The Mourners Companion, Discourse 2 – Title page 3

The Mourners Companion · Discourse 2 – Title page 3

p. 73Prepare to Follow. OR A DISCOURSE

FROM MATTH. 24.44.

Therefore be ye alſo ready: for in ſuch an hour as ye think not of, the Son of Man cometh.

UPON a like Exhortation of our Bleſſed Lord to Watchfulneſs, and Prayer, to Faithfulneſs, and Diligence, in Expectation of his Coming, the Apoſtle Peter makes bold to ask the Queſtion, whether it concern'd only the Apoſtles, or was ſpoken to all, Luke 12.41. The anſwer whereto doth ſufficiently expreſs the Univerſal Obligation of ſuch a Duty. For our Lord replies, Bleſſed is that wiſe and faithful Servant, who when his Lord comes ſhall be found doing his Maſters Work. And yet more expreſly by another Evangeliſt, where the like Parable is apply'd with this addition, What p. 74I ſay unto you, I ſay unto all, Watch; Mark 13. laſt. which Watching is the general Comprehenſive word for being Ready. This is the repeated Voice of Chriſt in his Word, where-ever he ſpeaks of his Second Coming: This is the diſtinct and loud call of his Providence unto this Congregation by the Death and Funerals of one of our number; you know, I mean our Friend Mrs. Gearing, which ſpeaks the ſame language to all of us, Be ye alſo ready. And being deſired on this Occaſion, to preach from theſe words; I ſhall reſerve the mention of ſome things, that were Inſtructive and exemplary in the Deceaſed, for the cloſe of my Diſcourſe, and in the mean time conſider this ſeaſonable Admonition of our Bleſſed Lord, Therefore be ye alſo Ready; for the Son of Man cometh in ſuch an hour, as ye think not of.

This and the foregoing Verſes are part of the Anſwer, which our Saviour made to the Diſciples queſtion, in the beginning of the Chapter, v. 3. Tell us, when ſhall theſe things be, and what ſhall be the ſign of thy coming, and of the end of the World? According to the common Apprehenſions which the Jews had of the alteration of the preſent ſtate of things among them, by the coming of the Meſſiah, and that general deſtruction of the World, and the State of Eternity which would thereupon follow, they enquire of both to gether: as reckoning his Coming and the End p. 75of the World, would be at once. And throughout this Chapter, we find our Lord's Anſwer to both Queſtions are intermixed; ſome whereof referr to the deſtruction of the Jewiſh State, and his coming to execute judgment upon that Nation: and others, to the end of the World, whereof the former was but a figure.

It is plain that ſome paſſages referr to the Jewiſh State, ſeveral of the ſigns of his coming were literally fulfilled, a little before their deſtruction by the Romans, as Joſephus, and Tacitus, and others mention; particularly the 15. and 16. verſes: When ye therefore ſhall ſee the Abomination of Deſolation, ſpoken of by Daniel the Prophet, ſtand in the Holy place, (whoſo readeth let him underſtand) then let them which be in Judea, flee into the Mountains.

And again 34. v. he ſays: This Generation ſhall not paſs away, till all theſe things be fulfilled. There is yet no reaſon to confine the whole of this Chapter, to the Calamities which befell the Jewiſh Nation, which was but as a Type and Repreſentation of the general Judgment, preceding the final Doom of the World; for ſome paſſages do as plainly referr to the end of the World. As when he ſpeaks, of …s coming in the Clouds with power and great glory, and of the Angels ſounding the Trumpet, and of two men in the Field, and of two Women grinding at the Mill, one taken, and p. 76the other left; referring to the great Diſcrimination of perſons, that ſhall be made at the end of the World, as when it is ſaid in the 36. verſe, Of that day and hour no man knoweth, no not the Angels of Heaven, but my Father only. And by another Evangeliſt, the Son himſelf is excluded from knowing that hour, Mark 13.33. But did not Chriſt know the time of the deſtruction of the Jews, their Temple, City, and Nation? when he himſelf foretells the time, when it ſhould be? And therefore thoſe words in the 35. v. Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away, but my words ſhall not paſs away, ſeem to be a tranſition from anſwering the firſt Queſtion, concerning the Deſtruction of the Jews, to anſwer the other queſtion, about the End of the World: whereupon follows the Exhortation in the 42. v. Watch, for you know not what hour your Lord will come. But know this, (or you do know this, as the Original word will bear, and may better be rendred;) You do know this, That if the good man of the houſe had known, in what Watch of the night the Thief world come, he would have watched, and not ſuffered his houſe to be broken up: Therefore be ye alſo Ready, for the Son of Man cometh in an hour that you think not of.

I hope none will be ſo weak, as to be ſtumbled at the Compariſon in this paſſage of the coming of Chriſt unto that of a Thief, becauſe the all … is only as to the unexpectedneſs p. 77of the time, and ſeaſon of his coming. It is a compariſon, or alluſion, as one ſays, Non perſonae ad perſonam, non negotii ad negotium, ſed temporis ad tempus. q. d. The parallel does not hold between Perſon and Perſon, between Buſineſs and Buſineſs, but only between the Time of the ones coming, and that of the other, (viz.) The Suddenneſs and Unexpectedneſs of it. In which ſence the Apoſtle mentions the coming of Chriſt as of a Thief in the Night, at a time when he is not expected, 1 Theſ. 5.2. 2 Pet. 3.10. Therefore be ye alſo ready, for He comes in a time when you think not of it. His laſt Coming, at the end of the World will be ſurprizing; and ſo is his other Coming to ſummon us out of the World by Death, which will tranſmit us over to his ſinal Judgment. For nothing can be done to make us Ready, and prepared to meet him as our Judge, but on this ſide the Grave. Our readineſs therefore for Death, and for the Coming of our Lord to Judgment, is all one.

In the words we have three parts. 1. The Certainty of Chriſts Coming again ſuppoſed. 2. The Suddenneſs and Unexpectedneſs of it aſſerted, it will be in an Hour that you think not of. 3. The Neceſſity and Obligation that reſults from thence, of endeavouring to be Ready. Accordingly I ſhall, I. Explain the Nature of this Readineſs, for p. 78the Coming of Chriſt. II. Show the force of the Argument, in ſeveral Conſiderations, from the ſuddenneſs and unexpectedneſs of his Coming, and our uncertainty of the time thereof, therefore to be Ready. III. Shall aſſiſt you to make the Application.

1. The Certainty of his ſecond Coming is ſuppoſed: The Son of man cometh in an hour you think not of. It ſuppoſeth then that he will come again. The Son of man is a title very often given to Chriſt, and aſſumed by himſelf, particularly with relation to the Final Judgment; for we read, that the Father hath committed all Judgment to the Son, and given him Authority to execute Judgment, as the Son of man, (or becauſe he is the Son of man) and it follows, For the hour ſhall come, that all they who are in their Graves ſhall hear his Voice, and ſhall come out of their Graves, they that have done good to the Refurrection of Life, and they that have done evil to the Reſurrection of Damnation, John 5.27, 28. And with particular relation to this, he himſelf ſpeaks, Mat. 25.31. When the Son of man ſhall come in his glory, and all the Holy Angels with him, then ſhall he ſit upon the Throne of his glory. And when the High Prieſt adjured him, to tell whether he were indeed the Chriſt, the Son of God, Mat. 26.63, 64. obſerve what he anſwer'd, Hereafter ſhall you ſee the Son of Man, ſitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the Clouds of Heaven. Some would have it an inſtance p. 79of his Humility to aſſume this Title, as reſerring to the meaneſs of his preſent condition in the World; but that does not ſeem to reach the ſence of the Expreſſion, For all Judgment is committed to him, becauſe he is the Son of Man, or becauſe He is Mediator; becauſe He is the true Seed of the Woman, promiſed to bruiſe the Serpents head; The true Son of Man, to whom Dominion and Glory, and a Kingdom was given by the Ancient of days, Dan. 7.13, 14. So that this Title is a Name of Office. All Supremacy, Authority and Power that belongs to the Office of Mediator, is given to him: And the Gentiles, as well as the Seed of Abraham, may by him be juſtified, and obtain everlaſting Life. The Jews would appropriate the Meſſiah to themſelves, as the Son of David, and the King of Iſrael, forgetting that he is the Son of man, promis'd from the beginning to be the Deſire of all Nations, and the Hope of all the Ends of the Earth; to redeem us unto God, out of all Nations, Tongues, Kindreds, and People.

