Death Unstung, Sermon

Death Unstung · Sermon

p. 1Death Ʋnſtung.

A Funeral SERMON.

Rev. 14.13.

And I heard a Voice from Heaven, ſaying unto me, write, bleſſed are the dead which dye in the Lord, from hence-forth; yea, ſaith the Spirit, that they may reſt from their Labours, and their Works do follow them.

IT is none of the leaſt works of a Miniſter of Chriſt to diſparage ſin, and incourage holineſs, to ſet Life and death before our People, and to preſent (as much as in us lies) Heaven and Hell to p. 2their view, and to perſwade them to a wiſe and ſpeedy choice; that when theſe Houſes of Clay ſhall be laid in the duſt, they may be ſecured of an Habitation, not made with hands, that is, Eternal with God in the Heavens. The Apoſtle in this Chapter doth both, in the 10. Verſe he tells us what a Draught is prepared for the implacable Enemies of Chriſt: they ſhall drink off the Wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the Cup of his Indignation, and they ſhall be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone, in the preſence of the Holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb. The wicked may drink, roar, and ſwagger, they may perſecute the Members of Chriſt, becauſe they dare not ſo madly venture upon the Eternal diſpleaſure of God, as they do, and ſell their precious Souls for a moments joy, and make light of damnation: but let them know, that for all theſe things God will bring them to Judgment; an Eternity of intolerable ſorrowes muſt pay for their ſhort pleaſures. And hence it is the ſerious Chriſtian, that makes it his buſineſs to avoid this dreadful miſery, is ſatiſfied p. 3that he doth not act irrationally and madly, if the ſcorn and contempt of the wicked World doth not frighten him; upon this account he patiently ſubmits to any puniſhment, rather than he will hazard the loſs of his Soul, and be miſerable for ever; that word for ever ſticks much in his mind, let the wicked laugh and be merry, let them pleaſe themſelves in his ſorrows, he knows 'tis but a little while, and all will be mended, and their minds changed; he is willing to ſtay for his happineſs and joyes, till he comes to another World; and he doth not envy the wicked what they do enjoy, let them make the beſt of it as long as they can, and boaſt of their pleaſures when they ſee themſelves wrapt up in Flames: The unſeen world, which moſt forget, is always in the Saints eye; and if he may but live happily there, he paſſeth not if he run thorow reproaches, injuries, and a thouſand Deaths, to that glorious and endleſs life. Here is the reaſon of the Saints patience, this makes him judge it no folly to keep the Commandements of God, and the faith of Jeſus. In the 13. Verſe, the Apoſtle comes to ſpeak a p. 4word of encouragement, not only to the ſuffering Saints of that Age, but for the ſupport of all that ſhould be honoured with ſuch ſervice, as to ſeal the truths of Chriſt with their blood. And I heard a Voice from Heaven, ſaying unto me, write bl…ſſed are the dead which dye in the Lord from h…nceforth; yea, ſaith the Spirit, that they may reſt from their labours, and their works follow them. In the words you may take notice of two parts.

1. A Propoſition.

2. The Confirmation of that Propoſition.

1. The Propoſition; in which we may obſerve,

1. The Predicate, bleſſed.

2. The Subject, the dead.

3. The reſtriction and limitation of the Subject, which dye in the Lord.

2. The Confirmation of this Propoſition.

1. They reſt from their labours.

2. Their works follow them.

3. The Perſon affirming this, the Spirit, which is further cleared.

1. By the manner of this Delaration, it was by a voice from Heaven▪

p. 52. By the ſpecification of the Perſon to whom it was ſpoken; ſaying, unto me.

3. By the particular note of Obſervation, Write.

The Doctrine which I ſhall take notice of from theſe words, is this.

Doct. That whatever miſeries a Saint may meet with in this Life, at Death he ſhall be happy; or in the words of the Text, That they are bleſſed which dye in the Lord. In the Proſecution of this Obſervation; I ſhall,

1. Enquire what it is to dye in the Lord.

2. I ſhall prove that ſuch are bleſſed.

3. I ſhall ſhew wherein their happineſs doth conſiſt.

4. I ſhall make ſome Application.

1. I ſhall enquire what it is to dye in the Lord.

1. Neg. They which make it their buſineſs to do what they can againſt God, while they live, are not like to be bleſſed when they dye. They which live like Devils, are not like to dye like Saints: Are there not a Generation in the World who act for the Devil with all their might; and count all that time loſt, which is not ſpent in his ſervice; which make p. 6a jeſt of Damning, and are as merry within a ſtep of theſe devouring flames, as if Hell and a Tavern were alike? Do they not carry themſelves, as if they could not make haſt enough to miſery, and make ſure enough of Damnation? How do they wound and ſtab their own Souls, and let flye againſt the Almighty? How contemptible a thing is Heaven, and how ridiculous is the very name of Holineſs to them? They are of the ſame mind of thoſe, which Job ſpeaks of: Job. 21.14. They ſay unto God, depart from us; for we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways. And who is the Lord, that I ſhould hearken to him? And if a compaſſionate Miniſter of Chriſt beſeech them with all the tenderneſſe that he can for his Soul, to bethink themſelves a little what theſe things may end in at laſt, and to conſider what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of a living God; how are his perſwaſions rejected with contempt, and his pitty recompenſed with ſcorn? And may I not ſay of moſt wicked Men, they do flye in the Faces of them that would tell them of their danger, and do what they can to deliver them from it? And p. 7yet for all this how well are they contented with their own condition, and laugh at the godly, as if it were a dangerous and mad thing to ſtrive to go to Heaven, and the trueſt happineſs to be miſerable for ever? O who would imagine, that any living ſhould be thus lamentably beſotted! Tell them of Hell, 'tis as much as their life is worth; they had rather hazard the feeling of it hereafter, than bear the hearing of it here. They fear a little diſgrace among Men more than the contempt of God: They chooſe rather to be under the weight of God's wrath, than the leaſt affront from a Man. Talk to them of Glory, Heaven, and a Kingdom, they are light and trivial things with them; they had rather hear of a Whore, a Tavern, or Play; and yet theſe Monſters muſt be Sainted, and do more confidently expect a bleſſed Eternity after a life of wickedneſs, than ſome of the dear Children of God do: but if ſuch as theſe ever come to Heaven without Repentance, then the Word of God is falſe: Doth not that ſay, That the wicked ſhall be turned into Hell?— Tribulation and anguiſh upon every, one that doth evil, p. 8and there is no peace, ſaith my God to the wicked. The Devil himſelf may as well expect to ſhake off his Chains, and be reſtored to his loſt Glory, as they. O be not deceived, as you Sow ſo you muſt Reap; do not hope that you may do the Devils work, as long as you can, and that then God ſhould reward you with Salvation: no ſuch matter: You may more rationally expect, that God ſhould for your ſake pull the Sun out of the Firmament, than that he ſhould remove holineſs out of Heaven, and bring Hell in its place. If wicked Men will pleaſe themſelves with their own Deluſions, and look for Glory ſtill, they muſt thank themſelves, when they ſee how infinitely they are diſappointed; but I leave theſe as deſpairing to convince them of their folly, till Judgment and Flames make them to underſtand it.

2. All, that live upon the goodneſs of God here, are not like to be bleſſed after Death. There is a vaſt difference between common and ſpecial mercies: many partake richly of God's common bounty, that have not the leaſt intereſ… in his love; God gives this World often p. 9times to his greateſt Enemies, he gives Glory in an other World, to none but his Friends and Children: Nay, let me ſpeak it freely (I am ſure I have Chriſt and Scripture to warrant what I ſay) That they which gain this World with their neglect of Heaven, ſhall at their Death loſe both: Many receive temporal mercies, that ſhall never enjoy Eternal. Job 21.9. Luk. 16.25. O how greatly are they miſtaken, who think that Earl, Lord Knight, &c. are words of any ſignificancy after Death; that hope that their honours here will procure them any real reſpect hereafter; that reckon Gold and Silver will go currant in that Country! Many that would be counted Perſons of ſome depth and wiſdome, make a World of ſtir about trifles, that drive a great Trade for that which is next to nothing, and that lay in no better Proviſions, than Gravel, Clay, or Dung, when they are bound for Eternity; and yet how do they bleſs themſelves, and ſay I am rich, and increaſed in Goods, and have need of nothing: Soul take thine eaſe, eat, drink, and be merry? They think they make a very wiſe bargain, when they ſell their Conſcience, p. 10God, and Heaven, for a little of that which ſome call Riches; not conſidering that a few Hours experience may make them know, though it may be, not cure this miſtake. O that I could but bring my hearers out of this Deluſion! O that their apprehenſions were but rectified, and that they might know the real worth of things and Perſons! O that I could but bring down the price of ſublunary things, and raiſe the things of that other World to their true worth! Conſider that that holineſs, as meanly as you think of it, is the moſt excellent thing; that that is the greateſt Riches, and Man's higheſt dignity: God knows no difference between a Lord and a Beggar, a Prince and a Subject; He is no reſpecter of Perſons. If there be any difference, it lies here, that God hath more wrath in ſtore for them that had greater ingagements, and better advantages to ſerve him than other had. I pitty the poor Lords of the World! and I am confident, he that knows the worth of Chriſt, and the nature of his own Soul, can't much envy them; they ſwell like Bladders upon Water for a Moment, and God blowes, and where p. 11are they? Now indeed they reckon themſelves very ſecure, and their houſes are free from fear, neither is the Rod of God upon them, they take the Timbrel, and Harp, and rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ. Job 21. They think them Fools that can ſpare their Riches, and want their greatneſs, ſo they may but have an eſtate in inviſibles, and ſecure an Inheritance that will laſt for ever; Theſe are the Men that hate ſeriouſneſs: and holineſs, which is the beauty of Earth and Heaven too, is undervalued by them. And how can they expect ſanctity ſhould be delightful to them hereafter, when it is abhorred now? how can they look for Heaven when they dye, when they thought it not worth their minding while they lived? No, no, verily, they have their reward, they have now their good things, and much good may they do them. O let me rather gain Chriſt at Death, though I looſe all beſides, than poſſeſs Ten Worlds here, and after all loſe my Soul. Could the mighty ones of the World, have but one Hours diſcourſe with one of their Brethren in Hell, I believe their Judgments would be hugely altered, and p. 12they would ſoon tell them, that Riches and Honours, and whatſoever elſe moſt Men do purſue, let it be what it will below Chriſt, will yield them but little happineſs and comfort in another world. Riches profit not in the Day of wrath: Do but read, Luk. 16.19, 25. I am the larger, that if poſſible, I might prevent miſtakes, in matters of Eternal conſequence.

Thirdly, There are Thouſands that ſeem to have a far better title to this bleſſedneſs, that will fall ſhort of it: and they are Profeſſors, that call themſelves by the Name of the Lord. Not all that are called, yea, and eſteemed Chriſtians, are like to have any great benefit by Death. To be Chriſtned, and to be Chriſtians are two things: not every one that weareth Chriſt's Livery ſhall have his Wages. O how many Millions are there that have no better ſhelter, than a meer Name to themſelves, from the wrath of God! Is it not more than poſſible to hear, read, pray, and to be eſteemed a Saint, and yet to miſcarry everlaſtingly? How many ſeeming Saints ſhall gain nothing at Death, but a thorow knowledge of their own folly? p. 13And if to know what God's anger is, be an advantage, when there is no eſcaping of it; and if to have their hearts wounded, when there is no Cure to be had, be any profit; and if to be quite freed of Conſcience ſearching Miniſters be a happineſs when they are out of the reach of their help or pitty; then ſuch may be eſteemed bleſſed: but if all this will but make the Flame hotter, then I leave any ſerious Perſon to judg, whether it doth not concern Men and Women to look after better ſecurity, than this amounts to. Did you ever well ſtudy, Mat. 7.21? I hope you will believe Chriſt, though you will not me; read that Scripture, and what ſaith Chriſt? O conſider ſeriouſly, that to be an Heir of Glory is no ſuch light matter, as moſt judge it to be. To be born to a Crown, and a Kingdome, and to have a good title to it, is a dignity indeed; but a Mad-man in Chains and Rags, may ſay he is a King, or a Lord. O pleaſe not your ſelves with fanſies. Sickneſs and Death is coming, and then you will know better, whether I had not ſome reaſon to be earneſt with you in this matter. I am moſt afraid of the p. 14confident Phariſee, that truſts in his poor ſorry Prayers, and his own righteouſneſs; O that I could but ſhake him and his hopes, before Death and Judgment doth it. O that I could but perſwade him to maintain a jealouſie over himſelf, and to ſearch and try his Heart, and to bring himſelf to the Touchſtone, and not to be ſatisfied, till he findes that he hath got more than ever any Hypocrite yet had, or can have. The beſt of God's Children are moſt ſuſpicious of themſelves, and afraid of their own deceitful hearts. Do but ſee how David carrieth it, in Pſal. 139. What is his great requeſt, that he muſt have granted, or he can't be ſatisfied; Is it not that God would deliver him from miſtakes in matters of everlaſting conſequence? ſo Pſal. 119.80. Pardon this tediouſneſs upon theſe things, if moſt of the Profeſſors of the World did not ſplit upon theſe Rocks, I ſhould paſs theſe things over with ſilence.

