The Privilege of the Saints on Earth, Title page 1 – To the reader 1

The Privilege of the Saints on Earth · Title page 1 – To the reader 1

THE PRIVILEDGE OF THE Saints on Earth, BEYOND Thoſe in HEAVEN, In reſpect of Gifts and Graces exerciſed, Duties and Services performed, ſufferings and Tryals undergone by them, which the Glorified are not capable of.

BEING The Sum of a Diſcourſe upon a part of Hezekiah, Song of Thankſgiving after his Recovery from his Sickneſs.

To which is added, A ſhort Diſcourſe of the Nature and … of the Goſpel-day, reaching from the Deſtruction of the Old, to the … of the New Jeruſalem out of ….

By WILLIAM HOOKE, Preacher of the Goſpel.

LONDON, Printed for John Wilkins, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Exchange-Alley, next door to the Exchange-Coffee-Houſe, over againſt the Royal-Exchange, 1673.

Courteous Reader,

Thou art deſired to correct with thy Pen theſe following Errata's.

PAge 9. Line 15. for imparted, read imported. P. 11. in the Margin, r. Eph. 3. laſt. P. 13. l. 6. f. hence, r. here. P. 16. l. 10. for Spiritual, r. ſpecial. P. 22. in the Margin, r. Job 7. 2. P. 23. l. 10. for the, r. this. P. 35. l. 13. blot out yet. P. 51. l. 28. r. bridled. P. 53. in the Margin, r. Luke 8. 48. Luke 7. 50. P. 65. l. 9. for the, r. your. P. 91. l. 23, 24. for Argumentations, r. Augmentations. P. 92. l. 8. for for, r. ſo. P. 92. l. laſt, for were not the, r. were it not for the. P. 95. l. 20. f. from plain to Plain, r. from Place to Place. P. 101. l. 22, for lon, r. long.

In the ſecond Sermon in the Epiſtle, for go, r. therefore.

TO THE READER.

THe greateſt and higheſt Honour of the reaſonable Creature is to ſerve him, who is the beſt Good, and laſt End. Herein do we communicate with Angels, whoſe glory it is that they are Miniſtring Spirits, Heb. 1 14.Heb 1:14always beholding the face of God our Father for this very purpoſe. How diligent then ſhould we be to lay hold on, and to improve all opportunities of ſervice, ſeeing our time is ſo ſhort, our work ſo great, and our ſalvation nearer than when we firſt believed? The Son of God hath given us a glorious pattern herein,John 9. 4.John 9:4 I muſt work the work of him that hath ſent me, &c. Chriſt Jeſus our Maſter improved all opportunities, went up and down doing good, filling all places where he came with the favour of his Doctrine and Miracles, becauſe he knew his time was ſhort, and the recompence of reward at hand. The ſerious thoughts hereof would exceedingly ſpur us to a holy diligence,Heb. 12. 2.Heb 12:2 eſpecially conſidering that Heaven is a place not of work but reward, where the Saints will be diveſted of ſerving and honouring God in many of theſe ways, wherein now (through grace) they are enabled to bring much glory to his Name. Many Graces, Duties, Gifts have here their place, while we are Viatores, but ſhall have no room when we come to be Comprehenſores.

And this is the deſign of the worthy Author in this little Tract: viz. to ſet before thee the great opportunities thou haſt of ſervice to God, while thou art on this ſide Heaven, beyond what are to be enjoyed there. Were this throughly weighed, how would Holineſs be promoted, Saints thrive, Families flouriſh, Churches revive? we ſhould not ſo paſſionately deſire death meerly to be rid of all ſufferings, but ſhould prize life, if with it Chriſt Jeſus might be magnified. It is glorious work that God calls his Saints to 'ere they get to Heaven. Is not ſuffering for Chriſt, glorious work? is not the exerciſe of Faith,1 Pet. 4. 14.1 Pet 4:14 Hope, and Patience, glorious work? To do good, and to communicate both to the bodily and ſpiritual neceſſities of Saints and others, is not this glorious work? In a word, to propagate pure Religion, & undefiled, to the generations to come, is not this glorious work? Why, herein are the Saints on Earth priviledged beyond thoſe in Heaven, where there is no room for the exerciſe of theſe Graces, and Duties.

