Works, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness; A constant wat…hfulness, Frequent Meditation of Death, Daily performance of …aored Duties.
FOurthly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness, Watch over thy self continually: This spiritual watchfulness is the Main-guard of the soul, which if once called off, we lye open to the shot of every enemy. This, like one of the Nethinim, must stand continually Porter at the door of our hearts, Gods Temple, to keep out whatsoever i… unclean… Watchfulness is a diligent observation of our selves in all things, and at all times, that we may please God always. He that watcheth hath his eyes in his head, according to the wise mans phrase, and seeth (as the Chineses say of themselves) with both eyes. David expresseth it fitly, I said I will take heed to my ways, Psa. 39.1. i. e. I will ponder my paths, and consider where I set my feet, lest I should tread awry. Without this wariness there is no safe walking. Secure Laish is made a prey to their enemies; and the secure soul is made a prey to his spiritual adversaries, Iudges 19.9,10. Soul-Lethargies are most dangerous, most deadly. Those that slept in the sweating sickness generally died. He who watcheth not is led about (like one in his natural sleep) by any temptation, he knoweth not how nor whether. When the Wolves in the Fable once prevailed with the Sheep to part with the Dogs, they soon devoured them. If Satan can but get men to forgo this means of their safety, he will soon make them his prey. The old World was drowned in sleep before they were drowned in water. Sodom and Gomorah were secure when they were destroyed by fire.
Its reported of the Dragon that whilst he sleepeth a jewel is taken out of his head. Noah lost the jewel of Temperance; David the jewel of Chastity whilst they were fallen asleep. If this eye of watchfulness be once shut the soul is open to all wickedness. When Argus, notwithstanding his hundred eyes, was by Mercury piped into a sleep, he was transformed into a Cow.
Reader hearken to Gods Watch-word; Ye are all children of light, and children of the day; we are not of the night nor of darkness: Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober, 1 Thess. 5. 5,6,7. Sleep is not seasonable in the day of grace, nor sutable to a childe of light: They that sleep, sleep in the night, Rom. 13.11. The night is for sleep, therefore in it God draweth a curtain of darkness about us; as the Nurse when she would lay her babe to sleep, throweth a cloth over the head of the cradle. But the day is for watching, for working.
He hath little reason to give himself to sleep who is every moment surrounded with mortal enemies, which are neither few nor weak. Naturalists tell us that the bird Onocratulus, and the Pellican take their rest with their Beaks upright, expecting the Hawk; and that the Whale and Dolphin sleep with their heads erected above water, for fear of hurt. Though there were but that one text of Scripture 1 Pet. 5.8. relating to this duty, twere enough to alarm any wise man, and to call him to his arms; Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. If that voyce among the antient Romans, Hannibal ad portas, Hannibal is at the gates, were sufficient to make them leave whatsoever they were about, and run to their weapons, and stand upon their guard; what watchfulness should this voyce of the holy Ghost, The Devil is at the door, call thee too? Reader, Take that verse a little in pieces, and see what a foe thou hast to fight with, and then tell me whether it doth not concern thee to watch. Consider,
1. His Power; Your adversary the Devil: It is not a weak man, but a mighty Devil. Thou art not called to wrestle with flesh and blood, but Principalities and powers, Is man a match for a Devil? or a stripling nodding, fit to enter the Lists with Goliah? What is a Pigmie to a Giant, or a a dying creature to the Prince of the powers of the air? Had David been asleep when the Lion out of the wood came against him, the Lion had sooner tore him by the throat, then he had taken the Lion by the beard. The cobweb may as soon withstand the broom in the maids hand, and the dust oppose the force of a violent wind, as a nodding secure Christian the temptations of Satan.
2. His Policy; Seeking whom he may devour; Had our enemy strength without craft, there were not so much danger, nor cause of vigilancy; but when he hath seven heads as well as ten horns, and exceeds us in subtilty as much as in power, it concerneth us to be watchful. He that playeth with a cunning Fencer, will heed his wards the more. Reader, the Devil hath a shrewd guess what Dalilah is most likely to entice thee, and deprive thee of thy spiritual strength; and if amongst all the uncircumcised there be any that will fit thee, thou shalt not want her. He hath not walked too and fro in the earth so long for nothing; but he knoweth what weeds will take best and thrive most in the soil of thy heart, & be confident he will help thee both to the seeds and plants of them. The subtle serpent that could wind himself into Paradise, knoweth surely how to wind himself into thee. If he were too crafty for man when he was perfect, much more is he for man polluted; And can such a strong politick foe be resisted, when thou art lazing upon thy bed of security?
3. His Industry; Your adversary the Devil goeth about. He is a diligent servant never from your elbow; As Ioseph's Mistris, when denied, still sollicited; and Sampsons Harlot pressed him with continual importunity night and day, that his very soul was vexed unto death. So the Devil serveth men, he will never forsake them, but follow them with his darts and assaults, till they are safe in heaven from hi…, or safe in hell with him. He is called the Prince of the powers of the air, and his Angels, spiritual Wickednesses in high places; the air is the seat of his Empire; and truly as ravenous foul hover up and do…n in the air, to catch and kill little chickens, and though they be frighted away by any one, yet they lye near at the catch, and the person is no sooner gone, but they are descending to destroy them: So those infernal spirits are hovering up and down, walking too and fro to defile and destroy souls; and though they are resisted and foiled, yet they impudently continue their former endeavours to undo us. Now hath he any time for sleep that is every moment in such danger?
