The Throne of Grace, Sermon 12

The Throne of Grace · Sermon 12

p. 292SERMON. XII.

HEB. IV. 16.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.

HAving ſpoke of the need of God's Grace, and of its helpfulneſs in general, I came to condeſcend on ſome Seaſons, wherein the Grace of God is ſpecially needful and helpful. Of them, I named ſix; three of which I have ſpoke to, and the other three remain to be handled.

p. 2931. The firſt Seaſon named, was the time of Temptation. There was never a Believer ſo little beloved of Chriſt, as to be given up as a Prey to Satan: And never lay a Believer ſo near Chriſt's Heart, but the Devil may get him into his Sieve. Therefore let us never flatter our ſelves in a ſtate of ſecurity from diſturbance by the Devil; bleſſed be God, we are brought into a ſtate of ſafety from ruin by him.

2. A Seaſon of ſpiritual decay: Soul-ſickneſs, a weakneſs in the New Creature. There are ſome People that never knew by Experience what bodily ſickneſs means, but have enjoyed perfect Health all their Life. But I am apt to think, that few, if any, Chriſtians, find it ſo as to the new Creation in them.

3. A Seaſon of ſpecial Enjoyments. Though theſe two ſeem to be very far from, and contrary to one another, yet they agree in this, that in both Grace is needful and helpful. The unaccountable Wiſdom and Sovereignty of the Lord our God, ſhines in his conduct of his People. Some of them have extraordinary Receavings; others know little what they mean. There are ſome Chriſtians, whoſe way to Heaven lyes all along in the Depths and in the Vales, when others ride on their High places: Now theſe ſingular manifeſtations from God, though deſirable and profitable, yet are not without ſpecial dangers; to prevent which, the Lord provides and miniſters ſpecial Phyſick to them; and it is ſtrong and unpleaſant, but the Phyſician can bleſs it. As Paul's Experience witneſſeth, 2 Cor. 12. He had been in Heaven, p. 294he knew not how; he had heard he could not tell what, when he came back. But he well knew what he met with on his return, and how needful and uſeful it was for him. Leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure with what he had ſeen and heard in Paradiſe, Hell is ſent to humble him. May we not infer this, How unfit are Believers, while in the body, and a body of death is in them, to be in Heaven, when any ſpecial Enjoyment of Heaven, muſt have ſo dreadful a Remedy adminiſtred to prevent hurt?

4. A fourth Seaſon of ſpecial need of Grace, is the time of Affliction. Afflictions are of many ſorts and kinds. I am apt to believe, that though there be ſome likeneſs in the Afflictions of many, yet every afflicted Man hath a particular Affliction of his own. As it is with peoples Faces, ſo is it with their Croſſes. For as many thouſand Faces as are amongſt Mankind, though all are ſomewhat like, yet every one hath ſome diſtinction. The World is full of Croſſes, yet every afflicted Perſon hath his own Croſs. Our Lord hints at it, Matth. 16.24. Let a man take up his Croſs. The Lord appoints a proper Croſs for every one. Though people are ready to think and ſay, that their Croſs is unfit for them, and that they would bear another Croſs better. In Croſſes we muſt neither chooſe, nor refuſe. (David's Caſe was ſingular. 2 Sam. 24.) The Lord chooſeth for us, and we muſt not, cannot refuſe. Job 34.35. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompenſe it, whether thou refuſe, or whether thou chuſe, and not I: therefore p. 295ſpeak what thou knowest. There is a general diſtinction of Afflictions: Some are from God's hand, for Sin, or Tryal, or prevention: And ſome are from Man's hand for Chriſt's ſake and the Goſpel's. In all of them Grace is helpful and needful. But I would ſpeak only ſomething in general, that every one may apply to themſelves, according to their experience and Exerciſe: And that on theſe two Heads. 1. The needfulneſs of Grace to the afflicted. 2. The helpfulneſs of Grace to the afflicted, whatever their Affliction be.

