Newgate as ignorant of God, as the horſe or the Mule, and as ſenſleſs of his ſoul as a ſtock or a ſtone, was by the acxceſs and application of Miniſters to him, convinced of his deſperate caſe, and through the grace and bleſſing of God upon his appointed means he ſeemed ſo deeply ſenſible of the dreadful hazzard of his precious ſoul, that he did with ſo much brokeneſs of heart confeſs his ſins, pray, and plead with God in Chriſt for pardon, even to the wonder and amazement of thoſe Miniſters and Chriſtians who where preſent. And he being asked how often he prayed, anſwered five or ſix times a day, and it was with ſuch meltings, and multitudes of teares, that did move the very bowels of the Auditors (and as they ſaid) turned them into tears. Thus you ſee how a powerful conviction of death and judgement may prevail upon the heart, to make them cry to God, that never prayed before. As for you that can lye down at night, riſe up in p. 223the morning and go about the world without ſecret or family prayer: I muſt tell you that you have but ſlight, if any thoughts of death and eternity and no ſence of, or regard of your everlaſting condition, which is a ſad ſymptom of a Chriſtleſs ſtate.

6. Would you do good to others, to their bodies and to their ſouls, conſider you muſt dye, for after death you will be utterly incapacitated of doing any thing. The wiſe man ſpeaking of the ſeaſon of doing, and of the viciſſitudes of mans life, namely, that there is a time to be born, and a time to dye: and he having obſerved the iſſues and changes of providence that hath made every thing beautiful in its ſeaſon, concludes that it is beſt for a man to do good in his life, Eccleſ. 3. 12. As we have therefore opportunity (ſaith the Apoſtle) let us do good to all men, Gal. 6. 10. When it is in the power of thine hand to to do it, Prov. 3. 27. Sirs, the real thoughts of death will prompt you to give a portion to ſix and alſo to ſeven, and that in ſeaſon; for when death comes, all is gone, p. 224then its no more in power of thine hand to do.

Did you now beleive and conſider, that you muſt dye, and give an account to God, the great Landlord and Donor of all your good things (great Reciepts, having great accounts) you would not contract your hearts, and ſhut up your bowels againſt thoſe many miſerable objects, who are ſo often in your view.

Now, that you may be like ſheep, and not like ſwine, be good in your life; and let your acts of mercy be diſtributed in the morning, the fitteſt ſeaſon to ſow this ſeed; therefore ſpeedily draw out thy ſoul to the hungry, before death ſeparate thy ſoul and body, for with ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed, Iſa. 58. 10. Heb. 13. 14.

7. Would you get and keep ſincerity (a precious Pearl indeed) think often of death and judgement. Then it will be tryed, then it will ſtand you in ſtead. Sincerity (the Scripture perſection) is the beſt of a Chriſtian, the grace of every grace, for faith unfeigned, and love in ſincerity, are the very nerves & ſinews of Chriſtianity,

The next beſt to the precious blood and p. 225righteous of our glorified Redeemer, (to plead for us at the hour of death, and in the Court of Heaven) is truth in the in ward parts, Iſa. 38. 3. To be a mourner in Sion is matter of ſolace, and real comfort, but to be a ſinner in Sion is ſad, and it will be a matter of torment. A Judas among the Apoſtles, a Devil in Samuel's Mantle, is a Devil indeed. The ſinners in Sion are afraid, and cauſe enough; for to live and dye a hypocrite is moſt dreadful, becauſe hypocriſie will certainly bring you down to hell; yea, the hotteſt place of that devouring fire, and everlaſting burning, ſhall be the Hypocrites portion, Iſa. 33. 14. Mat. 24. 5.

8. Laſtly, would you redeem your time, and be greedy of getting grace in the day of grace, for the preſent, ſpiritual, and eternal ſalvation of your ſouls; think ſeriouſly of your end.