Oh! who would not pray that he might live to do God ſervice? ſpin not out precious time unprofitably. Pray that thou mayeſt be counted worthy of this calling (which is indeed a high calling) and fulfil all the good pleaſure of his Goodneſs, and the work of Faith, Hope, and Patience, with power, that the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God,2 Theſ. 1. 11, 12.2 Thess 1:112 Thess 1:12 and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

p. 1Iſaiah 38 18, 19.

For the Grave cannot praiſe thee, Death cannot celebrate thee: They that go down into the pit, cannot hope for thy truth.

The living, the living, he ſhall praiſe thee, as I do this day: The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth.

THe words are a part of Hezekiah's thankſgiving for his recovery from his ſickneſs (beginning at the ninth verſe.) This good King was not ſimply afraid of Death, as appeareth, ver. 3d. But

Firſt, He had then no Son to ſucceed 1him in the Kingdom, (for Manaſſeh was not then born) and he was ſollicitous for a Succeſſour, and the fulfilling p. 2of God's Promiſe to David, which we have four times expreſſed, (viz. 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13, 16. 1 King. 8. 25. Pſal. 89. 28, 29. & 132. 12. In all which places we find this Promiſe to David, that there ſhould not fail a Man of his Seed, to ſit upon the Throne of Iſrael, ſo that his Children took heed to their wayes, to walk before the Lord in truth, as David their Father had done. Here was a Promiſe with a Condition. And hence it is, I ſuppoſe, that Hezekiah in his Prayer (verſ. 3d) makes mention of his fulfilling that Condition, viz. That David's Children muſt take heed to their way, (if they deſired to ſit upon his Throne) that they walk before him, as David had done. For, ſaith Hezekiah, Remember now, O Lord, I beſeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, & have done that which is good in thy ſight. As much as to ſay, Lord! I hope thou wilt not cut me off, and leave the Kingdom without an Heir of the Seed of David, ſeeing thou did'ſt promiſe him that thou wouldeſt not; provided that his Children took heed to their way, that they walked before him as David did. And, through thy Grace, I have p. 3ſo walked in my meaſure, and therefore, I hope, thou wilt not take me away, who have performed the Condition. So that Hezekiah (though a very good Man) was afraid of Death; yet not ſimply, but leſt the Kingdom ſhould want an Heir of the Seed of David.

And this that I have ſaid confirms the Opinion of thoſe that ſay, that Hezekiah was loth to dye, becauſe then he had no Heir; though that was not all the reaſon.

For, Secondly, He was alſo loth to 2dye in God's diſpleaſure, ſo as a Child of God my do. For God doth teſtifie his temporal diſpleaſure many times againſt his own Children.Pſal. 89. 30, 31, 32.Ps 89:30Ps 89:31Ps 89:32 If his Children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgments: If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments; Then will I viſit their tranſgreſſions with the Rod, and their iniquity with Stripes. And he teſtifies it ſometimes in their death, as he did in the death of the Prophet that came out of Judah, 1 King. 13▪ 21, 22.1 Kgs 13:211 Kgs 13:22and Propheſied againſt the Altar it Bethel, who was ſlain by a Lion for his diſobeying the Word of the Lord.

And Hezekiah was afraid, that God p. 4had ſome controverſie with him, and he was loth to dye in God's diſpleaſure. Peradventure, he was ſomewhat lifted up with his miraculous deliverance from the Hoſt of Senacherib, mentioned in the former Chapter: For God did wonderful things, as you know, to effect that deliverance, and this ſickneſs was immediately after the deſtruction of Senacherib's Army; for that happened in the 39th year of Hezekiahs life, who lived fifteen years after his recovery from his ſickneſs, which two numbers make the whole number of Hezekiah's years, which were 54, 2 King. 18. 2.2 King. 18. 2.2 Kgs 18:2 So that this ſickneſs of his fell out preſently upon that great deliverance. And the good Man was not ſo thankful (perhaps) as he ſhould be, but ſomewhat elevated. For this was his weakneſs after his recovery.2 Chron. 32. 25.2 Chr 32:25 His heart was lifted up, and he rendred not again according to the benefit done to him, for which God was angry with him. What the ſin was, I will not poſitively determine, only I thus conjecture; but that he apprehended God's diſpleaſure for his ſin, is evident from the words immediately before my Text, ſaith he, Thou haſt caſt all my ſins behind thy back. p. 5Therefore, it ſeems, his ſins lay before the face of God, till his recovery, and upon this account he was loth to dye.