4. His Cruelty; As a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. The Lions of the Forrest have no pitty; Lest he tear my soul like a Lion, renting it in peices, Psal. 7.2. The Lions brake the bones of Daniels accusers before they came to the bottom of the Den: But the Lions of hell have much less pity; his tender mercies are cruelties indeed; it is not the loss of thy life, but of thy soul, and thy God, and thy Christ, and that for ever which he looks after. The racking of thy body, and renting thy bones, is nothing to the flames, and whips, and torments which he makes men suffer, and that not for a day, or week, or year, or age, but to all eternity.
Reader, is there not infinite reason for watchfulness? Had not the Apostle ground enough for his precept, Be sober, be vigilant, when our adversary is so strong a Devil, so sedulous going about, so cruel as a roaring Lion, and so crafty, seeking by all means whom he may devour? Yet alas, this is not all, Go where we will, we see abundant cause to look well to our feet. Every place we come into is a net to ensnare us; we cannot look out of our eyes, but we see a baited hook; nor open our ears, but we hear the Syrens songs; we cannot put forth our hands, but we touch pitch; nor set our feet, but in the midst of nets; every part of the body is a Iudas, a Traytor to the soul. Our crosses and afflictions, if we be secure, will be to us, as the Goal to a prisoner, filling us with Vermine: Our greatest earthly comforts if we be not watchful, prove but like traps set for vermine, pleasant and killing. When the world sings most sweetly in our ears, she doth but like Orpheus with his pipe, endeavour to lead us by the ears into unquenchable flames. Theives with provender in their hands catch horses to steal them: The world allures our hearts by its pleasures and profits, and steals them from God. Our own hearts are Iacobs, Supplanters of us, deceitful and desperately wicked. As the water-foul in Friezland will decoy other wilde foul in a net, and then give a watchword to their Master to seise on them; so officious will our own hearts be to the Devil; And shall we not watch and pray that we enter not into temptation?
Sleep is the great Leveller, which makes all equal. The strongest Sampson is as liable in his sleep to be slain, as the smallest infant; When a deep sleep from the Lord had seised on Saul and his Souldiers, how easily might David if he had pleased, have killed them? He took away Sauls Spear and Cruse of Water, to assure him that he could have taken away his life. Ah! how soon may the Devil, or World, or Flesh, defile, deceive, and destroy a sleeping soul! Bees, that have many enemies, Mice, Spiders, Drones, Hornets, Birds and Beasts, never dare, say Naturalists, to give themselves to security, but night and day have their Scouts, and Centinels, and Corp-du-guard, to keep watch and ward, lest some of their many enemies should on a sudden surprise them; The Christian may learn this duty from such creatures; Spiders weave their Cobwebs near the Flowers where the Bees use to gather, and also just over the passage out of their Hives, that so at their going out, but especially at their comming in, laden and weary, they may catch them, and make a prey of them. David saith, In the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me. So mayst thou Reader say, In the way wherein I daily walk, doth Satan privily lay Baits to catch me, at my Table, in my Closet, in my Shop, in my Bed, in the Streets; in all places where I go, he hath laid snares for my soul. If there be a snare, and such danger in all things, then let me advise thee, if thou woulst avoid them, in the words of Paul to Timothy, Watch thou in all things, 2 Timoth. 4. 5.
Watch against sin, against all sin. The Gardiner doth not onelyonly watch over his Flowers, to water and cherish them, but also watcheth all weeds, to pluck and root them up. Take heed lest there be any root of bitterness; Epiphanius tells us, when a dead corps was carried by any of the Israelites houses, they used to shut their doors and windows, intimating that men must be watchful against the sent and infection of sin…; Its in vain for a Captain to guard one gate of a Castle, to prevent the enemies entring there, if he leave another open, when the whole Fort is beleagured, and surrounded with mortal enemies.
Watch especially against thine own sin. If a man have many wounds, whereof one is more dangerous then the rest, being near a vital part, though he will be mindful and careful of all, yet he will have a special care of that which is most dangerous; A Christian must watch against all sin, all soul-diseases, but principally against his own sin; that disease which is most dangerous; as a wise Governour will have a special eye upon that particular person in his Garrison, whom he knoweth to be a Traytour.
Watch for the doing of good; For seasons of Prayer, and Hearing, and Christian Communion. The Country-man watcheth for the Bell ringing on the Market-day, when the sacks will be opened, that he may buy food for himself and his family. The Mariner watcheth for the Tide; The diseased folk watched for the moving of the waters, by the Angels. David watched as a Sparrow on the house top, where he might peck up some corn, get some spiritual nourishment. An opportunity of worshipping God is a jewel, the Christian may well watch to take it up.
