The Fading of the Flesh and Flourishing of Faith, Dedication 2
TO THE Right VVorshipful, THE Mayor, with the Recorder, Jurats, Common Council, and the reſt of the Inhabitants of (his Native Town) Maidstone in Kent.
Honoured and Beloved,
IT is a general obſervation, that all creatures have propenſity and inclination towards thoſe places where they receive their births and beings. Vegetatives which ſtand in the loweſt rank of life, thrive beſt (becauſe they delight moſt) in thoſe grounds whence they firſt grow. Senſitives as they have an higher being, ſo a ſtronger inclination to thoſe parts where they are born.
The Prince of Philoſophers telleth us that Fiſh uſually ſtay with pleaſure in thoſe Waters in which they are bread,Ariſt. Hiſt Animal. l. 4. c. 8 and Beaſts in thoſe Woods in which they are brought forth, and that neither of them will remove without force and violence; Nature hath planted in them both this principle of affecting their native places. Hence it comes to paſs that even theſe creatures, have manifeſted their thank-fulneſs after their manner. Trees acknowledge that ſap which they borrow from the earth in which they ſtand, in the tribute of leaves which they pay back to the ſame in Autumn. The Storks are ſaid to leave one of their young in that part of the Earth where they are hatched.Patriam quiſque amat, non quia pulchram, ſed quia ſuam. Sen. Men as they have a Nobler life, ſo a greater love to their Native Country. Heathen themſelves have been famous for this.
Pericles the Athenian did ſo affect his Countrymen, that his uſual ſpeech was. If none but my ſelf ſhould lead them to the ſhambles, Plut. in vit.as much as lyeth in me, they ſhall be immortal. When Cleomenes King of Sparta, being greatly diſtreſſed, had a promiſe of help from Ptolemy King of Egypt, Idem.upon condition that his Mother and Son were ſent to him as pledges. Crateſiclea (for ſo was his Mothers Name) as ſoon as ſhe underſtood it; ſaid to her Son (who was affraid and aſhamed to mention it to her) How is it that thou haſt concealed it ſo long and and haſt not told me. Come, come, put me ſtraight into a Ship and ſend me whither thou wilt, that this body of mine may do ſome good unto my Country, before crooked Age conſume it without profit. Themiſtocles notwithſtanding his Countrymen had baniſhed him,Diodor. drunk the blood of a Bull and poiſoned himſelf to keep Artaxerxes (who had ſworn not to go againſt it without him)▪ from invading his Country.[a]Pez. Mel. Hiſt. Codrus King of Athens, [b]Tul. de Offic.Attilius Regulus General of the Romans and[c]Livie. M. Curtius are renowned in Hiſtory for ſacrificing their lives for their Countries liberty.
The Chriſtian is foreign a man of like paſſions, onelyonly he acteth from higher principles, and affecteth for holier purpoſes. Religion doth not break the ſtring of natural affection, but wind it up to ſuch a pitch, as may make its ſtroaks more true, and its ſound more melodious. Nehemiah was ſad and penſive, when the City of his Father was ſolitary, Nehem. 2.3. The Jews were diſconſolate when their native Country lay deſolate, Pſa. 137, beginning. Paul could wiſh himſelf parted from Chriſt, that his Kindred and Countrymen might be united to Chriſt, Rom. 9.3. Greg. Nazianzen and Hierom report that the Jews to this day come yearly to the place where Jeruſalem the City of their Fathers ſtood (which was deſtroyed by Titus and Adrian) and upon the day of the deſtruction of it, weep over it.
As its natural to love, ſo not unuſual in our Kingdom for rich perſons to manifeſt their love, to their native pariſhes by large gifts to the poor. But though my reſpects to you be ſincere, yet I may ſay (in a ſenſe) Silver and Gold have I none, to ſpeak my affections by, onelyonly ſuch as I have I give you. A Treatiſe which may, through the bleſſing of God, help you to the true Treaſure.
Bucholcerus bleſſed God,Melch. Adam. that he was born in the days, and bred under the Dicipline of holy Melancthon. I muſt Ingenuouſly acknowledge, that it was a great mercy to me that I was born amongſt you, and brought up under as pious, and powerful a Miniſtry there,Mr. Thomas Wilſon. as moſt in England.