Fourthly, All that dye quietly, are not happy after Death. It's no unuſual thing for the wicked to carry their falſe peace with them to the Grave. I have heard indeed many poor People boaſting p. 15of their deceaſed Friends, and pleaſing themſelves, to think how happy they were, Becauſe they dyed like Lambs. (to uſe their own expreſſion) Alas, alas, how many thouſands are there that dye like Lambs, that are but Swine, and have the Devil's Brand upon their Foreheads! It's dangerous arguing from peoples carriage upon a Death-bed, what their ſtate is in another World; ſuch is the hardneſs of Mens hearts, ſo dreadful the ſearedneſs of their Conſciences, and ſo great the ſubtilty of Satan, that many are carried very quietly to Hell, and fear nothing till they feel; and are not brought to their ſenſes, till unſpeakable horror and anguiſh doth it: And on the other ſide, how many of the precious Sons of Zion have ſeat in a Cloud? how many of the dear Children of God may go out of the World thorow a painful Death? are not their intellectuals ſometimes impaired, their reaſon Clouded, and their Bodyes upon the Rack? and yet in a moment they feel themſelves ſwallowed up of that Glory, and the doleful antecedents of their happineſs did but make their reſt more ſweet, and welcome, and put an p. 16accent upon their bliſs. The truth of it is, it hath not a little puzled ſome, as well as David, to conſtrue God's diſpenſations, to ſee the wicked dye quietly, Pſal. 73.4. and the godly to have a ſtrange Death; but God will ſhortly reſolve this Riddle: and I think it were no very difficult thing for a ſerious underſtanding Man, to give himſelf conſiderable ſatisfaction in this buſineſs. May not the wicked dye quietly, becauſe his Conſcience is quite ſeared, and he may perſwade himſelf that he hath made an agreement with Death and Hell? may he not hope that there is no ſuch place as Hell; or if there is, that it is tolerable? may he not make himſelf believe, that the Word of God is not true, and inviſibles are all but fanſies? or that God is ſo merciful, as that he will not damn him? and many ſuch things the Devil helps his Servants with, that ſo his ſervice may not be diſparaged, and that he may have the better advantage to tempt others. There is much alſo in the nature of the Diſeaſe; and it may be God may try his own Children with acute pains, and let Sathan buffer them, to manifeſt the excellency of his Power, p. 17and their Grace, to try others of his Children, whether for all this they will ſerve him; and ſome Perſons of admirable attainments, and great experiences, while in health, may have ſome conſiderable Tryals upon a Death-bed, that poor Chriſtians (which were ready to fear, becauſe they had not their enjoyments, that therefore they had nothing at all) might ſee that great Saints have their Tryals, as well as they; but I ſhall be far briefer in other things.

I come now to ſhew you who they are, that are bleſſed at their Death, and to give them a brief Deſcription of thoſe which dye in the Lord.

Firſt, They are ſuch, who are made thorowly to underſtand, that they were ſometimes quite dead in ſins and treſpaſses, that they were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and strangers to the Covenant of Grace.

Secondly, They are Perſons which are convinced of that miſery of ſuch a ſtate, and made to know, that if they dye in their ſins, they muſt be buried in Flames.

Thirdly, Ʋpon this they are out of love with their moſt beloved ſins, and count that which was their life, joy, p. 18and pleaſure, to be a very Death, miſery, and Hell, whereupon they ſet themſelves in good earneſt againſt ſin, as the greateſt evil in the World; they believe now, That if they live after the Fleſh they ſhall dye, but if through the Spirit they mortifie the deeds of the Fleſh, they ſhall live. Upon this account, they uſe all the means that they can to get their corruptions weakned, an inward principle, Divine Life: Now he begins to act them, which is as contrary to Sin, as Heaven to Hell, a Spirit of ingenuity reſtrains them, How ſhall they do this, and ſin againſt God? They now ſee ſin in its colours, as it is contrary to the beſt good, God; they can ſee its killing and damning Nature, in the Agonies and Sufferings of Chriſt, and they feel the doleful effects of ſin in their Soul and body; both, and upon this account they can ſay, what have I to do with Vanity any more, Shall I ſtill hug this Serpent? ſhall I ſtill Sail with this Jonah in my Veſſel? and ſhall I after all this keep this Dalilah in my Boſom? No; but, O that I could hate it Ten Thouſand times more than I do. There is an enmity raiſed in the Soul againſt ſin, p. 19which can't be ſatisfied, till it ſee the Death of Sin; now this is a Perſon that is fit for Death, and Death, it will (as you ſhall hear afterwards) do him a World of kindneſs in ſhewing him the Heads of all his Enemies.

4. An other quality of this Perſon, which is like to make ſuch a bleſſed end, is this, he is one that is dead to the World. Faith hath diſcovered a better Country to him, it hath ſpyed that new Jeruſalem, and thoſe bleſſed Regions: and now the Soul thinks the World ſcarce worthy of a ſerious thought, or look; he takes himſelf to be a kind of Priſoner here, and the whole World but a Dungeon, if compared with that ſtate of liberty and glory; he now joyns with David, and ſays, Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I can deſire beſide thee. This, is the Man that is like to be a gainer by Death; he who contemns Earth, and makes Heaven his choice, ſhall never finde himſelf a loſer.

5. Another property of the Man which ſhall be bleſſed at Death, is this, he is one, that takes Chriſt for life and happineſs. Time was indeed, he was of p. 20an other mind, ſin was his delight, and none ſo deſpicable in his Eye, as Chriſt; but God, in free and rich grace, hath taken away the Scales from his Eyes, and healed him of his miſerable blindneſs, and let him ſee ſuch a lovelineſs in the Lord Chriſt, as that now he is able to ſay, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt; He is altogether lovely. He is now quite out of love with himſelf, neither his righteouſneſs, nor any thing is lovely now, but Chriſt; and will not that Soul be bleſſed, when it comes to have its deſires accompliſhed? he that counts nothing worth the having, except Chriſt, and for Chriſt, can't be miſerable, when he is lodged ſafe in his imbraces.

6. He that makes it his buſineſs to live to Chriſt, to him to dye ſhall be gain. God is often times better, but never worſe than his word: And hath he not made many promiſes to them that diligently ſeek him? Hath he not ſaid that their labours ſhall not be in vain in the Lord? The Chriſtian is running, and he ſhall at laſt obtain the Prize, the Crown he fights for, he ſhall have; fear not Chriſtian, quit thy ſelf bravely, win it and wear it; what though it be wrapped p. 21up in Cypreſs? its beauty ſhall not be Vailed long. What though Death with his cold and dirty hand ſet it upon thy head? it will ſit as neat, and as faſt, as an Almighty hand can make it. What though the Veſſel be toſt and broke? it ſhall come ſafe with its Rich Lading, to the deſired Ha…b…ur. Condemn not. O you fooliſh World, theſe ſpiritual Merchants, till you know what their returns are, when their burden is deliver'd; but imitate them, till you can finde a more glorious Prize, than Heaven, a better happineſs than God can give, and a Kingdom that will laſt longer, than Eternity: Pſal. 63.8. Pſal. 90.14.

7. They which are willing (if called to it) to do, or ſuffer any thing for Chriſt, ſhall inherit this bleſſedneſs. He that is willing to dye for Chriſt, ſhall live as long as Chriſt lives, in happineſs, and reſt: 'tis not for nothing that Paul makes no great matter of bonds, ſcorns at threatnings, and triumpheth in danger; the finiſhing his courſe with joy makes all go down ſweetly, Acts 20.24. The Primitive Chriſtians were no Stoicks, and yet with what patience, gratitude, p. 22and joy, did they ſuffer, what the malice, and wit of Men, and Devils could inflict? and now they enjoy the fruit of their labours, the ſalvation of their Souls, and that is not all, but they receive their Palms, Robes and Crowns, ye more peculiar badges of God's Champions; Loe, thus ſhall it be done to the Perſons, whom the Lord delighteth to honour! This 'tis to be impriſoned, baniſhed, or dye for Chriſt. Rejoyce, O ye ſuffering Saints, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven! to you it is given, not only to believe, but alſo to ſuffer; this Fire is but to purifie, and to make you Veſſels more fit for your Maſters uſe, this dirt caſt upon you, is but to ſcower and make you more clean; this knocking, rubbing, and hewing, is but to furbiſh and poliſh you, that you may be more ſtately Pillars, in the Temple of your God. Fear not Men, nor Devils: the greateſt hurt that they do you, is to fill your Sailes, and to bring you more ſpeedily to your Port.

8. They which long for the coming of Chriſt, and their being with him, that can ſay, I have waited for thy ſalvation, p. 23O God, now let thy Servant depart in peace: In a word, that can bear their abſence from Chriſt, only upon thoſe terms, that they may bring honour to him in this life, and perſwade Souls to be in love with him, and may be inſtrumental for the ſetting up his Kingdom, ſhaking the Kingdom of Sathan, and weakning the intereſt of Hell in the World. Theſe, O theſe are your brave Souls, that are out of Gun-ſhot: Death can neyer ſurprize them, they ſtand always with their Loines girt, and their Lamps burning. And if the Bridegroom ſhould make the Mountains to quake, with the ratling of his Charriots, and the Hills to tremble at the preſence of his Majeſty, and the Heavens themſelves to ſhrivel into nothing, by the glory of his coming, yet they, (O bleſſed Souls!) and they only would break forth into a Song of Triumph, and Eternal Halleluj…hs; Who would not be a Saint? ſure none, but a madman or a fool: Do the World underſtand what theſe things mean! Do they indeed believe how much the higheſt of them all, are below the meaneſt, and loweſt Childe of God? Thus I have p. 24ſhown you who are the Subjects of this bleſſedneſs. I know I forget time, but it goes well may you and I get but this bleſſedneſs ſecured, and ſpend a happy Eternity.

The ſecond thing that I propoſed to ſpeak to, was to prove, that ſuch as theſe are (in ſpight of Hell) ſhall be bleſſed; and becauſe in the fore going diſcourſe, this hath been touched upon, I ſhall but very briefly run over theſe things.

Firſt, God ſaith, they ſhall be bleſſed, and therefore they ſhall; when the great Perſecutors have been hunting for their prey, and hope to roaſt what they have got, and ſeed themſelves with the hopes of the content and pleaſure, that they ſhall enjoy; nay, when they ſhall beg with tears for the bleſſing, they ſhall be fruſtrated, denyed, curſed, and hear that heart-rending reply, they have gotten the bleſſing before you came, 'tis now too late, yea, and they ſhall be bleſſed. Might I not heap up a World of promiſes, the leaſt of which clear a Saints title to this bleſſed, inheritance? time would fail me, if I ſhould but read p. 25one in Forty; what is the meaning of that Eſ. 57.2. Phil. 1.21. 2 Cor. 5.1. Job 3.17.

2. They feel ſomewhat of this happineſs in this World, therefore they ſhall have it compleated in another. How oft do the Saints feel their Souls tranſported with the ſenſe of divine pleaſures? How many earneſts do they receive of the purchaſed poſſeſſions? How many warm refreſhing Raies of Divine love break in upon their Soul, ſo that they would not exchange one Hours comfort for all the joys that ever the wicked enjoyed, could they all be united in one, and their duration be Eternal? Have I not with much comfort ſeen ſome of thoſe triumphing Saints rejoycing, when others would have mourned? Have I not heard them talk of their ſweet experiences, the very mention of which, is more reviving to a ſpiritual hearer, than the higheſt pleaſures that the ſenſualiſt is capable of. Sometimes in prayer their ſouls even get into the boſom of God, and the great God and Man have a bleſſed intercourſe, the Soul lets out it ſelf to God, and God lets out his love to the Soul. Sometimes in a p. 26meditation the Heart is glowing, and the Fire burns, and ere it is aware, it is lifted above the World, yea, and above it ſelf too: What elſe is this, but the clear demonſtration of the reality of inviſibles? Can meer fancies thus tranſport Men? Muſt they not believe their own experiences? Can that joy, which is the reſult of faith and love, and comes in from the promiſes; and that in a way of duty, and cloſe walking with God, Can that be a deluſion? Will the ſpirit of truth witneſs to a lye? Will goodneſs it ſelf put a cheat upon poor Creatures, and that in a matter of ſuch vaſt conſequence, as Eternity? Can we conceive, that he which commands us not to deceive our Neighbour, ſhould deceive us? Shall any that calls himſelf a Chriſtian, entertain ſuch blaſphemous apprehenſions of the bleſſed Jehovah? Well then, if it be ſo, that Children of God love ſolid and unexpreſſible joys, many times even on this ſide Glory; Doth not this then prove, that hereatter they ſhall be happy, and that beyond the apprehenſions of Men, and Tongue of Angels? For the Saint in his greateſt dimenſions, fulleſt p. 27enjoyments, and talleſt ſtature on this ſide the Grace, is but a Childe, a Dwarf, a Worm, in compariſon of what he will be, the next moment after his diſſolution: For the proof of this, you may read over theſe, and other Scriptures, Pſal. 16.11. Pſal. 42.5. Luk. 16.22. 2 Cor. 4.7. Revel. 13.14.

3. May I not bring in the wicked themſelves, as witneſſes of the Saints happineſs, and their own miſery, the Saints wiſdom, and their folly? what elſe is the meaning of Balaam's wiſh? Why ſhould he be ſo deſirous to dye the death of the Saint, and to have his latter end like his, if he were not thorowly convinced of this, that holineſs were no madneſs, piety no fancy, and religion no deluſion? What is it that makes thoſe, in Mat. 26.8. to cry out ſo importunately; Give us of your Oyl, for our Lamps are gone out. I am perſwaded, that all the Reprobates in Hell, will one Day juſtifie the Children of God for their ſeriouſneſs, and wiſh a thouſand times, that they had had their ſcornes, loſſes, torments: It is no unuſual thing for them, which have to do with dying Perſons, to hear them crying p. 28out with anguiſh, when their time is ſpent, and their ſands are run out, O you are happy, O that I were but in the condition of the pooreſt, and miſerableſt Saint upon Earth O that I had but prayed with fervency, heard with ſeriouſneſs, and minded my Soul in good earneſt! Happy are they that have not all their work to do in a dying Hour, O happy are they that have ſome Cordial to comfort them in a time of ſuch diſtreſs, O, a Chriſt, a Chriſt, ten thouſand Worlds now for that Chriſt, which I deſpiſed! Theſe are things we are acquainted with. Well then, our Enemies themſelves being Judges, an Iſraelite indeed is a Perſon of true worth, and without controverſie, his eſtate is, and ſhall be comfortable, bleſſed, and glorious.