Watch in duties; The Child must be watcht at School, or he will play and toy instead of getting his lesson. The heart must be watched in an Ordinance, or it will wander wholly from the business in hand; continue in prayer, and watch in the same, Col. 4. 2. Take heed how ye hear; The Bible will drop out of the sleepers hand, and prayer is a wrestling with God, which is not a work to be done nodding; They who talk in their sleep, talk idly.
Watch after duties. Running carelesly into the open air, immediately after the taking of Physick, is dangerous. When the Garden is drest, and the seeds sown in it, we must watch it, lest Hogs get into it, and root up all. Satan thinks to take the Christian at an advantage, after the duty is over; and though he could not beat him in the fight, yet to do it when the Saint hath laid by his weapons. It was a wise speech of Marcus Aurelius, after he had vanquished Popilion, General of the potent Parthians, and won the day, I tell thee of a truth, that I stand in greater fear of fortune at this present, then I did before the battel, for she careth not so much to overtake the Conquered, as to overcome the Conqueror. Truly, Satan will be industrious to destroy both the conquered utterly, and to overcome the Conquerour.
Watch thy senses; These are the Cinque-ports, as one calls them, of the Isle of man, which if not well garrisoned, will let in strangers and disturbers of our peace. At these Havens much of Satans lading is taken in. Io… made a Covenant with his eyes, he would not suffer them to gad and gaze at random, lest they should return defiled. Democritus walking abroad, would shut his eyes, lest by their wandring, his mind should be taken off from the contemplation of honest things. Acteon became, as the Poet fancieth, meat for his Dogs, by suffering his eyes to wander. Lusting hath often been the issue of looking, witness Iosephs Mistriss, David, Achan, the Israelites, Numb. 15. 39. Stratonice took Mithridates with a Song. The heart hath often been angled into sin by the ear, and led into temptation by the eye… therefore Cassian relates that to preserve the cleanness of the heart, the Egyptian Masters taught that men must be Surdi, Caeci, Muti; Deaf, Blind, and Dumb. If those out-works be well guarded, the Royal Fort is in the less hazard. Shut up the five windows (i. e. guard the five senses) that the whole house may be full of light, according to the Arabian Proverb.
Watch your affections; If those waves be tempestuous, they will cast up much foam and froth, mire and dirt. He had need to make a strong wall, that would keep these raging waters within their bounds.
Watch your Tongues; The Sea hath not more need of banks to keep it in, then the tongue of a bridle; The tongue is compared to a Sword, to a Razor, both which are keen weapons, and must be handled warily, Psa. 39. 1, 2. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a Bridle, whilst the wicked are before me.
Watch your hearts; The heart is the Forge, the spring of life, and a wound there is mortal. Keep thy heart with all diligence (super omnem custodiam, above all keeping, Merito deb…t somper senare in a…ribus Vigilate. Bucer in 13. Mark.Jun.) out of it are the issues of life. Watch over all things, watch in all things; This voice saith Bucer, should always sound in our ears, Watch, Watch.
How frequent is Christ in his Precepts to this duty? as knowing fully the weight and concernment of it; Watch ye therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh. Watch and Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. And he is as frequent in his promises to it, Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh shall find watching; Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments; and if he shall come in the second or third watch, and find him so, blessed is he, Luk. 12. 37, 38, 43. Surely, Blessedness is worthy our waking; Bliss is worth keeping our eyes open a few days for. Apollonius, held in his time for an Oracle, coming early in the morning to Vespasians gate,Philostr. in vit. and finding him (then a private person) up and at study, he said to his Companion, This man is worthy to raign and command an Empire, which afterwards came to pass; He that watcheth with Christ the short hour of this life, shall be counted worthy to raign with him in his Kingdom for ever. Sion, which is frequently put for the Church of God, signifieth a Watch-Tower, because from that hill, a man might see the Holy Land, and all the Countries thereabout, but the spiritual signification of it may be this; that all the members of Gods Church must be like Souldiers in a watch-tower, observing who commeth in and who goeth out, lest Traytors should steal into the fort of the heart undiscovered.
Fifthly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness, Think often of thy dying day, and of what price and value godliness will be to thee at such a time; There are few thoughts more terrible or more profitable then of death. Hence it is, that God commands man so often to remember his latter end, because the meditation of it is so gainful to him. The first day man was made, he was called to think of his last day; God minded him of death in the Tree of Knowledge, and the threatning annexed to the Prohibition, that he might thereby keep him from sin. Satan could not prevail with Eve, to taste of that killing fruit, till he had prevailed with her to distrust that threatning of death, ye shall not surely dye, Gen. 3. 4. After the fall, God reneweth this meditation, by turning the conditional, into an absolute commination; Dust thou art, and to Dust thou shalt return; and though the Holy Ghost omitteth many particulars about Gods carriage with the long-lived Patriarchs, and their holy conversation before him, yet he is exact in registring their deaths; And he died, and he died, of every one, Gen. 5. to quicken us to fear God, because we are but dying frail men. There is hardly any thing about which we deal, but God gives us by it a Memento of Death. Our Cloaths are all fetcht out of Deaths wardrobe, our food out of deaths shambles; The Sun is an emblem of lifes posting, the night of the chambers of darkness; the year hath its autumn, the day its night. Our candles should mind us of the wasting of our days, the evening of the shadow of death; our undressing, of our putting off our earthly tabernacles, and our lying down in our beds, of our lying down in our graves.