In Teſtimony of my unfeigned love, I preſent you with this brief diſcourſe, which was conceived in your Pulpit, and through the importunity of ſeveral of you, brought forth to the Preſs. The occaſion of it (as is well known to you) was the Death of your Neighbour and my dear Relation, Maſter Caleb Swinnock, (who was interred May, 21. 1662) whoſe Father and Grand-father had three or four times enjoyed the higheſt honour, and exerciſed the higheſt Office in your Corporation. I am much of his mind, who ſaith, That Funeral Encomiaſticks of the dead, are often confections of poiſon to the living; for many whoſe lives ſpeak nothing for them, will draw the example into conſequence, and be thereby led into hope, that they may preſs an Hackny Funeral Sermon, to carry them to Heaven when they dye; and therefore am always ſparing my ſelf, though I condemn not the cuſtome in others, where they do it with prudence, and upon good cauſe. My Friends holy carriage in his ſickneſs (beſides his inoffenſiveneſs for ought I ever heard in his health) commandeth me to hope that his ſoul is in Heaven. I had the happineſs ſome time to be brought up with him, in his Fathers Mr. Robert Swinnocks Family, whoſe Houſe (I cannot but ſpeak it to the glory of God) had Holineſs to the Lord written upon it. His manner was to pray twice a day by himſelf, once or twice a day with his Wife, and twice a day with his Family, beſides ſinging Pſalms, Reading and Expounding Scriptures, which morning and evening were minded. The Sabbath he dedicated wholly to Gods ſervice, and did not onelyonly himſelf, but took care that all within his Gate ſhould ſpend the day in ſecret, and private duties, and in attendance on publique Ordinances; of their proficiency by the laſt, he would take an account upon their return from the Aſſembly. His houſe indeed was as Tremellius ſaith of Cramners, Palaeſtra Pietatis, a Scool of Religion. I Write this not ſo much for the Honour of him (of whoſe induſtry for the good of the ſouls committed to him, I was a frequent eye witneſs, and whoſe memory is bleſſed) but chiefly for your good, that as ſome of you do already, ſo others alſo may be provoked to follow ſuch gracious patterns. I muſt tell you, that what low thoughts ſoever any of you now may have of holy perſons, and holy practices, yet when you come to look Death in the face, and enter into your unchangeable eſtates, a little of their grace and godlineſs will be of more worth in your eſteems then the whole World. Though the Saint be markt for a fool in the Worlds Calender at this day, and the proſperous Sinner counted the wiſeſt perſon; yet when the eyes of ſinners bodies are cloſed, the eyes of their ſouls will be opened; and then, O then, they will ſee and ſay according to that Apocryphal place which will be found Canonical for the matter of it, We Fools counted his life to be madneſs, Wiſdom 5. 4, 5.and his end to be without honour; But now he is numbred among the Children of God, and his lot is among the Saints.
The Subject of this Tractate is partly, The true way to dye well; which I am ſure is of infinite concernment to your immortal ſouls, and ſuch a Leſſon, that if it be not learned you are loſt for ever.Laert. The Cynick cared not what became of his body when dead, and the other Heathen could ſlight the loſs of a Grave,Facilis jactura Sepulchri. a little Earth; but without queſtion it concerns you nearly to take care what becomes of your ſouls, and you cannot ſo eaſily bear the loſs of God and Heaven.
Men indeed are generally unwilling to hear of Death, and the Miniſter who would urge them to it, is as unwelcome as foul weather, which uſually comes before its ſent for; whatſoever hath a tendency to Death is killing; the telling them of it ſounds as mournfully in their ears as the tolling of a paſſing Bell; and the making their Wills as frightful to them, as the making their Graves. Hence, when they are riding poſt in the broad way of ſin and the World, and conſcience would check and rein them in with the curbs of Death and Judgement, they preſently ſnap them in peices, and ſtifle its convictions; They dare not look into the book of Conſcience, to ſee how accounts ſtand between God and themſelves, but like Hauks are ever Hooded within doors,Mori timeat qui ad ſecundam mortem de hac morte tranſibit. Cypr. de mortal. blind at Home, and never uſe their eyes but Abroad, to the hurt and cenſuring of others.