The coming again of this Son of Man is here ſuppoſed. He came once as the promiſed Redeemer, to be incarnate in our Nature, and to offer himſelf a willing Sacrifice for the expiation of Sin: But he is to come again as the Judge of Quick and Dead; even this ſame Jeſus who after his Reſurrection converſed forty days upon Earth, and then p. 80aſcended in Triumph and Glory to Heaven; This ſame Jeſus, ſaid the Angels to the two Witneſſes of his Aſcenſion, who is taken up into heaven, ſhall ſo come again as you have ſeen him go into it, Acts 1.11. This was propheſied by Enoch the ſeventh from Adam, Jude 14. This was foretold, and prefigur'd variouſly in the Old Teſtament; this was expreſly promiſed by our Lord, in the days of his Fleſh; eſpecially for the encouragement of his Diſciples, when he was about to leave them, and ſpeaks of his departure. This is inſiſted upon by the Apoſtles, in their ſeveral Epiſtles, as a Motive to Humility, to Patience, to Perſeverance, notwithſtanding the many difficulties, and diſcouragements, which they met with for their Fidelity to Chriſt, and the Goſpel.

But I need not inſiſt on the proof of this, among thoſe who own it as a fundamental Article of their Creed; That He who dyed on the Croſs, and roſe again, tho' he now ſits at the right Hand of God, and the Heavens ſhall contain him 'till the Reſtitution of all things, yet He ſhall come again to judge the World, and determine the ſinal Everlaſting State of all Mankind. But becauſe he is not yet come, men are ready to conclude he never will; becauſe things continue as they were, one Generation paſſing, and another coming; men that walk after their own Luſts, (whoſe intereſt it is to have it true, that he p. 81ſhall not come, are ready to cry out in ſcorn, Where is the Promiſe of his Coming? 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. But for us to be ignorant that he will come again, muſt be a wilful, willing, choſen Ignorance: Becauſe the Lord is not ſlack, as Men count ſlackneſs; but a thouſand years are to him as one day: It is not Slackneſs, but Longſuffering, which ſhould lead Men to Repentance, and to Prepare for his Coming: And ſo would be Salvation. For ſo it is called, from the tendency of it, ver. 15. And if it be not ſo to us, it is our own fault.

So unqueſtionably Certain is this Appearance, and Second Coming of Chriſt, that the Apoſtle Paul adjures Timothy, in the moſt ſolemn and affecting manner, to the faithful diſcharge of his Duty, by that Conſideration, I charge thee before God, and before the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and dead at his Appearance, and his Kingdom: or when he ſhall appear in his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1.

The Jews knew and granted, that the Meſſiah was to come as a Judge, by the Traditional Prophecy of Enoch, which began with thoſe words, The Lord ſhall come. This they underſtood long before the Incarnation of our Saviour: So that they were wont to begin their Writs, or Inſtruments of the Greateſt Excommunication, with thoſe words of the Prophecy of Enoch, The Lord ſhall come. As if, beſides all other Puniſhments, p. 82they Bound over the Excommunicated Perſon to the laſt great Aſſize, to be Judged by the Meſſias. And the Apoſtle ſeems to allude to this, 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maranatha: i.e. Accurſed with that great and terrible Excommunication, The Lord ſhall come. For ſo they call it from the firſt words, as we often give Names to Writs, and other Inſtruments, by reciting the firſt words of them: He ſhall come again: he ſhall be revealed from Heaven, in ſlaming ſire, with his mighty Angels, to render vengeance to them which know not God, and obey not the Goſpel, &c. 2 Theſ. 1.7, 9. We ſhall all be made to ſtand before his Judgment-Seat, 2 Cor. 5.10, 14. Rom. 14.10. And every one ſhall then give an account of himſelf to God, and receive according to what he hath done in the body, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He is delegated and appointed by God for this Work, and every way fitted and qualified to undertake it, Acts 17.31.

II. The Suddenneſs and Ʋnexpectedneſs of his Coming again: The hour of it no man knows, no, not the Angels of God in Heaven. It will ſurprize Mankind, as the Deluge did the Old World in the days of Noah. The time of it is lock'd up in the Treaſuries of Heaven, and we have no Key that will open it. Neither the time of Chriſt's coming to p. 83Judge the World, or the time of his calling us by Death to come to him, is certainly known. Behold! I know not the day of my death, we may every one ſay with Iſaac, Gen. 27.2. The Knowledge of this time and Seaſon he hath reſerved in his own power; it belongs not to us, it is no part of our Priviledge to know it, Acts 1.7.

If it had been fit and becoming, adviſeable and expedient for us to underſtand it; if it had been for our Advantage, to know the preciſe time of our own Death, or of the Final Judgment; if it would have added any whit to our Spiritual Stature, and Growth in Grace; if it would not have much better promoted our Watchfulneſs, and ſerious Diligence, and forwarded our Preparations, to have remained Ignorant, he would not have drawn ſuch a Veil over that Day and Hour: But would have left it written in fair Characters. But he every way conſulted our Intereſt, and the general Good of the World, by hiding this Knowledge from us. God's Government of the World, and the Magiſtrates influence under God for the Good of Men, would very much be weakned, if every Man did certainly know beforehand the time of his Death. Our Uſefulneſs to others would be very much check'd, and the neceſſary Preparation for being ſo, if we knew we ſhould not out-live ſuch a Year, or ſuch a Stage of our Lives. Our Joys and p. 84Sorrows, with reſpect to our Relations and Friends, would then be immoderate; our Carriage, in Proſperity and Adverſity, would be more unbecoming; our Dependance upon God and his Providence, the Redemption of our Time, the Contempt of this World, and the Preparation for another, would all be very much hindred by the certain knowledge of the time of Chriſt's Coming to call us to Judgment. Therefore he tells us, That in an hour we think not of, the Son of Man cometh. It ſhall be ſuddenly, when he is not expected; and therefore All ſhould be Ready.

It is ſometimes repreſented by the travailing Pangs of a Woman with Child, which may over-take her at a diſtance from her own Houſe, when ſhe looks not for it, 1 Theſ. 5.3. 'Tis ſet forth by the ſurprize of a Thief entring the Window of a Houſe by Night, when the good Man of the Houſe little expected him, Rev. 16.15. Behold I come as a Thief; bleſſed is he that watcheth. And again we are told, As a ſnare, ſhall it come upon all that dwell upon the face of the earth, Luk. 21.35. When Men are careleſs, and ſecure, and confident of Long-life; when they are buſie in purſuit of great things for themſelves in this World, when they are big with mighty Projects and Deſigns for hereafter, when they enlarge their Imaginations to contrive the Satisfactions, they ſhall have for many years p. 85to come, in the Pleaſures, and Dignities, and Wealth, which they count upon beforehand: when they ſay in their Hearts, Our Lord delays his Coming; I have yet time enough to get ready; Then ſhall this day overtake them, when they think not of it: The Lord of that Servant will come in a day that he looked not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware, Luk. 12.46.

III. The Neceſſity, and Obligation of being Ready, becauſe of the Certainty and Suddenneſs of the Coming of Chriſt. Where I ſhall, Firſt, Conſider the Nature of this Readineſs, and Explain ſomething of it. Secondly, Shew the Force of the Argument, and amplifie it in ſeveral Conſiderations, to urge it the more effectually upon All to make Ready.