You ſleepy ſecure ſouls! did you conſider that the night of death will come certainly, and may come ſuddenly, you would work while it is day, and not be ſo mad as to put off beleiving, repenting and ſoul afflicting-work, ſelf-trying p. 226and approving work, until the evil day of old age, a ſick bed, or dying pangs ſeize upon you. Conſider, a death-bed repentance is ſeldom had, and ſeldom good, or a ſick-bed repentance is ſeldom a ſound, but often a ſick repentance. Now if you would imitate your Lord, to work while it is day, remember you muſt dye, John 9. 4.

Directions and helps to conſider of your latter end.

Direct. 1. Search diligently to find out what it is that keeps you, and the ſerious thoughts of death and eternity, at ſo great a diſtance, and cry mightily to God and ſpeedily to remove it: If it be either Ignorance, Atheiſme, Unbeleif, Senſuality, Earthlymindedneſs, or Security, be deeply ſenſible of it, and ſet Prayer to work, pour out thy very ſoul to God with greateſt fervour and importunity. Say as Meſes, Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, ſo is thy wrath: So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wiſdom, Pſa. p. 22796. 11, 12. Sirs, 'tis ſpiritual wiſdom will cauſe you to conſider; then cry after knowledg, and lift up thy voice for underſtanding, Prov. 2. 3, 4. For ſhe is thy life, Prov. 4. 13, its as much as thy life and ſoul is worth. Then enter into thy Cloſet, and fall down upon thy knees, and pray to God in the name of Chriſt for ſpiritual wiſdome: we muſt ſeek it. Ezek, 36. 37. And god will give it, James 1. 5. Beg more then for thy life, for a truly wiſe and awakened heart, withou which the great concerns of God, and thine Immortal ſoul be for ever neglected.

Direct. 2. Diligently and faithfully uſe and improve the moſt awakening means which have a tendency hereunto.

1. Set your ſelves under a powerful, faithful and ſoul-ſearching Miniſtry, who make the converſion of ſouls their main buſineſs: A lazy ſleepy miniſter is nor like to waken a ſecure ſinner, the conviction and converſion of ſouls is, not the mark they ſhoot at. Reſolve to hear, p. 228have countenance, and encourage thoſe that grapple moſt with the conſcience, and earneſtly endeavour to drive and draw ſoules to Jeſus Chriſt, by ſetting the bleſſing and the curſe, life and death before them. Conviction leads the way to converſion, as the needle to the thread: what's a plaiſt…r worth, where there is no wound? 'tis the broken bones cry out for help, the whole need not the Phyſitian: General, overly preaching, is like the ſword in the ſcabbard, that doth not cut or wound, or like Phyſick in the bottel that doth not penetrate or work; but plain, particular, convincing preaching (ſuch as Nathans to David, or Peters to the Jews 2 Sam. 12. 7. Acts 2. 36.) is like the ſword in the bowels, or Phyſick in the body that will pain to purpoſe. Thoſe Preachers that have no faculty of reproving, and convincing ſleepy ſecure ſinners, are like a company of drone Bees, that have loſt their ſting, being good for nothing. But they that have the charge of ſo many Golden Fleeces ſhould ſever the Wheat from the Chaff, the Sheep from the Goats, the precious from p. 229the vile and in ſo doing we ſhall be as God's mouth, and free from the blood of all men.

O then, let this dreadful and amazing Doctrine of death and judgement, be more frequently and effectually preached, that ſouls in peril, near run, may ſee their ſin and danger, and flye to Chriſt as the only refuge; knowing the terrour of God we perſwade men, 2 Cor. 5. 11. Mat. 3, 7.

2. Converſe with the beſt Chriſtians, viz. them that are grave, ſober, ſolid, ſavoury and ſound in faith: Such as make Religion their great buſineſs, who love to ſpeak of God, and of the world to come, and by whoſe counſel and example you may be ſtir'd up, and perſwaded to repentance and holineſs, to conſider of death and judgement, Theſe were Davids excellent ones in whom he did delight, and made his companions, Pſal. 16. 3 119. 63.