Thirdly, He was loth to dye, as 3fearing what ſhould become of his Reformation. For he knew what became of Jehoſhaphat's though he left a ſon behind him; and of Jehojadah's, though he left a well-educated Nephew behind him. Add hereunto, that he found the Church in a very deplored condition, when he came to the Crown. And as for his preſent Reformation, it had not laſted ſo long as his Father's Deformation and Idolatry; and his Reformation had ſcarce taken root as yet; therefore he was willing to live longer, and not, as yet, to dye.

Fourthly, That which made him the more unwilling, was the nature of his Diſeaſe, which (by the Remedy, and way of Cure, a lump of Figgs laid for a Plaiſter upon the Boyl, Ver. 21.) I ſay, which by the Cure, ſeems to have been the Peſtilence: And he was not willing to go to Heaven that way; though good Men may dye of that Diſeaſe, and many times have done. But yet a Child of God would, for ſeveral Reaſons, willingly decline that way of dying, if it might ſtand with the good will and pleaſure of God.

p. 6Thus you ſee the Reaſons why Hezekiah was loth to dye.

Now then being recovered, and having a leaſe of his life for 15 years granted him, he writeth down his thankſgiving, as much affected with God's mercy towards him, verſ. 9, &c.

In the Text read unto you, there is,

11. A Declaration of the ſtate of the Dead, as to the loſs of all opportunities ever to praiſe and magnifie God any more, or to hope for his truth in this world.

Secondly, An Aſſertion of the opportunities 2enjoyed by the living, thus to praiſe God, and to make known his Truth, that is, His Truth and Faithfulneſs in his Promiſes. For, I conceive, Hezekiah hath here a ſpecial reſpect to the Truth and faithfulneſs of God in his Promiſe made to David and his Seed, in the foremtioned Texts of Scripture.

And therefore it is very likely, that Hezekiah made known this Truth and Faithfulneſs of God to his ſon Manaſſeh, who was twelve years old when Hezekiah dyed. Though Manaſſeh (it ſeems) did little mind it, or made any good uſe of it. That Point of p. 7Doctrine, which I ſhall inſiſt upon, is this, That

Doctrine.

There are opportunities of ſervice to be performed to God in this life, which are not to be enjoyed after death.

Or thus,

The people of God may do that for him in this World, which they cannot do in Heaven.

David therefore makes an Argument of it in his Prayer,Pſal. 6. 5.Ps 6:5 and ſad Complaint in his Sickneſs: For, ſaith he, in death there is no remembrance of thee; (not but that the Saints in Heaven do remember God, (for they ſee him there) but they cannot keep up his memorial any longer among the living; he goes on) In the Grave who ſhall give thee thanks? The like we have in the 30th Pſalm, entitled, A Song at the Dedication of the houſe of David, viz. after his return (as 'tis conceived) from his victory over Abſalom, who had dreadfully defiled David's houſe with Inceſt, in abuſing his Fathers Concubines; which houſe therefore David endeavours to purge and cleanſe in a ſolemn holy manner at his return,2 Sam. 20. 3.2 Sam 20:3 and to dedicate it anew to God. And in that Pſalm he ſheweth, how he p. 8cryed to the Lord in the day of his trouble, when Abſalom roſe up againſt him, & when he was afraid of his life, and was loth to dye by the hand of his ſon; ſaith he,Pſal. 30. 3.Ps 30:3 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? ſhall the duſt praiſe thee? ſhall it declare thy Truth? And dark deſerted Heman makes uſe of the ſame argument, Pſal. 88. 10, 11.Pſa. 88. 10, 11.Ps 88:10Ps 88:11 Wilt thou ſhew wonders to the dead? and ſhall the dead ariſe and praiſe thee? Selah. Shall thy loving kindneſs be declared in the Grave? or thy faithfulneſs in deſtruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteouſneſs in the land of forgetfulneſs? ſaith he, Thy people may make known thy wonders in this life, but not in the Grave.

But then,Queſt. do not the Saints, when they are dead praiſe the Lord?

