The Practical Christian, Tract · Part

The Practical Christian · Tract · Part

p. 172The Second Head of Meditation about Man, is the four laſt Things or Ends of Man, DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HELL and HEAVEN.

WE are to meditate on every one of theſe, and that on theſe grounds; 1. On Death; becauſe Death were no Death, if Judgment did not follow in compariſon; and Judgement no Judgment, or nothing ſo dreadful, if Hell did not follow; and Hell no Hell in compariſon, if it did not deprive men of Heaven. 2. Therefore to meditate on theſe laſt Ends of Man, becauſe it is the Lord himſelf adviſeth his unto, and that in a very pathetical manner, Deut. 32.29. Oh that men were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they conſidered their latter end; and the Prophet Jeremiah, (Jer. 5. laſt.) he puts this queſtion, What will you do in the latter end? He would have them know there is an end, and to think ſeriouſly what will become of them in the end. 3. Therefore to meditate on each of theſe; as 1. on Death, becauſe it will be a notable means, 1. to make us apply our hearts unto Spiritual Wiſdom, Pſal. 90.12. 2. To reſtrain us from ſin, leſt Death ſhould find us in it, or preſently after it; As a Copy of Writing is ſafeſt from blotting, when duſt is caſt on it, ſo we are ſafeſt from ſinning, when we remember that we are but Duſt, (Callamy). p. 1733. A notable means to quicken us to repentance; an inſtance you have in Waldus, A rich Merchant of Lyons in France, who ſeeing one drop down dead in the ſtreets, went home, repented, and changed his life, ſtudied the Scriptures, became a Teacher and Father of thoſe Chriſtians called the Waldenſes, or the poor Men of Lyons. Therefore,

2. To meditate on the great and terrible day of Judgment, becauſe it will be as a curb to reſtrain from ſinning, ſo a ſpur to quicken to duty, 2 Cor. 15.9.10, 11.

3. Therefore to meditate on Hell, becauſe it will be a notable means to keep us out of Hell; whence one adviſeth thus, Deſcendamus viventes, ut non deſcendamus morientes, (Bernard.) Let us often look down into it, that we may never fall into it.

4. Therefore to meditate on Heaven, becauſe it will make us more willing to leave Earth to go to Heaven, whenſoever God calls for us; the reaſon why ſo few go to Heaven when they die, is, becauſe they never thought of Heaven, until they came to die, (Calamy.)

Firſt, On DEATH.

In it to meditate on thoſe things that may fit you for Death, and thoſe things that may make you willing to die.

Firſt, On thoſe things that may fit you for Death; as 1. that it is one of the chiefeſt parts of Wiſdom, that which God (you ſaw) wiſheth to Man, in a moſt pathettical manner, Deut. 22.29. p. 274Oh that men were wiſe, &c. 2. The original procreant cauſe of it, viz. Sin; Rom. 6. laſt. The wages of ſin is death, therefore as often as you are tempted to ſin by the preſent credit, profit, and pleaſure of it, to think on the fruit of it, Rom. 6.21. What fruit had you in thoſe things, whereof ye are now aſhamed? 3. On the certainty of it: In the day that thou eateſt of it, in dying thou ſhalt die, that is, thou ſhalt moſt certainly die, Gen. 2. & Heb. 9.27. It's appointed for all to die. 4. The uncertainty of it; as nothing more certain, ſo nothing more uncertain, (Ut morior ſcio, ſed neſcio, ubi, quomodo, quando.) That I ſhall die, I know, but where, how, and when, I know not: It's a Proverb, When Health is higheſt, Death is many times nigheſt; 1 Theſſ. 5.3. When men cry peace, then comes ſudden deſtruction. To day the Sermon-Bell tolls to call you to Church, to morrow it may be the Paſſing-Bell to ſummon you to the Grave; and therfore to wait for it, at all times, and in all places, in all manner of wayes, becauſe all things come alike to all, Eccleſ. 9.1. 5. To conſider to die, is but once to be done; and that which is but once to be done, had need to be well done, or we are for ever undone; if this work be not done, or but half done, at the time of dying there's no doing or finiſhing it afterwards, Eccleſ. 9.10. As the Tree falleth, ſo it lyeth; as Death leaves men, ſo Judgment finds them, Heb. 9.27. 6. To meditate on the terribleneſs of Death, foreign, the King of Terrors, Job 18.14. and needs muſt, ſeeing it ſeparates thoſe two friends, Soul and Body, delivers up the Soul immediately to ſtand forth before the Tribunal of Chriſt, to p. 275receive his peculiar Sentence of Damnation, before the Judgment Day comes; and after the Sentence, to be carried by the Devils into Hell, and throwes the body of the wicked into the Grave, where Death gnaws upon it, as upon Carrion in a Ditch; puts an end to all his temporal felicity, and begins his eternal miſery; ſtrips him of all the comforts of this life, and brings him to eternal torments.

