A Memento to Young and Old, Treatise 1 · Sermon 5
SERMON. V.
Eccles. 12. 1.
—before the evil days come, &c.
CHAP. I.
THus ye have heard, how Old Age is said to consist of evil daies: now here we see how the Holy Ghost doth call away the thoughts of young men from the pleasures and vanities of Youth, wherein they are usually drowned and over-whelmed, and giveth them a foresight of a change: letteth them know, that it will not alwayes be thus with them; they must look for other times hereafter to pass over them; now they have their good daies, their daies of Youth, but they must perswade themselves there be other daies coming; these good daies will not last alwayes. Hence I observe,
Observ. That it is Christian wisdom to foresee and provide for changes ere they come: it is a brutish and sensual folly to have the Heart so possessed and taken up with present prosperity and earthly contentments of any kind, as not to have any serious and effectual regard of such changes as may be brought upon us. Therefore the Spirit of God having to do with young men in this place, who did please themselves in themselves, and in their present youthful wayes, delights and contentments, he setteth before their eyes a lively image of Old Age; with the many evils, grievances, and blemishes of it: yea, he leadeth them along to the death-bed, and hangeth out their winding-sheet before their eyes; and by the way presenteth them with many objects unpleasing to sensuality, and vain youthfull affections. First, evils in general, and then the loss of all earthly pleasures; then dimness and darkness, weeping, cloudy weather, Ver. 2. and so he goeth on in the words following. Thus doth St. James deal with secure and carnal rich men, whose hearts did rest with a kind of muddy contentment in their abundance of worldly things, not seriously thinking of sad alterations that might follow, Jam. 5. 1, 2. Go to now ye rich men; weep & howl for the miseries that shall come upon you: your riches are corrupted, and your garments moth-eaten, &c. and ver. 5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts as in the day of slaughter. As the beast that is full fed and fatted, is wanton and frollick, feeding without fear or foresight of the Butchers Axe, even in the same morning when he is to die before night, even in the day of Slaughter: so do ye please your selves, and satisfie your own lusts without any serious consideration aforehand of the Axe of God's wrath, that lyeth at the root of all such unfruitfull Trees, and is ready to give an irrecoverable stroke: ye do not carefully forethink of the evils that shall come upon you, and therefore I present these unto your thoughts. We have a notable example in this kind, both of wisdom in Noah, and of folly in the men of that Generation living together with him, Heb. 11. 7 By faith Noah being warned of God of things … seen as yet, moved with fear prepared an Ark … the saving of his House, by the which he c… demned the world, and became heir of th… righteousness which is by faith. Here wa… his notable faith and heavenly wisdom. H… was warned of God of things not seen as … not only of such things as at that time … not to be seen in present being, when he received this warning, but of things, the … whereof were never seen in the world before of such things as neither he, nor any of … Fore-fathers from Adam to his own … ever had any experience of, viz. Th… things mentioned Genes. 6. 17. Behold … even I do bring a flood of waters upon … earth to destroy all flesh, wherein is the br… of life from under Heaven; and every … that is in the earth shall die. These … strange things not seen as yet, no… … heard of since man was created, that … Lord at one stroke should destroy so … millions of his creatures, not only men, … men, and children, but all other things … breathed. It was now a great work of … to believe this, beyond the experience of the world, and against the mocks and … of the whole world; and great wisdom to provide so carefully against it, preparing an Ark for the saving of his House: Herein he condemned the unbelief and folly of the world, whose sensuality, earthly-mindedness, and deep security, our Saviour declareth, Matth. 24. 38. in the daies that were before the flood, They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, untill the day that Noah entred into the Ark, and knew not untill the flood came, and took them all away. Noah did foresee, and prepare for this notable change before it came; but the world of the ungodly continued in deep and dead security: They would not believe that the flood-gates of Heaven should be opened so wide, as to pour down an universal deluge upon the earth; they knew not, they considered not of this wofull change, untill the flood came, and took them all away.
CHAP. II.
NOw the reasons why this is to be accounted a point of wisdom, necessary for every Christian, are,
1. Because a change will certainly come, Eccles. 1. 2. Vanity of vanities (saith the Preacher) all is vanity. All is vanity and uncertainty: There is no pepetuity, nothing changeable in man, or in the outward condition of man here on earth; yea, many changes and strange alterations may befall those that seem to be in a most setled condition; many may come, some must come. Thou that art in prosperity, maist fall into adversity; Thou that art rich, maist become poor: Thou that hast Children, maist become childless: Thou that hast Friends, maist become friendless Thou that hast health, maist have sickness▪ Thou that art young and strong, maist become old and impotent: Thou that art a liberty, maist be a prisoner. These things may come; but there is another change that must come, namely, Death. Thou that art living man or woman must be turned into a dead carkase: Thou that art now reckoned among the living, must be accounted among the dead. Thou that now seest, hearest, speakest, walkest, &c. must become blind, speechless, senseless, not able to move or stir: a corps without life, breath or motion. Thou that now conversest with men, must be forgotten, and become a dead man out of mind: yea, thou that now sittest here at this time, must stand before the Lord's Judgement-Seat, Oh then it is wisdom to be aforehand with these changes and alterations, that they may not surprize and overtake thee unprovided.