Yes;Anſw. But the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh not of that, but of praiſing God, and declaring his loving kindneſs, faithfulneſs, and righteouſneſs in the land of the living. And all their ſervice that way is at an end, except by Miracle any be raiſed from the dead, as Lazarus and Tabitha were. So Pſal. 115. 17. The dead praiſe not the Lord, neither any that go down into ſilence. And hence ſaith p. 9David, I ſhall not dye, but live, and declare the works of the Lord, Pſalm. 118. 17.Pſal. 118. 17.Ps 118:17 As much as to ſay, there is no declaring of them after death!

But what are thoſe ſervices that may be done here,Queſt. which cannot be done in Heaven, that ſo we may ſee the Point in Inſtances?

They are many;Anſw. and let me begin with theſe in my Text.

The living, the living, he ſhall praiſe 1thee. i. e. He ſhall praiſe thee before the Children of Men in the Land of the living. Now, this is a glorious ſervice, containing as much as is imparted in the firſt Petition of the Rule of Prayer, i. e. Hallowed be thy Name; which, though it be a ſervice done in Heaven, yet in the preſence of glorified Saints only, without any propagation of praiſe to the Name of God, for that is the priviledge of the Saints while they live in this world, where they make the Name of God known to them, that knew it not before. This is the firſt and higheſt Petition of all in our prayers, and therefore of greateſt concernment.

Secondly, There is another ſervice in 2my Text, which cannot be performed in Heaven, and it is contained in theſe p. 10words, The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth. And is not this alſo a moſt bleſſed ſervice? for it contains what is imported in the ſecond Petition in the Rule of Prayer, (viz.) Thy Kingdom come. For this is one excellent way of advancing and enlarging the Kingdom of God in this world, (viz.) when Parents ſhall make known the Truth and Faithfulneſs of God to their Children. To which purpoſe conſider, Pſal. 78. 2, 7. Deut. 4. 9. and 6. 6, 7. And this is the great ſervice of the Saints upon Earth, both Miniſters and People.2 Tim. 2. 2.2 Tim 2:2 The things (ſaith Paul to Timothy, 2 Epiſt. Ch. 2. Ver. 2.) That thou haſt heard of me among many witneſſes, the ſame commit thou to faithful men, who ſhall be able to teach others alſo. And this is a ſervice, which cannot be done in Heaven. For the dead Saints cannot contribute ought to the enlarging of the Kingdom of Grace in this World; and as for the Kingdom of Glory, there are but two wayes of enlarging that, which are by the departure of the Saints on Earth to Heaven, and by the Reſurrection; in neither of which doth God uſe the ſervice of the glorified Saints at all.

p. 11The care therefore of the choiceſt Saints hath been, not only for the time of their lives, but for the Generations to come,Deut. 31. 19.Deut 31:19 that they might know what God had done.Joſh. 2 laſt Chap.Josh 2 The time would fail to tell of Moſes, and Joſhua, and David, and Paul, 2 Chr. 2. laſt. Ch.2 Chr 2whoſe Epiſtles cloſe with this Doxology and hearty deſire of glory to be given to Chriſt in the Churches for ever.Eph. 5. laſt.Eph 5 The truth is, the whole Scripture is a Book of the Acts and Monuments of the Lord's wonderful works in gathering, and building, protecting, ſaving, and doing good to his Church, and that for this end, that the Generations to come might put their hope and truſt in God. And this was the unanimous deſign of the Pen-men of holy Scripture. This ſhall be written for the generations to come; Pſal. 102. 18.Ps 102:18and the people which ſhall be created ſhall praiſe the Lord.

Thirdly, Here in this world the Saints 3may live exemplarily, blameleſs and harmleſs,Phil. 2. 15.Phil 2:15 as the ſons of God without rebuke in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe generation. And this is a great ſervice alſo; For

Firſt, Hereby ſome may come to be converted, 1 Pet. 3. 1. and ſo the Kingdom of God is enlarged by this way alſo. And

p. 12Secondly, Many hereby will be convinced, and left without excuſe in that great day. For this is one way whereby the Sains ſhall judg the world; they ſhall judg it exemp…arily, Mat. 12. 42. with 1 Cor. 6. 2.Matt 12:421 Cor 6:2and (in concurrence with Chriſt) ſententiarilly: Now (I ſay) this is a ſervice, which cannot be done in Heaven; where, Firſt, There is no evil perſon: Nor Secondly, Any need of examples for the glorified Saints to walk by, who are all perfect, and under the immediate and ſole Government of the Spirit of God. There is but one example in Heaven, and that is the exemplary cauſe of the glorification of our bodies,Phil. 3. 21Phil 3:21 viz. The glorified body of Chriſt. For in this life the Saints conform to the grace of Chriſt actively, and at the Reſurrection, they conform to his glorified body paſſively, as to their patern.

