Death Made Comfortable, Prayers 5
Prayers and Devotions, on the Apprehension or Approach of Death.
Scriptures.
Ps. 49. & Ps. 90. to v. 13.
Job. 14.
1 Thes. 4. from v. 13. to c. 5. v. 7.
1 Cor. 15.
Ps. 88.
Jo. 5. v. 21. to v. 30.
Rev. 21.
1. On the Prospect of our own Death Drawing near.
IT is appointed unto men once to Dye, and after this the judgement, Heb. 9. 27.
For out of the ground wast thou taken, Dust thou art, and unto Dust shalt thou return, Gen. 3. 19.
We are Strangers here, and our Days on the Earth are as a shadow, and there is none abideing, 1 Chron. 29. 15.
As Pilgrims, we sojourn: and have here no continuing City, but seek one to come. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Heb. 13. 14.
Yea, the Days of man upon Earth, are like the Days of an hireling, to serve his appointed time.
And when his time is up, a Servant Earnestly Desireth the Refreshment of the Shade, and the hireling looketh for the Reward of his Work, Job. 7. 1. 2.
And as for me, I know that thou wilt bring me to Death, and to the House appointed for all Liveing, Job 30. 23.
For few and Evil have my Days been. And now behold! I seem as one who am going the way of all the Earth, Gen, 47. 9. & Josh. 23. 14.
And as I came forth of my Mothers Womb, soe naked shall I return to go as I came, and shall take nothing of my Labor away in my Hand with me, Eccl. 5. 15.
I shall Rest from my Labors, and nothing but my works follow me, Rev. 14. 13.
And I must work the Works of God, while it is Day; the night cometh when noe man can work, Jo. 9. 4.
Blessed are those Servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall …ind watching. Luk. 12. 37.
Behold! I come as a Thief. B…essed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, Rev. 16. 15.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour, when the Son of man Cometh.
For at midnight there shall be a Crye made, behold the Bridegroom cometh, goe ye out to meet him.
And they who are ready with their Lamps trimmd, and Oyl in them, goe in with him; but after that the Door is shut, and to those that knock he will Say I know you not, Mat. 25. 6, 7, 10, 12, 13.
And who is that Faithfull and wise Steward, whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his Household, to give them their Portion of meat in due Season?
Blessed is that Servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find soe doing
Of a tr…th I say unto you, that he will make him Ruler over all that he hath, Luc. 12. 42, 43, 44.
2. On Willingness to die.
O! Death, how bitter is the Remembrance of thee to a man, that liveth at Rest in his Possessions, and that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath Prosperity in all things.
And how acceptable is it, unto the needy▪ and to him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last Age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that Despaireth, and hath lost Patie…ce. Ecclus. 41. 1▪ 2.
And wherefore is Light given to him that is in misery, and Life unto the bitter in Soul?
Which long for Death, but it comes not, and Dig for it more than for hid Treasures?
Which rejoyce exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the Grave? Job 3. 20, 21, 22.
Besides, whilst we are at home in the Body▪ we are absent from the Lord.
And we are confident, and Willing rather to be absent from the Body, and Present with the Lord.
For if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we know that we have a Building of God, an House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.
And in this being burdened, we Groan Earnestly, Desireing to be Cloath'd upon with our House which is from Heaven, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8.
For to me to Dye is gain. And therefore I have a Desire to Depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better, Phil. 1. 21, 23.
The Day of Death, is really better than the Day of ones Birth, Eccl. 7. 1.
For the Spirit shall return to God who gave it.
The Dust, indeed, shall return to the Earth, as it was, Eccl. 12. 7.
But there the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at Rest, and they hear not the voice of the Oppressor, Job 3. 17, 18.
Yea, I will ransom them from the Power of the Grave, saith the Lord, I will redeem them from Death: O! Death, I will be thy Plague; O! Grave, I will be thy Destruction. Hos. 13. 14.
For he shall change this Vile Body and fashion it like unto his own Glorious Body. Phil. 3. 21.
And this corruptible shall put on incorruption; and this mortal shall put on immortality. 1 Cor. 15. 53.
And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all Faces, and there shall be noe more Sorrow, nor Crying, nor Pain, but Death shall be swallowed up in Victory, Is. 25. 8. Rev. 21. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 54.
3. Against Fear of Death.
FEar not the sentence of Death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after, for this is the Sentence of the Lord over all Flesh, Ecclus. 41. 3.
It is but a†2. Sam. 7. 12. going to Rest, Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth. Jo. 11. 11.
And tho therein I leave Dear Friends, yet I go to my Fathers. Gen. 15. 15.
And am gather'd to my People. Gen. 49. 33.
And the Righteous hath Hope in his Death. Prov. 14. 32.
For God hath begotten us again to a lively Hope thro the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead. 1 Pet. 1. 3.
And by his Death, he hath destroyed him who had the Power of Death; and Deliver'd them, who all their Life Time were in Bondage to the Fear of Death. Heb. 2. 14, 15.
S…e that now, whether we Live or Dye, we are the Lords. Rom. 14. 8.
For he died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1. Thes. 5. 10.
The Sting of Death is Sin. 1 Cor▪ 15. 56.
But he is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins. Act. 5. 31.
And we have such an High Priest, as will have Compassion on our infirmities.
He can mercifully Consider and be touched with them in us, having in all points, Sin only excepted, been tempted like as we are himself. Heb. 4. 15. & c. 2. 17, 18.
And therefore Thanks be to God, who giveth us the Victory of Death, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15. 57.
And Blessed are the Dead from henceforth, which Dye in the Lord: Yea saith the Spirit, for they rest from their Labours, and their Works follow them. Rev. 14. 13.
4. Against Presumption.
LEt him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. 10. 12.
Thou standest by Faith: be not high-minded, but Fear. Rom 11. 20.
Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardneth his Heart against Fear, shall fall into mischeif. Prov. 28. 14.
Work out therefore your own Salvation, with Fear and Trembling:
For it is God that worketh in you of his Good Pleasure, Phil. 2. 12, 13.
Likewise, since you must stand before him, who without Respect of Persons judgeth according to every mans work, pass the time of your Sojourning here in Fear, 1 Pet. 1. 17.
Tho I know nothing by my self, yet am I not hereby justifyed, 1 Cor. 4. 4.
The Heavens are not clean in his sight, Job▪ 15. 15.
He put noe trust in his Servants; and his Angels he charged with folly. Job 4. 18.
When I consider, I am afraid of him. Job 23. 15.
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever, Psal. 52. 8.
But will keep withall an humble Spirit, that trembleth at his word, Is. 66. 2.
And serve him with Reverence and Godly Fear. Heb. 12. 28.
5. In the last Agonies.
LOrd, now let thy Servant Depart in… Peace. Luc. 2. 29.
Say unto my Soul, I am thy Salvation. Psal. 35. 3.
This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradice. Luc. 23. 43.
Lord Jesu receive my Spirit. Act 7. 59.
Into thine Hand I commit it, for thou hast redeemed me, O! Lord God of Truth. Psal. 31. 5.
Be with me, and Conduct me, thro the Valley of the shadow of Death. Psal. 23. 4.
Send thy Holy Angels, to Carry me into Abrahams Bosom. Luk. 16. 22.
And into the inheritance of the Saints in light. Col. 1. 12.
I have fought a good Fight, I have finished my Course, I have kept the Faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8.
For if we beleive that Jesus Dyed, and rose again, even soe them allsoe which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him▪ 1 Thess. 4. 14.
And I know whom I have Believed, and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have Committed to him, against that Day. 2 Tim. 1. 12.