I. What is the Nature of this Readineſs? In the general, it is expreſſed by Two or Three Evangeliſts, under the term of Watching: Which, as the ſummary Preparation for the Coming of Chriſt, takes in all the Duties of a Chriſtian, with reſpect to the Affairs of his Soul, and the Everlaſting World; as awaking out of Security, foreſeeing our Danger, providing againſt it, carrying it ſuitable to the Expectation of the Appearance of Chriſt from Heaven; Looking for, Waiting for, Praying for, p. 86Haſtning to, or haſtning of, the Coming of the Day of God: It comprehends an awaken'd Heart, an active Faith, a lively Hope, a diffuſive Charity, and perſevering Diligence in all the Fruits of Righteouſneſs: That we may perfect Holineſs in the Fear of God, lay up a good Foundation againſt the time to come, and at laſt lay hold of Eternal Life: That we may have Confidence at Chriſt's Appearance, and be able to ſtand before the Son of Man, with exceeding Joy. This in general under the Name of Watching, and being Ready, is the Duty of all.

2. Beſides this General Account, we may conſider ſome of the Particular Metaphors, under which our Lord repreſents himſelf, (or is ſet forth in Scripture,) when he comes again.

Firſt, As a Bridegroom. And ſo our Readineſs conſiſts, in our Accepting him, and Chooſing him in ſuch a Relation: I have eſpouſed you to one Husband, even Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.7. And we read of the Marriage of the Lamb, and the Readineſs of the Wife, cloathed in fine Linnen, which is the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, Rev. 19.8, 9.

Now if you think you are ready for the Coming of Chriſt, under this Notion, ask your ſelves, Hath there been any ſuch Agreement between Chriſt and your Souls, which p. 87the Scripture repreſents by a Marriage-Covenant? Have you penitently and thankfully Accepted him for Yours? and given up your ſelves entirely to be his? To as many as have thus Accepted and Received him, He gives Power and Priviledge to become the Sons of God. Do you renounce all other Lovers? Do you prefer Him alone, abandoning all Competitors and Rivals? ſo as not to be for another, but for him, Hoſ. 3.3. The like we read, Pſal. 45.10, 11. Hearken, O Daughter, and conſider, and encline thine ear; forget alſo thine own people, and thy Father's houſe. So ſhall the King greatly deſire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and worſhip thou him. Is there a Supream Superlative Correſpondent Affection, on your part to him, who hath ſaid, That as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over a Bride, ſo will He rejoyce over Thee? Iſa. 62.5. Is this expreſs'd by an entire Subjection to him, as the Head of his Church, and the Saviour of his Body? Eph. 3.23. And this not for a time only, but for ever, Hoſ. 2.19. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteouſneſs, and in judgment, and in lovsng-kindneſs, and in mercies.

The publick Solemnity of this Marriage will be at the Reſurrection of the Dead, when he ſhall come again to conduct his Spouſe to his Father's Houſe, and more fully to evidence his Love, by the Manifeſtation p. 88of his own Glory. Our Readineſs therefore for the Coming of Chriſt, implies our hearty Choice of him, and Conſent to be his; to Love, Serve, Honour, and Obey him with Faithfulneſs, Diligence, and Perſeverance to the end.

Secondly, Chriſt is repreſented as a Houſholder, and Lord; who is gone into a far Countrey, and hath intruſted his Servants with various Talents, which they are to employ according to his Order, and trade with for his Service, expecting to be accountable to him at his Return, Luk. 19.23. Though our Lord be gone to Heaven, he hath left a Family upon Earth, and committed a Truſt to every of his Servants. Now our Fidelity and Care in the Improvement and Uſe of our Talents, will be our Readineſs for the Coming of Chriſt; under theſe Conſiderations we are to be Reſponſible to him for all the Bleſſings, Natural or Spiritual, that he hath committed to our Truſt, and we have no Right in them any other way: We are but Stewards, He is the Proprietor, and Abſolute Lord. And according to the number and kind of our Talents, he expects proportionable Care and Diligence, as good Stewards to manage and improve them. For to whom much is given, of them much will be required. Every one hath ſome Talents, ſome Truſt; our Reaſon, and our p. 89Health, our Time, our Parts, Reputation, Eſtate, Intereſt, Authority, Power: All the Bleſſings of any kind that we have, are Talents, to be uſed for the Service of our Lord: And Bleſſed is that wiſe and faithful Servant, who at his Lords Coming ſhall be found to have done ſo. Our Faithfulneſs and Care herein, is our Readineſs for his Coming. For he may demand an Account of our Stewardſhip, when we expect it not, Luk. 16.2. Therefore if we would be Ready, we muſt be Diligent in his Work, and not bury our Talents in a Napkin, or waſte our Lords Goods; but be ſound faithfully doing his Buſineſs in the Places and Relations he hath ſet us. In this conſiſts that Readineſs for his Coming, that will intitle us to the Bleſſing, Luk. 12.43.

But leſt it ſhould be ſaid, Who can come up to this? Who is able to be always thus diligently Employed? Who then can be Ready? Let us therefore,

Thirdly, Diſtinguiſh concerning this Readineſs. There is an Habitual Readineſs, and Actual: The one of our State, and the other of our Frame.

1. An Habitual Readineſs, which concerns our State: When our Peace is made with God, ſo that ſhe ſhall be found with him in peace, at the Coming of Chriſt, 2 Pet. 3.14. p. 90When we have ſo put on the Lord Jeſus, as at the Great Day we ſhall not be found naked, 2 Cor. 5.3. When we are intereſted in the attoning Sacrifice of Chriſt, ſo as to be reconciled to God, and ſhall find Mercy of the Lord in the Great Day, Rev. 3.17. Perſons of this Character will manifeſt in their Courſe and Carriage, that they expect the Coming of Chriſt, by walking in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs, 2 Pet. 3.10. Denying all Ʋngodlineſs, and worldly Luſts, they will live Soberly, Righteouſly, and Godly in this World, as thoſe that look for the bleſſed Hope, and glorious Appearance of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Christ, Tit. 2.12, 13.

But becauſe all that are Ready as to their State, and as to their general Courſe, are not ſo as to their Frame, therefore Conſider,

2. There is an Actual Readineſs, as to the Diſpoſition of the Heart; which upon the near Proſpect and Approach of any Meſſenger of Chriſt, to call us out of the World, is a Chriſtian Duty. This Actual Readineſs we ſhould all endeavour after: That we may have greater degrees of that Readineſs of Mind, and Preparedneſs of Spirit, to Obey the Summons and Call of Chriſt, tho' it ſhould be with very little Warning; being Prepar'd, and Willing to go to him whenſoever he ſhall call: I am ready (ſaith the Apoſtle) to be bound at Jeruſalem; yea, p. 91to Die there for the Name of Chriſt, Acts 21.13.

All holy Perſons (though Habitually ready) do not reach this: Some cry out with David, Lord remove thy ſtroke from me! ſpare me a little longer! Pſal. 39. Or as Hezekiah, when he received the Meſſage of Death, turn'd his face to the wall, and wept, Iſa. 38. But if we have Warning of the Approach of Death, we ought to ſtir up our ſelves actually to Prepare, to trim our Lamps, and ſet our Souls in Order, reviewing our Lives, renewing our Repentance, exerciſing our Graces, exciting our Hopes, recollecting our paſt Experiences, getting our Evidences ready, and the Promiſes on which we may venture our Souls in a dying Hour; that we may ſay with old Simeon, Now let thy Servant depart in peace: And with the Apoſtle Paul, I have finiſh'd my courſe, henceforth a Crown of Righteouſneſs is laid up for me: And with our Lord himſelf, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: Or with Holy Stephen, Lord Jeſus receive it.