2. It is uncertain how, and when these changes shall come, Jam. 4. 13, 14. Go to now ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a City, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away: For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this and that. Our life is so uncertain, that in that respect it may rather be said to appear then to be: and it appeareth but for a very little time, the date of it is soon expised. It is even a vapour, and a vapour doth quickly vanish, riseth in the morning, and is dissolved before noon: we may promise our selves years, but are not sure of the next day. So it proved in that rich mans case, Soul, thou hast goods laid up for many years. He had a short answer, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be taken from thee. It is therefore a …ecessary point of wisdom to foresee and provide for this change.
3. Great miseries and inconveniences follow upon such alterations, when they are not foreseen and provided for: many opportunities are lost, which never can be recovered; such changes happen as deprive men of all ability of doing that which they might have done at ease, if they had foreseen these things, and taken their time: and men may look back with many sad thoughts, and much bitterness of spirit upon their neglects and losses this way, when it is too late. Some few daies, weeks, months, wilfully lost and wasted before, will seem more worth unto them than all the world; and the treasures and glory of the world, when once these changes have overtaken them, and come upon them unawares, and disabled them for ever.
Much discomfort cometh upon this improvidence: when changes happen which are grievous in themselves; they become more grievous to us for want of preparation. That which in its own nature is a misery, is made a double misery to us, when we are not prepared for it. What discomfort will sickness bring, when it cometh unlook'd for; and when we have not prepared for it by searching our hearts; casting up our accounts; getting assured pardon of our sins at the hands of God? when a sick body and a guilty conscience meet together, there is a woful condition: when a man shall lie down in his death bed with the guilt of all his sins lying upon him, and pressing upon his Soul, there is a grievous burthen; and especially when death cometh, and findeth him not regenerate; findeth in him no other life, but that which floweth from the union between the Soul and Body; no new spiritual life issuing from an inseparable communion between Christ and him. Oh how wi…l death insult over such a one? how will the name, the thought, the visage of death dismay him? when it meeteth him alone, not joyned to Christ, and entreth into a single combat with him; not strengthened by an happy union with the Lord of life; will it not tear him in pieces as a Lion might do a little Dog? It is a double misery not to be aforehand with death, not to be provided for this change.
4. on the other side, much ease, much good, much comfort followeth upon a timely foresight, and wise preparation for such changes. When a sad and sudden change was brought upon Hezekiah; a sharp fit of sickness (supposed to have been the Plague) and a peremptory message from the Lord by the Prophet; Set thine House in order, for thou shalt die and not live. Did it not wonderfully ease his burthen, that he was so well prepared for this change, and able to say (his conscience bearing him witness) 2 Kings 20. 3. I beseech thee O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart; and hav… done that which is good in thy sight. What a comfort will it be, when thy health is turned into sickness, thy strength into weakness; when thou art fastened to thy bed, and hast received in thy self the sentence of death; if then thou findest thy self provided for this change. A sweet comfort it shall be in old age (when the Grashopper is a burden, even the lightest thing) it shall then ease that burden of years that makes thee stoop; if thou didst in time foresee and provide for it, turning to the Lord aforehand; that so thy gray hairs may be found in the way of righteousness.
CHAP. III.