3. Read the beſt Books, and thoſe that treat of death and judgement, but eſpecially the word of God. There are the pure, Chryſtal ſtreams and richeſt Mines; in this field you will find the p. 230Pearl. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, be not ignorant of any part of it, but be ſure to accquaint thy ſelf with thoſe Scriptures that ſpeak of the ſhortneſs of life, the certainty of death and judgement, heaven and hell: Read the Book of Job, and the twelfth Chapter of Eccleſiaſtes, Pſal: 39. Pſal. 90. And let me deſire you to be often urging upon your hearts ſome of thoſe Scriptures that ſet forth the dreadfulneſs of that place of torment, that will be the portion of all that forget God, and make no proviſion for their precious ſouls: Some few I have here ſet down, which I deſire you would all conſider, and apply. Ʋpon the wicked he ſhall rain fire and brimſtone, and a horrible tempeſt, this ſhall be the portion of their Cup, Pſal. 11. 6. We be unto the wicked, it ſhall go ill with them, Iſa. 3. 10. He ſhall caſt them into a furnace of fire, there ſhall be weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth, Matth. 13 42. Iſa. 33. 14. 66. 15. Matth. 25. 41. Luk. 16. 25, 26. 2 Theſ. 1. 8, 9. Rev. 6. 8, 16, 17.

p. 231Direct. 3. Make conſcience of ſetting apart a little time every day on purpoſe to think of your latter end. Do it ſo frequently, until death and you become familar; ever and anon put thy ſelf into a poſture of dying, converſe with thy winding ſheet, Coffin, Grave, let thy great change be ſo upon thy heart, that thou may'ſt every morning or evening walk a turn or two with death: Remember, however it be with thee now, thou muſtere long be gaſping and groaning for breath upon thy dying bed, and grapple with the King of terrours, and in a moment go down to the Grave, and ſhall come up no more, Job 10. 21.

If thou ſhouldſt affect thy heart with thoughts of thy latter end, go down to Golgotha, and think upon thoſe dry bones, & putrified bodies, and there revive p. 232the memory of your departed Relations Huſbands, Wives, Children, Friends, Neighbours, and look beyond the Chambers of the Grave, converſe with thoſe miſerable departed ſouls, give the priſoners of the pit a viſit. Meditate on the raging furious flames, that diſmal darkneſs, ſmoak and ſtink of the botomleſs pit, the ſcreeking of the damn'd and roaring of the devils, the heart piercing complaints for water to cool their ſcorching tongues. And when thou doſt think upon thoſe millions of ſouls that are hanging up in hell, reflect upon thy ſelſ; and expect thy turn ſpeedily. Suppoſe every day thy laſt, every meal thy laſt, every journey thy laſt, every duty, Sacrament, Sermon, thy laſt. And when the Lords day cometh, think with thy ſelf this will be the laſt ſpiritual market, that I ſhall have to buy the ſpiritual Oyl of grace and to provide for the Bridegrooms coming; after this day is ended, I may never more hear the Lord Jeſus ſpeak to me by the mouths of his faithful Miniſters, never be invited to come to Chriſt, or to beleive, repent, part with ſin, and accept of a pardon more, and ſo demean p. 233thy ſelf every day, and in every duty, as if thou ſhould'ſt be called to Gods Bar, and give up thine account at night. In all thy thoughts, words and actions, ſay to thy ſelf, would I do thus, and thus, viz. would I eat, drink, ſleep, converſe, buy, ſell, preach, hear, pray; or worſe, if I certainly knew this day would be my laſt. O let that Motto, Memento mori, which ſome carry in their Rings, be engraven on your hearts, it being the great concernment of our lives. This is that which God people, and ſome of the heathen too, have been careful to remember: King Aſia made his Sepulcher in his life time, 2 Cron. 16. 14. and ſome in their Gardens, and places of ſolace and delight, as Joſeph of Arimathea, John 19. 41. And ſome of the Heathen were wont to walk among the Graves, to put them in mind of death; ſome have had their Graves alwayes before their Gates, other a dead mans skul preſented every day at their Tables; and ſhall we that beleive the doctrine of the other world, put off the ſerious thoughts of death? Solomon adviſeth us to go to the houſe of mourning, telling us it is better becauſe the p. 234living will lay it to heart. When you hear the tidings of the death of your Friends, relations, or Neighbours, go thither, though not perſonally, yet contemplatively, in your minds & thoughts, go, and put your ſelves in their ſtead. And think thus, a living man or woman is become a dead Corps, or cold clay, the ſoul is gone to its everlaſting habitation; but to what place whether to be comforted or tormented, who can tell? If he were a godly man, he is certainly gone to heaven, if thou art ſuch a one, thy ſoul will ſhortly be with him: but if an ungodly man he is certainly gone to hell, and now among the Devils: and if thou art ſuch a one, thou ſhalt erelong be there too. 'Tis true the dead can have no thoughts of the living: but the living (ſaith Solomon) know that they muſt die. And you that are young, when you hear of the death of a lively luſty young man, or alovely beautiful young woman, ſtop, reflect, and conſider, may not this be thy caſe O man, woman, or child, in a very little ſpace. I ſhall ſay no more by way of direction, only deſire you to review the particulars p. 234before mentioned; and you that are Parents and Maſters of Families, who make conſcience of looking to the ſouls of thoſe committed to your charge, may cauſe your Children and Servants to learn by heart the particulars I here ſet down.