If thou wouldst make Religion thy business and main work, think often and seriously of thy death and departure of this world; He that guides and steers the ship aright, sits in the stern or hinder… most part of it; He that would order his works, his way, according to God, must be frequent in the meditation of his end; The end of his days, must be at the end of all his thoughts. Zeno Cittiaeus, consulted with the Oracle, how he might live well, and received this answer,foreign. If he would be of the same colour with the dead.
Reader, if thou wouldst live much and well, get thy heart as much affected with godliness, in health, as it will be in sickness; Have the same thoughts of it, the same seriousness about it, the very same carriage towards it, whilst the world salutes thee with its smiling face, and bewitching features, which thou wilt wish thou hadst had, when thou shalt come to take thy leave of it, and lye upon thy dying bed. Be of the same colour with the dead. O what thoughts have the dead of godliness, and of making it ones business! The dead in Christ, and the dead out of Christ, have both other manner of thoughts of Religion, and making it ones occupation, then thou canst possibly imagine.
Those who while they live delay repentance, and dally about Religion, minding it as if they minded it not, who neither in their dealings with men, nor duties towards God, nor in their relations nor vocations, make it their business, but mispend their precious time, misimploy their weighty talents, neglect God and their eternal welfares, as if they had not been made to mind either; when they come to dye and perceive in good earnest, that that surly Serjeant Death, will not be denyed, but away they must go into the other world, and fare well or ill for ever, according as their hearts and lives have been, godly or ungodly, good or bad, here good Lord, what thoughts have they then of godliness? How hearty are their wishes, that they had made it their business? What Worlds would they give that Religion had been their principal work? What prayers and tears do they poure out for a few days to mind it in? What sighs, and sobs, and groans, that they have neglected it so long? What purposes do they take up, what promises do they make, if God spare them, to follow hard after holiness, and make it their onelyonly business? A Philosopher asking Euchrites, which of the two he had rather be, Craesus, one of the richest and most vicious in the world, or, Socrates, one of the poorest and most vertuous; Eucrites answered, Craesus vivens, & Socrates moriens, Craesus while he lived, and Socrates when he dyed. The Cuckoe when wearing away, changeth her noat. The worst men when they come to dye, alter and change exceedingly.
It is worthy our observation, that those who are greatest strangers to death, are most familiar with the works of darkness. No place abounds more in Wolves (no person in wickedness) then where this Mastiff is wanting; Jerusalem hath greivously sinned, her filthiness is in her skirts, she remembreth not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully, 1 Lamen. 8. 9. Jerusalem hath greivously sinned; hath sinned sin, Heb. Hath committed a great or greivous sin, so the Chaldee. Behold here the colour of her sin, is was not of an ordinary dye, but of a black, a bloody, an heinous nature; Her filthiness is in her skirts; Lo here, her carriage after her sinning; she made of it an open shew, so far was she from shame. It is a term taken from prostituted Strumpets, or monstrous women, saith Diodat. The outward looks of the former, bewray her inward lusts, and the marks of the latters defilement are visible on her garment; thus the shew of Ierusalems countenance, did publiquely evidence her crime. She did as clearly by her skirts proclaim her filth, as if it had been written on her face, and engraven on her forehead; Here was impiety in her practice, Ierusalem hath greivously sinned; and impudency to purpose, Her filthiness is in her skirts; But what dust was that which bred such vermine? what polluted seed was that which begat such a poisonous serpent. Reader,Immunditiae suae in fimbrlis suis mercedem nondum recordata. Trem. if thou wouldst know the Mother which brought forth, and bred up this ugly Monster, She remembreth not her last end, therefore she came down mightily. It was her forgetfulness of death, which nourished and cherished her wicked deeds; They who mind not their reckoning, care not how much they riot and revel.
They who put far away the evil day, cause the seat of violence to come near, Amos 6. 3. The further we drive death from our thoughts, the nearer we draw to sin. They who fancy their foe to be very far off, will not prepare and make ready to fight. Men that are young, do not consider, that the old Ass often carrieth the skin of the young to the Market; that death comes like a Thunderbolt, and Lightning, and blasteth the green corn, and consumeth the strongest buildings; if they did, they would flee youthful lusts.