Use 1. 1. THis may serve to reprove the great sensuality and security that is naturally among us; that we look at things present, and do not seriously take to heart such changes as may befall us. A Comment upon Psal. 49. would be a fit enlargement of this use, where the Psalmist discourseth excellently of this point; both shewing the folly of men trusting to outward things as to certainties, and declaring his own spiritual wisdom which God had taught him in preparing for any changes that might befall him. First, he calleth for attention for all sorts of men throughout the world. Hear this all ye people, give ear all ye Inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. It concerneth all sorts nearly, and all sorts are faulty therein, and need to be stirred up by way of remembrance. Then he doth very effectually seek to win attention by the excellency of the things which he is about to deliver. My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding; such wisdom as many worldly wise men never learned: yea, he sheweth in the next verse, that it is an hidden wisdom; and as a parable to natural men for the most part. Then he entreth upon his discourse, and in the first place beginneth with himself, ver. 5. Wherefore should I fear in the daies of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? as if he had said; I do foresee changes and afflictions, I look for assaults from Satan; but I am armed against them through the mercy of God, who hath pardoned my sins, and therefore when such evils come, and Satan shall seek to entangle my Conscience, as in a snare, as if these were sure arguments of God's hatred against me: I will not fear, I am prepared for these things. Then on the other side in the next verse unto the fifteenth, he goeth on at large, declaring the folly and blindness of worldly-minded men, &c secure sinners in this case. They that trust in their Wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their Riches, none of them can by any means redeem his Brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: They trust in outward things, as if they were enduring substance, and their hearts are lifted up with thoughts of their Wealth and Riches; they think not seriously of changes to come; they trust in their strength and healthy tempers in their Youth, they rest their hearts in their present carnal contentments, sinful pleasures, &c. as if these things should alwayes continue; whereas they can neither rescue or ransom themselves or dearest friends from the power of death, that he should live for ever, and not see corruption: For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the f…ol and the brutish person shall perish, and leave their wealth to others. This sheweth their great sensuality and sottishnes, that though they have daily experience of divorces & separations made by death between men and their wealth, their honours, their pleasures, and that they are forced to leave all, and go naked out of the world; yet they do not apply this, and make it their own case; but they go on even like to the brute beasts, which when they see one of their own herd led away to the slaughter-house, regard it not; but delight as much as before in their fat pastures, sitting themselves daily more and more for the same end. So these, though they see those that were framed of the same clay with themselves, drop away, and return to their dust; yet they mind it not, unless it be for a short fit, but set their hearts upon these things, as much as if they had never heard of any that had been taken away by death. For their inward thought is, that their Houses shall continue for ever, &c. The Spirit of God here looketh into the inside, and rippeth open the bosomes of these earthly-minded persons, and sheweth what thoughts and hopes they have even of perpetuities here on earth: and so they love and strive for these things, as if there were eternity in them, as if they were everlasting things. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not, he is like the beasts that perish. Let him enjoy never so much of these things, yet he abideth not; there shall come a change, all shall be turned upside down, and he shall become like the beasts that perish. As he is sottishly and sensually affected with things present like the beast, so he shall return to the earth like it, and be turned out of all, ver. 13. This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve their sayings. It is a sad thing, that when experience hath taught the world so often the vanity of such thoughts, yet that those that come after should be of the same mind too, think as they thought, do as they did, live as they lived. The Psalmist addeth, Selah!] and it is well worthy even of a note of wonder and astonishment. Children see their Parents sins, and see how they are taken away; and all their pride and covetousness, &c. doth them no good; the pleasure of all is vanished and gone; it is no more: yet will they run blindly on in the same way; so will others that come after them: Neighbours and acquaintance though they see this, yet they will follow them, and tread in their steps; this is their folly, Selah! it is remarkable folly. Ver. 14. Like sheep they are laid in their grave, Death shall feed on them, &c. As sheep dying in the field, are devoured and fed upon by Ravens, and other birds of prey and beasts of the field; so death shall not only slay them, but feed upon them, it shall consume them, and turn them into rottenness and dust. Then saith he, The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. After this long night wherein death shall feed on them in the grave, the morning light of that great day shall arise upon them, when all shall rise again; and then the Righteousness shall have dominion over them, and sit in Judgement upon them. Oh how many changes are here which they do not effectually foresee and provide for! Friends are taken from them; they are taken from their wealth; Death killeth them, Death feedeth on them: and if here were an end, it were nothing: but then cometh that great day after this long night, when they must be awakened by the last Trumpet, and see the Righteous whom despised, sit as Judges over them. But Ver. 15. The Psalmist sheweth, how he had taken into consideration aforehand all these things, and was prepared for them. But God will redeem my Soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me, Selah! David did not settle his heart upon any things of the world, but he looked for death, and prepared for it, made account of being Death's prisoner in the grave; but then withall he had overcome death, and the grave before hand by the power of faith, laying hold of the promise of God, knowing that he should be ransomed and redeemed from it; not as the wicked, whose hearts were set upon the things of the world, to be carried from the prison of the grave to execution: but he knew, that the Lord would receive him to glory, and upon this he sets a special note again, Selah! Then he sheweth what little cause any child of God hath to be troubled at the outward prosperity of the wicked, and in the end concludeth all with this speech, Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. Let him be never so highly advanced and enriched; yet if he doth not understandingly consider of changes likely to come upon him, but glut himself with the things of this present life, he is more like a beast than a man, and maketh no use of that reasonable soul which God hath given him above a beast, whereby he hath an ability to look beyond these things that lie before his eyes for the present, and to make use of his experience in those changes which he hath seen in others; applying to himself, and reasoning from one thing to another, and so to provide for the like to come upon himself. You see here the very picture of a caranal secure heart, setled upon its lees, embracing this present world, and doting upon it; not foreseeing nor providing for those many changes and turnings of things that are likely to happen, and especially that great change that shall certainly come, death, the grave, and resurrection unto Judgement. Which were they throughly sensible of, they should have a low esteem of these perishing vanities, and uncertainties under the Sun, and not hazard their dear Souls by too much affecting, and too eager seeking after them.