4. How great are the abſurdities, that elſe would follow? Would not the Devil boaſt that he hath done more for his followers, than Chriſt hath done for his? Would it not follow that Saints are the moſt miſerable fools in the World? then it would be to no purpoſe to deny ones ſelf, to fight with Beaſts at Epheſus, to bear the contradiction of p. 29ſinners; then Chriſt dyed for nothing, or hath done his work by the halves; then there is no credit to be given to the Bible, God is worſe than his word, and the Scripture promiſes are falſe; then Paul's confidence was madneſs, and his boaſting made void; then all preaching is a cheat, and the Miniſters of Chriſt are Impoſtor…, and the wicked are in the right: then David would have better reaſon to ſay, he hath cleanſed his hands in vain, and that his frequent devotions were to no purpoſe, and his Songs at Mid-night, but the dotages of an extravagant fanſie, and hours which were ſpent in Prayer and Meditation, were purely loſt. What ſaiſt thou to this, O Chriſtian? Would not this be ſad news indeed, if all thy hope ſhould come to this? But be of good cheer, this is the doctrine which the Devil and his Miniſters do preach; as long as God is true you ſhall not be deceived, as long as he is happy you ſhall not be miſerable, and till Hell hath got above Heaven, you are well enough. Go on therefore reſolutely, and let nothing daunt thee, 'tis but yet a little while, and you ſhall ſee all this, and more than this a thouſand p. 30times made good to thee. Fear not, 'tis God who hath ſpoken it, and he commanded his Servant John to write, and Jeave it upon Record, That they which dye in the Lord are bleſſed, and they ſhall reſt from their labours, and their works do follow them.

3. The next thing which I promiſed to ſpeak to, was, to ſhew wherein the bleſſedneſs of departed Saints doth conſiſt; But what work am I now about? Who is ſufficient for theſe things? What Tongue can utter the leaſt part of that Glory? What Heart imagine its tranſcendent excellency? And what Ears can bear it? ſhould ſuch a one as Moſes, Enoch, or Elias come ſparkling in his Robes, in the habit of a glorified Saint, and ſhould he but tell you what a ſight he hath ſeen, what melody he hears, what imployment he is ingaged in, what poſſeſſions he enjoys, where would he endure it? I am perſwaded, if in this mortal ſtate, God ſhould let in the Soul the hundreth thouſandth part of that Glory, which Saints enjoy in Heaven, it would in a moment ſink a Man, and make ſuch Bodies as ours now are wither to duſt. I have ſeen a great many p. 31fine things in my time, I have heard of more, but I can eaſily imagine more than ever all the Princes of the Earth, in their greateſt ſplendour enjoyed; and yet here I am at a loſs, and no wonder: For it is beyond the reach of Saints and Angels in Heaven fully to conceive what their own happineſs is, and I believe it is no ſmall part of their joy, that they ſerve a Maſter, who loveth to out-doe, not only deſerts and expectations, but even the imaginations of his Creatures. How then can ſuch a poor Worm as I am, mannage ſuch a work as this is? becauſe I can't ſay all, muſt I ſay nothing, and paſs this over with ſilence and admiration? becauſe this is a great deep, which our Plummet can't fathom, an Ocean that hath no ſhoar, ſhall we therefore never ſail in it? God forbid. O may it be my work in time, and to Eternity to praiſe that infinite, boundleſs excellency that is in my God. Though theſe are matters, which one would think ſhould command attention and affection both, yet if we conſult the lives of all, yea the higheſt experiences of the beſt, notwithſtanding theſe things are ſo frequently inculcated, and ſo paſſionately p. 32recommended to our conſideration, yet where is the Man or Woman to be found, that lies under the lively impreſſions of theſe things: And therefore I ſhall think it not impertinent, if I dwell upon that an Hour, which will be the ſubject of your Meditation, and Foundation of your comfort, if ever you underſtand what Chriſtianity in the life of it means. This only by the by, a little to quicken your attention. I come now to my buſineſs, to ſhew you wherein the Saints happineſs after death conſiſts.

1. It conſiſts in a full everlaſting freedom from evil, or any imperfection.

2. It conſiſts in a compleat, perfect, and eternal enjoyment of all the good that our natures are capable of.

Firſt, It conſiſts in a full and everlaſting freedom from evil, or any imperfection. And here I ſhall inſiſt upon ſome of thoſe evils and imperfections, which a Child of God ſhall be freed from, as ſoon as ever Death hath let the Soul out of the Body.

Firſt, The Saint is free from all ſin. The Bolts ſhall be knockt off, the Priſon walls broke down, and the poor Captive p. 33ſet at liberty. O bleſſed Jubilee! How glad would Paul have been, if when he cryed out in ſuch an agony: O wretched Man, who ſhall deliver me? if he had heard a voice from Heaven ſaying, thy groans have pierced the Clouds, thy Prayer hath reached the Heavens, thy Petitions ſhall be granted immediately, would not this have been grateful news. When before a few days be at an end, this ſhall be the condition of every one of God's People. Now indeed if you liſſen to their Cloſets, you ſhould hear how dolefully they bemoan their condition, if you follow them into their Families, what is it that they would moſt deſire of God? is it not freedom from ſin? what complaints do they make of themſelves, that there ſhould be ſo great an unſutableneſs in them to God, that their hearts are unſenſible of the worth of divine things, that they ſhould have ſo little love to the Lord Chriſt, and be ſo little taken with the kindneſs of the Redeemer; How weak and faint, how cold and dull in duty? how ready to betray their Lord, how cowardly in the cauſe of God? But death will for ever ſilence theſe complaints, death tares off Joſhua's rags and preſents him before the Lord without ſpot or wrinckle, or any ſuch thing; ſin indeed accompanyeth the ungodly into another World, he reſts from his pleaſures, and his wicked works follow him: but it is far otherwiſe with the godly, ſin was his burden, and Death ſhall unload …im; ſin ſhall be confined to Hell, Heaven enter…ains no ſuch deformity: This Tyrant ſhall no more inſlave any of Chriſt's ſubjects. The houſe of Saul, and the houſe of David ſhall no longer …ontend, that bloody conflict between the fleſh p. 34and ſpirit ſhall then be determined by a final Victory, then the Soul will ſay, farewell my hard heart, farewell unbelief, farewell ingratitude; then thou ſhalt never entertain an unkind thought of God more; the lame and the blinde, and the J…buſites ſhall be ſmitten when King David comes to make his Palace in Zion, thy ſins muſt dye when the Lord cometh to take the full poſſeſſion of this Fort: Royal confeſſion of ſin ſhall ſhortly be needleſs; no darkneſs ſhall cloud the underſtanding, no perverſneſs the will, no diſorderlineſs in the affections, no treachery in the memory; the Eyes ſhall be better employed than in beholding of vanity, the Eares ſhall not be locked againſt truth, the Hands far from violence, the Tongue from deceit, and the Feet from walking in ways of wickedneſs. And ſeems this a light matter to you who have gone bowed all your dayes under the preſſure of ſin; is it nothing to you to have all your iniquities done away as a Cloud, and your tranſgreſſions as a thick Cloud? Thus ſee what a kindneſs that formidable enemy doth to all the ſubjects of Chriſt's Kingdom; what prayers, teares, and groans did gradually, it doth at one blow. Thus the oppreſſed is delivered, the mourner made to rejoyce, and the great make-bate between God and the Soul, for ever diſcarded, and turned out of Doors. Eph. 5.27. Eſ. 44.22.

2. When a Chriſtian ay…th, he ſhall be freed from all the temptations of Sathan. Death ſets the Soul out of the Devils reach; this Angel hath nothing to do in Heaven, this Serpent ſhall not come into the higher Paradiſe, nor Sathan creep into this Eden: Now indeed he goes up p. 35and down like a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour, novv he ſets his Ginnes every vvhere to catch the unvvary Chriſtian: he uſeth his ſtratagems to ſurprize them, but then this adverſary ſhall be trod under Foot, his Fiery Darts ſhall be quenched, and his deſignes broken. O happy Day, vvhen will it come! vvhen the Devil ſhall be as unlikely to tempt, as our hearts to cloſe: vvhen vve are got once ſafe to reſt, the Devil ſhall as eaſily ſhake God's Throne, as our happineſs. Death turns the Key, Bolts and Bars this Enemy out; then, O then thou ſhalt ſee this Pharaoh caſt dead on the ſhore, and for ever diſabled from making any reſiſtance againſt thee, or in the leaſt diſturbing thy peace. Rev. 20.10.

3. The bleſſedneſs of the People of God conſiſteth in their being freed from the frownes and flatteries of the World. In life time thou art fain to fight thy way to peace, to diſpute every ſtep thou goeſt, and canſt never have a quiet Hour vvhile thou haſt ſuch ill Neighbours: There is an old quarrel between the Seed of the Woman, and the Serpent, and the enmity is radicated, and the …end can be cooled with nothing but Death. Chriſtian, expect not as long as any of that Cainiſ… Generation breath, that thou ſhouldeſt be long …cure, In the World you ſhall have tribulation, …ut be of good cheer, Chriſt hath overcome the World, Joh. 16.33. What though they ſpeak …eat words, Priſon, Halters, Faggot? Thou ſhalt …e long ride in ſtate to glory, and then let them … their worſt: When thou art in Heaven, they …ay curſe and increaſe their own miſery, but …ey ſhall not in the leaſt diminiſh thy tranquillity. …d as for their flatteries, they ſhall ſignifie nothing, p. 36thing, the beauty of this inſeriour World will be darkned by the brightneſs of that Light which Death leads thee into; its excellencies will be quite eclipſed, its allurements will loſe their power. Who can chooſe but contemn the Earth▪ that knows what Heaven meaneth? O how low an eſteem have the moſt experienced Men here o… the World! Honours and riches are accounted very inconſiderable things to them which underſtand the difference between finite and infinite the diſproportion between time and Eternity Death bloweth the duſt out of our eyes, it pluck… off the Vail, and ſhews one quickly the glory o… both Worlds: and ſo it is not leſt long to determine, which is to be preferred, droſs or ſilver braſs or gold, a dunghil or a Palace: there wi… be no thought of returning to Egypt or Goſhe… either in them which know the fruitfulneſs of th… ſpiritual Canaan, the accommodations of the ne… Jeruſalem, the pleaſure of the holy Court.

4. At Death he ſhall reſt from all his pains there is no fear of ſickneſs, ſorrowes, and ach… The Stone, Gout, and Plague are Diſtempers th… none labour with there: that Aire is clear, an… ſin which infecteth other places, never got footing there; they that ſcarce know what a Day… eaſe now means ſhall then forget their ſorrow their conſtitutions ſhall be mended, their craz… Bodies, that needed to be propped up by A… have now no need of ſuch helps: the lame ſha… leap, the blinde ſee, the weak ſhall be ſtrong, th… crooked ſtrait, they which were in deaths oft ſha… be never in danger. O happy alteration! th… Grave will refine and alter our Bodies, and the… ſhall there bury all imperfections, and this mort… p. 37ſhall put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption. There the weary ſhall be at reſt. Eſa. 61.3. & 33.24. & 60.18. Job 3.17.

5. The bleſsedneſs of the deceaſed Saints conſiſte…h in their perfect freedome from all wants, and fear of want. Here they have their daily want, and in the ſweat of their brows they muſt eat their Bread. The World in its beſt eſtate is made up of vanities and troubles. How much need have we of the help of our fellow-creatures? we can't live without the uſe of their bodies and lives: we want their ſervice to till our Grounds, and to carry our weak Bodyes, that can ſometimes ſcarce go under their own burden. What ſhift could we make, if the influences of the Sun Moon and Stars were ſuſpended? what lamentable complaint ſhould we make, if God ſhould ſeal up the Fountains of Water? how ſoon ſhould we faint, if he ſhould make the Heavens as Iron, and the Earth as braſs? What Element can we want, what Creature could we well ſpare? But the time is coming, that Day will ſhortly begin, whoſe brightneſs will make the Sun dark, and the Moon to diſappear, and all the Stars to leave their Spheres as uſeleſs. O unbelief, how miſerably doſt thou rob us of the comforts, which the very fore-thoughts of that hour might bring in! Dwell O my trembling Soul upon the Meditation of theſe things. Is there no truth nor weight in …hoſe Scriptures? Eſ. 60.19. Eſ. 21.29. Give in thy Anſwer. Why then art thou caſt down O my ſoul, and why art thou diſquieted within me? Wait upon the Lord, and be of good courage, wait I ſay upon the Lord.