1. Of the need of the grace of God to the afflicted. Some ſenſe of this, is engraven on the Hearts of Men by the Light of Nature. The Heathen Mariners in the Storm, expreſs this. Jonah 1.5.6. What meaneſt thou O ſleeper? ariſe, call upon thy God, if ſo be God will think upon us, that we periſh not. A ſad caſe. A Heathen Ship-maſter challenging a Godly Prophet for his neglect of ſeeking God: He calls him by a ſhameful, but well deſerved name, O Sleeper. The Storm came on for Jonah's ſake, as he told them ver. 12. yet he is the ſecureſt perſon in the Ship. He only knew God, yet he is laſt in calling on him. An honeſt Pagan may out-do a diſtempered Prophet in ſome things, at ſome times. This Senſe was expreſſed greatly by the King, Nobles, and Inhabitants of Nineveh, Jonah 3.5,10. And they again go far beyond Jonah. They believed God on Jonah's Preaching, repented, prayed and faſted, and the Lord repented of the evil. But Jonah was grieved at all, chap. 4.1,2. If were not for his excellent Prayer, chap. 2. p. 296and that he was a Prophet of the Lord, and the Pen-man of the Holy Ghoſt, to record his own Sin and Shame, for the benefit of the Church, we ſhould be tempted to queſtion this Man's grace, of whoſe fearful Sins we have ſo large an Account. He rebel's againſt the Lord's Call to preach to Nineveh: When he flees, the Lord overtakes him by a Storm, takes, him by the Lot, he is caſt into the Sea, ſcoold in the Whale's Belly three days and three nights; a miraculous Chaſtiſement, and a miraculous Preſervation. He now obeys the repeated call; but when his labour had a gracious Effect, he is diſpleaſed exceedingly, and prays moſt ſinfully. Jonah's Inſtance ſhould teach Miniſters and Chriſtians to pray more, Lord lead us not into Temptation. As Nature's Light teacheth afflicted people, their need of the Lord's Grace and Mercy, the Word declares it more plainly. Jam. 5.13. Pſal. 50.15. Hoſ. 5.15. This need of the helping grace of God in Affliction, I would inſtruct in theſe:

1. Affliction-ſins are readily fallen into, without the help of the Grace of God. Such Sins I mean, that Affliction doth eaſily and naturally tempt unto; as Fretting, Impatience, Murmuring, and quarrelling with the hand of God. It is ſadly and frequently ſeen, that Affliction hath not only brought along with it diſcovery of Sin, but alſo the Actings and Workings of more Corruption, than either the Perſon himſelf, or any elſe thought was in the Man. It was a ſad Character of a very bad Man. 2 Chron. 28.22. And in the time of this diſtreſs, did he treſpaſs yet more againſt the Lord; p. 297this is that King Ahaz. This is a Man noted for a never-do-well. A Brother … the ſame Office, and in the ſame Iniquity, ſaid, Behold, this evil is of the Lord; what ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? 2 Kings 6.33.

2. Affliction-Duties are only practicable by the help of the Grace of God. Every Croſs hath its Work, as well as its Tryal. There is that required and called for in Affliction, that craves a ſpecial Aſſiſtance of the grace of God, for the doing of it. It is remarkable, that the great Duty of the afflicted, is expreſſed by two Negatives. Heb. 12.5. from Prov. 3.11. My Son deſpiſe not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. What then is the poſitive Duty? It is that which is neither of theſe two; if the Affliction be light, we are apt to deſpiſe it; and if it heavy, we are as apt to faint under it. But, ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, ſee that ye do neither; if it be never ſo light, do not deſpiſe it; if it be never ſo heavy, faint not under it. And there is no ſmall need of Grace to preſerve us from thoſe Extreams, and to keep us in the right midſt.

3. The Conſolations of an afflicted State are very needful, and Grace only can furniſh us with them. Be ye aſſured of it, that never did a Chriſtian bear up patiently under God's heavy hand, but by the ſtrong ſecret Working of ſome Conſolation. It is true, we value and ſeek moſt that Conſolation, that comes in as a great Flood of Senſe, and that doth ſwallow up the bitterneſs of Affliction. This the Lord can, and ſometimes doth, give to his p. 298People. But there is a ſecret, ſilent ſpring of Conſolation, that is as profitable, and more common in the Lord's way with his Children. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks in 2 Cor. 1.3,4,5. Everlaſting conſolation and good hope through grace, are his Bleſſings. 2 Theſſ. 2.16,17.

2. Wherein the helpfulneſs of grace doth conſiſt, in an afflicted ſtate.

1. God's grace helps with Light to know God's mind in affliction. It is dreadful to be ſtruck in the dark, when a Man neither ſeeth the Path he walks in, nor the Hand that ſmiteth him, nor the Weapon he is ſmote with. The great Bleſſing that grace can help us to, is to know what the Rod means, what its voice is, who hath appointed it, and what of God's Name is written on the Rod. Micah 6.9. Job was very earneſt for this Light, Job 10.2. I will ſay unto God, do not condemn me; ſhew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Elihu adviſeth him well. Job 34.31,32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Many a poor Believer have been put to this, that if they had all the World, they would have parted with it, to have known God's Mind in their Afflictions. Sometimes by the Light of the Furnace, we come to know our Hearts and Corruptions, and thereby what God ſmites for, and calls to. The Lord can by the teachings of his Word and Spirit, and by the Wiſdom of his providential Diſpenſations, engrave that particular Meaning that is in his Heart, on the Rod p. 299that is in his Hand, that Men may know it. And happy is that perſon that is ſo dealt with. But it is indeed harder, to be ſincerely willing to know and admit of God's Mind in Affliction, than it is to find it out. But his grace can help to both, and the Throne of Grace ſhould be much plyed for both.