1. That it is moſt certain an end will be.

2. At our latter end all things in this world will be gone for ever.

3. All the pleaſures of ſin will be gone, and leave nothing but a ſting.

4. That only which is eternal wil ſtand us inſtead.

5. Conſider which of the two eternities are you going towards.

6. We are all near our everlaſting habitation.

7. You know not how ſuddenly, or unexpected your end may be.

8. When death comes, your ſouls are ſtated, your eternity is caſt.

9. 'Tis a dreadful and amazing fight, to ſee a Chriſtleſs ſoul breathing out his laſt.

p. 9324. Ʋſe May be of comfort to the poor people of God, who through fear of death are all their life-time ſubject to bondage. Let not you hearts be trobnled, fear not, neither be terrified becauſe of this King of fears: But cheer up your ſpirits, and comfort up your hearts with this, that death as terrible as it is to the wicked, cannot hurt you. The day of your death will be better then the day of your birth, and thereffore death is put into the Beleivers Inventory, and reckoned amongſt his priviledges, 1 Gor. 3. 22. Death will be gain to the Godly man, viz. an out-let to all his preſent miſery, and an in-let to endleſs glory, Then the truely penitent, perplexed wearied ſoul ſhall be perfectly free from the power of Satan the firy darts, and dreadful temptations of that unclean ſpirit. Then the old Serpent for ever will be under their feet. Then the body of death ſhall be put off, and the in dwelling of ſin, that natural fountain of corruption will be perfectly dryed up. You ſhall never p. 732complain of vain thoughts, or hard hearts any more: Never doubt of the truth of grace or favour of God more; The beleiver ſhall then be with Jeſus Chriſt; the day of his diſſolution will be the day of his Coronation, he ſhall then receive the Crown, and ſit down on the Throne, and enter into his Maſters joy, which is fulneſs of joy, and pleaſures for evermore.

Object. I ſometimes think of death, but the thoughts of death and judgement are very terrible; I fear I am not fit to die, how ſhall it be known?