6. This happy Man ſhall be quite freed of p. 38whatſoever may argue an imperfect state. Some of thoſe very graces that are now ſo uſeful and neceſſary, when their work is done, ſhall be laid aſide as uſeleſs, I mean Faith, Hope, Patience, deſire; all which ſpeak ſomething of imperfection, ſhall then be ſwallowed up of love. They now help to lead the Soul out of Egypt, conduct thorow the red Sea, and Wilderneſs, and ſend Spices into Canaan, and bring good tidings out of that Land, they ſee Sihon, Og, and Amaleck diſcomfitted, and their Power broken, they go to the Borders of the promiſed Land: nay, they get up to Piſga, and upon Mount Nebo, there they bid the Soul farewell. Faith, like a skilful Pilot, keeps cloſe to the Ship, till it ſee it out of danger. Faith, like loyal Barzillai, brings in abundant proviſions for the Soul, in all its ſtreights, and comes with it to the banks of Jordan, to the brink o… eternity; but there, there it takes its final leave, and ſends over young Chimham to wait upon the King at Jeruſalem, it ſends love over into Heaven t… dwell there with the Lord for ever. O bleſſed ſtate, when faith ſhall be ſwallowed up of ſight. Here we live by faith, and not by ſenſe or ſight in glory we ſhall live by ſenſe and ſight, and not by faith. The ſhaddow ſhall vaniſh when the ſubſtance is come; hope, patience, deſire, and fear ſhall all paſs away, and be ſwallowed up with an eternal fruition, poſſeſſion, and ſecurity. Happy are the People that are in ſuch a caſe, their clouds are quite blown over, they need neither Wind or Sails, now they are ſafe landed. What think you now of a Child of God, is it worth the while to be religious, is holineſs a folly now? and yet this is not all, come a little further, and I p. 39will ſhew you greater things ſtill. All this is bu… the privative part of their happineſs. I come now to touch a little upon the poſitive part; but what an Ocean am I now lanching into, who can tell all the priviledges of a Citizen of Zion, what Pen can deſcribe the honour and dignities of the Sons of God? But that I may heighten your ſpirits, and a little antedate your comforts, I ſhall in the next place ſhew ſomething of the poſitive part.

2. The bleſſedneſs of thoſe which dye in the Lord, conſiſts poſitively,

Firſt in this, that they ſhall enter into the Society of the Angels, they ſhall leave any longer converſing with mortals, and, inſtead of weeping friends, ſee themſelves compaſſed with ſinging Angels. How do you think that Lazarus was affected, who inſtead of Beggars, Crippels, and Dogs, had a Guard of Angels waiting upon him? What an extaſy of joy was he ſurprized vvith, Luk. 16.22. This honour have all the Saints. We think the ſight of a King, the look of a Prince, the company of a Lord a great matter: what are they, it compared with the leaſt of the Captains of the Lord's Hoſt? How vaſt is the difference between Fleſh and Spirit? and yet this favour the Lord is pleaſed to confer upon the leaſt of his Children. And how glad are the Angels themſelves of the ſociety of the pooreſt Saint? they are glad even here to be doing offices of love for them, many a danger they delivered them from, many a mercy they conveyed from their Father to them; but theſe earthly Bodyes were ſcarce capable of communications with ſuch noble and ſpiritual Creatures, but at Death they p. 40ſhall know their old friends and fellow-ſervants, and bleſs God with them, and for them for ever. Heb. 12.22. And theſe Chariots and Horſemen of Iſrael ſhall carry up Joſeph to his Fathers Houſe, and there the Sons of God ſhall ſhout for joy. Time was, the ſight of an Angel would make a Saint tremble, but then it ſhall make them to Triumph: and what ſtories will they tell them, of the providences of God toward them, and joyn with them in the high praiſes of his goodneſs and love? But all this is but little to what follows.

2. At Death, the ſouls of believers are made perfect in holineſs. How will they in a moment ſee themſelves as white as Snow? how glorious ſhall the Kings Daughter be, when her beauty is perfect, how lovelily will ſhe look, when ſhe's clad with innocent purity, how excellent when her royal Husband the Lord Chriſt ſhall be infinitely taken with her? Will he not then ſay, thou art all fair my love, there is no ſpot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon my Spouſe, with me from Lebanon, from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons Dens, from the Mountains of Leopards. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe, thou with one Chain of thy Neck: How fair is thy love, my Siſter, my Spouſe? &c. Cant. 4.7, 8, 9, 10. If the Lord ſee ſo much beauty here in his Church, what will he do hereafter, when he ſhall have waſh'd away all her defilements, and taken out her ſtains, and have decked her with his Jewels, and put on her Wedding Garment? That Day is coming, O my ſoul! when will the p. 41ſhaddows flee away, when will Days and Nights be all at an end, when will time be ſpent, when ſhall the Curtain be drawn? O that, that's the place! thou ſhalt then love that precious Jeſus, with a Seraphick and Angel-like love, thou wilt then as much delight and rejoyce in him, as Abraham, David, and Paul did. Thy drowſie Soul ſhall be as nimble and active in the ſervice of thy great Maker, as Enoch and Elias; thou ſhalt praiſe him Day and Night, and be no more weary than the Angels themſelves: thou ſhalt perfectly underſtand the vvill of God, and readily obey it: thou ſhalt be holy as God is holy. And what vvould you now give for ſuch a frame? hovv glad vvould you be to feel a connaturality to divine imployments, hovv happy vvould you think your ſelves, if your heart vvere alvvayes as God vvould have it? Is it not for this, that you faſt and pray? Is it not for this, that you hear, read, and meditate? Is not this the end of Sacraments? Well, be of good cheer, in Mount Zion there ſhall be deliverance and holineſs: Obed. 17. And is all this nothing, ſeemeth it ſtill a ſmall priviledge to be a Child of God, and like our Father? vvho that underſtands this vvould not bid Death vvelcome, and ſay novv Grave do thy vvorſt? Ask Paul, and he vvill tell you, that upon this account he groans: enquire of David, and he vvill let you underſtand, that he never expects ſatisfaction, till he avvake vvith God's likeneſs. Pſal. 17.

3. Another thing vvherein the bleſſedneſs of a Chriſtian at Death lyes, is this, the ſight of Chriſt. What can be more deſired by a Child of God, than to behold and enjoy him, by vvhom p. 42all the mercies we have, and all that we expect, ſlow in to us, Eph. 1.11. That good old Saint, Luk. 2.30. thought it a Heaven upon Earth to ſee him, though his Majeſty was vailed, and the brightneſs of his glory wrapped up, and covered by his humanity, he doth ſing a Requiem to his Soul, and ſay, Now let thy Servant depart in peace, for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation. How were Peter, James, and John, affected at his transfiguration, Mat. 17 2. What an admirable frame doth the Spouſe ſeem to be in, when ſhe ſaw only the ſhadow and back-parts of this beloved one, Cant. 5.16. She can't tell when to have done commending of him. But all this is but a ſmall thing, compared to the ſight which they ſhall ſee, when their graces ſhall be compleat, and their Soul like him; and then ſhall they behold the King in his beauty; no longer the contempt and ſcorn of the World, no longer in poverty and want, no longer crucified and rejected; but Jeſus, the expreſs Image of his Father, and the brightneſs of his glory, accompanyed with Millions of Angels, all at his command, and yet for all this, caſting a gracious Eye upon them; then ſhall the Soul behold him face to face, who did, and ſuffered ſuch wonderful things for it; 'twas he that came out of his Fathers boſome, 'twas he that ſtept out of his Throne, and put off his Robes, that came leaping over the Mountains, and skipping over the Hills, running thorow a thouſand difficulties, that he might pluck thee out of thy miſery, and deliver thee out of the paw of the Lyon, and the Bear, that he might redeem thee from the power of Sin, Death, and Hell. How will the Heavens eccho with Songs of joy, p. 43when the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, ſhall come to dwell with her Husband for ever? Iſay 33.17. Chriſt is the deſire of Nations, the joy of Angels, the delight of the Father, and he in whom he is well pleaſed. What ſolace then muſt that Soul be filled with, that hath the poſſeſſion of him to all Eternity; Is not his love better than wine, and a look of his countenance to be preferred before Corn and Oyl? Is not his kindneſs to be valued above life it ſelf? What meaneſt thou then O my Soul, that thou doſt ſo dread his coming? Why art thou ſo loath to be with him? Why art thou afraid of the enjoyment of him? Will thy Redeemer make thee a ſlave, hath Heaven changed his Nature, and made him leſs deſirable? Will thy Saviour make thee miſerable? Awake then, O ye Saints, and ſtand a tip-toe, wait, watch, and long till thou ſee him, who alone can fill thy Soul! fight, ſtrive, and run, till you enjoy. One ſmile of his, one look of his love, is worth the pleaſures of ten Worlds: where is thy heart, where are thy deſires, what's become of thy love? if Chriſt doth not affect, draw, and fire thee, what will? but when thou ſhalt ſee Chriſt indeed, his very looks will ſo warm thy Soul, that thou ſhalt in a moment feel a divine flame, which ſhall never be extinguiſhed, as long as Chriſt, the object of thy love, ſhall live: the ſight of Chriſt will put new life into thy Soul, and make thy love and joy freſh for ever; this is he, O my Soul, that was wounded, that thou mighteſt be healed; this is he who was Crowned vvith Thorns, that thou mighteſt be Crovvned vvith Glory; this, this is he that dyed, that thou mighteſt live. Is not all the Glory of Heaven p. 44vvrapped up in him? Are not the Treaſures of divine kindneſs, which vvere ſometimes hid in him, novv opened? Tell me now, O my ſoul, is there any in tvvo Worlds comparable to him? Was not that he that ſheltered thee from the ſtorms of God's vvrath? Was not that precious Body, the Shield vvhichwhich blunted the Svvord of Juſtice, and kept the Arrovves of the Almighty from doing dreadful execution upon thee, an Enemy, Traytor, and Rebel? Was it not he that laid dovvn the price, that bought thy pardon, that purchaſed this Inheritance? vvas it not he that fed thee vvith his Body, that broached his heart blood, to quench the thirſt of thy Soul, the luſts of thy heart, and the flames of God's indignation? Look upon him, is he not made up of love? I ſee now, it is not for nothing, that the Virgins did love him, it was not vvithout good reaſon, that the Spouſe vvas ſick; it vvas not vvithout very good cauſe, that the Saints did ſo long to be vvith him; to be with him did I ſay? vvho that hears of him, can chooſe but vviſh to ſee him, vvho that ſees him, can live without him, who that lives vvith him can leave him? What mean the World? Sure they are dead, blind, or mad: but vvhere am I now? This is a ſubject ſo ſvveet, that I can't tell hovv to make an end, O that I might ſee, knovv, and enjoy! look dear Jeſus upon me, and let me go, and tell the World thy beauties, let me every day have a little ſight of thee, that I may commend thee a thouſand times more feelingly, and that I may command the affections of all that hear of thee, that nothing but thy love may ſerve their turns. Pardon me, that this admirable one hath p. 45dravvn out my thoughts ſo largely. If you can but love after all this, and ſee him when you dye with comfort, you will ſay, I were too ſhort in his praiſes, and too ſuperficial in his commendations, and that the half was not told you.

4. The bleſſedneſs of departed Saints lies in this, that they ſhall meet with all the Children of God, and have communion with the ſpirits of the juſt, made perfect. Thou ſhalt then meet thy beſt friends, whoſe company was ſo warming, whoſe words were ſo incouraging, whoſe lives did ſo much command Religion, their Faces did then ſhine, their converſation was in Heaven: but O what an alteration is there in them for the better! their Souls are now like Chriſt, nothing but grace, love, and praiſe: no difference in judgment, no pride or paſſion, nothing that offends. And how vvill they vvelcome you to their Fathers Houſe, you that took ſweet counſel together, that went to the Houſe of God, that talk'd of that glory, how glad will you be, when you meet in it? Nay, Death will bring you acquainted with all theſe famous Worthies, of whom the World was not worthy, the noble Champions of Chriſt, which thought not their lives dear to them, ſo they might but finiſh their courſe with joy: this Porter opens the Door, and lets the Saints Soul into that Palace, where all the Favourites of that great Prince reſide; and thou ſhalt ſtand alſo with them upon Mount Zion, in the preſence of that Mighty King, and ſhalt behold, and live in his glory for ever: And is all this inconſiderable? What would I give to ſee Enoch, that walked with God? How glad ſhould I be to be acquainted with Elias? how joyful, if I might p. 46have ſome diſcourſe with Paul? Would it not make one couragious in the cauſe of God, if one could hear Daniel, or the Three Children tell the ſtory of their deliverance? How ſhould one be pleaſed to have it from the Mouth of Moſes, Joſhuah, and Caleb. what God did for Iſrael in the Fields of Ham, the Red-Sea, and the Wilderneſs? and how he brought them into the Land of Canaan; hovv do you think you ſhould be affected at ſuch things as theſe? vvhy? as formidable as Death looks, it's he that brings us to the ſpeech of all theſe. How loath are we novv to part, when a knot of us have got together, to talk about the things of another World? are not the Saints the excellent ones, in whom is our delight? is not the empty diſcourſe of the unexperienced World tedious, and their Company a burden? Why? Heaven hath in it none but Saints, and Angels, and the bleſſed God. Is not that Company indeed? and all their work will be to admire, praiſe, and love God, and to take infinite delight, and complacency in him to all Eternity. O what acclamations of joy vvill there be, vvhen all the Children of God ſhall meet together, vvithout fear of being diſturbed by the Antichriſtian and Cainiſh brood! when they meet, and never part, but joyn in Hallelujahs for ever. That, that's the melody, vvhen a Quire of ten thouſand times ten thouſand of Angels ſhall ſing an Eternal Song, and the hundred and forty and four thouſand, and that innumerable Company, out of all Nations, Tongues, and Kindreds, ſhall anſvver, ſaying, Bleſſing, honour, glory, and power, be unto Him that ſits upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Rev. 5.13. Luk. p. 4713.28, 29. Heb. 11.22. Eph. 2.19.