He who seeth death at his door, will be most diligent about his duty; A serious consideration of the death of the body, will be a soveraign, though a sharp medicine to kill the body of death. The Naturalists tell us, that the ashes of a Viper, applied to the part which is stung, draweth the venome out of it. They who look on themselves as Pilgrims and strangers, will abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, 1 Pet. 1. 17. Who would make his Belly, his Gut, his God, who confidereth that every meal may be his last, or that thinketh, his dainty diet, his fine fare, doth but provide a greater feast for wormes? Who would give way to sinful wantons, who beleiveth that whilst he is unloading his lust, God may put a period to his life? He that is high in conceit of himself, little dreameth how low he must shortly be laid; Who would be proud of that body which shall ere long see corruption, become such a noysom loathsom carcass, that the nearest and dearest relations will not endure the sight or sent of it? He who loveth the world inordinately, forgetteth that he may leave it suddenly, and must leave it certainly; Would Haman have bragged so much of Hesters banquet, if he had known that his own corps should be served in for the last course? Would the Israelites have tempted God for meat, if they had thought that death should have been their sauce? Would Achan have coveted the golden wedge, if he had mused of his so sudden departure into the other world? Without question, he would have forborn the Babylonish garment, if he had seen death at his back, so ready to strip him naked. Had the rich fool thought that his bed should that night have proved his grave, he would never in the day have prided himself in his goods. Who would not at Gods call vilifie that flesh which will be ere long a lump of filth; and be choice of that soul which lives for a more high and heavenly flight!
It is reported of the Brachmans, that they use no cloaths but Bear-skins, no houses but Caves, no food but such as nature dresseth; When Alexander came to them in his travails, he asked them the reason of this severe kind of living; They answered him, We know we shall dye; whether to day or to morrow we know not; and therefore why should we take care, either for power to govern others, or for riches to live in pleasures, or for honour to be esteemed of? None are so loose to the world (that great hinderance of holiness) as they who ponder they must leave it. Travellers who look on themselves near their journeys end, care not to burden themselves with much baggage; Their moderation will be known to all men, who believe, The Lord is at hand.
Those who are most mindful of their deaths, are most faithful in their lives; Iob was eminent in grace, because Iob was daily conversing with his grave; All the days of his appointed time, he waited till his change came, Job 14. 14. That servant will follow his work most and best, who expecteth his Masters coming every moment.
It is said of the Kite, Considerat…o mortis tanquam caudae ad vitam optime regendam confert.that by the turning of his tail, he directs and winds about his whole body; The same is reported of the Glede or Puttock. Fish also, say Naturalists, turn and wind about by the fins in their Tails. Reader, could I but prevail with thee to mind the end of thy life, it would help thee very much to order thy conversation aright; O (said God) that my people were wise, then would they consider their latter end, Deut. 32. 29.
The Thebans made a Law, that no man should build an house for himself to dwell in, before he had made his grave. Several of the Philosophers had their graves made before their doors, that when ever they went abroad they might remember their deaths; If thou wouldst but in thy out-goings and in-comings, behold the place of thy burial, I doubt not but thou wilt be watchful over all thy ways. When thou art in the midst of thy delights (as Ioseph of Aritmathea) have thy tomb in thy garden, and it may prevent thy surfeiting by those dainties; When thou sittest at Table, let the first dish set before thee be (according to Prester Iohns custom) a deaths-head, and then with what fear wilt thou feed, how thankfully wilt thou receive the creatures, even as through the beloved Son? how soberly wilt thou use them, even as in Gods sight? If God raise thee to the height of prosperity, and some friend do but (as Moses and Elias to Christ, when his Face did shine as the Sun, and his Raiment was as white as Snow, Luk. 9. 30, 31.) talk to thee of thy decease, which thou must shortly accomplish, it will abate thy love to the worlds withering vanities, and quicken thine endeavours after the eternal weight of glory. If God cast thee into great adversity, and thou dost but consider thy time here is but short, and therefore thy troubles cannot be long, this will make thee contented in the saddest condition. When thou beholdest thy relations, and fore-thinkest that thine eternal separation from them is at hand, and that within a few days thou shalt never have another opportunity to help them heaven-ward, how will it stir thee up to do them all the good thou canst now, both by thy Precepts, Pattern, and Prayers? If when thou attendest on publique Ordinances, thou wilt but cast thine eye on the Graves in the Church-yard, as thou passest along, and meditate thus, Within a little time I must be laid in the dust, when I shall hear no more, pray no more, enjoy a Sabbath no more, when I shall never, never, more have a tender of a Saviour, never more have a season to beg mercy in for my poor soul. After such awakening thoughts, with what attention wouldst thou hear? with what affections wouldst thou pray? with what intention and devotion? with what seriousness and uprightness wouldst thou perform every duty?
Some say that nothing in this world is so strong as death, because it subdueth the mighty, it conquereth the greatest conquerours, it overcometh all. Sure I am, that death hath great force and power over mens souls, as well as over their bodies. The thought of it hath raised some to a spiritual life. The consideration of death hath also caused others to live much in a little space; when they have s…en the …un of their lives near setting, and the night of their deaths approaching, they have in the day followed their work with the greater diligence; None will work so hard as they who think themselves near their everlasting homes.
There were two Emperors, Adrian and Charles the fifth, that in their life time caused their Coffins to be carried before them, and their exequies to be solemnly celebrated, to this end possibly that considering they were but men, dying men, they might thence be righteous in their government, and virtuous in their actions.