Chriſtians! Are we not too Unready, the beſt of us, as to Frame and Actual Preparation? Do we ſit as looſe from this World, and all the Perſonal and Relative Comforts of it, that accommodate the bodily Liſe as we ſhould? Have we conquer'd the Fears of Death, and familiarized the Thoughts of the Grave, to that degree as we ought? Is p. 92our Love to Chriſt ſo ſprightly and vigorous, that we could heartily welcome any Meſſenger to call us to him? Be the Inſtrument what i… will, and the Manner and Circumſtances of our Departure as God ſhall pleaſe, and the Warning never ſo ſhort and ſudden? Are we ready to go preſently, at the firſt Call? That were it not for doing Service in our Places, (which God, who needs not our Help, can do by other ways,) we ſhould rather chooſe to be with Chriſt, as far better. Could we Anſwer to ſuch a Call of God, as Samuel, Lord, here I am, thoudidſt call me? O let me paſs through the dark Valley! that nothing may keep me longer at ſuch an uncomfortable diſtance from my Lord and Saviour, that where he is, I may be, to behold his Glory. This Readineſs, Habitual and Actual, we have need to look after; becauſe the Son of Man comes in a time when we think not of him. And therefore,

II. To urge your Diligence and Care to be Ready for the Coming of Chriſt, let me amplifie and enforce the Argument in this Text, by ſeveral Conſiderations. As,

I. That whether Ready, or not Ready, e're long our Lord will come. Our particular Judgment by Death, which ſhall confine us to the eternal and final one, is at no great diſtance. p. 93We are haſtning to this Day of God, whether we believe, and mind it, or no: As Paſſengers in a Ship, to the end of their Voyage, whether they ſleep or wake: whether we be wiſe Servants, or fooliſh; faithful Stewards, or unfaithful; whether we expect the Coming of our Lord, and Prepare for it, or do not: He will ſhortly come, and call us to an Account. O how ſoon ſhall you and I be gone! What a Change will a few days make in this City, and in this Congregation? We may judge of it, by what it hath made in few years paſt? In leſs than Twenty Years, what Changes in Families, and Churches, and Cities, and Nations? Husbands and Wives parted, Parents and Children, Friends ſnatch'd away out of the Boſom of their Friends: Thoſe we loved, and lived familiarly with, Called before us, and gone home: And we are haſtning after a pace, whether our Readineſs and Preparation do, or do not, anſwerably haſten. One Relation, and another Acquaintance drops into the Grave: Some are ready, and ſome unready: One Paſtor after another is removed to Heaven, and the Pulpits where they preach know them no more; and others will ſtart up in our rooms, and are preparing to fill our Places, who ſucceed any of thoſe, whoſe Funerals you Remember. And after a ſew Lords's-Days more, and at moſt after a few Summers p. 94and Winters more, you and I ſhall be called likewiſe, whether we be Ready, or not Ready.

2. When once thou art called to thy particular Judgment by Death, nothing more can be done to get Ready for the Coming of Chriſt, Eccl. 9.10. John 9.4. What, if you were now leaving this World? and how near and ſure is ſuch an hour! You would then be ſenſible, that now or never is the time to prepare, and get Ready. Awake therefore, and Mind it without delay, that you may not cry for more Time, when time is gone; and for the mercy of God, when it is too late. O how ſhall my unprepared Soul Appear before my God! How ſhall I paſs into Eternity unready! What ſhall I do, to meet my Lord with Comfort! as if you had never heard till that time, that you muſt dye, and come to Judgment. O what Hearts of ſtone have Sinners, that can hear theſe things ſo often, and not reſolve without delay to get Ready! That will not conſider the Judge is at the Door, his Vengeance at their back, his Wrath purſues their ſins, and woe be to them if it overtake them. Before their Friends have laid their Bodies in their Graves, or wrap'd them in their Burying cloaths, their Souls ſhall feel, that God is in earneſt, and that now is the only time to get ready for Judgment.

p. 953. When men think not of it, and leaſt expect his Summons, the Lord doth often come. When thou art moſt regardleſs of Death, thy Head and Heart taken up with other things, the Hand-writing on the Wall may appear, and ſtrike thee into a ſit of trembling; a Voice from God may be heard, Come away Man, or Woman! Come away, thy Time ſhall be no more; this Evening, or the next Morning, this Night, or the next Day thy Soul ſhall be required of thee. Believe it, no Place, no Age, no Time, no Portion of thy Life, is certainly exempted. Do not then put off thy being Ready, leſt thy Reſolutions for hereafter ſhould bare longer date than the time of thy Life.

4. All the Time of our Lives is little enough, to get Ready for the Coming of Chriſt. 'Tis little enough to learn to Live, ſays the Moraliſt, it is ſhort enough be ſure to learn to Dye. Ask thoſe who have taken moſt Pains, and ſpent moſt of their Time to get Ready: Yet after all their Prayers, and Tears, after all their Watching Striving, Running, and Preparedneſs, they complain they are Ʋnready ſtill; unready for the Spiritual Coming of Chriſt, when they are to meet him at his Table; much more Ʋnready for his laſt Coming. Therefore let us give Diligence, that we may be found of him in Peace, without ſpot, and blameleſs.

p. 96And if the queſtion be ſeriouſly ask'd of all of you, one after another, ARe you prepared for Death? are you Ready for the Coming of Chriſt? or are you not? How few will have the Heart, or Face, to ſay they are? The beſt will ſay, they need further Preparation: But what muſt they think, and ſay of themſelves, who own they are habitually, as to their State unready; no way ſit to Dye? I cannot ſay my peace is made with God: I have not yet enter'd into Covenant with him: I have not ſubjected and yielded my ſelf to Chriſt: I have not taken on his Yoke, or I have caſt it off, after I took it on: I am yet a Stranger to him, or I have ſhamefully left him after ſome Acquaintance? And will you put it any longer to the venture, when your Lord may call within an hour?

5. God is now ready to Aſſiſt you by his Grace, if you will awake, and Mind your Work; but if you delay, he may juſtly refuſe, and withdraw it. And if once the caſe comes to that, you can no more make Ready for Death and Judgment, than if you were already dead; it being as poſſible for us to Repent without life, or after we are dead, as to Repent without Gods Grace, while we are living. Therefore they that promiſe for themſelves, that they ſhall Repent, and Prepare for the coming of Chriſt, (ſome time p. 97hereafter they reſolve they will) they muſt not only promiſe for themſelves, but for God too; that he will wait their leiſure, and dance attendance after them through all the Stages of their Delays; and yet be as ready to aſſiſt them hereafter as now; otherwiſe it is as uncertain, whether you ſhall Repent hereafter if you live, as whether you ſhall live to that hereafter, wherein you ſay you intend to Repent.

6. Conſider, How great and Important a thing it is to Dye, and to meet the Lord our Judge. It is ſo even for good men that are habitually Ready, after ſuch a life of ſenſe, and the deep Impreſſions we are under by ſenſible Objects, after our many Backſlidings, and actual Sins; to look into the Houſe of darkneſs, and think of lodging there; to lay down theſe Bodies, to corrupt and Putrifie there; to bid adien to all our Relations, and take a ſolemn leave of all our Friends; to think of paſſing thro' this dark Entry, through which as we go right or wrong, we are made or undone for ever; to think of the Majeſty, and Holineſs of God, his Truth, and Juſtico; to conſider the ſtrictneſs, and Spirituality of his Holy Law, and the awful Solemnity of the Tryal and Judgment, that all Mankind muſt come under: Theſe and ſuch things p. 98conſider'd, which are obvious to any conſidering man, make it no eaſie matter to dye, even for the beſt. But for an unprepared Soul, that is Unready as to his State, who hath done little or nothing, ever in his whole Life of ſuch Work, no Expreſſions can deſcribe the Terrors of that mans caſe; eſpecially for careleſs, carnal Profeſſors, that attend the preaching of the Word, and are deceived by the Devil, to think they are in the way to Heaven, while yet they live in ſecret Sin, and are Enemies to God; what killing diſappointment will they meet with, one moment after Death? when they expect with the fooliſh Virgins, to enter Heaven, and find the door to be ſhut.

Sirs, believe and tremble! If you are not ready for the Coming of Chriſt, you are ready for his condemning Sentence, and ripe for Ruine. If you are not ready, as Veſſels of Mercy prepar'd for Glory, you are ready, as Veſſels of Wrath, fitted for Deſtruction. That Place and Portion which you are fit for, you ſhall have at Death. If you are not fit to be with Chriſt, if you are not made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Life, if you are not formed, and wrought by the Spirit of Chriſt, for this ſelf-ſame thing, you ſhall have another Place, and Company, and Portion, with the Devil and his Angels, in p. 99unquenchable Fire, where is weeping and wailing, and gnaſhing of Teeth for ever.