5. An other thing, wherein the bleſſedneſs of the Saints departed conſiſts, is, that then all their Prayers ſhall be ſully anſwered, their deſires ſatisfied, and hopes enjoyed. They now oft, with ſorrow, hear the reproaches of the wicked, who are ready to ask them, vvhere is their God? vvhat is become of their ſaſts, tears, and groans, to vvhat purpoſe do they afflict themſelves? what profit is it for them to call upon God? what benefit is there in ſerving the Almighty? The wicked boaſt of their hearts deſire, and are ready to ſleight Religion, as a uſeleſs and contemptible thing. But is there not a time a coming, vvhen the godly may ask them, vvhat profit they have novv in their pleaſures, vvhat comfort in their greatneſs, what fruit of all their labours? and with unſpeakable ſatisfaction, produce their Crown, and ſay, This, this was the prize that we contended for; this was the reward that vve had in our Eye, this was the glory and honour which we ſo highly valued; This is our God in whom we have truſted, Eſ. 25.9. The Saints ſhall then ſee, that it was not in vain to ſeek, knock, and wait; then they ſhall underſtand, that nothing was loſt, which was ſpent for their Souls and Heaven: they ſhall ſhortly know, that the pooreſt hearty groan was heard, the quickeſt ejaculations were not unobſerved, and that the vveakeſt ſincere Prayers were able to pierce the Heavens. O who would not ſerve ſuch a Maſter, who can't forget any of his! nay, the Lord will infinitely out-do their requeſts, and give them more than their Tongue; could ask, and mindes conceive. This is the portion of them that p. 48ſeek thee, that ſeek thy face, O Jacob.

6. At Death, the Believer ſhall be poſſeſſed of God, and know what the beatifical Viſion means: and if you would be better ſatisfied what this is, my requeſt is, that you would live holily, and go, and ſee. And if after a ſight and ſenſe of this incomprehenſible glory, you finde that I have deceived you, by making you to over-value it, I am contented to bear the blame of an Impoſtor. I am here but brief, becauſe I muſt confeſs my Meditations are now at a loſs, and ſilence, and aſtoniſhment muſt ſpeak the reſt.

7. That which is no ſmall addition to a Saints happineſs is this, that there is no fear of loſing of it; his Enemies can't rob him, for they are all ſafe enough, and his Treaſure is locked up there, where neither Moth, nor Ruſt can corrupt, nor Thieves break thorow, and ſteal; the Chriſtian may then rejoyce over his Enemy, and ſay, vvho ſhall ſeparate me from the love of God? they that are ſafe in Heaven, need not to entertain any fears of loſing their Inheritance. If God that made Heaven, and brought them to it, can ſecure them, if Chriſt that bought it for them, can make good his purchaſe, if all challenges are laid aſide, they are vvell enough; thy houſe ſhall not be ſhaken, thy comforts are durable, and the leaſe of thy Inheritance runs parallel with the life of God, and muſt not expire till Eternity be ſpent. Rom. 8.33. Heb. 13.5. If. 54 10. Iſ. 35. laſt.

8. The laſt thing that I ſhall mention, wherein the happineſs of the Dead, that dye in the Lord, conſiſts, is in the full and joyful aſſurance of a glorious Reſurrection, and acquaittance at the day p. 49of Judgment. Their Bodies are the ſacred Temples wherein God did dwell, they are not therefore to be buried in forgetfulneſs, but ſhall be reſerved as Jewels in a Cabinet, and at the Reſurrection, they ſhall be furbuſhed, and ſet in Glory; the very Duſt of the Saints is precious, and thoſe very Members, that were aſſiſtant to the Soul, in the Worſhip of God, ſhall partake of its Glory; and upon this account, the People of God dye in faith, that their Bodies and Souls ſhall have a bleſſed Meeting; upon this account, believers weep not at the Interment of their Chriſtian brethren, as thoſe which have no hope, but the thoughts of a future meeting ſwallows up the grief of preſent parting; they underſtand that it would be a piece of unkindneſs to be grieved at their happineſs, and that it ſpeaks too much ſelf-love, and too great a disbelief of their unſeen glory, and too much deſire, that our wills ſhould be done before God's. What a deal of ſorrow would the ſound belief of the reality of inviſibles prevent? With what chearfulneſs might the dear Children of God part, when they think how certainly, and ſpeedily they ſhall ſee one another again, never to part more. If the Doctrine of the Reſurrection were but better underſtood, if the Grave were but looked upon, as a Chamber to reſt in, and if faith could but take Death to be but an undreſſing, to put on better Raiment, how contentedly then ſhould we be unclothed, that we might be clothed with immortality: And why ſeems it a thing incredible, that the Body ſhould riſe again? Is it a thing incredible, that he which made a World out of nothing, p. 50ſhould raiſe up our …feleſs Duſt, and ſcattered Bones? Is any thing too hard for the Almighty? Was he put to it, when he made Man out of a lump o… Clay? Is it beyond his power to raiſe Children to Abraham out of the very Stones? Can nothing be acted by an Omnipotent Agent, but it muſt firſt be forged in our brains? Shall God indeed come and bow to us, and wiſdome ask counſel of folly, how he ſhould manage his affairs? Doth not God every Day do as great wonders, as this? and hath not he given our …aith very conſiderable helps in this matter? Doth not his Yearly providences preach the truth of this Doctrine? What Farmer thinks his Seed loſt, when it's buried under the Clods, when the Winter hath diſrobed the Medowes, and covered them with a white Mantle, will you therefore conclude they ſhall never be dreſſed again with their Greens, and decked with their Flowers? but it all this ſignify nothing, what do you think of what God hath done already? was Lazarus his Reſurrection a cheat? and were the Evangeliſts miſtaken, which tell us of the riſing of many of the Saints, and that they went into the holy City? Is Chriſt ſtill in the Grave? and if theſe things be otherwiſe, why ſhould not that which hath been, be again: What? hath God let power than he bad: Is his Arm weaker than it was? Is the Grave too ſtrong for him? And are the Doors of it ſo faſt locked, that his Key can't open them? Did Chriſt promiſe more than he could make good, when he ſaid, I will raiſe them up at the laſt Day. O unbelief! how doſt thou ſpoyl my comforts, and daunt my courage, p. 51truth can't lye, the Almighty can't be weak, God is ſtill like himſelf. And if the caſe be ſo, what a good condition is the dead Saint in? his life is …nd with Chriſt, and when Chriſt, who is his life, ſhall appear, he alſo ſhall appear with him in Glory; And what kind of Body will this be? when it ſhall be l…k… the glorious Body of Chriſt; perfect, active, unmortal. Look up to the Sky, do you ſee how bright that Body is, which lighten, the whole World, how haſtily that Champion runs to finiſh his appointed courſe? vvhy that cold and dead Body ſhall ere long be as glorious, as the Sun in its ſtrength, and as lively in its motions? How caſtly will it mount into the Aire to meet the Lord in the Clouds? how actively will it paſs from one ſide of the Heavens to another, with as much expedition, as it ſhall deſire? how readily will it run at the command of its great Maſter, and keep pace with thoſe winged Meſſengers the Angels, they ſhall be no longer ſuch heavy, dull pieces of Clay, and bundles of Diſeaſes, but when they are called out of their Bed, they ſhall be refreſhed abundantly, and with joy meet their Souls, and be acted by them. O methinks what kind of greeting will theſe two old Companions have, when they ſee one another in an other World; what ſtrange ſalutations will they give each other. Will not the Soul ſay …o the Body, where hadſt thou, O my friend, …hat glorious ſplendor? who clothed thee in ſo …ovely a dreſs? how cameſt thou by that Majeſty …nd beauty? Art thou that Body which wert …ont to bear me company to the Houſe of God, …re thoſe the Eyes that wept ſo oft? Are thoſe p. 52the Feet which travelled ſo many miles to hear the World. O excellent alteration! well, now you ſee that your pains was not altogether loſt, and as for me, I have beheld the glory of our royal Bridegroom, I have viewed his Chambers, and have lodged in his boſom, ever ſince you and I parted, and I have found that he hath made good all his promiſes to a tittle. I had no ſooner parted from thee, but he ſent his Angels for me, and they brought me with joy into his Pavilian, and there did I ſee him compoſed with millions of ſuch Courtiers, and all our old friends I ſaw there; and O ſuch joy, happineſs, and pleaſure is unſpeakable; but what ſound is that which I hear, Is it not the Voice of the Arch Angel? we are commanded away; Who is that, do you think that rides in ſuch ſtate, with ſo great a Train after him? who ſits upon that Throne; hark, hark, he calls you, make haſte, make haſte away.— Come you bleſſed of my Father enter now into your Maſters joy: Dwell in the Manſions that I have prepared, poſſeſs th… Inheritance that I have given you: You ar… mine, and I am yours, I have betrothed you to my ſelf long ſince, and now the marriag… Day is come, and I take you to be my Spou… for ever. Before my Father, and theſe m… Servants, I take you to be my wedded Wif… for ever: and I do now for ever acquit you from all offences, they ſhall never be remembred any more; I inveſt you with the ſam… glory that I poſſeſs, I indow you with all th… Riches of my Kingdome, I will remove whatſoever p. 53may offend you; look how your Enemies tremble, I have already vindicated you from all thoſe falſe imputations, which their malice did caſt upon you, I have ſilenced your accuſers, and for ever ſtopped the Mouths of their great adverſaries, and they ſhall immediately be removed out of their ſight, and pay dearly for all their abuſes. Juſtice, call thoſe Priſoners to the Bar.— Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And now my beloved, the Cloud is quite gone; come now into my Armes, I will never frown more, come away my love, my Dove, my undefiled, and rejoyce in my love, you and I will never part more; what I have is yours, I am well pleaſed in my choice, my Father loves you, as I do; you ſhall be where I am, and have the ſame pleaſures that I have, and live as I do to Eternity. Amen, hallelujah, even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Mat. 26.81, &c. John 17.24. Rev. 21.9, &c. 1 Cor. 15.33, 54. Daniel 12.2, 3. Mal. 8.16, 17 Mal. 4.1. 1 Theſ. 4.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. And is not this a ſufficient reward, for thoſe poor ſervices, which the believer doth perform, while he lives upon the Earth? Is there nothing in all this? Seemeth it to you a ſmall matter to be free from ſin? Is it no favour to be ſecured from Sa…han? Is not that a deſirable place, vvherein there is ſo much glory, that the World in its beſt dreſs, looks like a deform'd ugly thing …o it? Who would not be glad to have all p. 54Diſeaſes cured, pains removed, and wants ſupplied? Will not that be a Day of comfort indeed? when Faith ſhall be ended in ſight▪ hope in enjoyment, deſire in a delightful and Eternal fruition? vvhen patience ſhall have done all its work, when an everlaſting Jubilee ſhall put a period to all ſorrows? Is it no honour to be conveyed into Heaven by a Guard of Angels? Do you count it an inconſiderable favour to ſee King Jeſus in his Throne? Have you no deſire to be with all your good friends, and to know all the Favourites of Heaven? Would you not reckon it a great mercy, to have all your Prayers anſwered to the full? Will there be no pleaſure in the beatifical Viſion? Would not all this be the more conſiderable, if it might laſt alwayes? Is it no ſatisfaction to you, to know that your Body ſhall be raiſed, like Chriſt's Body? and that your Body and Soul ſhall be publickly acquitted, owned, and bleſſed before the great Court: and after this, live in the ſame glory that Chriſt lives in: If all this be worth the having, then the departed Saint is no loſer, and we may well ſay, Bleſſed are the Dead which dye in the Lord.

Thus I have ſhewed who are they which dye in the Lord; and proved that ſuch are bleſſed, and ſhewed wherein their bleſſedneſs doth conſiſt. I now come to make ſome Improvement of this Doctrine.

p. 55USE I Firſt, by way of Information; that holineſs is no ſuch ſilly thing, as the World thinks it to be: Sure, if there be any thing in reſt, happineſs, and glory, then the Saint ſcarce deſerved the imputation of Fanaticiſme: They which have received their Wages, vvill ſay, that the ſervice of God is not unprofitable, and they finde themſelves to be no looſers, though credit, eſtate, and blood were ſpent in the cauſe of Chriſt: Should you ask them, who, thorow may Tribulations, have entred into the Kingdom of Heaven? Whether they repent of their diligence for Heaven, whether God hath not paid them double for their ſelf-denyal, loſſes, and kindneſſes? VVould they not cry out truly, God is good to Iſrael, how great is that Treaſure, that is laid up for them that fear him? Never let any grutch to ſerve God cheerfully, for verily he is a rewarder of them which diligently ſeek him.

USE II If the Saint be ſo happy in another World, then let us all examine, whether we are in the number of thoſe Perſons, for whom ſuch things are prepared. Conſider ſirs, that this is not like to be every Mans portion, all Men and Women are not Kings and Queens, nor all the Sons of Adam Heirs of ſuch an Inheritance; p. 56few run ſo as to obtain, few fight ſo as to conquer, and get the Field, few act, as if this bleſſedneſs were worth the minding; and let me tell you, Heaven is not got with a vvet Finger, moſt do their work by the halves, and though the Spirit move them, the Word, providence, call them, the Miniſters beſeech them, yet all will not do; they will not be perſwaded, but a few lazy wiſhes will do, as well as all the ſeriouſneſs in the World, and thus they will put things to the venture, and count a hazard, in the matters of their Souls and Eternity, but a trivial thing: VVe can't for our lives get Men to be in good earneſt, but they will bleſs themſelves, though God curſe them; and take it for granted, that all is well, when God knows they are in as ſad a condition, as can well be imagined on this ſide of Damnation. We tell them that moſt miſtake, and that miſtake here is the moſt deplorable; and yet ſtill Men are aſleep; and what if this ſhould be thy condition, O Sinner, that comeſt hither for faſhion ſake, and ſits there very trim and cheary? VVhat ſayſt thou Man, art provided for Eternity? What title haſt thou to glory? Doſt thou knovv what it means to be convinced of ſin? Was it ever made loathſome to thee? And canſt thou ſay thou hateſt it with a perfect hatred? and that not only as contrary to thee, and as it brings Hell, Miſery, and Damnation with it, but as it is contrary to God, abuſing his goodneſs, hating his purity, dethroning his Majeſty; hath ſin ever looked you in the face p. 57beſmeered with the blood of Chriſt? Were you ever made to underſtand your abſolute need of Chriſt? Did you ever make a compleat reſignation of your ſelf to him? and hath it been your buſineſs to act for him? and have you felt any ſtrength coming from him, enabling of you to bring forth fruit meet for repentance, and to dye unto ſin, and to live unto righteouſneſs? and yet after all this, have you looked upon your ſelf as an unprofitable ſervant? what experience have you in theſe things? put this queſtion home to thy conſcience; ſay, am I acquainted with ſuch things or no? are theſe things Riddles to me, or do I know what they mean? well now, have you done as I bid you, and what ſaith conſcience? is it altogether ſilent, or doth it put you off till another time? why, then ſpeak again, and again, and ask it whether this be not a ſerious queſtion, and a buſineſs of ſome importance: but becauſe People for the moſt part trifle in this great buſineſs, I ſhall ſpeak ſomething by way of Lamentation and conviction.