The Egyptian ſlaves drank Wine freely, and wrapt their heads in Vails, that they might dye without ſight or ſorrow. I know many drown the thoughts of their future mourning in carnal pleaſure and preſent mirth, but ſuch mirth, like Nabals, will laſt no longer, then while they are drunk with ignorance and ſenſleſneſs; for they no ſooner come to themſelves, to underſtand the ſtate they are in, but their hearts dye within them. Beſides, hereby they put themſelves upon a neceſſity of periſhing; for, alas how will they do to dye, who conſider not before hand of their latter end.
Naturaliſts tell us of a Cockatrice, that if men ſee it firſt, that dyeth, if that ſeeth a man firſt, the man dyeth. Its moſt true of Death, if we ſee it firſt by an holy preparation for it, we kill it, it cannot hurt us; but if Death ſee and ſeiſe us firſt, it kills us eternally. O believe it ſirs; Its another manner of thing to dye well, then the ſleepy World dreams of. The luſtieſt of you all muſt expect that ere long Death will trip up your heels, and give you a fall. Ask your ſouls whither you are ready for it; Will it not prove your downfal? When Death throweth you, will it not be your eternal overthrow? Its poſſible ye think, of preparing for Death hereafter, but why not now? Do any of you ſay, To morrow I will repent? What if God ſay, Thou Fool this Night thy ſoul ſhall be required of thee? Where are you then? Its one of the greateſt ſtratagems of the Devil, whereby he hath undermined millions of ſouls, by prevailing with them to delay till it was too late. O Conſider, Death like Thunder and Lightning blaſteth the green corn, and conſumeth the ſtrongeſt buildings, Job 21.23, 24. One dyeth in his full ſtrength, being wholly at eaſe and quiet. His breaſts are full of Milk, and his bones are moiſtened with Marrow. The Cock in the Arabick Fable, having overcome another Cock in a Battel, thought now that he had no Enemy,Vide. Locmu. and therefore got to the top of an Houſe, and began to crow and clap his Wings in token of Triumph. When behold on a ſudden, a Vulture cometh and ſnatcheth away this braging Champion and Conquerour. If nature in any of you have maſtered one diſtemper, it gives you not leave to be ſecure, for an outward accident or inward diſeaſe will on a ſudden Maſter you.
It is obſervable in the days of Solomon, when Iſrael enjoyed the greateſt peace, they made ſtrong preparation for War, 1 Kings 4.25, 26. And Iſrael and Judah dwelt every man under his own Vine, and Figtree. And Solomon had forty thouſand ſtalls of Horſes for his Chariots, and twelve thouſand Horſemen.
Iphicrates the Athenian General in times of peace entrencht his Army, ordered his outworks, ſet his watch, kept his guards, and obſerved all Martial Diſcipline, as if he had been in the height and heat of War. And being asked the reaſon by one of his Familiars, and what he feared; He anſwered to be ſurpriſed, and leaſt it ſhould ſo fall out, that he ſhould be conſtrained to ſay, I thought not on it. O that we were as wiſe, who are Liſted under the Captain of our Salvation, for that War wherein there is no diſcharge. Beloved friends, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh. Mat. 25.13.
The Brachmanni had their Graves before their doors. The Sybarites at Banquets had a Deaths-head delivered from hand to hand by every gueſt at the Table. The Emperour Ferdinand, had one appointed at certain times to ſalute him with Vive memor Lethi Ferdinand. O Ferdinand, live as one that is mindful he muſt dye. Joſeph of Arimathea had his Tomb in his Garden. When the bleſſed Saviour was in his glorious transfiguration in Company with thoſe heavenly Courtiers, Luk. 9.31.they ſpake to him of his deceaſe; Could you think but one quarter of an hour every day, what a ſearching, trying day, the day of Death will be. Ah how holy would you live? how exactly would you walk? Were death at your doors, at your tables, in your gardens, in your ſhops, preſent before your eyes in all your projects and pleaſures, how would it deaden your hearts, to theſe ſublunary vanities, and quicken your affections to celeſtial felicities?