Anſw. There is a habitual fitneſs for death and an actual fitneſs for death. Every graciouſly upright man or woman in the world that fears God in truth, is habitually fit to dye, ſo prepared for his great change, that the ſting of death, or ſecond death ſhall not hurt him, having paſt the the ſtrait gate, ſhot the gulf, he is out of danger. As ſoon as a man is in a p. 238ſtate of grace born again, made a new creature, and by faith united unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; God is reconciled, his perſon juſtified, his ſins pardoned, and recorded in the Court of Heaven, though his pardon is not brought down, tranſcrib'd and ſeal'd in the Court of his own conſcience. The truly converted ſoul is Gods ſpecial favourite, and ſhall lodge in his boſom, and never more be out of his favour: 'tis true, heaven may be out of ſight, God may frown, but will never condemn. There is now no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt, Rom. 8 1. If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt, the righteous, 1 John 2. 1. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect, it is God that juſtifieth, it is Chriſt that dyed, Rom. 8. 33. 34.

Queſt. When is the godly man actually prepared for death?

Anſw. When his ſpiritual eſtate is well ſetled, viz. all made ſure between God and his ſoul: particularly,

p. 2391. When a man is truly conſcious to himſelf that he hath ſincerely, and with much brokeneſs of heart repented of all his known ſins committed before or after converſion, ſo that there is no freſh or former guilt remaining on him. This godly ſorrow, is the godly mans pleaſure, he delights to be ſowing in tears, loves with his ſoul a wet ſeed-time; for they that ſow in tears, ſhall reap a harveſt of joy, which is a time of refreſhing rom the preſence of God, compare, Pſal. 126. 5, 6. and Acts 3. 19.

2. When ſin is ſo great a bur den, that he is weary of this body of death, and willing the infected houſe ſhould be pulled down, that the Leproſie might be cured, that ſo he might never ſin or offend his Father more. The ſerious thoughts, and ſence of which is a heavy burden, and matter of greif, that makes him groan and complain. We in this Tabernacle do groan, being burthened: and O how, bitterly did St. Paul. complain Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? He had been in deaths p. 240often for the ſake of his dear Lord, but this death, his body of ſin, troubled him more then any: It was ſo great a burden to holy David, that he felt it in his very bones, Pſal. 38. 3.

3. The godly man is fit to dye, when the work of grace is perfected, and his Generation work ended. When the beleiving ſoul hath his Veſſel full of Oyl, and the Wedding garments of the glorious Righteouſneſs of Chriſt about him, then he is a Veſſel of honour prepared unto glory, Rom. 9. 23. wrought for the ſelf ſame thing, 2 Cor. 4. 5. and made meet, or fit for the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1. 12. The ſhip that's laden or fraugthed, is fit to put to Sea, and to ſail from hence, or for its appointed Port. The labourer is fit to receive his wages when he hath done his work; ſo when the heaven born ſoul hath faithfully ſerved his Generation, and done the work in his Place, Calling, and Relations, for which God ſent him and intruſted him (though the beſt fall ſhort, being in ſome degrees unprofitable ſervants) then is he p. 241fit to welcome death, though to the fleſh its the Kings of terrours. When the godly man, liveing or dying, can apeal to the heart-fearching God, as Hezekiah did, Iſa. 38. And ſay, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do, John 17. I have finiſh'd my courſe, and there is laid up for me a Crown of righteouſneſs 2 Tim. 4. 8. this makes him fit and willing to depart to be with Chriſt.

When ſin is pardoned, and the pardon ſealed, i e when the clamorous noiſe of the guilt of ſin in the conſcience, is calmed and ſilenced, by the blood of ſprinkling, and his evidences for heaven, bright and clear, ſo that his better country is within view, and the gate of glory wide open, namely abundant entrance into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1. 11. Lot had a mind to prolong his time in Sodom, it was, a goodly City and he was not well aſſured wither to go, when he had leſt it. But when the gracious ſoul his aſſured of a better ſtate, a better life, that's hid with Chriſt in God, ſo that he can ſay, as p. 242once an eminent godly man dying: I ſhall but change my place: I ſhall not change my company: He may then (being ſeal'd to the day of Redemption) long for his diſſolution.