2. Grace can give in ſtrength and ſupport under Affliction. 2 Cor. 4.16. For which cauſe we faint not; but though our outward man periſh, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. It is a wonderful thing to ſee how much Pain, Sickneſs, and Torment, a poor frail body is able to bear; we think how cloſe and ſticking a thing is Life, that is not ſqueezed out by ſuch a ſtreſs? Yet the frailty of the Fleſh in bearing the diſtreſs of the Fleſh, is a ſmall thing, in regard of the frailty of the Heart in bearing of God's Rebukes. Prov. 18.14. The ſpirit of a man will bear his Infirmity: but a wounded ſpirit who can bear? Yet many have born it; but ſurely by divine Support. It is the common Senſe of diſtreſſed Chriſtians, that they have been put to bear ſuch burdens, that they thought at firſt they would ſurely have cruſhed them. The reaſon of their Wonder is, becauſe the weight of the burden upon them was ſenſible, but the everlaſting arms underneath them and their burden, were not ſeen. Deut. 33.27.

3. Grace helps in Affliction, by enabling the afflicted to believe that there is Love in the Afflicter. He ſaith it, Rev. 3.19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten: And he can make us believe it. Nothing but his mighty Grace can do it. Nothing is liker Anger, than Affliction, p. 300eſpecially when ſevere; nothing is more difficult to believe, than that (which to all our Senſe and Reaſon is ruining to us) ſhould be in love in him that doth it. Who can believe this, without the help of Grace? and how great muſt that help be, that enableth a Man to believe ſo unlikely a thing?

4. Grace helps in Affliction, by teaching to profit thereby. Heb. 12.11. Now no chaſtening for the preſent, ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous: Nevertheleſs, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs, unto them which are exerciſed thereby. The fruit of ſanctified Affliction is a great Myſtery, as all ſpiritual Fruit is. You cannot tell how you profit by the Word: I am afraid that there is but little profiting at all; but they that do profit, cannot tell how they profit. They may ſee the Seed ſown, they may find it ſown in their Hearts, they may perceave its Fruits in their Worſhip and Walk; but how the grace of God works with the Word in making them profit, is too deep for the moſt diſcerning Chriſtians. It is ſome way more myſterious, how the Lord works out profit by Afflictions. It is indeed often found, bleſſed be his Name. Many can ſay with David, Pſal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted, I went aſtray: but now have I kept thy word. ver. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes. But none can tell how the grace of God makes the bitter feed of Affliction bring forth the peaceable fruit of Righteouſneſs. And where is that Saint, who, when the Lord is writing bitter things againſt p. 301him, and multiplying his wounds, can ſay in Faith? Now, at this time, and in this manner, the Lord is ſowing that Seed in me, that ſhall ſpring up in Fruits of Righteouſneſs, to his Praiſe, and my certain Profit; and that the day will come, wherein I ſhall bleſs his Name from my Heart, for all the Sorrows I now feel and mourn under.

I ſhall ſay no more of this Head of Affliction, but only would give you this warning. Afflictions are very common, and much complained of. Some Profeſſors ſpend all the little Religion they have, upon their Afflictions. Take heed to your Hearts under Afflictions. It is to be bewailed, that many Chriſtians, their Afflictions come on them, they know not whence; they lye on them, they know not not wherefore; and they go off, they know not how: that if I may allude to ſuch ſacred Words, and apply the Phraſe to ſuch a ſinful Frame, Afflictions come on many, and they feel the ſmart of them, but know not whence they come, nor whither they go. They come on them when they are ſent, and go off when they are called; but they neither knew what God meant by them, nor did by them. No Chriſtian can ever make a ſpiritual and hearty Song of Praiſe for Afflictions, unleſs there be ſome Senſe, or Hope of Profit thereby. If the Profit be ſeen, the Wiſdom and Love of God in afflicting, will be heartily acknowledged.