7. You need not fear that you ſhall haſten your Death, by Thinking of it, and being Ready. Chriſts Summons will not be haſtened, tho' thy Preparation be. The ſtroke of Death will not be ſooner, but the eaſier, and make Life, and Death it ſelf ſweeter, by now endeavouring to be Ready. You will not then be afraid of every Sickneſs, and threatning Danger that brings you to the borders of the Grave. They were the fooliſh Virgins, who were affrighted at the Midnight cry, The Bridegroom cometh, becauſe their Lamps were out, and they had no Oyl; they were ſtruck to the Heart, their Hopes dyed, and they preſently ſunk into Deſpair. But of ſuch as are Ready, we find them ſpeak of Dying as of an eaſie ſleep; I muſt put off this Earthly Tabernacle ſhortly, ſaith one Apoſtle; The time of my Departure is at hand, and I am ready to be offer'd up, ſaith another, 2 Pet. 1.14. 2 Tim. 4.6. But as Chriſt will not delay his Coming, tho thou be unprepared, ſo neither is thy Readineſs for Death, a likely means to ſhorten thy Life.

8. Conſider, It is for this end, that our Lives are continued, and all the mercies of our Lives, that we may be ready. What have you Life given you for? why were not you p. 100cut off many years ago? but that you might have Time and ſpace to Repent, and Prepare for the Coming of Chriſt? How many years have ſome of you been ſpared? It may be twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years? and yet after all you are not ready. What have you been buſie about all this while? How have you employed your Time? What is the end of God, do you think, in all the merciful helps He concinues you? Such as Miniſters, and Books, Ordinances and Providences, your own Sickneſs, and others Funerals? You loſe the benefit and uſe of all your Mercies of Life, Health, and Time, and ſome of you of Wealth and Honour, &c. of all the Sermons you have heard, of all the Providential warnings of God to Awaken you: you have loſt them all, if they have not furthered your Readineſs, for the Coming of Chriſt: And if you ſhall live many years to come, you muſt ſay it was all loſt Time, and wiſh you had never had an hour of it, while this preparation for Death and Judgment is neglected.

9. Conſider the unſpeakable Difference between a prepared and unprepared Soul, in a dying Hour. The one is going to ſee the things he hath Believed, and poſſeſs that which he hoped for, and hath the promiſe of God, that he ſhall enjoy. The other p. 101is going to feel, what he would not in time believe; to endure the threatned Wrath, he would not Fear, ſo as to eſcape. The one is come to the end of all his Prayers, and Patience, Labours, and Sufferings: The other, to the end of all his Eaſe, and Pleaſure, Mirth and Joy. The one hath the promiſed Felicity, with God, and Chriſt, and all the bleſſed Spirits above, in view before him; the other hath Death and Hell, the Judgment of Chriſt, and an Eternity of Miſery before him, ready to overwhelm his Soul. The one can look back with Comfort, and reflect upon his upright Holy perſevering Obedience, mixt with Repentance for many Sins and Failings, and yet can hope in God for his acceptance thro Chriſt; the other muſt review his Heart and Life with horror and regret, and read over the black Items of his careleſs Impenitent Courſe, with Bitterneſs and Torment, and the fears of greater. The one is leaving this World, where he ſpent his days in preparing for Eternity, (thô he heartily laments, that he began no ſooner, and minded it no more;) the other is paſſing into the inviſible Eternal World, for which he hath made no proviſion. The one by Death ſhall be tranſlated to a bleſſed State of Holinefs, Love, and Peace, in the everlaſting joyful Praiſes of God, his Maker, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; the other p. 102ſort are paſſing into the Regions of Darkneſs and Deſpair, among Devils, and unholy miſerable Souls, with whom they muſt dwell, under the Hatred and Curſe of God, and the unſpeakable Terrors of his Wrath for ever: O the difference between one that is ready, and one that is unready! when the Summons from Chriſt ſhall come to call them both away. Conſider this, endeavour to be Ready; for the difference between one mans Death and anothers, depends on the difference between Heart and Heart, Life and Life, Preparation and Unpreparedneſs.

10. Conſider, that all the Readineſs you now can get, will be little enough to ſupport your Souls, when Chriſt ſhall call. Our utmoſt Diligence to Prepare will not be too much, to enable us chearfully to commend our Souls into the Hands of Chriſt, in expectation of all the great and glorious things, which he hath Purchaſed, Revealed, and Promiſed. Then all the Grace you have treaſured up, will be little enough, for that is a time to uſe it, not to get it. Our ſtrongeſt Faith will hardly be ſufficient; the cleareſt Evidences of our Acceptance with God, will be no more than needs; the moſt apropriating, particular, applicatory Faith, ſaying, I know that my Redeemer liveth, will be little enough to give us confidence in a dying p. 103Hour. You know of none can help you, if then you cannot look to Chriſt with hope. If the Devil ſay, this ſinful Soul is mine, and Chriſt diſown thee, and ſay ſo too, what ſhall overcome the fears of Death? No wonder if Doubts and Fears ariſe, from the weakneſs of our Grace, our Negligence and Remiſneſs in the ſervice of God, our Folly and Offences, and manifold Backſlidings, our familiarity with this World, and natural Love of Life, no wonder if it be difficult to conquer all theſe. And how can that be done, if we be not now diligent to get Ready?

11. Conſider for your Encouragement, that Ʋprightneſs and Sincerity ſhall be acceptted, as your habitual Readineſs. We are under a merciful Covenant, and ſerve a gracious Redeemer: we find by the parable of the wiſe and fooliſh Virgins, that tho the former, who had Oyl in their Veſſels, had many faults; (for they ſlumber'd as well as the Fooliſh, when they ſhould have been actually waking, and Watching,) yet they were not ſhut out of Heaven: and then your conformity to Chriſt ſhall be compleat, and your weak imperfect Graces ſhall be perfected.

12. Remember this alſo, that if your diligent Preparation be a difficult Work, it is but p. 104for a little while. The allotted ſeaſon to Watch, and Work, and Wreſtle, to ſtrive and run, and uſe all Diligence to be Ready, is not long. And Chriſt may ſay, Will you not watch with me one hour? that you may lift up your heads with Joy at my appearing, and then dwell with me for ever? O how ſoon will the labour of Repentance, and humble ſelf-denying Diligence in our preparatory Work be all over!

Soon will all the Affairs of humane Life be over; all theſe little things which men call Buſineſs, be paſt and gone; thoſe, I mean, of Trade and Money, of Farms and Merchandize, they will all be over e're it be long: So will the Difficulties and Trouble of holy ſerious Diligence, in making ready for the Coming of Chriſt be over too. Now we muſt Fight and Wreſtle, and hold on unto Victory, but the time of Triumph is approaching: Now we muſt watch, and ſtand upon our guard, but the promiſed everlaſting Reward, and Reſt, is not far off: Now our Life is, or ſhould be, a Life of Prayer, e're long we ſhall receive the full Anſwer of all our Prayers, and all our Enemies be under our feet, never to Diſturb, or Tempt, or Diſquiet, or Indauger us more for ever. It all depends upon our ſincere and perſevering Diligence, to get ready for the Coming of Chriſt.

p. 105The Improvement, which may be made of this, ſhall be, Firſt, To Lament our great and manifeſt unpreparedneſs for this Coming of Chriſt.

1. Many ſuch as are truly ſanctified, and have Oyl in their Veſſels, are yet too Ʋnready, for want of frequent believing Conſideration, concerning this Coming of Chriſt, and for want of Actual Preparation for it. How many are intangled with the Cares, and Hurry of worldly Affairs, to that degree, that they do not take Time enough, to retire and bethink themſelves of the glorious Appearance, and Revelation of Chriſt from Heaven, and ſo their Faith is weak, and their Preparation flow. Alas! we are but too unready, our unmortified Affections to earthly things, and unbecoming Fears of our luſt Enemy, do plainly prove it. The many breaches between God and our Souls, by particular backſlidings, tell us we are Ʋnready. The vanity of our Minds and Spirits, diſcovered by an undue conformity to this World, ſhows that we are Ʋnready. The exceſs of our Paſſions, upon Worldly Loſſes and Diſappointments, atteſt it too plainly. The declenſion of lively Hope, unto which we are begotten and born by Regeneration, the grieving and quenching of the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Adoption, and Earneſt of our Inheritance, p. 106ſhow that we are yet too unready.