4Here in this world the Saints have opportunities of reproving Sin, confuting Errors, inſtructing the Ignorant, warning the Unruly, comforting the Feeble minded, praying for their Relations and Friends, &c. Now there are no ſuch things in Heaven, where there is no Sin, no Error, no Ignorance, no Unrulineſs, none Afflicted, no praying for p. 13Relations.Melch. Adam in vit. ejus. I remember how dying Mr. Rollock was much offended with a Kinſman, for deſiring his Prayers when he ſhould come to Heaven. God will have but one Interceſſor there.

Hence they may do good to the bodies, 5of Men. For they may feed the hungry,Matth. 25. 35, 36.Matt 25:35Matt 25:36 give drink to the thirſty, lodge the harbourleſs, clothe the naked, viſit the ſick and impriſoned; whereas in Heaven there are no neceſſities or wants.

Here the Saint, may ſuffer for Chriſt & 6give a teſtimony to his Cauſe, and to the Truth, by the loſs of their Relations, and Friends, of their Goods, Health, Eaſe, Credit, Liberty, Houſes, Lands, Countries, Life, &c. For, Bleſſed are the dead which dye in the Lord, Rev. 14. 3.Rev 14:3from henceforth, yea, ſaith the Spirit, that they may reſt from their labours, and their works follow them. And this is ſuch a ſervice, as the very Angels are in no wiſe capable of.

So that you ſee, there are many ſervices which the Saints may do here for Chriſt, which they cannot do in Heaven.

Indeed, if they could return to this life again, they might do ſuch works as theſe. For when Lazarus was raiſed p. 14from the dead, he entertained Chriſt again.John 12. 2John 12:2 And when Tabitha was raiſed from the dead, it is very probable that ſhe fell to her good Works and Alms-deeds again, to her making of Coats and Garments again for the poor, as ſhe had been wont (Act. 9. 39.)Acts 9. 39.Acts 9:39 But theſe are rare examples of the returning of the dead Saints to this world again.Job 7. 9, 10.Job 7:9Job 7:10 For as the Cloud is conſumed, and vaniſheth away: ſo he that goeth down to the grave, ſhall come up no more. He ſhall return no more to his houſe, neither ſhall his place know him any more.

7Laſtly, There are ſome gifts of grace which cannot be exerciſed in Heaven. For

1Firſt, Here the Saints do believe, whereas in Heaven Faith is turned into Viſion.1 Cor. 13. 12.1 Cor 13:12 Here they walk by Faith,2 Cor. 5. 7.2 Cor 5:7 and not by ſight, as they ſhall do in Heaven. And Faith is a gift of Grace, whereby God is much glorified; for it empties and humbles the Heart, and carrieth it forth to Chriſt, and glorifies God in all his Attributes. Whereas in Heaven the Saints have all in hand, and therefore they live by ſight, and not by Faith. There is but one thing there to come to them (to the compleating of p. 15their happineſs) and that is, the reſurrection of the dead, in the Faith whereof they live, but yet this Faith is of another nature, than that which juſtifieth and ſaveth in this life.

Secondly, It followeth hence, That 2here▪ in this life the Saints do exerciſe Hope, waiting for the good which is held forth in the Promiſe, which their Faith believeth they ſhall have. Whereas in Heaven, Hope is turned into fruition and enjoyment.Rom. 8. 24Rom 8:24 For Hope (that is, the thing hoped for) that is ſeen, is not Hope: for what a man ſeeth, why doth he yet hope for? There is no hope in Heaven (the Fathers to the Children cannot hope for thy Truth, as Hezekiah here ſaith) except it be of the Reſurrection,Pſal. 16. 9.Ps 16:9 whereof the Saints have a moſt joyful expectation. They are glad, and rejoyce, in that their fleſh doth reſt in hope. Not that their fleſh doth hope, but that resteth, and their Souls hope for its riſing again.