5. Time of ſpecial need of the grace of God, is a time of ſpecial Duty and Service to God, called for. All the courſe of our Life is to be p. 302conſtant Service; we ought to live to his Praiſe; we are made, as Creatures, and as new Creatures, for this end, Iſa. 43.21. 1 Pet. 2.9. But there are ſome Seaſons in which ſpecial Work is called for, and then there is great need of grace to help in that Hour. It is a mighty Word of the Preacher. Eccl. 8.6. Becauſe to every purpoſe there is time and judgment, therefore the miſery of man is great upon him. And it is only the wiſe man's heart that diſcerneth time and Judgment, ver. 5. I would name four of thoſe times.

1. The time that Men are called to believe on Jeſus Chriſt, and to ſecure their eternal Salvation by a full cloſing with him. This is a now, a day, an accepted time, a day of Salvation. 2 Cor. 6.2. All that hear the Goſpel, are bound by the Call of God in it, and warranted by the Promiſe of it, to receave by Faith, Jeſus Chriſt and eternal Life, every time they hear the Goſpel. But ſometimes this Duty is ſpecially called for, which if neglected, may be of fatal conſequence to Men. Hence that Exhortation, Iſa. 55.6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. When Chriſt is knocking at the Door of the Heart, then it is ſpecial Duty to open to him. Rev. 3.20. This was the day Jeruſalem had, and neglected, and that that Chriſt mourned over them for. Luke 19.41,42. Unſpeakable is Mens need of the prevailing help of grace, when their Hearts and Conſciences are warmed with the Calls of grace in the Goſpel. In ſuch Seaſons, the everlaſting Bargain is either fixed by the power of grace p. 303working Faith in the Heart; or people are left to themſelves, and are further from Heaven than ever.

2. Some ſpecial Call to Men to give their Testimony to Chriſt and his Goſpel by ſuffering. The Lord comes and craves Mens Teſtimony to his Truth, and chargeth them thus: If thou haſt any love to me and my Honour, I demand thy Witneſs, venture thy all, take up thy Croſs. Many Chriſtians have neglected ſuch trying Seaſons, which, in vain and ſorrowfully, they have wiſhed for again. There is much of God's Grace needful to diſcern theſe Seaſons, and wiſely to improve them.

3. There is another remarkable Seaſon of Mens need of God's Grace to help them in, and that is, The Seaſon of the Lord's calling them to a Duty-Tryal: A Duty called to by way of Tryal. The Lord gives the Call to try Men, and very great are the Conſequences of obeying or diſobeying of ſuch a Call. Many inſtances are of this in the Word. One is in Numb. 14. The Paſſage is plain and awful. When Iſrael had been above a Year in the Wilderneſs, twelve Spies are ſent to view the Land; they all bring back an evil Report, ſave Joſhua and Caleb; the People murmur, God threatens them with Judgments: They ſeem to be ſenſible of their Sin, it's like by the Plague that ſlew the ten falſe Spies, ver. 37. and by what Moſes ſpake to them. They acknowledge their Sin, and reſolve to go up next Morning, ver. 40. Moſes tells them, they now ſinned again, and that the Lord was not among them, ver. 41, 42. What ſevere dealing p. 304is this? The Lord was among them veſterday, not this morning. They were bid go up yeſterday, they are forbid next morning. Becauſe they did not, what the Lord bid them do in his time, he will not protect them when they do the ſame thing in their time. Thus Saul was tryed twice. 1 Sam. 3. Samuel bid him tarry for him ſeven days at Gilgal Saul tarried ſix days, and part of the ſeventh, and then offered Sacrifice; not, as I think, that he did invade the Prieſt's Office himſelf, but commanded ſome Prieſt to do it: Profane Princes never want profane Chaplains. What a ſevere Sentence doth Samuel pronounce againſt him? ver. 13.14. Again, the ſame Man is tryed with another Duty. 1. Sam. 15. and fails therein, and is puniſhed therefore. This ſort of trying Men by Duty, is like that in 2 Kings 13.14.20. which Eliſha did put Joaſh unto. How may of the people of God, through the want of the preſent help of Grace, in ſome Duty-Trials, have ſtepped into ſuch Paths, and have fallen into ſuch Pits and Snares, as they have never got well and clearly out of, as long as they lived?