CHAP. IV.
Use 2. WE are all here to be exhorted in a more serious manner to set before our eyes and hearts a more deep consideration of those changes that may befall us, and especially of that which must certainly come, and to provide against them. The Prophet Habakkuk saith, I will stand upon my Watch, and set me upon the Tower, and will watch to see what the Lord will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I … reproved. He was before like one standing upon the lower ground, looking upon things present, things that lay before him, viz. The present prosperity of the wicked prevailing over the Church, and was troubled at it in his thoughts to see the wicked devour the man that was more righteous than he; Chap. 1. 13. Hereupon he is tempted to complain of the Lords wayes of Providence, and his manner of governing the world. But now being sensible of his errour, he would get upon the higher ground, upon a watch-tower, that he might see into changes that should come afterwards, and discern things afar off; when the wicked should be most severely punished for all their cruelty in oppressing the people of God. So Christians, when they stand upon the lower ground, and consult with flesh and blood, and look upon things with fleshy eyes, their thoughts are bent upon things that are at hand, even present things: but they must get upon the watch-tower, raise up their hearts in holy meditations upon the word, so that they may see afar off what is coming, and what shall be hereafter; what changes of things shall happen in time to come. When Jehu had the Kingdom of Israel bestowed upon him with a charge to execute Justice on the wicked house of Ahab, he rode in his Charet with other Captains & Souldiers to Jezreel, 2 Kings Chap. 9.where Joram the King, and his confederate Abaziah King of Judah were together, in Vers. 17. it is said, There stood a Watch upon the Tower in Jezreel, and he espied the Company of Jehu as he came; and when a Messenger was sent out and detained, he could see this too, and give the King knowledge of it: yea, and a second time he could see who it was too ere the King saw him at all (as it seemeth) standing upon the lower ground. And the driving (saith he) is like the driving of Jehu the Son of Nimshi, for he driveth furiously. Then saith Joram, make ready, when he was even upon his back; But then it was too late, he was now within the reach of Jehu's Bow. So whiles the wicked are secure, and content themselves with present things, they foresee not dangers, miseries, death, destruction marching furiously towards them, untill it be too late, the poisoned shafts of death piercing through their hearts, and cleaving the body and soul asunder. But a Christian must be a watchman, and still stand upon his watch-tower, that he may descry changes and dangers afar off; that he may see death riding post towards him on his pa…e horse, Revel. 6. 8. and Hell following, that he may betimes provide against it, and may escape the sting of death, laying hold on Christ, and may escape the damnation of Hell. Death hath many thousands by the throat ere ever they see it coming, and arm themselves against it. They use to say of such, who when they first …ell sick had the symptomes of death upon them, that they were taken with death. Beloved, every one that death surpriseth before he be provided for it, may well be said to be taken with death. Death hath taken hold of all such, and hath them within it's power. But he that is aforehand with death, and is a partaker of life in Christ, cannot be taken with it, but he hath death rather in his power, and is a conquerour over death by the power of Christ. Others are taken unprovided; they are taken sleeping in their sins, when death driveth it's nail into their heads, as Jael did into the head of Sisera. Oh, then be watchfull to foresee and provide for changes to come! Sickness may be coming, poverty may be coming, general calamities may be at hand; Wars may be marching furiously towards a Land; the Angel may be coming with his destroying Sword; The Arrows of Pestilence may … now laid to the Bow, and drawn to the he… and ready to fly abroad among us: Darkne… may be coming, the loss of the glorious Gospel of Christ may be at hand; Anti-Christ may be coming: Howsoever these things may fall out, it is most certain, that Death is a coming not many daies journey from each of our doors, and perhaps even now ready … knock at some of our gates. None of … know, who shall be first visited by it: and they that are not provided for it aforehand may assure themselves, that Hell will follow Death close at the heels. Oh then learn to … daily! that death may become familiar to you, and not come as a stranger, or an enemy, or an Executioner when it doth come; but rather as a friend, to let your Souls out of this prison of the flesh, that ye may enter into glory and blessedness.