USE III It is ſo, that they are bleſſed that dye p. 58in the Lord, then what a caſe are they in, which live and dye out of Chriſt? if none but the friends and Children of God be thus happy, what will become of them which are aliens from the Common wealth of Iſrael, that live without God in the World? Where ſhall the wicked and ungodly appear? O what a lamentable condition are moſt of the World in! if we could ſee all the dead Souls in this Congregation, what a ghaſtly ſight would it be, ſhould God ſtrike all them dead, which lye in their ſins, and know not Chriſt; it is to be feared, that the Aſſembly would be far thinner than it is? ſhould the Graves open, and the Souls and Bones ſay to us, make haſt, make haſt, up get your Souls dreſſed, for within three Days you muſt lye in this black and cold Chamber with us? How would this make moſt of our Faces to gather paleneſs, and our joynts ready to knock one againſt another? but what if another Voice ſhould ſecond it, and one ſhould come roaring out of Hell, wrapped about with Flames, and ſhould ſay, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, they that dye in ſin muſt be buried in Hell, p. 59and if this very moment, you do not turn, you muſt take a place with us in thoſe torments, from which there is no redemption; Would this move you? why ſirs, is there not as much reaſon that you ſhould believe God, as the domned? O what wonders are ſtupid ſinners! how unconcerned do they go up and down, as if it were a very eaſy thing to prepare for Death, and a needleſs thing to think of Eternity. O you that know a little, what the life and death of a Soul is, come help us to mourn over our dead, Doth not the very Aire ſmell of the dead? Are not their numbers ſcarce to be computed? whole Families, Towns, Cities, and ſcarce one living Soul amongſt them! O where, where is our pity? how can we bear to ſee ſo many millions go to the Pit, and not beſtow one tear upon them? what's the matter, O my Soul, that thou art no more compaſſionate? would Heſter, Jeremiah, Paul; nay, would the King and Princes of Niniveh have been no more troubled, if Souls had been in the ſame danger in their Days, as they are in ours. But that I may a little move my ſelf and others; let me commune a p. 60little with you, you are yet in your ſenſes, and have the uſe of your underſtandings, and are not brutes nor ſtones; ſhall I have leave to reaſon the caſe a little with you? do you never uſe your reaſon? have you not a principle of ſelf-preſervation? do you never conſider whither you are going, while you make haſt to Hell? Do you never think of Heaven? and is it ſo frightful a place, that you ſhould be afraid of it? will it undo you to be ſaved? and is that bleſſedneſs, which I have ſet before you, ſo contemptible a thing, that you will not ſo much as give the thoughts of it one Hours entertainment in your Soul? Can you be contented without it, and prefer your ſhort lived pleaſures before it? if the caſe be ſo, thank your ſelves, if you have your choice, blame not God, if he deny you that which you thought not worth the accepting: As for us Miniſters, we call God, Angels, and Men to witneſs, that we have told you of your danger, and if you will not take warning, who can help it; if we knew what in the World to do to prevent your ruine, God forbid but that we ſhould readily do it, but if after all your threatnings, p. 61perſwaſions, and intreaties, you will go on ſtill, why, your blood be upon your own Souls; but though I ſpeak thus, I hope better things of many here preſent, and things that do accompany ſalvation. I ſhall ſpeak for your incouragement in the next Uſe.

USE IV Is it ſo, that they are bleſſed that dye in the Lord, why then ſhould the believer be ſo much afraid of Death? What though it be the King of terrors, is it ſo to all? Have not ſome handled this Serpent without any fear? What have I been proving all this while? Is there not one word of ſenſe in all that hath been ſpoken? get but this ſecured that you are a Child of God, make but the King you friend, and then neither his Serjeant, nor his Porter will do you any hurt, except to arreſt your enemies, and to open the Gates of his Palace to you, and to admit you into his preſence be counted an injury: who would be afraid of everlaſting reſt, why ſhould any one be ſo loth to have his diſeaſes healed, why ſhould we be ſo unwilling to receive that which we ſeem with much earneſtneſs to ask? Will the Priſoner p. 62chooſe always to live confined? will he fall in love with his Chains, or be angry with him that comes to knock off his ſhackles? Is the miſerable Captive afraid of his liberty? why do you hear, pray, and read? to what purpoſe do you ſtrive, watch, and hope: Is it all for that which you tremble to have; what report doth faith bring of an other World? Doth it tell you that it is a Land of Darkneſs and ſorrow, or that it is a place of joy, pleaſure and happineſs? and what ſtill loth to depart? is this World the more deſirable of the two, and are thy ſins and carnal Companions more lovely than Chriſt! If the caſe be ſo, then why doſt thou talk of believing? Is this your faith? the truth of it is, if this be thy caſe, thou haſt no great reaſon to be over deſirous of leaving this World, for I perceive thou haſt built thy Houſe here, and doſt not take Heaven for thy Reſt, but in caſe of abſolute neceſſity, thou thinkeſt it a more tolerable place than Hell and Torments. But thou art not the Perſon, that I have now to do with, I ſhall ſpeak a word or two to ſuch by and by: my errant it is to thee, O praying and believing Saint, I would fain hearten thee up a little, that thou may'ſt ſhew the World, that Heaven is not ſo ſorry a preferment, as that one ſhould hardly be perſwaded to accept of it, but that it is indeed what the Scriptures, Miniſters, and the Children of God ſay it is. O contradict not your profeſſion, and let the wicked ſee, that you have got ſomething in an other World, and that your happineſs begins there, where theirs ends. You work hard, and will you be p. 63afraid when Night comes to receive your wages, I hope you will not ſay that the Lord is a hard Maſter, and that his wages are not worth the receiving. Let the wicked trouble, and the enemies of God fear, and let the workers of iniquity be afraid of their appearance before their Judge. But let not the faithful ſubject dread his King, the Wife her Husband, nor the Child his Father. I would ſain argue my ſelf and others out of thoſe ſlaviſh fears. Conſider ſ…rs, that now death hath loſt its ſting, and the Grave its bitterneſs, and a Saint (if he will but be as careful in keeping his watch, as he ought) may be able to ſpeak the ſame Language, as Paul did. O Death where is thy Sting, O Grave where is thy Victory? 1 Cor. 15 55. And to me to live is Chriſt, and to dye is gain; I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt. If Death were like to make a ſeperation between Chriſt and thee, I ſhould then be far from blaming theſe thy fears, but I ſhould rather wonder, that they are not a thouſand times greater. But me-thinks a Soul that hath had many a ſweet kiſs from Chriſt, that underſtands what he is worth, and that hath ſome good reaſon to ſay, my beloved is mine, and I am his, me-thinks (I ſay) ſuch a one ſhould not deſire, that the Day of Marriage ſhould be protracted. Sure, were this but cleared, it were nothing to dye, but life it ſelf would be as conſiderable an exerciſe of patience, as any thing in the World; let me therefore again expoſtulate the caſe with thee, and do what I can to ſhake off thoſe unwarrantable fears. What is it that you are ſo much afraid of? Is it of pains? why, when you are dead, you will feel none, they be the living p. 64which feel pains, and I believe there are few living, but at one time or other feel as much pain as ſome do in their death; and if their pains be acute, they are like to be ſhort, and if they be not acute, they may be the more eaſily born. Are you loath to leave your friends, I hope God's Saints, and Angels are other gueſs friends than any you have here. You have a fine Houſe, and ſweet conveniences, alas, 'tis but a Hog-ſty, or a Dunghil, if compared with Heaven. But how ſhall I do for my Children? what will become of them, when I am dead and gone? Why, do you make nothing of God's promiſe? Is not he a Father to the Fatherleſs? And is it not his command, that we ſhould leave our Fatherleſs Children with him? Can't God take as good care of them as you? O, but the Grave is a doleful place, and who can think with any comfort of being nail'd up in a Coffin, and covered over with Earth, and of rotting under ground; Why Man, is the Reſurrection no comfort to thee? if there were no ſuch thing, this arguing were the more excuſable; who are you I pray, that you ſhould be priviledged above all the Kings and Monarcks ſince the beginning of the World, which of them have ſecured themſelves from the power of Death? which of them could retain their breath a moment, when Death had received his Commiſſion to ſtop it. Are you better than Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, did not David ſee corruption, and the Fathers, where are they? nay, did not Chriſt dye, and dye ſo bitter a death, as I believe never any from the foundation of the World ever did. Muſt God make thee the third that muſt be ſingled out from Man-kind, to be tranſlated to Glory? p. 65do you walk as Enock and Elias did? and if you do, I know you would then be ſo humble, not to expect this prerogative; and ſo full of love to God, as to be contented to die, if it were a hundred deaths, ſo you might but enjoy him for ever: And what ſay you now? is there not a root of unbelief at the bottom? is there not ſomething of Atheiſm in this? hath not the world a prevailing intereſt in your affections? do you think you have not had time enough yet to ſin? would you ſain diſpleaſe God a little more? do you imagine that you have not ſufficiently abuſed his goodneſs? if not, what is the matter? O I want Aſſurance! did I but know that I am indeed reconciled to God, then, O then I could die as willingly as ſleep! The truth of it is, there can be no other reaſon that can bear any great weight, except this, and a deſire to glorifie God more in bringing in ſouls to him. As for this latter, I wave it; few of my hearers being ſo much concerned in that, as Miniſters are; but as for the former, I would upon this account put you upon the moſt ſpeedy and ſerious diligence in this work. I believe the Apoſtle had ſome reaſon on his ſide, when he did ſo earneſtly perſwade the people of God to uſe all diligence to make their Calling and Election ſure, and to work out their own ſalvation with fear and trembling. Why then ſhould not every Chriſtian without delay ſet upon this? And then the next news we ſhould hear would be, Come Lord Jeſus, why are thy Chariot wheels ſo long a coming? O that I might but come to eternal life, though thorough the valley of the ſhadow of death! 'Tis our trifling with God that makes the thoughts of our appearing before him to be ſo dreadful. Our formality, deadneſs p. 66and coldneſs, our worldly mindedneſs and lazineſs, doth us a world of injury. This, this diſturbeth our peace, this ſtrengthens Satan, and blurs our evidences, and makes us go deſponding into another world, and this brings me to the next Uſe.

USE 5 Is it ſo that they are bleſſed that die in the Lord, &c. be hence exhorted, to live ſo as that you may die in the Lord. Will you take ſo much pains for a little gains in this life, and will you take none at all for eternal bleſſings? How many hazardous voyages have ſome of you made to Ginnee, and the Eaſt Indies, to get Gold and Spices? how many terrible ſtorms have you been in, and what inconceivable hazards have you run, that you might enjoy your ſelves in age, and have ſomething to carry you comfortably and decently to your graves? O why ſhould you not be as ſolicitous in your ſoul concerns? Remember my dear friends, that you are bound for another world, and you muſt ere long ſail into the Ocean of eternity. Conſider what your laiding is, and whether it will return to any account when you come home to your great Owner. Methinks you of all men ſhould think Grace the beſt commodity, and Chriſtianity the beſt trade, and the ſecuring of everlaſting happineſs, the greateſt wiſdom. How can you live within a few inches of death, and look the King of terrours in the face every day, without ſome well-grounded evidences of your intereſt in Gods love? O who would not labour to get out of danger? who would not think p. 67it a bleſſed eſtate to be beyond fears? who can take it to be an unneceſſary work to ſecure a ſoul? is not this the one thing needful? what ſhould a man get if he ſhould gain the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul? and what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? But you Profeſſors, above all, it concerns you to make as ſure as can be poſſible, of ſomething better than you can have here below. What a lamentable thing would it be for you to undergo ſo many reproaches for Chriſts ſake, to venture your liberties, and to hazard your eſtates, and after all to be left in woful uncertainties? It would be a dreadful thing to loſe the comforts of both worlds. O make ſure work! your pains and coſt here will pay its own charges; be not daunted, 'tis a thing hath been done; what do you ſay? will you take ſome pains in the examining of your heart? will you keep any guard over your ſelf? will you wreſtle for this bleſſing? O what courage and comfort ſhould you be endowed with! with what a chearful countenance may you meet death? and how quietly lie down in your grave, being ſupported with the hopes of a bleſſed Eternity, and a glorious Reſurrection.

But I ſhall a little alter my diſcourſe, and turn my ſelf to the careleſs ones of the world, which think little of death, and leſs of eternity. I had occaſion before to bewail your condition, and now I might renew my lamentations, as fearing that what I have ſpoke, or may ſpeak, will have very little operation upon you; but however I cannot leave you thus, but I muſt try once more, how a plain compaſſionate exhortation will prevail. O p. 68hat I could tell what words to ſpeak, that might each your heart! O that I could expreſs my ſelf in ſuch melting words that might break the very ſtones! O that you may feel this exhortation!