4. It is a Seaſon of great need of Grace to help us in, when the Lord by his Providence puts ſeveral things in a perſons choice, and leaves them to chooſe. The fulleſt of this kind, was that offer made to David about Judgments. 2 Sam. 24.12,13. A hard choice; but David did chooſe wiſely. His Son Solomon, had another Offer, but it was of Bleſſings, and not of Judgments, 2 Chron. 1.7. Ask what I ſhall give thee. And he choſe wiſely, and by his choice p. 305proved that he had already receaved a good meaſure of Wiſdom. Moſes had a great Offer, and things of vaſt difference were in his Choice; and he choſe like a Man taught of God. Heb. 11.24,25,26. Moſes in his laſt Sermon to Iſrael, Deut. 30.15,19. puts them on chooſing. I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have ſet before you life and death, bleſſing and curſing, therefore chooſe life, that both thou and thy ſeed may live; that thou mayeſt love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayeſt cleave unto him, for he is thy life, and the length of thy days. So did his Succeſſor Joſhua, when he had ſetled Iſrael in the promiſed Land, a little before his death. Joſh. 24.15. Chuſe ye this day whom ye will ſerve. Elijah did ſo with Apoſtate Iſrael. 1 Kings 18.21. Somewhat like this, is laid before Men in the daily Miniſtry of the Word. The Curſe of the Law, or the Bleſſing of the Goſpel, is in Mens Offer: And Men get as they chooſe. If Men refuſe the Bleſſing, the Curſe belongs to them. If they receave the Bleſſing, they are delivered from the Curſe. But the chuſing, I mean, is that the Lord puts Men often to, in the ſeveral Turns of his Providence towards them. Pſal. 25.12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chooſe. Many gracious Promiſes are in the Word, of God's guiding of his people, many Prayers put up by Saints in the Word for this gracious guiding, and many Praiſes rendered to the Lord, for their bleſſed experience of his guiding. Who can walk ſafely through this Wilderneſs, p. 306without the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night? How many of Mens Sorrows may be laid on their being left of God, in chooſing for themſelves? and how many of our Mercies are owing to the Lord's gracious guiding of us in doubtful Caſes? But it is a very hard thing to ask Direction from God. Three faults are common in this practice. 1. Pre-engagement of Heart. As it is a great ſin, after Vows to make inquiry, Prov. 20.25. So is it, to ask Direction from God, when Men are reſolved on the way they will take. An eminent inſtance of this ſinful Frame, we have in Jer. 42. and 43. They ſought Counſel of God by the Prophet in a great ſtraight, they promiſed to follow it whatever it was, God gives his Mind, they reject it, becauſe it ſuited not their Inclinations. It is no eaſie thing to ask Direction of God, with an undetermined Frame. 2. Pride of Ʋnderſtanding. Men think they are wiſe enough to chooſe their own way. Therefore that Command ſhould be much minded, Prov. 3.5,6,7. Truſt in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own Ʋnderſtanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy paths. Be not wiſe in thine own eyes. And that other Word, Prov. 20.24. Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? Prov. 16.9. A man's heart deviſeth his way, but the Lord directeth his ſteps. 3 Haſtey Men wait not for God's Counſel. Pſal. 106.13. and therefore go without it, and ſtumble in dark Paths. He that believeth, maketh not haste. Iſa 28.16. A little more patient waiting p. 307on the Lord, as Pſal. 40.1. hath often brought in determining Light in doubtful Caſes.

So much for the fifth Seaſon of need of Grace.

6. The laſt time of need of Grace, is the time of dying. It is indeed the laſt, for he that is helped by Grace in that Time, will need no more help of Grace to eternity. This time of dying, is what we ſhould all think on; and if you think aright on it, it will not be unwelcome to hear of it.

On this I would ſhow, 1. The need of Grace. 2. And the help of Grace in this laſt and greateſt time of need.

1. Of the need of Grace to help in this Seaſon. Though all Men have ſome Conviction of it, yet to ſtrengthen that Conviction, I would ſpeak to a few things about it.