I have read of one that prayed ſix times a day, and being asked the reaſon, ſaid no more, but this, I muſt dye. If any argument in the World will diſſwade from wickedneſs and perſwade to godlineſs, and abounding in the work of the Lord, Death will. They who ſteer the ſhip aright ſit in the hindermoſt part of it. They who order their converſations aright, dwell in the thoughts of their diſſolutions. When our time is ſhort, we muſt work the harder.
Its reported of the Birds of Norwey, O Lauſ. Mag. Hiſt. Septentrion.that they flye faſter then the Birds of other Countries, not becauſe they have greater nimbleneſs of wing, but by a natural inſtinct, they knowing the day in their Climate to be very ſhort (not above three hours long, ſay ſome) make the more haſt to their Neſts. Your time is little, your accounts will be great, your work muſt be done now or never. O work the work of him that ſent you into the World, while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work, Joh. 9.4.
I am bound to tell you, that God hath committed many Talents into the hands of ſeveral amongſt you, ye are higher in place and power, ye have more opportunities then others to ſerve the intereſt and honour of Chriſt, and therefore God expecteth that you ſhould do more for him then others. Indulge the Drunkenneſs, and Swearing, and uncleanneſs, and Sabbath breaking of others, leaſt ye ſhould be counted buſie-bodies, or preciſe perſons, and you deſtroy both your own and their ſouls. There is no ſuch cruelty to mens ſouls, as clemency to their ſins. He loves his friend beſt, who hates his luſts moſt. Beſides, the wrong your ſinful compliance doth to others, whilſt ye bear the Sword, as Women wear their Artificial teeth, for ſhew onelyonly, not for ſervice, ye treaſure up wrath on your own heads againſt the day of death, for as a reverend Divine now with God ſaid truly. Nothing more ſads the heart when one comes to die, then his neglect of thoſe opportunities, which Gods providence or his own place, have put into his hand of doing or receiving good. Neither is there a ſharper Corroſive, then the reflection upon thoſe days and times, which have paſſed over him, male, aliud, nihil, agentem.
Its Cronicled of Philip the third, King of Spain, that though he never committed groſs ſin,Val. Max. all his life time, yet when he came to dye, he ſcreeched out dreadfully, O that I had never raigned, O that I had never been King, for then I ſhould not have now to Anſwer for my neglect of doing the good I might, and my not hindering the evil I ought in my Government. Sirs, (I beſeech you give me leave to be faithful to you) Will it not be a dreadful time with you, when you are tumbling on your dying beds, and neer your eternity, if conſcience ſhould flye in your faces for your falſeneſs and unfaithfulneſs in your places, and make you cry out; O that I had never been Mayor of Maidſtone; O that I had never been Juſtice; O that I had never been Jurat, for then I ſhould not have now to Anſwer before the dreadful tribunal of a righteous God, for all the Oaths, Fornications, Prophanation of the Lord… day, and other evils which I might have hindred, and did not, and for all the good which I might (by my holy pattern, and encouraging others in piety) have done, and would not. Alaſs ye cannot imagine the dreadfulneſs of ſuch a mans condition on ſuch a day. Therefore now be Terrors to evil doers, and encouragements to them that do well, if ye would find comfort then; for as in Philoſophy; ſo in Divinity. They who mind not the premiſes, make but mad, but ſad concluſions.
The Naturaliſts aſſure us that the Aſhes of a Viper applied to that part of the body which is ſtung, will draw the venome out of it, (natural attraction as it were calling home that poiſon, which injury and violence had miſplaced) the ſerious conſideration that you muſt dye, and be turned into duſt and aſhes, will be a ſoveraign medicine againſt the poiſon and pollution of ſin, it will make you both good men and good Magiſtrates.