Accordingly it followeth, That here 3in this life the Saints do exerciſe their patience, which ceaſeth in Heaven, becauſe our hope ceaſeth there. For patience is the ſervant of Hope, (1 Theſ. 1. 3.) called there the patience of hope; p. 16For if, Rom. 8. 25Rom 8:25we hope for that which we ſee not, then do we with patience wait for it. There is nothing in Heaven to put our patience to it.

4It is true indeed what the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 13. laſt. 1 Cor. 13. laſt.1 Cor 13Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity, theſe three; but the greateſt of theſe is Charity. Ver. 8.Becauſe Charity (i. e. Love) never faileth; (ver. 8.) that is Heavens grace in a Spiritual manner. But yet, notwithſtanding, even Love it ſelf hath a larger Object here in this world, than in Heaven. For there is a Love here, which cannot be exerciſed there. And that is,

1To love our enemies, which is the Command of the Goſpel,Mat. 5. 44.Matt 5:44 and a great Duty, and was one of the laſt Acts of Chriſt upon the Croſs, Luke 23. 34. And the very laſt Act of Stephen the Protomartyr, who was never like to act it more, Act. 7. laſt.. Lord, ſaith he, lay not this ſin to their charge.

2Here in this life you may love all Unregenerate men,Tit. 3. 2, 3.Titus 3:2Titus 3:3 and ſhew it in your deſires and endeavours for their converſion.

3Here alſo you may exerciſe a Love of ſympathy with all, both good and bad, in their ſufferings. But in Heaven p. 17there is no room for this Love.

And as theſe gifts of Grace forementioned 5do greatly glorifie God, but ceaſe in Heaven; ſo do Parts and common-Gifts alſo ceaſe there.1 Cor. 13. 8.1 Cor 13:8 For whether there be Propheſies, they ſhall fail; or, whether there be Tongues, they ſhall ceaſe; or whether there be knowledge (that is imperfect, mediate, and the communication of it to others) it ſhall vaniſh away. And yet Propheſying is much to God's glory.1 Co. 14. 3.1 Cor 14:3 For, He that Propheſieth, ſpeaketh unto men to Edification, Exhortation, Conſolation. Ver. 5.And Tongues do alſo edifie. So likewiſe for knowledge.

So that put all this together, and there is much to be done here, whereby God may be glorified, and men edified and benefited, which cannot be done in heaven.

And thus you ſee the Point made good in ſeveral Inſtances, That there are opportunities of ſervice to be performed to the Lord in this life, which are not to be enjoyed after death.

Queſt.

But if it be thus; why have ſome of the Saints mentioned in Scripture deſired to dye?

p. 18Anſwer.

Some of the Saints have done ill in ſo doing, but others upon good ground.

Firſt, Some of them have not done well in deſiring death, for they have paſſionately deſired it, and to their own loſs, if God ſhould have anſwered their deſires herein. For inſtance. 1. Moſes, he was the meekeſt Man upon the Earth, yet he ſeems to be in a paſſion, when he ſaid, If thou deal thus with me, kill me, Numb. 11. 15.Num 11:15I pray thee, out of hand. Why? was there no remedy, but God muſt kill him, and preſently too, if the burthen of the people lay a little longer upon him? This was a paſſionate expreſſion and deſire of death. And had he died there preſently, he had incurred a double loſs (to ſay no more in it) 1. He had been cut ſhort of the opportunity of doing that eminent ſervice in conducting the people through the Wilderneſs. For he lived 38 years longer, and did much for God and his people during that time. 2. If he had died then out of hand, he had not dyed, and been buried ſo honourably,Deut. 34.Deut 34 as he was afterwards upon Mount Nebo, even by God's hand.

p. 192. And though Job was a patient Man, yet he paſſionately deſired death. Oh! Job 6. 8, 9.Job 6:8Job 6:9ſaith he, that I might have my requeſt, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for: Even that it would pleaſe God to deſtroy me, that he would let looſe his hand, and cut me off. Whereas God meant Job better than ſo, (viz.) to turn his Captivity, and to give him twice as much as he had loſt, and the full number of his former Children, and ſo, to double their number alſo; ſhewing him, that his firſt number was not laſt. Moreover, he ſhall yet live 140 years longer to ſerve and honour God in this world. Again,