1. This time of need is unavoidable, it is a time that muſt come. Other times of need may come, and may not come. We may be tempted, we may be afflicted, we may be tryed, we may be caſt down, and we may be lifted up again; but die we muſt. It is appointed for men once to die, Heb. 9.27. As ſure as we live, we muſt die: We live our appointed time, and we die at our appointed time. Job 14.5,14. and all our times are in his hand, Pſal. 31.15. Eccleſ. 3.2. There is a time to be born, and a time to die. ver. 11. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. That Man muſt have better Eyes, than thoſe of Fleſh, that can ſee any Beauty in Death. If there had been but two or three of Mankind, p. 308that had lived from Noah to this day, and had been priviledged with an Exemption from this general Appointment, every Fool on Earth would have dreamt that, it may be, he ſhall partake of the ſame Priviledge alſo. But when all that ever breathed from Adam to this day, are dead (ſave the preſent Generation, whom a few more years will ſweep away, as it hath done their Predeceſſors) what Folly is there in Mens thoughtleſneſs of this unavoidable Fate? But if you ſay, all ſhall not die, but be changed, as 1 Cor. 15.51. 1 Theſ. 4.17. Conſider that this change is to them, as death is to us; and, it may be, will be as terrible to the Saints alive then, as Death now is. As Believers now dread not death, and to be dead, ſo much, as they fear to die; the State of the dead in Chriſt, is not terrible, but the Paſſage to it is: So they that are changed at Chriſt's coming, may have the ſame Sentiments, till the change be wrought on them. It is (though none knows the particular manner of it) a putting off of Mortality and Corruption, and a putting on the Robes of Immortality and Incorruption. The ſame is done as to every Saint at Death and the Reſurrection: Both are done to every Believer in an inſtant, who are found alive at Chriſt's ſecond coming. Elijab's Tranſlation, 2 Kings 2. and Enoch's, Heb. 11.5. were Emblems of the change on Believers at Chriſt's ſecond appearance; as the raiſing of Lazarus and others, both in the Old Teſtament and New, were of the general Reſurrection: And in ſpecial manner, they ſpoke of, Matth. 27.52,53. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of Saints, p. 309which ſlept, aroſe, and came out of the graves after his Reſurrection, and went into the holy City, and appeared unto many. But whatever the change on Saints at Chriſt's coming be to them, and if it may be thought a more eaſie Tryal than natural death is: It is certain, that the change that ſhall then paſs on the Ungodly, will be far more dreadful, than bare dying is now. This is then, the only Exception from the general Appointment on all Men once to die. How amazing then is the Stupidity of Men, that ſo few ſeriouſly think on it, and prepare for it? That ſo many Men and Women, that are under the Sentence of Death, that have the Seeds of Death in them, that live in a World, wherein all things that have life are dying before their Eyes, that live on Creatures, that loſe their Lives to ſupport theirs, that have ſo many Warnings of Death's ſure and ſpeedy Approach, are yet, after all, ſurprized by it when it comes, as if they had never heard of it? This ſtupidity is a ſad, both Sign and Effect, of the Plague of Unbelief. Judgment and Eternity, that follow at Death's Heels, are matters of pure Faith. But Death is obvious to Senſe, Reaſon, and Univerſal Experience: Yet Men only think they may die, and do not entertain the Perſwaſion with Aſſurance into their Hearts and ſerious daily Thoughts, that they muſt die.

2. Dying is not only unavoidable, but it is a new Tryal: None can tell what dying is. Many know what is to be ſick, to be in great pain, to faint and fall into a ſwoun (which is p. 310a little Image of death, as alſo the Heathen Poet called Sleep, Death's elder Brother.) But none knows what dying is. It was a very ſenſible Word a dying Chriſtian in this City ſpoke to my ſelf, when viſiting him a few Hours before his Death: No Man can tell another what dying is; I feel I am dying, but I cannot tell you what it is. Death is a Path that you never trode before; you never walked in it hitherto; you may have thought your ſelves to have gone a good way in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but you never walked through it. Paul died daily. 1 Cor. 15.31. he was in deaths often. 2 Cor. 11.23. Yet he was a living Man then, when he ſaid ſo; and he dyed but once. All new Tryals require new ſupplies of Grace: And the Tryal of Death is quite new. When we are tempted one day, we may know what Temptation is thereby, and be thereby fitted for the next; but no paſt Experience, can teach us fully what dying is.

3. Dying is not only a neceſſary and new Tryal, but it is ſuch a Tryal, in which a Man's All is concerned for Eternity. Immediately, on Death, follows Judgment, Heb. 9.27. Death is the dark Trance betwixt Time and Eternity. While we live, we are in time; when we are a dying, we are leaving time, and paſſing into eternity. When we are dead, we are quite and for ever out of time, and are in eternity for ever. If a Man miſcarry in this Paſſage, if a Man ſtumble in the dark Valley of death, if he fall here, he falls for ever. I would not have people to imagine, that the ſtreſs of their Salvation depends on their Frame, when a p. 311dying: For ſome Chriſtians, when near to death, have neither the uſe and exerciſe of Senſe or Reaſon, much leſs of Grace. But ſurely when the caſe of Mens Bodies permits Acts of a Man, or of a Chriſtian, there is great need of grace to enable us to die well.