It is reported of Turannius, Sen. de brev. vit. cap. ult.that after he was ninety years old, he got leave of Caesar to retire himself from Court, and the old man would needs be laid in his bed, as one that had breathed out his last, and all his Family must bewail his death. Friend, do thou in earnest, what he did in jest; Suppose thou wert this day to bid adiew to thy Friends, Relations, Honours, and Possessions, and to travail into the unknown other world, to take thy leave of hours, and days, and months, and years, and time, and to sail into the boundless Ocean of Eternity; Suppose thou sawest death creep in at thy Chamber window, come up to thy Bed-side, draw the Curtain, take thee by the hand, and tell thee that he is come from the Infinite Almighty, jealous, most holy God, to fetch thee immediately into his presence, there to answer for all thy thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive either matchless and endless pain, or unchangeable and unconceiveable pleasures, according as thy practices have been; What wouldst thou think at such a time of godliness? Good Lord, what a price wouldst thou set upon it, what wouldst thou not do or give for it! Then godliness will be godliness indeed, as little and as lightly as thou settest by it now. And why is it not worth as much now? Dost thou not see death like a Mole digging thy grave under thee? Dost thou not feel that worm within thee, which will ere long consume thee?
Beleive it, thy death may be nearer then thou dreamest, the glass of thy life may be almost out, though thou thinkest its but new turned; The Murdering-peice which kills thee, parting thy soul and body, may be discharged with white powder, give thee no warning at all. The next Arrow which is shot may hit thee; The next time the Bell goes, may be to tell others that thou art dead; The next time the Earth is opened, may be to receive thy body in; Thou seest some fall on thy right hand, some on thy left hand, some of thy very age, and of greater strength and health, and canst thou esteem thy self shot-free! Is not every carcass a cryer, and every Tomb a teacher, calling upon thee to number thy days, and apply thine heart unto wisdom?
Silly man is like the foolish Chicken; though the Kite comes and takes away many of their fellows, yet the rest continue pecking the ground, never heeding their owner, nor minding their shelter. Death comes and snatcheth away one man here, a second there; one before them, another behind them, and they are killed with death, undone for ever, Rev. 2. 23. yet they who survive, take no warning, but persist in their wicked and ungodly ways; They are destroyed from morning to evening, they perish for ever, without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away, they dye even without wisdom, Job 4.20, 21.
It is the saying of an Heathen;Muson apud Stob. Ser. 1. That it is impossible for a man to live the present day well, who doth not purpose to live it as his last. I may say to thee, Friend, It is impossible for thee to live the present day ill, if thou wilt but live it as thy last day. If thou dost but consider, Well, this place may be the last place I shall come into, shall I pollute it with sin? or shall I not rather perfume it with sanctity? This expression may be the last that ever I shall speak, shall it …e tainted with vice, or shall it not rather be seasoned with grace? This action may be the last that ever I shall do, and shall it be a deed of darkness, or shall it not rather be a work of the day, of the light? This Sermon may be the last that ever I shall hear, and shall I now be heedless? After this I shall never more have a call from Christ, and …hall I now be careless? This Prayer may be the last Prayer that ever I shall poure out to God; if God deny me now, I am damned and undone for ever, and shall not my head, and heart, and will, and mind, and all be working, that it may be a prosperous, a prevalent prayer? This Sabbath may be the last Sabbath that ever I shall sanctifie; I may from henceforth and for ever be deprived of all such opportunities of getting and increasing grace, of serving and honouring my Saviour, and of working out my own salvation; If I sow not now good seed, I must never expect an happy harvest. If I buy not now, the market will be quickly over. Shall I lose any precious minute of this holy day? Is it time now to trifle about the affairs of my soul and eternity? Well, I will through Christ, take heed how I hear; I will hear in hearing, I will pray in praying, I will hear, and hearken, cry and call, with all my heart, and strength, and soul, and mind, that if it be possible, the Lord may not leave me without a blessing. When the Oratour thinketh he is at the close of his Oration, then he useth his chiefest Art and Rhetorick, to move his Auditors affections, he would have his last part his best part.
O Reader, if thou wilt but often wind up this weight of thine approaching death, it would keep thy soul in a quick spiritual, and regular motion at all times. As ashes preserve fire, and keep coals from going out; so the thought that we shall ere long be turned into ashes, will preserve the fire of grace alive, and in action.
