The Great Concern, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Which ſhews the ſtate of men and women under death, as a further evidence of our aſſertion.
AS to have all things ready, and in order, when a dying hour comes, is an high and glorious attainment; ſo ſuch is the ſtate and condition of men and women under death, that it cannot but be highly their concern to have all things ſet right, all things ready in the matters of their ſouls, when they come to die: This I will ſet before you in three Propoſitions.
Firſt Propoſition is this; That ſuch is the ſtate and condition of men and women under death, that there is no return for them into this life any more for ever. When once a man's Sun is ſet, it never riſes more: when once a man has his Exit, is gone off the ſtage of this world, he never enters more; there is no more any part to be acted here by him, this you have in the Text: Before I go hence, and be no more; that is, no more in this World. So Job 7.7, 8, 9, 10. O remember, that my life is wind, mine eyes ſhall no more ſee good: The eye of him that hath ſeen me, ſhall ſee me no more: Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not: As the Cloud is conſumed and vaniſheth away; ſo he that goeth down to the Grave, ſhall come up no more. He ſhall return no more to his Houſe, and his place ſhall know him no more. Again, Job 10.20, 21. Are not my dayes few? Ceaſe then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little; before I go, whence I ſhall not return, even into the Land of darkneſs, and the ſhadow of death. And again, Ch. 16.22. When a few dayes are come, then ſhall I go the way, whence I ſhall not return. All ſhewing, that when a man is once gone off the Stage of this World, there is no return for him any more.
Second Propoſition is this; That ſuch is the ſtate of men and women under death, that there is nothing to be done for their ſouls; there is nothing to be mended that is amiſs, nothing to be ſet in order, that ſhall be found out of order. Death (my beloved) is not the time of working, but of receiving the reward of our work: Death leaves us under an utter and eternal impoſſibility of ever doing any thing for another World: Therefore whatever thine hand findeth to do (ſaith Solomon) do it with al thy might; for there is no work, nor counſel in the Grave, whither thou goeſt, Eccleſ. 9.10. And I muſt work the works of him that ſent me, while it is day; becauſe the night cometh, when no man can work, ſaith Chriſt, John 9.4. Death is a ſtate of darkneſs, and it deprives us of all helps, advantages, and opportunities, of ever doing any thing for the good of our ſouls: There is no repenting, no believing, no turning to God in the Grave: There is no aſſuring pardon of ſin; no getting an Intereſt in Chriſt; no making our Calling and Election ſure there: O no; theſe things muſt be done now, or they can never be done; and if they be never done, our ſouls are for ever undone. 'Twas an Epicurean ſaying of him, who ſaid, Eat, drink, play; for after death there is no pleaſure: but it would be a Chriſtian ſaying, to ſay to you, and my own ſoul, love God, pray to him, ſeek his face, repent, believe, make ſure of Chriſt; for after death none of theſe are to be done: They muſt be done here, or never.
Third Propoſition is this, That ſuch is the ſtate of men and women under death, that the Soul is actually and irreverſibly ſtated and concluded in his eternal condition: The Souls eternal ſtate is abſolutely fix'd, and unchangeably determined, without any alteration for ever. 'Tis an obſervation among the School-men, that look what befel the Angels that ſinned, that in death befalls wicked men, thoſe that are not ready for a dying hour: The Angels immediately upon their ſinning, were ſtated in an irreverſible condition of wo and miſery: And wicked men, unready ſouls, immediately upon death, are irreverſibly ſtated in a like eternal condition; they are eternally ſealed up under damnation: And the Devils may as ſoon get out of thoſe Chains of eternal darkneſs, whereinto they are caſt, and in which they are locked up, being reſerved unto Judgment; as ſuch perſons can change, or reverſe that condition. The truth is, death; when ever, ot where ever it comes, is a determining thing, it concludes the ſoul for ever under an unalterable ſtate of life or death, of happineſs or miſery; for as the Tree falls, ſo it lies, Eccl. 11.3. Hence in death, the Spirit, the ſoul is ſaid, to return to God, Eccl. 12.7. Upon which a learned man has this obſervation: God (ſaith he) receives the Soul of Man, when he dies, to himſelf; and having received it, he delivers it either to the Holy Angels, that by them it might be carried to Heaven, if it hath been holy and good; or he delivers it to the evil Angels, by them to be dragged into Hell, if it hath been ungodly. Hence the Apoſtle tells us, after death comes judgment, Heb. 9.27. By which is meant the particular Judgment of every man and woman immediately upon death; which is nothing elſe but the ſtating of the ſoul in an eternal condition. Hence alſo, when Dives is brought in, deſiring that Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue: anſwer is made, that it cannot be, for as much as there is no going for any, either from Hell to Heaven, or from Heaven to Hell, becauſe there is a Gulph fixed, Luke 16.26. Noting the unalterableneſs of that ſtate which Death ſets men down in, whether of happineſs or miſery. Well then, if ſuch be the ſtate of men and women under death, as we have heard, then ſurely 'tis highly our concernment to have all ready, all in order, againſt a dying hour comes. Having given you thus briefly the demonſtration of the point, I ſhall make ſome practical improvement of it.