4. Dying is a great Tryal of Faith. Tho' we know not fully what dying is, yet we may know ſo much of it, as to be convinced, that it is much harder to die in Faith, than to live by Faith, and yet living by Faith is the hardeſt thing we have to do in this World. To truſt in an unſeen God; to believe his unchangeable Love when we feel his Anger; to truſt his bare Word, when we ſee no appearance of Performance, but many to the contrary, are no eaſie things to the heſt. Our frequent Experience of the difficulty, and of our many failings in this daily Exerciſe, of living by Faith, may juſtly make us ſenſible of our need of great help of Grace, when we ſhall be called to the new and more hard Work of dying by Faith. To enforce this a little, conſider, 1. Uſually when death draws near to Men, and they draw near to it, the Eye of the Mind is clearer, and the Conſcience more tender, and ſharp-ſighted, in the review of their Life and Actions. Many never ſaw their Lives well, till they are juſt at the end of them. And many Believers walk ſo, as a ſpiritual review of their ways, breeds no ſmall Storm in their Conſciences, and Tryal and ſhaking to their Faith. Though Death be a dark Valley, yet great light of Convictions and Challenges, ſprings up in it. Wo to them that never knew, till they are a dying, what an awakened Conſcience is. p. 312Ways that are pleaſing to Men when the evil day is put far away, look frightfully on them, when that day approacheth, and is very nigh.

2. A dying time is a time wherein the Devil is very buſie. He fetcheth then his laſt ſtroke on Saints, and on Sinners. He doth his utmoſt to ſecure the Damnation of Sinners, that he may not loſe them at laſt. The Devil's Deathhold of a dying Sinner, is a ſtrong one. He alſo doth his utmoſt againſt Believers, if not to marr their Salvation, yet to hinder their Conſolation. The Devil's parting Blow hath been dreadful to many a Saint. It is a weighty Word, Heb. 2.14. Where he is ſaid to have the power of death. It is true, there it is ſaid alſo, that Christ overcame him, and through death. Death is properly and ſtrictly in the Devil's Dominions. Sin and Death are properly the Devil's, though the Lord hath the wiſe ordering of both; he permits Sin, and inflicts Death; and Death lyes near the Devil's great Priſon, Hell. Through the Valley of death, there are two Paſſages, one leading to Hell, and another to Heaven. Moſt fall into the Pit; others are brought through, ſafe and ſound, by the Skill and Mercy of their bleſſed Guide, Chriſt. It fares here with Believers as with Iſrael, and with Ʋnbelievers as with the Egyptians, Heb. 11.29. By faith they paſſed through the Red Sea as by dry Land; which the Egyptians eſſaying to do, were drowned.

3. Judgment and Eternity, when near, and ſeen at hand, are awful things: And a near view of them will try Faith greatly. This view p. 313blows away the Preſumption and Hope of the Hypocrite. Job 27.8. What is the hope of the Hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his Soul? Job 11.20. Their hope is as the giving up of the Ghoſt. His Hope lived as long as he lived; and when he dies, it dies alſo. Wo to them that have a dying hope, a hope that cannot out live Death. Chriſtians are begotten to a living or lively hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. He hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32. The Man's body dies, but the Chriſtian's Hope and Faith lives. He lyes down in the Grave in hope, Pſal. 16.9. He dies in that Faith, he lived by. Heb. 11.13.

2. What is the helpfulneſs of Grace, in this time of great need, a time of dying. I am ſpeaking to living Men, but to ſuch as muſt die, and know not how ſoon. I ſhall only inſiſt on one thing at this time. The Grace of God helps Believers by ſtrengthening of their Faith. That is the help they mainly need in that hour. And this help ſtands in theſe:

1. When a dying Believer is helped by Grace to ſee death in Chriſt's hand. There is a vaſt difference betwixt Death in the Devil's hand who hath the power of it, and Death in Chriſt's hand, who is Maſter both of Death and the Devil: Betwixt a Man's ſeeing Death approaching, and the Devil behind it, and with it, and a Man's ſeeing Death coming on him, and Chriſt with it. Paul's Triumph roſe on this ground, 1 Cor. 15.55,56,57. O death, where is thy ſting? O grave (or Hell) where is thy victory? The ſting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the law, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, p. 314through our Lord Jeſus Christ. That, by which Death ſtings Men, is Sin unpardoned, and God's Holy Law binding Sin and Wrath on their Perſons. Victory over both Sin and the Law, comes by Jeſus Chriſt: When this Victor, and Victory in Christ, is ſeen by a Believer, Death is defied and deſpiſed, as a ſting-leſs overcome thing. Much and ſtrong Faith is needful to enable a Man to play on the hole of this Aſp. Chriſt reveals himſelf to John, almoſt dead with fear, Rev. 1.17,18. Fear not, I have the keys of Hell, and of Death. Behold them in my Hand and behold me as the Lord of them. Should a Believer in Jeſus, fear any thing that Christ hath the power of? The bitterneſs of death is paſt to all Believers, by Chriſt's death and Victory over it. And if their Faith was ſtrong, their Fears would be ſmall.