Sixthly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness, Mind a daily performance of sacred duties; He that hath nothing of his own, whereupon to live, must be frequently fetching in provision from the Shops or Market, where it is to be had. The Christians life is maintained, not by himself, but by what he receiveth from God; Not that we are sufficient of our selves; our sufficiency of God; therefore there is a necessity of daily converse with God by holy Ordinances, and of waiting at his gate, as the beggar who hath neither a bit of bread, nor a penny to buy any, at the rich mans door for supply. Our spiritual strength is like Israels Manna, rained down daily; we are kept by a divine power, and allowed but from hand to mouth, that we might continually depend on, and resort to the Lord Jesus for our allowance. Paul speaks in some places of his great disbursements, how much he laid out for God and his people, that he laboured more then all the Apostles; but you must think, Whence had Paul such a spiritual stock, that he was able to outvy all others in his expences! he tells you, that the Son of God kept house for him, and that he was the Steward to spend of his treasure, and thence his disbursements were so large; I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I live in the flesh, is by the faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2. 20. As the Plant Mistel, having no root of its own, both grows and lives in the stock or body of the Oak; So the Apostle having no root of his own, did live and grow in Christ. As if he had said, I live, I keep a noble house, am given to Hospitality above many, in labours more abundant, in watchings, in fastings more frequent, in perils, and dangers, and deaths often; but the truth is, I do all this at anothers cost and charge, not at mine own, I am beholden to Christ for strength to do and suffer, whatsoever I am called to. He carrieth the purse for me, and gives out to me according to my necessities. I have not a farthing of my own, wherewith to buy the least morsel. I can do noth…ng of my self, but I can do all things through Christ strengthning me.
Man is a weak creature, and so far from runing, that he is not able to creep in the way of Gods commandements, unless Christ strengthen him; Without me, ye can do nothing, Joh. 13. 3. If Christ with-draw himself as the Sun, he carrieth the light of holiness along with him; The easiest duty is too hard, and the weakest enemy too strong for us, unless Christ assist us. 'Tis upon his wings alone that we can mount to Heaven, in an Ordinance, and through his power, that we do improve any Providence. It is not the standing Army of habitual grace, that will make the Christian a Conquerour, he must daily be recruted with Auxilaries from Heaven. The watch-man doth not onelyonly make the watch, and set every wheel in its right place, but he or some other must wind it up daily, or it will stand still. Exerci…ing grace is as requisite to our spiritual motion, as habitual grace to our spiritual being. The Razor, though it be never so sharp or keen at first, if it be used, must be often at the Whetstone, or it will grow dull.
The Wife that hath frequent occasions for money, for provision for her Self, and Children, and Servants, and for Cloaths and all Family necessaries, and not a penny but what comes out of her Husbands purse, and he fearing she should be prodigal, lets her have money by driplets, but from hand to mouth, must be always going or sending to him, or otherwise starve. The Shopkeeper that drives a great trade in the Country, must go often to London, or abroad in other parts, to fetch in commodities. The Israelites in the Wilderness were maintained for water by the Rock. They drank of the Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. The Rock followed them, they did not only drink of it at first, but had a constant mornings draught, and drank of it often in the day, it ran i… a stream after them, and every day supplied them. Its no marvail the Apostle commandeth us, Pray continually, Pray without ceasing, Pray evermore, when he knew all our living was got by begging, that all our supplies must be from above, and we must expect nothing without asking; Ordinances are the food of the soul. As Cows afford us both Milk and Beef; so Ordinances are Milk to Babes, and Meat for strong Men. Our God is the Fountain of Spiritual, as well as of natural life. Its said most truly, in respect of a Natural life, In him (meaning God) we live, and move, and have our beings, Act. 17. 28. We live; Now as God hath made the heart the spring of natural life, and hath drawn from thence a multitude of arteries, to carry the vital spirits through the whole body, and disperse life through every part of it. So he hath made the Mediatour, the spring of spiritual life, and his Ordinances the Arteries, to convey life to every part of the soul. In whom we move; As God hath from the head derived manifold sinews, to carry out thence the animal spirits, and with them the faculty both of sense and motion over all. So the Lord, from Jesus Christ the Churches head, through the sinews of sacred duties, conveyeth spiritual sense and motion to all his members. And have our being; To preserve our being, he hath made the Liver a fountain of blood, and from thence drawn the Veins to convey it over the body, to the nourishment of the whole; Ordinances are those Veins which convey and disperse gracious spirits over the whole new man; With him is the well of life, Psa. 36.
Sacred duties are as needful every day for our souls, as food and raiment for our bodies. The body must continually be repaired with nourishment, because it is continually consumed by our natural heat; Yesterdays bread will not keep the laborer to day in strength and vigor to go through with his work; he must have new diet, or he cannot hold out. Friend, I must bespeak thee, as the Angel to Elijah, Vp and eat, for the journey is too great for thee; Vp and be doing in Prayer, and Scripture, and holy Ordinances, that thou mayst feed and receive spiritual nourishment; for otherwise the business of exercising thy self to godliness, the duties required of thee to be performed, the graces to be exercised, the temptations to be resisted, the deadly enemies to be conquered, will be too hard for thee, the journey will be too great for thee; The Amalekite by long fasting, grew faint and unable to go his journey. If the bringing stream be not as large as the running stream, the bottom will quickly be without water. The greatest stock will lesson apace, if a man spend daily on it, though but in a small quantity, if he hath no way of getting. Those that are under-kept, and called to hard labour, can never perform what is required of them. The spirits daily are decaying, and if not daily renewed by proper nourishment, we perish. The Vessels that are always leaking, must stand constantly under the conduit to get what they lose. When Ionathan through fasting became faint, He tasted a little honey and his eyes were enlightened; How much more, said he, if happily the people had eaten liberally of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines, 1 Sam. 14. 29, 30. The more a Christian mindeth Divine Ordinances, in obedience to Gods precept, and affiance on Gods promise, the more strength he shall receive to conquer his spiritual adversaries, and to discharge the several duties incumbent on him. The truth is, our religious life, our heavenly flame is like a straw fire to mault, which must constantly be tended and fed with fuel, or it will go out. There is no… more need of the Shepherds constant and daily tending his weak sheep in the summer season… then of the Saints daily regarding his precious soul. As trees being well ordered with skill and diligence, they become abundantly fruitful, but being left to themselves, without culture and care they bring forth little or no fruit. So Christians by a diligent use of means abound in the fruits of righteousness, but neglecting ordinances they decline and decay.