The Latter part of the Treatiſe containeth the Gracious Perſons Glorious Portion. Therein I have endeavoured ſo to ſet forth the vaſtneſs of the Saints eſtate, (though I muſt confeſs neither men nor Angels can caſt up its total ſum) that I might prevail with you to deſire the felicity of Gods Children, and the Inheritance of his choſen ones. This is the portion, which is as the Spaniſh Ambaſſadour ſaid of his Maſters treaſure in the Indies, without a bottom. Though the ſeven ſtreams of Nilus are known, yet the head of it was never found out. Much of the riches and beauty and perfections of the ever bleſſed God may be read in the book of the creatures; more may be ſeen in the glaſs of the Scriptures, but the longeſt line of humane or Angelical underſtanding, can never fathom his boundleſs, bottomleſs nature and being, yet there is ſo much to be known of him even in his life, as may draw out your hearts to chuſe and cloſe with him. The World is ready to wonder what the people of God ſee or enjoy in him, that they are ſo fearful of his fury, and ſo joyfully in his favour; as the ignorant wretch could ſee nothing in the Picture of Helena, why Nicoſtratus ſhould admire it ſo much, but as Nicoſtratus told him, O friend if thou hadſt my eyes, thou wouldſt wonder at it as much as I do; ſo had the World but the Saints eyes, could they ſee what a Crown of glory, What a Paradice of pleaſures, What a Mine of riches, What a loving, able, and faithful friend God is, could they but behold that beauty, and bounty, grace, and peace, love, and life, which are in the infinite God, they would admire him too; yea their eyes would affect their hearts,Qui Venetias non vidit, non credit, & quiae aliquandi ibi non vixit intelligit. that they could not but love him, and delight in him, but Satan with his black hand (like Swallows dung) puts out mens eyes, that they not ſeeing ſo great a good, might not deſire him.
The Italians have a Proverb, He who hath not ſeen Venice doth not beleive; and he who hath not lived there ſome time, doth not underſtand what a City it is. This is moſt true of God; he who hath not with Moſes ſeen him that is inviſible, doth not beleive; and he who never had fellowſhip with the Father and Jeſus Chriſt his ſon, cannot underſtand what a vaſt alſufficient and infinite portion the eternal God is. O friends, did your eyes with Iſaiah, ſee this Lord of Hoſts, or with Iſraels Magiſtrate beheld but his back parts; or had you with Paul ever been caught up into the third heavens, ye would quickly trample on all the honours and pleaſures, and treaſures of this lower World, as toys and trifles, and ſay with David, whom have we in heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that we deſire beſides thee.
I have undertaken briefly in the enſuing diſcourſe to ſhew alſo the vaſt difference between the Chriſtians, and the Worldlings portion, by which you may underſtand, that if any one among you could enjoy the wealth of Craeſus, the wiſdom and glory of Solomon, the beauty of Abſolom, the ſtrength of Sampſon, the pleaſures of Sardanapalus, and to all, the long life of Methuſelah; yet in the midſt of all theſe, his ſoul would be as beggerly as the body of Lazarus, and as reſtleſs and unſatisfied as the ſtormy tempeſtuous Ocean. No Water, ſay Naturaliſts, will quench the Dragons thirſt. No creature can fill the vaſt deſires of a capatious, immortal ſoul. As among all the Beaſts of the field there was not a meet Companion for man, Adam was ſolitary and alone, notwithſtanding their numerous ſociety; ſo amongſt all the creatures in the World, there is not a meet portion for the ſoul, its poor and beggerly without God, in the midſt of all its poſſeſſions; your heads may be ſolicitous, and your hearts induſtrious, to heap up creature-comforts, and when ye have got what the World can give, ye would be but as hungry men in a Room full of Stones or Chips. That which is unſutable to the ſouls nature, cannot be ſatisfying to the ſpirits deſires.
There is a nouriſhment proper to every Animal. Spiders feed on Flies, Moles on Worms; the Horſe on Graſs, the Lyon on Fleſh; there is alſo food proper to mans ſoul, Spiritual Meat, and ſpiritual Drink; my fleſh is Meat indeed, my blood is Drink indeed (all other is bibi & potus tantummodo umbra) this this is that, which when the ſoul comes once to feed on it, its filled, its ſatisfied.