2. To have Faith enabled to look through death, and beyond death. If a Man's Eyes be fixed on Death only, and ſee no further, it is Death to look on Death: But when the Believers Eye of Faith is ſo quickened, that he can look through the Trance of Death, and ſee within the Vail where Chriſt is, that is a bleſſed help fo Grace. Chriſtians Faith and Hope enters within the Vail, Heb. 6.19. And a view within the Vail, is ſpecially deſirable and uſeful, when the Chriſtian is walking in the Valley of the ſhadow of death. Pſal. 23.4.

3. Faith is helped, when the dying Believer is enabled to caſt his Anchor on God in Chriſt confidently in this laſt Storm. This laſt act of Faith is a great one. The more ſenſible a Man is, that he is on the point of eternal Ruin, the nearer he p. 315is to drop into Hell (without divine help) the more ſenſibly he acts Faith: Then the clingings and graſpings of Faith on Chriſt, are ſenſible and ſtrong. When a Believer looks on himſelf, and on his way, and ſeeth nothing in them pleaſing or ſtaying to his Soul; he looks into the dark Paſſage before him, and its frightful to Heart and Fleſh; he looks on Judgment and Eternity as juſt at hand, and his Thoughts are ſwallowed up with their Greatneſs: In this caſe to ſtay his Soul, and ſay with dying David, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my houſe be not ſo with God (tho' my Heart, my ways, be not ſo with God, as they ought to have been) yet he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure, and this all my ſalvation, and all my deſire; requires ſingular help of the Grace of God. To ſhut the Eyes, and give the hand to Chriſt, and to quiet the Mind, by truſting our Guide in this laſt Step, is a mighty Bleſſing.

I would conclude this Diſcourſe with theſe four:

1. It is a great Myſtery of Faith, and a great Tryal of Faith, that the way to eternal Life, ſhould lye through the midſt of this dark Valley of Death. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, bought eternal Life for us, by the price of his Blood; he went through death to take poſſeſſion of his Kingdom and Glory; and yet his People muſt go through death to take Poſſeſſion of the Gift of eternal Life. If there were any allowed Room or Place for Prayer in this Affair, how many, and how earneſt Prayers would we make to be delivered from going in this way to Glory? But after a Life of Tryals, Temptation, p. 316and manifold Tribulations, this laſt is ſtill before us, and we muſt paſs through, and ſet our Feet in the cold Waters of this Jordan, ere we enter the heavenly Canaan. After all the lively hopes of Heaven, and ſweet fore-taſtes of it, we have had; after our Faith hath riſen to a full aſſurance: yet through death muſt all the Heirs of Glory paſs.

2. There is no Wiſdom like that of preparing for this awful Hour. Job 14.14. If a man die, ſhall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. I will think on it, I will look for it, I will prepare for it. Men are wiſe or fooliſh, according to their faithful diligence, or unbelieving negligence in this preparing for death. Many have bewailed their neglect; never did any repent their diligence in this Work.

3. There is no right and ſure way of preparing for Death, but by ſeeking ſaving acquaintance with Jeſus. If you ſet about the ſtudy of Holineſs, without Christ, you miſtake your way, and will never reach your end. But labour to be intimately acquainted with Jeſus Chriſt, and the Communications of his Grace will make you holy. Death deals with Men, and billets them into their eternal Quarters, in Heaven or Hell, as Men are in Chriſt, or out of Chriſt. Their Works, according to which they are judged, are but the Fruits and Effects of their different States. Theſe two different States of Men in this Life, in Christ, or not in Chriſt, are the Foundation of the two different States in the next Life, in Heaven, or in Hell: Tho' all in Chriſt are holy, and all out of Chriſt are unholy.

p. 3174. There is no Life truly comfortable, but that which hath a comfortable proſpect of Death and Judgment. Never envy the condition of them, who ſeem to be the only chearful Men in the World, whom one quarter of an hours ſerious thought of Death and Judgment, is enough to make them like Belſhazzar at his great Feaſt. Dan. 5.6, Whoſe countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, ſo that the joynts of his loins were looſed, and his knees ſmote one againſt another. Amazement ſeized on Soul and Body. How can a Man be ſaid to live comfortably, that dare not think of Death, for fear of marring his comfort? Miſerable is that Conſolation, that cannot bear a ſerious thought of an approaching unavoidable thing. This is the Wiſdom and Mercy of the Lord to his People, that their true Conſolation doth not only ſtand and abide in the view of Death and Judgment, but it ariſeth from that view that is ſo terrible to all natural Men. This is the bleſſedneſs of Believers, that his Grace allows them a right to, and can give them a poſſeſſion of. And therefore we ſhould come to the Throne of Grace for it. Then you are happy Chriſtians, when ſerious thoughts of Death, breed ſerious Joy.