The heart of man is, like Reuben, unstable … water, and is stablished with grace (Heb. 10.) which cannot be expected, but through the means of grace. The Viol that with every change of weather is apt to be out of tune, must be constantly hung within sent of the fire. Whilst we are in the care of this world, we are full of damps, and therefore need all means of quickening. Our hearts are like Clocks, twice a day at least, the Plummets must be pulled up, or their motion and course will be hindered.
Indeed as God could preserve our bodies without food or any sustenance, by his omnipotent power, as he did Moses and Elijah forty days together, but he will not where he affordeth ordinary means; So he could preserve our souls in life without ordinances, but he will not, where his providence giveth us opportunity to enjoy them.
Reader, I must say to thee, as Iacob to the Patriarchs, Behold I have heard that there is Corn in Egypt, get you down thither and buy for us, that we may live and not dye. Behold thou hast heard there is spiritual food in Heaven; the Son of Ioseph hath his granaries full of Corn, go thou thither daily by sacred duties, that thy soul may live and not dye. There is a sensible decay of the strength in Husbandmen (whose work is great) upon one days abstinence. If tradesmen grow careless of their business, and neglect their Shops, they quickly decay in their estates. When Christians grow careless of duties, and neglect their Closets, tis no wonder that they decline in their spiritual stocks. When the Moon hath her open side downward, she decreaseth, but when her open side is upwards towards Heaven, she increaseth in light. There is no growing in grace and holiness, but by conversing with Heaven. Grace, like Armour, may easily be kept bright, if it be daily used, but if it hang by the wall, it will quickly rust, and cost much time and pains to scoure.
Much fasting takes away the stomach; and omission of Closet duties at one time, makes a man more backward to them, and dead about them another time. When a Scholar hath plaid the Truant one day, its difficult to bring him to School the next day; Fear and Shame both keep him back, when he comes thither he is the more untoward about his book. Our deceitful hearts after they have discontinued holy exercises, and are broken loose, are like horses gotten out of their bounds, not found or brought back without much trouble. When an instrument is daily plaid on, its kept in order, but if it be but a while neglected and cast into a corner, the strings are apt to break, the frets to crack, the bridge to flye off, and no small trouble and stir is requisite to bring it into order again.
We read of the Iews daily sacrifice, which was Morning and Evening, Exod. 29. 38. and 30. 7, 8. David was for Morning and Evening…,Luk. 1. 10.… and Noon-tide, Psa. 55. 17. Daniel was three times a day upon his knees, Dan. 6. 10.
In the Morning the Saints were at their devotion, which is thought to be the third hour, when the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles, Act. 2. 15. This is deemed to be our ninth hour.
The midle or mid day prayer was termed the sixth hour, which is our twelfth, Ioh. 4. 6. At this time Peter went up to the house top to pray, Act. 10. 9.
The evening Prayer was at the ninth hour, which is our three a clock in the After-noon; Now Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour, Act. 3. 1. So Cornelius, Act. 10. 30. At the ninth hour I prayed in my house. Some think the Primitive Christians had these three hours in such regard and use, that thence they were termed Canonical hours. David tells us, Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgements, Psa. 119. 164.Psa. 119. 62, 164. 1 Thes. 5. 17. The more frequent a Christian is at holy duties (supposing he doth not make the commands of God to interfere, and neglect his calling and family, when his presence is required in them) the more thriving he shall be in his spiritual trade. The oftener we go to the Fountain or River, the more water we bring thence. As Runners in a Race do daily diet their bodies, and use exercise to keep themselves in breath, that they may be more able and active when they run for the wager, whereas if they should neglect it, they would grow pursie and shortwinded, and unlikely to hold out, when they run for the Garland; So Christians who would hold out to the end, and so run as to obtain, must be daily feeding and dieting their souls, and renewing their strength by these means which God hath appointed.
As the Sun is the cause of life, and groweth in vegetables, so is the Son of God the efficient cause of motion and growth in Christians; where the Son is present in any soul, there is spiritual mo…ion and growth budding, and blossoming, and bearing fruit, but when the Sun with-holds and with-draws, when this Sun departs, the soul is at a stand; Now Ordinances are the means whereby the Mediatour conveys heat and life, and growth to men.