The Promiſes, on which we muſt venture our Everlaſting Hopes, are not ſtudied, and underſtood, digeſted, and applyed, as they ſhould be, and therefore we are not Ready. Our Deſires of the Coming of Chriſt, our Prayers for the haſtning of it, our anticipated Joy in the fore-thoughts of it, are ſo low, and ſo imperfect, to what they ought to be, that they prove we are Ʋnready. We do not Labour and Watch, Pray, and Hope, with a reſolved perſevering Zeal, and Conſtancy, for the Grace that is to be brought to us, at the Revelation of Chriſt, as thoſe that are Ready for his Coming.

2. 'Tis further to be bewail'd, that multitudes fancy, and ſuppoſe they are ready, when indeed they are not. O how great is the number of ſuch! who imagine themſelves to be too well prepar'd already, to learn to Prepare. And therefore all the Warnings and Exhortations of the Word, make no impreſſion on them, becauſe they think themſelves not concern'd, tho they have never accepted Chriſt, as the Bridegroom of their Souls, by an humble, penitent, unfeigned Dedication of themſelves to him, to love, pleaſe, and obey him above all. And their own Conſciences (if they would conſider, reflect, p. 107and ſearch) muſt tell them, that they are not Faithful Stewards of their many Talents, as expecting to be call'd to an Account.

3. The general Ʋnconcernedneſs of the moſt, about any ſuch thing as this being Ready, ought greatly to be Lamented. The moſt reckon it at that diſtance, they will not trouble themſelves to enquire whether they be prepar'd, or no. Others are conſcious of their own Unreadineſs, and therefore do not care to think of Dying: Tho they know not how ſoon they may be called; for many younger, and more likely to live, have dyed this laſt Year. Parents may ſurvive their Children, and lay thoſe little parts of themſelves in the Grave, before they make their own Beds there: Yet ſuch is the powerful craft of Sathan to befool the Sinner, and ſuch the deceitfulneſs of Sin to harden the Heart, that ſome of the moſt unprepared, make a ſhift to live in peace, tho they cannot tell but Death may open the Door into Eternity the next moment. They will not yet conſider it, and apply it to their own caſe; they will not know, that their Judge is at the Door, that their Day of Reckoning is at hand, that they are haſtening to the Tribunal of Chriſt, that their Judgment lingereth not, and their Damnation ſlumbereth not. One would wonder, what Apprehenſions, and p. 108Thoughts of theſe things, ſuch careleſs Chriſtians have, who durſt not ſay they disbelieve, or deny the Scripture Revelation, and yet feel no correſpondent Impreſſions anſwerable to the Nature, Weight, and Tendency of ſuch things.

Let me ask thee, O man, that haſt neglected hitherto to make Ready: Doſt thou think, that Chriſt will receive thy departing Soul at Death, or no? Will he acquit and own thee in the Judgment, or no? What ſay'ſt thou, haſt thou enquired, and examined, and made it thy buſineſs to know this? and to make ſure of it? How is it, that thy Mind is fill'd with other Thoughts? thy mouth with other Talk? and thy Time employed about other things? when thou art ſo near to the final Judgment of Chriſt, and ſeeſt ſo many Souls daily paſſing into another World; and yet wilt not conſider what ſhall become of them, and of thy ſelf: but wilt continue to purſue ſome tranſitory Pleaſure, or Profit, while God and Heaven are neglected, and Chriſt deſpiſed, his Favour loſt, and thy own Soul loſt, or in the extreameſt danger of being ſo, becauſe thou art not Ready. Canſt thou think that Chriſt will then accept thee, if thou now neglect him? Canſt thou hope, that he will prove himſelf a Lyar, by owning ſuch as he hath often declared he never will? O pity your ſelves in Time! that p. 109you may not be denyed his pity at laſt. The door of Grace is yet open, but how ſoon, how ſpeedily may it be ſhut! if now you will not enter. O what an unſpeakable Mercy is the offer from God, that yet you may enter! what would departed Souls, that dyed Unready, give for ſuch a Call of God? Hold a little, Tremble, and Believe, and delay no longer.

For Direction, in the general, Since the Bridegreom will come, and it may be in an hour when you do not look for him, ſee that you have Oyl in your Veſſels, and Lamps, as thoſe that wait for the Coming of their Lord. If thou haſt no Oyl, buy it; if thou haſt, burn it; if thou haſt no Wedding Garment, get one; if thou haſt, put it on; if thou haſt no true Love to God, never leave till the Holy Flame be kindled; if thou haſt any in truth, exerciſe and uſe it, as one that expects the Coming of Chriſt. More particularly,

1. Seek Reconciliation to God, by a Covenant Dedication of your ſelves to God in Chriſt, accepting him as offer'd in the Goſpel, and reſigning, and yielding your ſelves unfeignedly, and without reſerve, to be his.

2. Let the Work of Mortification, both as to Sin and the World, be progreſſive, p. 110and conſtantly carried on, that you may be found of him in Peace, as to your State; and without Spot, as to your Frame, as well as blameleſs, as to your Converſation, 2 Pet. 3.14. Sit looſe in your Affections from Earthly things, that Death may not rend and tear you from that, which hath the chiefeſt poſſeſſion of your Hearts, for then you cannot meet the Summons of Death, but with an exceſſive Sorrow.

3. Be much in Self-Examination, that you may get over your Doubts and fears, concerning your Adoption, and attain to a more well-grounded Hope, and Aſſurance of the ſpecial Love of Chriſt. What will it avail us, to think we are Pardoned, and ſhall be ſaved, and e're long to find our ſelves miſtaken when there can be no Remedy? You muſt now underſtand your danger, if ever you will be ſaved from it. And we have the ſame Rule and Law given to judge our ſelves by, that God will judge us by at laſt. Therefore retire, and examine your ſelves, whether you can obſerve the Seal and Earneſt of the Spirit of Grace upon your Hearts; whether you can review your Converſation and Courſe, as tranſacted in ſimplicity and godly Sincerity, as in the ſight of God, under the conduct of the ſame Spirit? whether this ſanctifying Spirit hath drawn out your Deſires p. 111after Holineſs, and your Love to God, his Word, his Worſhip, and his Servants, ſo as to wean you from the World, and make you place your Hopes and Happineſs above, chooſing God for your only Portion and Chriſt for your Teacher, Saviour and Lord; enabling you to live with ſincere Deſires, and Endeavours to pleaſe and honour him, in the believing expectation of what he hath purchas'd and promiſed, preferring the Hopes of it before all the Pleaſures, and Advantages of Sin, and the preſent Life. And if upon ſerious ſearch, your Hearts condemn you not, you may have confidence towards God: But how can you know theſe things without Examining? and how can you have this confidence, without ſuch a Knowledge? and how can you think of the Second Coming of Chriſt with comfort, without ſome ſuch good Hopes thrô Grace.

4. You ſhould likewiſe, Endeavour to carry it in every Relation and Condition, as expecting to be called to an Account, when your Lord ſhall come. Do nothing now, but you would be willing to hear of then; nothing that you would be aſhamed, or afraid to have ript up, opened, and diſcovered in that Day. Think with your ſelves often, Is this that I am now doing, the Life which I now lead, the Deſigns p. 112that I now purſue, ſuch as will be ſweet, or bitter to be remembred, when Chriſt ſhall come? will it be to my Shame or Honour, to my Joy or my Confuſion, in the Day of Reckoning, when I muſt ſtand before my Judge? How many Temptations to ſin might this repell? How many neceſſary Duties might this awaken us to perform, eſpecially toward Relations?