3. Elijah was a Man ſubject to like paſſions as we are, and being perſecuted by Jezebel, he requeſted for himſelf that he might dye,1 King. 89. 4. and he ſaid, It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my Fathers. Whereas God intended better for him, (viz.) that he ſhould live yet longer, and finiſh his Teſtimony againſt Ahab, Jezebel, and Ahaziah, and then be carried triumphantly to Heaven in a fiery Chariot. So

4. Jonah would needs dye in a fret, Oh Lord, Jonah 4. 3.Jonah 4:3ſaith he, Take I beſeech thee, p. 20my life from me, for it is better for me to dye, than to live. No, Jonah was not in caſe to dye at preſent, God would not take him at his word, but he muſt live yet longer and repent.

2Secondly, As for ſome others of the Saints, death hath been deſired by them, and not impatiently, nor any way ſinfully, but very well, and upon good ground. You know

1. Juſt and devout Simeon, when he had taken up Chriſt in his arms, he bleſſed God,Luke 2, 29.Luke 2:29 and ſaid, Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace; and the ground of this requeſt lies in the words following—according to thy Word. His Prayer, it ſeems, was grounded upon a word from God. For as God had told him,Ver. 26. that he ſhould not ſee death, before he had ſeen the Lord's Chriſt; ſo he had promiſed him, that then he ſhould dye, and ſo his Prayer was grounded upon a Promiſe.

2. And as for Paul, He deſired to depart, and to be with Christ, which (ſaith he) is far better, i. e. for me. Nevertheleſs, to abide in the fleſh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, Phil. 1. 23, 24.Phil 1:23Phil 1:24I know that I ſhall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and p. 21joy of Faith. So that 1. When he deſired to dye, he looked upon the benefit thereof abſtractedly, and abſolutely, but not comparatively. 2. When he looked upon it on compariſon with the benefits of life, he was not ſo poſitive in the deſire of death, but having done great ſervice, and, that too, a long time for Jeſus Chriſt (for then he was Paul the aged, Philem. ver. 9.) and being then in priſon at Rome, he hung for a time in Aequilibrio, mid-way between two, till at laſt the Scale turns to a deſire to live, further to ſerve Jeſus Chriſt, and his Church and people. For though Paul was then in priſon, yet he did very much good there, which had been loſt, had he then gone to Heaven.Phil. 1. 12.Phil 1:12 For his bonds furthered the Goſpel. ver. 13.And they ſtrengthned the Brethren, and wrought upon ſeveral in Caeſars Palace. And there be converted Oneſimus; and there he wrote his Epiſtles to the Galatians, Epheſians, Philippians, Coloſſians, and the ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy and that to Philemon. In all which are many excellent Points of divers kinds, which greatly conduce to the Churches edification: And better a thouſand times that Paul had been kept 20 years out of Heaven, p. 22than that the Church ſhould have wanted theſe Epiſtles.

But is it not lawful then in any caſe,Queſt. to deſire to dye?

Yes;Anſw. with ſubjection to God's will, in caſe eſpecially there are appearances that a Man's work is at an end. For a Child of God may live ſo long, that his faculties may be impaired, his ſtrength decayed, his ſpirits ſpent, and he may be full of pain too, and ſo ſhut up, that he can do little good. And as Job ſaith,Job 2. 2.Job 2:2 A ſervant that hath wrought hard all the day, and is weary, earneſtly deſireth the ſhadow. And ſo it is with a Child of God in this caſe. The weary body naturally deſireth the bed. And ſometimes God makes a clear diſcovery to ſome of his ſervants, that their work is at an end.2 Tim. 4. 6, 7.2 Tim 4:62 Tim 4:7 Thus it was with Paul, I am ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the Faith. And it is with gracious Souls; as with the Fruit of the Tree, which when it is ripe, drops naturally from it. There is a Spiritual inſtinct, inclining the Soul of a Believer Heavenward, when the Fruit is ripe: So that they come to their graves, as a ripe Shock p. 23of Corn cometh in its ſeaſon. And a deſire to dye in ſuch a caſe is ſtill the better, when it proceedeth from a longing to be freed from ſin, and a deſire to be with Chriſt, Phil. 1. 23.