Philoſophers obſerve that the matter of the Heavens deſireth no other form, whereas in all ſublunary things it conſtantly doth, and the reaſon is, becauſe of the Actuality and Perfection of that heavenly form. While the ſoul faſteneth on any ſublunary thing, as its happineſs it deſireth more and better, but when it doth once chuſe the bleſſed God, it deſireth no more, no better, becauſe of thoſe infinite perfections which are in God. One God anſwereth all the ſouls deſires and neceſſities.
Plut. in vit.To keep you no longer out of the body of the book, It is Recorded of Marcus Cato, that after his return from Carthage, when he did at any time deliver his judgement about any buſineſs in the Senate, he would conclude his ſpeech with, Methinks Carthage ſhould be deſtroyed. Sirs will you ſuffer me to tell you again, and again. Methinks a dying hour is not to be neglected; Methinks a living God is worthy to be embraced. Though there may be ſome difference among you, about things that are ceremonial and circumſtantial, yet ye are I hope generally agreed (I am ſure all are, that have the leaſt favour of Religion)[a]Deu. 32.29 Pſa. 90.12. That mans greateſt wiſdom is to prepare for his dying hour. [b]Pſa. 73.25. Mat. 22.35. 1 Joh. 2.15.That the heart of Religion conſiſteth in taking (not the World, but) God for your portion and happineſs. [c]1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 5.19, 20, 21.That prophaneſs ought to be avoided in your ſelves, and [d]Rev. 2.2. 2 Chron. 15.16 Pſa. 101.7. 1 Tim. 5.22.ſuppreſſed according to your places and powers in others. [e]1 Tim. 4.8 2 Tim. 3.5. Joh. 4.24.That the power of Godlineſs ought chiefly to be minded and countenanced, [f]Rom. 8.5, 13.That an holy, ſpiritual, not a fleſhly, ſenſual life is the way to Heaven, [g]Gen. 18.19 Prov. 22.6 Eph. 6.4.That your Children and Servants ought to be inſtructed in the knowledge of God and Chriſt, of their miſery and the means of their recovery, [h]Joſh. 24.15. Pſa. 101.2, 6 7. Col. 3.16. Rom. 16.5. Jerem. 10. ult.That your houſes ſhould be Churches, praying, reading, and ſinging Families, and [i]Exo. 20.8. Iſa. 58.13. Act. 20.7. Rev. 1.10.that the Lords day ſhould be conſcienciouſly obſerved and devoted to the deareſt Redeemer by ſecret, private and publique duties. Theſe things are written (as with the beams of the Sun) ſo clearly in the Scriptures, that if ye deny them, ye deny your ſelves to be Chriſtians, and profeſs your ſelves to be Infidels, I beſeech you therefore in the name of the bleſſed Saviour, who redeemed you from your vain converſations with his own moſt precious blood, and for the ſake of your immortal ſouls, which within a few day, muſt throw their laſt caſt for eternity, that your practices be anſwerable to ſuch principles. For, Beleive me, it will be a dreadful thing another day, for your lives to give your conſciences the lye at this day.
I have but one requeſt more to you (pardon my freedom, and plainneſs of ſpeech, for truly my heart is inlarged towards you) be pleaſed to peruſe the following diſcourſe, with ſerious conſideration of the truth and weight of the particulars therein delivered, and with ſupplication to God, that the Treatiſe may be ſerviceable to your eternal ſalvations. If I write not what is agreeable to the Word of God, reject it, but if I do, ſubmit to it, leaſt ye ſubvert your own ſouls. The Father of mercies, and God of all grace, inlighten all your minds in the ſaving knowledge of himſelf, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, bleſs this brief diſcourſe to you, infuſe grace in every of you, where it is wanting, increaſe grace where it is, bleſs you ſo in civil things, that your Town may be an habitation of juſtice, and ſo ſucceed you in Spirituals, that it may be a mountain of holineſs, and enable you all ſo to prepare for death, that it may be to you the gate of life, ſo to take him for your portion, that he may be your everlaſting poſſeſſion; and ſo to glorifie him in your Generations, that ye may be meet for, and heirs of the eternal weight of glory, which is the Prayer of
Your moſt affectionate Servant George Swinnock.