5. When the heart is weaned from, and weary of this evil world and ſo enflam'd with love to Chriſt, that it cannot live without him, or be abſent from him: Having taſted of the Grapes of Eſhcol, he muſt go to Canaan to ſee the good Land, that goodly Mountain. A foreſight or glimps of the ſweetneſs, beauty and glory of the Lord Jeſus, will cauſe moſt vehement longing to be with him. Now let thy ſervant depart in peace for mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation. For this we groan earneſtly. And O how confidently, quietly, and comfortably may ſuch a ſoul entertain the thoughts of death, that hath ſincerely repented of all ſin, and to whom ſin is ſo greivous a burden, that he would dye to be rid of it. And whoſe ſoul is …l'd and fraughted with grace, and aſſured of glory, and his heart ſent as a Harbinger to Heaven before him. And indeed a p. 243ſerious and hearty conſideration of our eternal ſtate would provoke us to preſs earneſtly after all this.

To cloſe up all, let me ask you (as in the preſence of the great Judg of quick and dead, at whoſe dreadful tribunal you muſt all ſhortly ſtand) theſe following Queries.

Quer. 1. Firſt, Whether a ſeaſonable preparation for death and Judgement, viz. how you may eſcape Hell, and come ſafe to Heaven, be not the moſt urgent and important buſineſs, that you have in all the world? Let your conſcience judge and determine.

Quer. 2. Are not they in a very happy condition, that do believe, repent and turn to God with their whole heart? who by living a life of grace, are truly prepared for death, and out of the dreadful hazzard of looſing Heaven? Rom. 8. 1. Pſal. 37. 37.

p. 244Quer. 3. Is it not poſſible that you being yet on this ſide the Grave and Hell, may prepare for this evil day? were you reſolv'd upon it, would be done: you have often intended it, promiſed it; when ſhall it be? none but the Devil, and your fleſh will ſtop and hinder you.

Quer. 4. Do you firmly beleive the things here will fail, that death will come, that ſin that accurſed thing will ſting, and that the impenitent ſinners caſe at the hour of death wil be ſad, and very deſperate: Let me ſay to all ſuch, there is not a night you lye down upon your beds, but you run a very great hazzard: If death ſhould call and you not ready, you muſt go, though you be ruin'd to eternity, Matth. 25. 10, 11, 12, 16, 22, 23.

Quer. 5. Have you ſo liv'd, as to be fit to lye p. 245down in a Grave, to riſe again, and ſtand before God who is a conſuming fire? Do you know your ſelves in a ſtate of grace, that you are new born, that your evidences for heaven are clear and certain? is your work done? do your Lamps burn? and have you a wellgrounded aſſurance, that you are in the Number of thoſe, to whom death will be a priviledge? Phil. 21.

Quer. 6. Can you chearfully, and without dread, entertain the thoughts of a diſſolution, and of leaving all your earthly and ſenſual delightes? Suppoſe the dreadful Judge ſhould at this inſtant ſend death into this place, with the names of five or ſix of you in his writ or forehead; and death ſhould ſay, you, and you, this man, and that woman, muſt go along with me.

I have received a comand from the great and terrible God, (who hath the power of death and of hell) to bring you young man, young woman, this day or night before the Judgement ſeats p. 246I have often warned you by ſending my Deputies, and and that this ten, twenty or forty yeares, every Coffin, every, dead Corps or Grave you have ſeene, was ſo many intimations of my coming. Now (ſaith death) I am come, look here upon my commiſſion, ſee my dart, and my ſting. This dart muſt kill the body, and ſend thy ſoul unto eternity. I command thee this moment to bid adieu to and take thy leave of Friends, Relations, Houſes, Lands, pleaſures of ſin, once for all. Thou ſhalt never ſee or jnjoy them more, Luke 12. 19. 20. O how can you think of your dying, the worlds burning, the trumpers Sounding, the deads riſing and ſtaunding at the Bar, and not fear and tremble? You Sons and Daughters of pleaſures! did you conſider what horror and aſtoniſhment dogs you as the heels, which will inevitable come upon you, as travel on a woman with child, you would not ſay unto God, depart and treaſure up wrath, lay up ſcoorges and ſcorpions for your diſtreſſed ſouls againſt the laſt day.

p. 247Quer. 7. Let me ask you that paſs for Saints, and hope for Heaven whether your conſciences in ſecret do not tell you that you have made poor preparation for it; yea, it may have done leſs for Heaven then many that are now in hell.