It may now be a terrible thought to ſome of us, to conſider and foreſee that thoſe of our Relations whom we moſt tenderly Love, are like to fall under the condemning Sentence of Chriſt, and periſh Eternally. You can hardly bear up now under the weight of ſuch a thought: will you not then awake, to Counſel, Warn, Reprove, Exhort, Admoniſh, and Intreat them, and do all you can to prevent it? But if they will not hearken, your Faithfulneſs ſhall be your Comfort, and their Condemnation ſhall not diminiſh your Happineſs, tho' it will aggravate their Doom if you have done your Duty. I will inſtance in one Relation.

Suppoſe a Wicked Child, to behold his Parents on the Right Hand of the Judge, (one or both of them) owned by Chriſt, rejoycing in his Love, and taking part with him, ſo as to be pleaſed with the Execution of his Righteous Sentence, without any ſuch Bowels of Pity toward them, as p. 113now they feel: And if we could imagine them to diſcourſe together, how might Holy Parents mind them of the various Methods they uſed to prevent their Ruine; and of all the Counſels, Reproofs, and Prayers, with which they follow'd them from year to year. I begot thee, or brought thee forth; I laid thee in my Boſom, I carried thee in my Arms; I took care of thee in Infancy; I inſtructed thee in Childhood; I look'd after thy Education; I brought thee to the publick Aſſemblies; I put thee upon Secret Prayer; I warn'd thee of thy Danger by bad Company; I urg'd thee to flee youthful Luſts; I told thee what would be the End and Iſſue; I forewarn'd thee of this day; and of the Everlaſting Deſtruction that Chriſt had Threatned; and of thy too late Repentance in the other World; and that hereafter I ſhould ſee thee condemned to Hell, without being able to pity thee. And now the Caſe is thus, I cannot but approve the Righteous Sentence of the glorious Judge; for thou wouldeſt not prepare, and get Ready for this Day, notwithſtanding thy many Warnings and Calls from God and Man to do it.

Moreover, 5. Labour to ſtrengthen Faith concerning the Certainty and Glory of Chriſts p. 114Appearing, and the moſt important awful; Conſequences of it, both to the Righteous, and to the Wicked.

1. As to the Certainty of his Coming. Unbelief is at the bottom of our neglect to make Ready. We do not conſider the confirming Reaſons of the Truth of the Goſpel, and beg the Light and Influence of the Spirit, to perſwade us fully of this foundation Article. We take up with the name of Faith, and do not Believe; with a notional weak, ineffectual Faith, that may dwell in the Hearts of Hypocrites, or Devils; and therefore feel no influence by it to excite our Hopes, or Fears, or Preparation.

Did we indeed believe it, as an unqueſtionable Truth, that Chriſt ſhall come again to judge the World, we could not but Fear to be found Unready: For whatever the diſtance be between this and that, Our Faith would repreſent it near, as if the thing were preſent; as if we ſaw the Redeemer in the Clouds, with the glorious Retinue of Bleſſed Angles, and ten thouſand of his Saints: It would realize the Solemnity of his Tribunal, the Books being opened, and the Wicked trembling before their Judge, and the Righteous juſtified, and rejoycing in the Approbation of their Saviour.

p. 115Did we believe it Certain, we ſhould often put the Queſtion, How ſhall I appear and ſtand in the Judgment? How ſhall I give an account of all my Talents? What ſhall I anſwer when I am call'd to his Bar? what ſhall I do to be befriended, when I am tryed for my Life? Therefore beg that God would fix a believing ſence of this upon your Hearts, that your Faith may be the Evidence of things not ſeen: That you may believe it as firmly, as if Dooms-day were already come, as if you heard the Trump to ſound, and that Amazing voice, Ariſe ye Dead, and come to Judgment.

2. Strengthen and increaſe Faith, concerning the Glory of the Second Coming of Chriſt, as well as the Certainty of it. He ſhall be revealed from Heaven, with viſible Glory in flaming Fire, with his mighty Angels, ſo that every Eye ſhall ſee him, and they alſo that pierced him. He ſhall come again with Power and great Glory, and the voice of the Arch-Angel ſhall awaken the World, and fill them with an awful Reverence of their Glorious Judge. He that ſtoopt ſo low at firſt, to be cloathed with a mean diſguiſe, and to glorifie the Father in the form of a Servant, by the Sacrifice of himſelf for our Redemption, ſhall be publickly Honoured in the view of all Mankind. p. 116At his firſt Appearance he was a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, he made himſelf of no Reputation, was deſpiſed and rejected of men; but he ſhall come again, openly to vindicate himſelf from the Contempt of his Enemies: Every knee ſhall bow before him, and every Tongue confeſs him to be Lord: And they who affronted his Throne, and lift up the Heel againſt him, ſhall be made his Footſtool. At firſt he appear'd with all the ſinleſs Infirmities of Humane Nature, but ſhall a ſecond time with all the Demonſtrations of the Divine Power, and Godhead.

3. How awful and important will be the Conſequences of his Coming to all Mankind?

1. To the Wicked. With what Amazement and Confuſion, with what Fear and Horror, with what Dread and Trembling, ſhall they, as guilty Priſoners, be made to ſtand before his Judgment Seat? What killing deſpair will ſeize their Hearts? what Paleneſs and ſhadow of Death will cover their Faces? what Convulſions, and gripes of Conſcience will then torment them? Where can they go? where can they hide? How can they appear? How can they avoid appearing? What can they ſay? How can they anſwer the Charge? or deny p. 117the Accuſation? or evade the Sentence? or put off the Execution for a day? or bear it for a Moment? Since they can never eſcape the Tryal, or corrupt the Judge, or be pardon'd after Judgment, or get the Sentence to be reprieved, or the Execution deferr'd. It will then be in vain to cry for Mercy, for now the Day of Vengeance without Pity, and of Judgment without Mercy, is come: what Friend wilt thou go to then? where are they? who can plead for thee, or ſave thee, but he that will not? I would not for ten thouſand Worlds, appear in thy Caſe, among thoſe that ſhall then be found Naked, and Ʋnready. And are not theſe things ſit to be now conſider'd, believ'd, and prepared for? What is all the Buſineſs and Affairs of this World? What but a Play, a Game, a Trifle, to theſe things?

2. To the Righteous. The Bridegrooms departure is not upon a Divorce: He ſhall come again, to be glorified in his Saints, and be admired of all them that believe. They ſhall ſee him and meet him in the Air, and ſay, Yonder is He whom our Souls Love; yonder is the bleſſed Jeſus, who once came from Heaven, to dye for us, and now comes to bring us to Heaven: we believed his Word, and behold now he p. 118comes to make it good. They ſhall hear his abſolving Sentence; their Perſons ſhall be juſtified; their Cauſe ſhall be pleaded; their Sins ſhall be blotted out; their Sufferings, and Sorrows ſhall all be ended. They may therefore rejoyce in hope, and lift up their Heads in expectation of that Day; for the bleſſed Sentence ſhall raviſh their Hearts, when they ſhall be bid to Enter into their Lords Joy: And hear thoſe endearing Words, from the great Redeemer, Come ye bleſſed Children of my Father, take Poſſeſſion of the Inheritance prepared for you.

Let us therefore pray for the Second Coming of Chriſt, and the haſtning of it, as all Believers under the Old Teſtament and New, have done. And in this poſture, Watching, Praying, Waiting, and preparing for his laſt Appearance to Judgment, we ſhould be Ready for his particular Coming to us by Death.

Laſtly, Let us improve every Warning of Divine Providence, every Death and Funeral of our Relations, and Acquaintance, to promote our own Readineſs to follow. This is the Language of the late Providence that occaſions this Diſcourſe. This is the voice of God, by every breach he makes in our own, or our Neighbours Family. Be you p. 119alſo Ready: for you know not the Hour, when the Son of Man comes. We loſe the Examples, and Holy Lives of our deceaſed Friends, for want of Imitation; and we loſe their Deaths too, if we be not awakened to prepare for our own. But alas? How ſoon do the Impreſſions wear off, of ſuch awakening Spectacles? It may be the ghaſtly looks, or dying groans of dear Friends, or departing Relatives, gaſping out their laſt breath, and juſt paſſing into the other World, for the preſent may affect us a little: It may be when we ſee an open Coffin in our own Houſe, or a Grave gaping to receive the Body of one we knew, and loved, and lately converſed with, this may move and ſtartle us a little: It may be when we behold the mournful Looks, and Habit, the Funeral Pomp and Solemnity, that attends them to the Houſe of Darkneſs, ſome ſerious Thoughts are excited; our Minds are aw'd into ſome reflections upon our own Mortality. But when the Ceremony is over, and we are gone from ſuch a Spectacle; when the Dead are buried out of our ſight, and we engag'd among the living World again, how ſoon alas! is all this forgotten? and how few are Gainers by ſuch a Loſs, in the manner they ſhould be, i. e. To take the Warning, to be Ready, and Prepared for the Coming of Chriſt to p. 120us, which is as ſure, as if we were already dead.