Men, Brethren, and Fathers, give me leave to l…t you underſtand how dearly I love you, and to ſhew my affections in the moſt real demonſtrations that may be. Sirs, I am come to b…g of you for Gods ſake, to be willing to live; I beſeech you deſpiſe not the bleſſing, but accept Chriſt and ſalvation while they are offered. Were it a thing poſſible to be happy any other way but by Chriſt and a holy life, I ſhould ſpare my labour. If Glory could be obtained upon eaſier terms than the Goſpel ſpeaks of, I ſhould eaſe my ſelf and you of this trouble. And if any were like to be bleſſed after death, but ſuch as die in the Lord, I ſhould be the more indifferent in this matter; but ſince that cannot be, methinks thoſe three weighty words, Life, death, eternity, ſhould have a mighty influence upon you. O let not a day paſs without a few ſerious thoughts of this! I need hot perſwade you to love your lives, nature teacheth you to do that; but there is another life, which is hid from the world, which moſt forget; O think of that! that's a life indeed, a life of joy, happineſs and pleaſure! Death ſounds oft in the ears; every paſſing bell tells you, that your breath is going, and that your turn is coming, and all the Coſlins that are carried by your doors, ſay, prepare, do your work quickly, … will ſhortly be too late. But who underſtands the meaning of this Preacher? who takes any thought p. 69of another life, makes ready for death, and looks into eternity? O Eternity! Eternity! how rarely do men think of Eternity! O that now ſome would begin to be wiſe! Do you think your Sun will never ſet? will your ſands be never ran out? and do you know what dying is? then the keepers of the houſe will tremble, the windows ſhall be …hut, and inſtead of the Daughters of Muſick, the voice of groaning, lamentation and weeping. It may be death will lay his cold hand firſt upon thy feet, and bind them, and they are as cold as the earth, and what a damp doth this put upon thy ſpirit? and then you cry, once more ſend for the Doctor, and he comes in haſte. O Sir, a world for breath, half my eſtate to preſerve my life a day or two longer; and what anſwer doth he make? Sir, 'tis but a folly to flatter you, all the art in the world will not keep you alive two hours longer; what did you ſend for me for, to a dead man? and ſo he flings away in a rage; and how doth the fainting Patient hear ſuch tidings! O what ſhall I do! what, will all forſake me? can no body help me? well, ſend for a Miniſter, and what ſaith he, Sir, how have you lived? did you pray in your family? do you know experimentally what Regeneration is? what do you ſay? Sir, I do not underſtand that word: What, did you never hear a Sermon in your life? were you born in England? To be regenerated is to be born again; do you know what that is? O no, that's impoſſible! Why then, Sir, you are in a lamentable condition indeed; you cannot live an hour longer; and if you die in this ſtate, you muſt go to Hell as ſure as God is in Heaven. O how doth that word p. 70ſtrike the man to the heart! and what a flame hath he within! and what horrour is his ſoul filled with! It cannot be imagined what Agonies the ſoul as well as the body now labours under. O that I might die the death of the Righteous! and are all my hopes come to this? woe, woe, woe to me poor wretch, whither am I now going? where ſhall I now dwell? who ſhall be my companions for ever? O that I had but now a little of that grace which I deſpiſed in others! but it's now too late! O my heart, I am pained at my heart! O my breath it is going, it is juſt a going! O what ſhall I do! O 'tis too late! O what ſhall—And thus his breath goes, and his friends come round about him, and one lifts up his hand, and that falls down again like a log, and others feel upon his noſe, and there's no breath, and then they ſay he is gone, and ſo one cloſeth his eyes, and others ſtrip him, and lay him out, and two daies after he is put into the grave: but where, where is the ſoul? And thus one goes after another, and ſhortly all this generation will be ſerved thus. And thou, O careleſs ſoul, as little as thou mindeſt all this, it may be thou mayeſt be the next, and what will become of thee if death take thee unprovided! Now Sirs, what will you do? will you go on juſt as you did? will you put far from you the thoughts of the evil day? will you ſhake off the ſenſe of this as ſoon as you can? I believe that this is none of the pleaſanteſt diſcourſes to ſome of you: But I would have you to know that my buſineſs is not to pleaſe your fancy, but to ſave your ſouls, and to wake you out of your dead ſleep; and if I do but this, I have enough. Once p. 71more therefore I muſt ask you what you intend to do; will you indeavour to live to Chriſt, that you may die in the Lord? or will you do as others do, put off the thoughts of theſe things till it be too late? Is this a queſtion ſo hard to be anſwered? Well, methinks the very looks of ſome of you ſpeak you to be perſons reſolved, and by this time you are ready to ask how you ſhall do to be of this number that ſhall die in the Lord, and be bleſſed; how you may trade ſo as to get the moſt durable riches; and how you may live ſo as to gain by death? In general I anſwer, If you would have death gain, you muſt live to Chriſt; make it your work and buſineſs to ſecure an intereſt in Chriſt; let Religion run thorow all you do; (but for your fuller information in this matter, I ſhall refer you to the latter end of my Book of Acquaintance with God, which is now reprinted) at preſent my advice ſhall be, that you would follow them who thorow faith and patience are the inheriters of the promiſe; and propoſe to your ſelves the examples of the moſt eminent Chriſtians; ſuch as this precious young mans, whoſe Funeral Rites we are now ſolemnizing; and becauſe examples are very cogent, and affect moſt, more than precepts, I ſhall preſent you with an account of ſome of this holy young mans practices and experiences: Take them therefore as I have gathered them by my own experience and intimate knowledge of him; and as I have collected them out of many ſheets of his own writings. But let it not be thought, I beſeech you, that out of cuſtom or flattery, I ſpeak ſuch Funeral Commendations: were he but a Common Chriſtian, I would have p. 72ſorb…rn ſpeaking any thing of this nature for ſear of hardening ſinners. I muſt deal plainly, I abho that curſed flattery in commending all that are buried; as if to die and to go to Heaven were all one. I know many rotten poſts are guilded; many Sepulchres that are full of bones, and putrified fleſh, are painted, and many Profeſſors are extolled at their death, who did no good wh…le they lived, except it were the giving ſome pit…ful pittance to the poor when they could keep it no longer. I queſtion not but that thouſands are praiſed upon earth, that are condemned in Heaven; and many applauded for Saints, that will be found among the Devils and damned. Expect it not therefore as a thing like to be uſual with me to commend dead perſons. As I would judge none, ſo I dare commend but few. This only by way of Apology. I ſhall come to the thing promiſed, to propoſe ſome imitable paſſages of the life of T. M.

1. Firſt, He began to …ook Heaven ward betimes▪ he was made to remember his Creatour in the daies of his youth; his firſt conv…ctions were at about twelve years old, but they had no abiding impreſſion upon him, the great work was begun to purpoſe between ſeven…een and eighteen. I ſhall be the more brief here, becauſe you have the account more full from his own hand. The change that was wrought upon him did expreſs more of the power of God, and the riches of his grace than ordinary. The Lord made his work upon him very clear and diſtinct; for he broke in upon his ſoul like an armed man, and ſhook him terribly …ve… Hell, and the …rr…urs of God ſet themſelves p. 73…n array againſt him, and the poiſon of his arrows drank up his ſpirits, ſin did appear in its colour to him …s ugly as the devil, and as dreadful as Hell it ſelf; ſo that the foundation was laid in very deep hu…lity. O then how frightful a thing was ſin, yea his beloved ſin, the ſin of gaming was made moſt loathſome and abominable, ſo that for that he loathed himſelf in duſt aſhes, and looked upon himſelf as unworthy to tread upon Gods ground, and had not God ordered it ſo as that the firſt Sermon he heard after this great conviction was upon that Scripture, 1 Tim. 1.15. he had even fallen into deſpair, but the thoughts of Gods having mercy upon the chiefeſt of ſinners, did a little ſupport his ſoul, and gave him hopes of a poſſibility of being ſaved.

2. This put him upon ſtrong groans and prayers, that the Lord would pitty him as ever he would pitty any poor creature in the World, O that he would pitty him; haſt thou not a bleſſing for me, O God even for me, what ſhall I do, now I am without God, Chriſt, or Grace, my condition is ſuch I cannot bear it, who can be contented to be damned! O pitty me, pitty me, dear Lord, I cannot tell what in the world to do; mercy, mercy, mercy, or I am loſt, mercy ſpeedily or I am loſt for ever: And ſo he continued in a way of duty, reading, and praying, and inquiring, and reſolving thus to do all his dayes; and now farewell wicked company, farewell ſports and vanity and idleneſs, the great buſineſs of minding his ſoul now ſwallows him up, and after a while he hath a little more peace than he had, but upon further enquiry p. 74and waiting upon the means, he was convinced tha… all this would not do without the Righteouſneſs o… Chriſt: And this brings me to the next thing,

3. He was deeply convinced of the abſolute neceſſity and excellency of Chriſt, and brought o… from his own righteouſneſs, to high prizing… and admirings of Chriſt; take his own words▪ And is it true indeed, hath Chriſt done and ſuffered ſuch things for thee, O my poor ſinful, vile, odious polluted ſoul, and what wilt not thou love him now? Oh think a little what put him upon a… this, was it any ſelf intereſt, is he any gainer by thee, he got nothing but grief, pain and death▪ O my ſoul it was free, pure and undeniable love that cauſed him to do and ſuffer what he did conſider again O my ſoul, what cauſe was there that he ſhould make thee a partaker of the benefit of his blood, what waſt thou, Oh a mot… loathſome ſinner, and what wilt thou not yet love him? O Lord, I am aſhamed of my own heart, that I cannot raiſe it to the higheſt pitch o… admiration of that infinite boundleſs love. O… love, love, love; O that I could love thee, O Lord, I would fain be ſick of love, O that I could dy… ſick of love to thee, O that I could feel thee warming my heart with that quickning blood which thou ſheddedſt upon the Croſs; O what love is like to that; O my ſoul, it was ſhed for thee who was an enemy, a rebel, a deſpiſer of Chriſt! awake O bleſſed ſpirit and blow upon my ſoul, and kindle a fire which may burn with love to Chriſt, to all Eternity, Amen, Amen.

p. 754. He did upon this in a ſerious and ſolemn manner give up himſelf to the Lord in a Covenant, (I ſhall not repeat the words of this Covenant, becauſe they are taken verbatim out of my book of Acquaintance with God) and he ſub…cribed his name to it, and kept it as a witneſs before the Lord, and to quicken his own ſoul to a …ore cloſe walking with God according to the Ar…cles of that Covenant.

5. After he was gone thus far, his bowels began …o yern over his Chriſtleſs friends, ſome of which (I perceive by his letters) began to abuſe him for his ſeriouſneſs, and to deride his ſtrictneſs and jeer at his holineſs: ſhall I give you a taſte of his ſpirit, I cannot do it in warmer words than his own which are as followeth.—

Yours I received, but whether I dare to thank you for it, I know not, for truly I cannot expreſs the trouble that hath ſince ſeiſed upon my ſpirit; Oh poor ſoul, what ſhall I ſay unto thee? Oh my bowels, my bowels, they yern towards thee, I am pained, yea I am pained while I think upon thy condition, what ſhall I do for thee, what ſhall I ſay unto thee; I could be contented that theſe lines were writ with my very heart blood, ſo that they might affect thee; O I had rather dye than receive another ſuch letter from you, I could not reliſh it, it was bitter, I could not ſee the name of dear Jeſus in it, — how can I think of your blind ſuperſtition, and not mourn and lament over a dead ſoul! you ſay you are ſorry, and you are troubled. What is the matter, are you ſorry that I ſhould concern my ſelf about my ſoul, p. 76and about yours; you would not trouble your ſelf about theſe things now, if not now, I pray when will you, at the hour of death, at the day o… Judgement, O then it will be too late, O now o… never, delayes are dangerous. O Eternity, Eternity, O where ſhall yours and my ſoul dwell t… all Eternity. Oh either in heaven, or in hell, either with Chriſt or devils, the ſoul that ſi… ſhall dye; your debt is great, the juſtice of God muſt be ſatisfied, and nothing can do it but th… blood of Jeſus, O for this precious Jeſus, make not light of Chriſt, he is precious, he is altogether lovely; I would not for ten thouſand world quit my ſhare in him, and in that which is the matter of your fear, you complain that I have le… the wayes of our fore-fathers — I ſe… you take the ſhadow for the ſubſtance; what … the Croſs in Baptiſm, without the Baptiſme … the ſpirit; what good will the bowing at th… name of Jeſus do them, which perſecute him i… his members, and have him not formed in their hearts — O that God would cut aſunder your falſe hopes, if Chriſt were in you, yo… would rejoyce to think that he hath been a… work in my ſoul, was I born with theſe principles which you read in my laſt Letters, I am ſur… I was once of an other mind than now I am▪ but bleſſed, yea admired be free grace, which hath made me to differ from my ſelf and others. … am afraid you underſtand not my meaning, whe… I ſpeak of love to God and Regeneration, as long as I only concerned my ſelf about the World, an… not my ſoul, you kindly entertained my letters but no ſooner did I ſpeak of repentance, and th… p. 77affairs of our poor never-dying ſouls, but then you are troubled and cannot bear it. I tell you I lay dead almoſt eighteen years, and then I had a gracious wound from my dear God, which made me cry out where am I, I am undone, I am undone, my ſin will damn me. O what ſhall I do for a Chriſt — And at this rate he goes on writing many letters, which did all breath a divine ſpirit.