You ſay you muſt dye and come to judgement; but how ſtands the caſe as to the other world? If you look downward to this world, its well; but how is it within with your precious ſoul? Do you beleive that Atheiſts, Unbeleivers, Drunkards, Swearers, Murderers, Thieves, Perſecutors, Lyars Sabbath-breakers, Adulterers, worldlings, are going ſwiftly to hell? Do you beleive that Chriſts flock is little, and not fear your ſelves? Do you think that Eſau, Judas, Ahab, Agrippa, Herod, Simon Magus, the fooliſh Virgins are in hell, and yet confident of your going to heaven? Theſe have out done many of you, Eſau wept and cryed for the bleſſing, Heb. 12. 17. Ahab humbled himſelf 1 Kings 12, 29. Herod did many things, and heard John joyfully, Mark 16. 20. Agrippa was almoſt a Chriſtian, Acts 6. 28. p. 248The Scribe was not far from the kingdom of God, Mark 12. 34. The fooliſh Virgins were not prophane, they took care to trim their Lamps, and knock at the door. Now what ſins have you leſt? what grace have you exercis'd what duties have you performed? and how? Take heed you be not deceived; Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, for many will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able, Luk. 13. 24.

Quer. 8. 4. You having ſo many warnings, time and means to prepare for death & judgment, and will not, who will pity you when you periſh? God will not, Prov. 1. 26, 27. Chriſt will not, Luke 19. 27. Angels, Saints, Miniſters will not, all will ſay, away with them, let them be damn'd.

And O what a killing and amazing ſight will Chriſts coming in the clouds be to all that either denied his coming, or who would not prepare for it. His incarnation was terrible, Matth. 2. 3. His Crucifixion was more terrible, Luk. 23. 44. 45, 47. 48, But his being on the tribunal, will be moſt terrible. Then ſhall the tribes of the earth mourn, Math. 24. 3. And men cry to the rocks and mountaines to p. 249fall on them, Rev. 6. 15, 16. When they ſhall ſee ſo many thouſands and millions of men and women dragged down with all the Devils of hell, to that burning lake of fire and brimſtone. How will they then mourn for ſorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of ſpirit, and with bitterneſs of ſoul wiſh they had never heard of Chriſt, that they had been born among the Heathen or never had a being or enjoy'd a life of pleaſure upon the Earth! How will the wretched ſinner beat his breaſt, pluck off his hair, tear his bowels, crying out (when he ſees all hope is gone) O that I had now no ſoul! or that this immortal ſoul were mortal! that I might now dye and breath no more! or that my ſentence might be but to lodge with Devils in this burning lake ten thoſand years, that ſo I might not remain in a ſtate of baniſhment from the face and preſence of God to all eternity.

O then pray! that ſerious thoughts of death may be alwayes upon thine heart, and whethere thou goeſt let them go, and where thou lodgeſt let them lodg that thou mayeſt ſpeak of it to thy Children, and Family, when thou ſittteſt in p. 250thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lyeſt down, and when thou riſeſt up. O let theſe great things of death and judgment, be bound as a ſigne upon thine hand, and write them upon the poſts of thine houſe and on thy gates: that they may be always before thine eyes and for thy good alwayes; that thou may'ſt beware leaſt thou forget the Lord thy God, and the everlaſting concernments of thine immortal ſoul and gods anger be kindled againſt thee, and deſtroy thee ſuddenly with a mighty deſtruction.

Conſider now what I have ſpoken, and the Lord give thee underſtanding in all things, 2 Tim. 2. 7. Which is that God wiſheth in the Text: O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider thrir latter end,

FINIS.

End of the text · John Fox, Time and the End of Time (1670)