One Help to get Ready our Selves for Death and Judgment, is to conſider and improve the Death of Others. Either of ſuch, who were called, and not Ready, whoſe caſe ſpeaks loudly to us not to delay, and trifle as they did: or of ſuch as were Prepared, and fit to Dye, their Death hath alſo the like voice of that in the Text, Be you alſo Ready. Our Deceaſed Friend, Mrs. Gearing, I am perſwaded was of this latter ſort.

§. 1. I Know very well, that the praiſing of the Dead hath been ſcandalouſly abuſed, as a more cloſe way of flattering the living Relations, and therefore would be cautious what I ſpeak on ſuch Occaſions: But the Honour of Gods Grace is not a little concern'd in the Honour of thoſe, in whom it did remarkably appear: and he hath promis'd, that they who ſerve, and follow him, ſhall be honoured. To mention what was really imitable and praiſe-worthy, needs no Apology, or Excuſe; the matter carries its own Juſtification.

§ 2. You of this Congregation could not but obſerve her Diligence and Conſtancy in attending p. 121on the Publick Worſhip of the Lords Day, and to ſhow forth the Lords Death every Month, in the other Solemnity of the Supper. Her early Attendance here, before the publick Worſhip began, thô ſhe liv'd at a more remote diſtance than many of you, is not unworthy of your Imitation.

§. 3. Her ſtrict Seriouſneſs in Family-worſhip, and Cloſet Duties, by which the Life and Vigour of practical Godlineſs is to be kept up, they who knew her beſt, were well acquainted with.

§. 4. There was one thing in her daily Courſe, which ſhould ſhame and awaken moſt Profeſſors, viz. the Conſcientious daily practice of Self-reflection, and Examination; reviewing and calling over the paſſages of every Day in the Evening. She made Conſcience every Night, to look back on the Duties ſhe had performed, and the Manner of 'em; on the Mercies ſhe had receiv'd; on the Errors, Weakneſſes, and Omiſſions, ſhe had been guilty of, &c. in order to Repentance, or Thankſgiving. Oh that there were more of ſuch, concerning whom this may be truly ſaid! We ſhould be more Ready for the Table of the Lord every Month, and more Ready for the preſence of Chriſt at the Hour of Death, if we did thus review the Actions of every Day, at the cloſe of it.

p. 122§. 5. Not to inſiſt upon her Faithfulneſs, and Prudence, Tenderneſs and Affection, Affability, and Friendly Carriage in every Relation, with divers other things very Commendable in her Life. I ſhall only take notice of a few things concerning her laſt Sickneſs, which after ten days determin'd in Death.

§. 6. Her Patience, Submiſſion, and Reſignation was anſwerable to the other part of her Character and Deportment; that is, truly Chriſtian. When ſometimes (by intervals) her Diſtemper did affect her Head, as ſoon as ſhe recovered the uſe of her Ʋnderſtanding, and a compoſed mind, very pertinent and earneſt Supplications to Heaven, diſcovered the holy Seriouſneſs of her Heart and Frame. When ſhe could hardly ſpeak more than Yes, or No, yet ſhe did ſufficiently ſignifie her Aſſent, and cordial Approbation of any ſeaſonable Religious Diſcourſe, that was made to her.

§. 7. She owned her Hope and Truſt in the Mercy of God, thro' Jeſus Chriſt, for Pardon and Eternal Life; and under the diſorders of ſo painful and violent a Feaver, yet acknowledg'd ſhe had Peace within.

§. 8. The day before ſhe dyed, ſhe told a near Relation, that ſhe had a great work to do on the p. 123morrow: And when it was replyed, that 'tis true, It is a great and difficult Work to dye; yet one moments Enjoyment of God in Heaven will make amends for all: She very affectionately cries out, I, ſo it will: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that I ſhall go to him, and be with him.

§. 9. The Evening before her Departure, after I had prayed for her, in the preſence of ſeveral Relations and Friends, and ſeriouſly endeavour'd to commend her Soul into the hands of Chriſt; I ask'd her, Whether Jeſus Chriſt were not the Chiefeſt of ten thouſands to Her; whether ſhe did not deſire and prize him above all; whether ſhe had not given up her ſelf to him, again and again, with all her Heart and Soul, entirely, and without reſerve; and endeavour'd (humane Infirmities, and Backſlidings repented of, excepted) to walk and live as a Follower of Chriſt, under the Conduct of his Spirit, and according to the Rule of his Word, and ſome other ſuch Queſtions, that might aſſiſt her to diſcern the Truth of her Grace, &c. She anſwered in the Affirmative, with extraordinary Modeſty, Humility, Thankfulneſs and Affection: And gave me her hand at Parting, with thanks for my Prayers and Aſſiſtance, begging of God the beſt of Bleſſings for me and mine, which were her own words.

p. 124§. 10. After which, in a difficult ſtruggle with the King of Terrors, we hope and truſt ſhe was ſupported by the Everlaſting Arms of that Powerful Grace of Chriſt, who hath conquer'd Death, and him that had the Power of it, the Devil. So that we may now ſay, O Death where is thy Sting, &c. God grant thoſe lively impreſſions of Death, and another World, which the Relations then preſent ſeem'd to have on that occaſion, may not eaſily wear off, or loſe their proper Influence!

And now, Chriſtians, let us mix our Sorrows for our Deceaſed Friend, with the Joys of Faith, on the account of her being made meet and ready for the Preſence of Chriſt. Some Sorrow is allowable, were it but as Death enters into the World, as the fruit of Sin: But ſhe being Prepared for Death, and made meet for the Promiſed Bleſſedneſs, beyond the Grave, that ought to be the matter of our Joy, which we believe is ſo of hers. And do we not our ſelves Hope, (and have we any better, greater Thing we hope for, than) to poſſeſs that Happineſs with Chriſt, which we believe ſhe is poſſeſſed of? Is it not then unreaſonable, to make that the Subject of immoderate Mourning, and exceſſive Lamentation, as to our departed Friends, which is the principal matter of Hope and Comfort, as to our own Souls? And ſhall p. 125we for the ſake of a leſſer good, which we ſuppoſe to our ſelves by their living longer, deſire to deprive them of a Greater, which they cannot attain but by dying? Let us rather be awaken'd, edifi'd, and encourag'd by their Examples, who by Faith and Patience, and Perſeverance, are gone to inherit the Promiſes: and by their Funerals be excited to foreſee and make Ready for our own. Oh that the Call of God, by this Breach among us, may be underſtood and obeyed! For this it ſpeaks to every one in particular, Be you alſo Ready. Amen.

THE END.

The SAINTS Deſire to be with CHRIST.

A SERMON PREACHT Upon the DEATH OF M^rs. Ann Barnardiſton, (DAUGHTER of Nathanael Barnardiſton, Eſq late of Hackney.)

A SERMON PREACHT Upon the DEATH OF Mrs. Ann Barnardiſton, (DAUGHTER of Nathanael Barnardiſton, Eſq late of Hackney:) Who Departed this Life the 30th. of Decemb. 1681. at the Age of Seventeen.

With a brief Account of ſome Remarkable Paſſages of her LIFE and DEATH.

By John Shower, Miniſter of the Goſpel.

Pſal. 103.15.

As for man his dayes are as graſs: as a flower of the field ſo he flouriſheth.

V. 16.

For the wind paſſeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof ſhall know it no more.

The Second Edition.

LONDON, Printed for J. Dunton and A. Chandler. 1691