6. He was very ſpiritual in his diſcourſe, and by that he put life into moſt of them that converſed with him; how helpful was he to young Chriſtians! how ready to hearten them up in the wayes of God, and how able to diſcover to them the policies of Satan! he was ſcarce in his element, but when he was doing or receiving of good, he ſtudied Mr. Herbert Palmer's little Book about making Religion ones buſineſs, and he did in a great meaſure put it into practice: To uſe his own expreſſions, I did, ſaith he, labour to ſpiritualize common action, and to ſerve God in ſerving my maſter with diligence, cheerfulneſs and faithfulneſs. O what reſort was there of young ones to him for direction and advice in things which they did not think it ſo fit to trouble their Paſtor with, and how did he endeavour to ſeaſon his fellow ſervants with grace: When he went to any of his Maſters Patients, how diligent in uſing of means for their recovery, and how careful to drop ſomething that might tend to the health of their ſouls, and as he had opportunity amongſt the weaker and poorer ſort, he would pray with them, and O with what vehemency of ſpirit, with what fluency of expreſſion, and with what mighty affections would he do p. 78it? I need not tell ſome of you, how helpfull he hath been to the bodies and ſouls of the ſick, and upon this account he looked upon it as a great mercy that the Lord had called him to ſuch an employment, wherein he had ſuch ſingular advantages to deal with poor ſouls about the affairs of Eternity: I queſtion no… but there are ſome ſtanding here that have cauſe to bleſs God that ever they ſaw his face, and I believe that ſome of you that are young and poor will quickly dearly miſs him.

7. He was exceedingly raiſed in duty and one that injoyed rare communion, intimacy and acquaintance with God; and for about five moneths (as his own papers ſhew) together, he rarely came into the preſence of God, but he went away with ſome ſpecial tokens of his love; ſo that he ſaid he could have been contented to have left the world at a quarter of an hours warning: Hear how his Papers ſpeak; My ſoul continued (if my heart do not mightily deceive me) in a thriving condition for five moneths. O the comforts that I then had, they are unſpeakable, I ſeldome went to duty, but carryed my dear Saviour, and brought him away with me; every Ordinance was a viſit of love; my love to Jeſus Chriſt, and his members whereever I ſaw them was not to be expreſſed; what hatred to ſin, what zeal for Gods glory, what yerning of bowels towards poor ſouls in the ſtate of nature, how beautiful were the feet of the Embaſſadors of peace, what a fulneſs and ſweetneſs did I then ſee and feel in Chriſt, ever hungring after him, and ever ſatisfied with him, and him alone, what affections. God-ward, what deſpiſing of viſibles, what deep apprehenſions of the p. 79Majeſty and Attributes of God, how did I walk unweariedly with him, how did I rejoyce before him with fear, and truſt filially in him with trembling! O what watchfulneſs over my thoughts, words and actions: Indeed I was often aſſaulted, but I had a faithful Centinel which would give warning, and admit of none but ſuch as were friends to the Lord Jeſus; what low thoughts had I of my ſelf, and high prizings of a naked Chriſt! Oh Sir, in one word I made Religion my buſineſs, and was taken up with that which concerned the glory of God; every grace was at ſtrife which ſhould excell other in its actings; I could never go to market, but I could experience returns of Grace and Mercy. In this I have not varied two words from his own writings in a letter that he gave me, wherein he did grievouſly bewail the leaſt departures of his heart from God, as you ſhall hear in the next.

8. He took ſpecial notice of his own heart, and did mightily bewail any declinings from that vigour that ſometimes he had; and here I ſhall again uſe his words as they follow— But this did not continue long, it was as a calm before a ſtorm, for ſoon after (my time being almoſt out) I began to have ſome thoughts of my ſetting up and entring into the world; but I had no ſooner imbraced the motion, but that very day I felt a change in my poor ſoul, viz. a too too much letting out my thoughts upon it, which I moſt perceived in duty, and the devil who long waited his opportunity, did then, I am afraid, not only parley, but get entrance, through the treachery and deceitfulneſs of my wretched heart, and he told me that I might lawfully p. 80ſettle my mind upon this, it being a buſineſs of great concernment, and that it would be but a little while, and then I ſhould return to my former temper in ſpiritual matters, upon thoſe deluſions my ſilly heart gave way, and I found too much willingneſs of ſoul to place its concerns in that matter, and ſo I laying down my watch, ſoon loſt my former experiences, and every day I found my comforts on the ebbing hand, I ſecretly departed from God, and darkened the light of his countenance, that did ſhine ſometimes upon my ſoul, and had not infinite grace put a ſeaſonable word into your mouth to prevent me, how had I fallen, and whither had I gone? I could not have thought it poſſible that ever my heart ſhould decline ſo ſtrangely as it did. I that formerly could ſerve my Maſter faithfully, cheerfully and comfortably, did it grutchingly, and not out of love, though I never fell ſo far, (through grace) as to neglect any thing of his buſineſſes, yet … loſt the right principles of action; and the art of ſpiritualizing of civil affairs; and this laſted for about three moneths; It is ſcarce to be thought what perplexities I brought my ſelf into, by my back-ſliding from God; I have not time to declare things, and had I, it would be very unwelcome to you; true, I hope I did enjoy ſome communion with God when I was engaged in duties, eſpecially in that to be admired Ordinance of the Sacrament and Prayer; but yet my comforts and duty uſually ended together, I hope the experience that I have had of the treachery of my own heart, will make me carry a fence of my weakneſs and folly, ſo as … throw my ſelf wholly upon the wiſdom of God — I have thus opened my ſoul to p. 81you, O that the Lord, who firſt for his own name ſake ſhewed mercy to me when I deſerved none, would now look upon me in my low eſtate, and conſult the ſame bowels of pitty and compaſſion, which are infinite, paſt the ſins of finite creatures; O that he would heal my back-ſlidings, and love me freely: God is the ſame, and changeth not, and my hopes are that he will again return and viſit my ſoul in mercy — After this the Lord was pleaſed to come in again, and he found his former comforts in ſome meaſure returning after a great deal of pains with his own heart, and wreſtling with God: Hear what language he begins to ſpeak again,

Bleſſed be God for what I do enjoy, it is ten thouſand times more than I deſerve, I hope the dew of the ſanctuary doth oft refreſh me, and the blood of Jeſus is my cordial, when I ſit at his Table, he viſits me, and his banner over me is love. I may ſpeak it to the glory of rich grace, that my heart is in a better frame than it was, and I am more free from diſtractions in duty, but yet I am far from that frame that I was once in, my diſtemper it lyeth in want of thoſe ſtrong affections to God: and that which hath made me ſo ſilent to you is the fear of hypocriſie; leſt my tongue ſhould at any time out-reach my heart. I might be far larger, and yet ſpeak none but his words, this I think may prove that he was a very curious obſerver of his own ſoul, and took notice of the leaſt departures of his heart from God, or Gods abſenting of himſelf from him. I might tell you what pains he took to prepare for the Sacrament, and what exactneſs he uſed afterwards in taking notice how his ſoul was affected, & when it was not raiſed, what care did he uſe till he found a freſh w…r…nth, p. 82heat and life animating of him, I might tell you how frequent he was in that rare duty of meditation; I ſpeak not this without book, many ſheets of his meditations which I have by me ſhew that he was no ſtranger to thoſe ſpiritual duties which few underſtand and fewer practiſe.

9. He was greatly deſirous to be reproved and watched over, that of the Pſalmiſt was oft in his mouth, and written in his Letter, Let the Righteous ſmite me, and it ſhall be a kindneſs, and let him reprove me, and it ſhall be excellent Oyl, which ſhall not break my head.

10. He was much exerciſed in acts of mortification and ſelf denyal, he laboured to keep under his body, to have the command of his paſſions and affections, very temperate, drinking water, &c.

11. He was frequently praiſing of God and ſpeaking well of his wayes; indeed his deportment was ſuch that he credited Religion, and commended the ſervice of his great Maſter, and made people to believe that Religion was an excellent thing, and he juſtified wiſdom, and was able to ſay her wayes were pleaſantneſs, and her paths peace.

12. He was a very good Husband of time, one would wonder, how one could roll over ſuch a deal of buſineſs as he did, not in the leaſt neglecting his Maſters affairs, and yet that he ſhould write ſuch packets of letters, and pen ſo many Meditations, and be ſo very helpful to his brethren the young men: How many Books did he read over, and read p. 83them to the purpoſe, ſo as to make them his own, ſome of them five or ſix times over; and if he had no company to dicourſe with, when he went abroad, he lookt oft into his Pocket Book, which was called, Making Religion ones buſineſs.

13. He had a ſtrong affection for the faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, and was concerned when the Cloud began to threaten them, that he ingaged all the Prayers he could for them that the Lord would blow over this ſtorm, and I am ready to think that this might haſten his end.

14. He was greatly afraid of ſpiritual pride, to this end; he deſired me to keep a watch over him, and beſeeched me to diſcover it to him, when I did at any time diſcern the actings of it, but though he had great parts and gifts above his age, yet the fence of former ſins, and his curious obſervance of his heart, and the fence of free grace, kept him very low.

15. He ſeemed to be poſſeſſed with the thoughts of death and Eternity. He had a ſtrong impreſſion upon his ſpirit of the neerneſs of his end for about half a year before he dyed. And,

16. He was much above the fears of death, and from a deep fence of the reallity of inviſibles, and his propriety in them; he thought long for poſſeſſion; and he could ſay I deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Jeſus.

On the Lords Day before he dyed he was in an extaſie of comfort, and felt what thoſe joyes unſpeakable in believing meant, in former times he had p. 84great manifeſtations of Gods love, but never any broke into his ſoul with ſuch power, and clear evidence as then; he had as it were a proſpect of glory, and ſome foretaſtes of that happineſs that was prepared for him before the foundations of the world; and O how did his heart even leap within him to think that within a little while he ſhould fully and eternally enjoy what he now had a little glympſe of. —

Upon Munday I went to viſit him, and found him in a very ſweet frame, ſo taken up with Heaven, that he did even wonder at himſelf. I am (ſaith he) ſo overcome with the love of Chriſt and the glory of Heaven, that all manner of fear is hid from mine eyes, and I cannot ſo much as think of Hell; or if I do, it is with joy that there is no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus: but what do you think of theſe things, is it poſſible that they ſhould be deluſions; O Sir, I beſeech you be faithfull to my ſoul, and tell me as you will anſwer it at the barr of God, what you judge of my ſtate; I would not for a World be now in a fools Paradice; and then he told me his experiences, and intreated me to ſearch and try him, and again and again he expreſſed his great joy under the apprehenſions of death, and that glorious Eternity that he was paſſing into; I deſired earneſtly to diſcourſe with you (ſaid he) becauſe I expect to loſe the uſe of my reaſon, and am not like to be capable of ſpeaking my mind to you hereafter, and then he intreated me to give him a Funeral Sermon: And all this he ſpoke with as much cheerfulneſs as can well be imagined, ſpeaking of death as the moſt deſirable thing; O, ſaith he, that I were but ten times ſicker, I long to dye, I am p. 85ill, but I would be ill to purpoſe; O dear Jeſus, I long to be with thee.

Upon Tueſday, his diſtemper grew much upon him, and began a little at times to impair his intellectuals, and yet by fits he would ſpeak excellently of the things of God; being asked whether he was willing to dye, he anſwered, That Eternity was too little for him to praiſe God in for his rich mercy to ſuch a poor creature as he was, that the Lord ſhould prepare ſuch an inheritance amongſt the Saints in glory for him, and that his life was hid with Chriſt, and that when Chriſt who was his life ſhould appear, he alſo ſhould appear with him in glory: This morning he prayed for an exhorted thoſe that were in the family, to prepare to meet him in glory.

Upon Wedneſday when he had any intermiſſions; he broke out into ſuch expreſſions as theſe. Dear Jeſus, what art thou doing, preparing Manſions for me? I am coming ſweet Jeſus, I am coming, — It is but a little while, a little thread, and when that is cut, I ſhall be ſafe in glory. Being very ill he ſaid, What if I ſhould live two hours, or two dayes, what is that to a glorious Eternity? Death, what is it but a Porter to open Heaven-gate for me? — What is all the World compared to that Crown which I ſhall receive? — Being asked how he did, he anſwered very well, one ſtanding by ſaid no, you are very ill; he replyed, I know I am very ſick, but I ſay I am well, becauſe I am as God would have me be. When I came to him in the afternoon, I found him exceeding ill, and betraying ſome weakneſs in his intellectuals, and his diſcourſe being very impertinent; I ſaid to him, your language was wont to be ſpiritual, but now you forget your ſelf; p. 86It is true Sir, ſaid he, but you know what the condition of my body now is, bleſſed be God the root of matter is in me. After this he was very ſtill and quiet whileſt I read to him, and ſeemed to be much pleaſed at the reading of the fifty fourth, and fifty fifth of Iſaiah, and gave a very rational account of any ſpiritual queſtion that was put to him, and very deſirous that I ſhould pray with him.

Upon Thurſday becauſe of extraordinary buſineſs of my own I could not be preſent with him.

Upon Friday he was taken ſpeechleſs for many hours together, but according to our Prayers at laſt he recovered the uſe of his reaſon more than before, and could ſpeak that we might well underſtand him; then I asked him how he did, he anſwered me Still alive—After a conſiderable pauſe he cryed out Gracious Father, thy Will be done. Then I opened ſeveral Scriptures to him, which ſpeak the bleſſed ſtate of Saints in another World, and when I asked him whether he did underſtand me; He anſwered, Yes, Yes, and wept ſeveral times for joy. Now the Symptomes of death approaching come upon him, ſcarce any pulſe, and a dying ſweat, and the laſt words that I heard him ſpeak were Glory, Glory — After that he continued in very great Agonies, and his pangs were ſtrong, till about 11 of the Clock, then he ſlept in Jeſus: being exceedingly lamented by the young men of his Society, many of which were about him.

FINIS.