5. To meditate on the means you are to uſe to uſe to fit you for Death, and they are, amongſt others, theſe; 1. To acquaint your ſelves with God, and make your peace with him by Jeſus Chriſt, as Eliphas counſels Job, Job 21.22. 2. To get and clear up your intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, who hath deſtroyed Death, and him that had the power of Death, Heb. 2.14. 3. To pull out the ſting of Death, by Faith in the Blood of Chriſt, and repentance for every known ſin, 1 John 1.7. Acts 3.19. to ſee that Sin die ere you die, for it's one of the terribleſt threatnings in the Book of God, John 8.21. If you believe not that I am He, you ſhall die in your ſins; and Luke 13. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: And therefore, Antequam moriaris moriantur in te vitia, before thou dyeſt, be careful to ſee that ſin die. 4. Labour to die daily, as unto ſin, ſo unto the World, 1 Cor. 7.29. The time is but ſhort, and the faſhion of this World paſſeth away; it's the worſt huſbandry in the World, to have Grace to ſeek when men ſhould make uſe of it, and the ſick Bed is the worſt time of all others to ſeek it in, being then ſcarce able to think on any thing, but Pain, and Death, and Hell. 5. To get and clear up a Work p. 276of Grace, that may entitle you to Glory, or there will be nothing elſe able to ſtand by you, and comfort you; all things in the World, without a Work of Grace, will, (like Job's Friends) prove miſerable Comforters. 3 John 3. Except a man be born again, &c. Fleſh and Blood ſhall never inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15. 6. Not only look to this, that you have Grace, but that you keep it in exerciſe; not only, that you have Lamps, and Oyl in them, but that you trim them againſt your Lord's coming, Mat. 25. that is, that you act and exerciſe your Graces, eſpecially theſe, your Faith, and Patience, Heb. 6.12. your heavenly-mindedneſs, and contempt of the World, Phil. 3.20. 7. That you get and keep good Conſciences, this will be light in darkneſs, and life in death, Prov. 14.32. The Righteous hath hope in his death. 2 Cor. 1.12. This is our rejoycing in the teſtimony of our Conſciences, &c. Iſa. 38.2. Remember how I have walkt before thee in Truth, &c. Laſtly, It was Moſes's Prayer, and let it be yours daily, Teach us, Lord, ſo to number our dayes, as we may apply our hearts unto Wiſdom, Pſal. 90. In a word, Let the ends of all your thoughts be, the thought of your latter end, that ſo when you come to die, you may have nothing elſe left to do, but to die; and whenſoever Death comes, you may bid it wellcome in the Name of Chriſt; and when you are to die, to die in charity with all, in obedience to God's Call, and in Faith to go to, and be for ever with the Lord.

Secondly, To meditate on ſuch things, as may not only fit and prepare you for death, but meditate on ſuch things as may make you willing to p. 177die, and help you to die comfortably; What are they? Mind here well, for they are of ſpecial uſe to you; As firſt,

1. The certainty of another, and a better life, after this, nothing ſo ſure, as that by what you have ſeen already by the teſtimony of Scripture, and many weighty grounds of it, in your meditations on the Life of Glory.

2. Meditate on the evidences you have of an intereſt in that better Life of Glory, as your intereſt in God, in Chriſt, in the Spirit, and in the Graces of the Spirit, as your effectual Vocation, Juſtification, Adoption, Sanctification, and thoſe Graces unto which 'tis promiſed, as Saving, Sanctifying Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Obedience; love to the Saints, the Truth; ſincerity and uprightneſs of your heart, in all, to which you may ſee it frequently promiſed, Pſal. 84. to the end, Pſal. 37. v. 37. Iſa. 57.2.

Thirdly, To meditate on the many and weighty grounds God hath given to encourage your Faith, and ſtrengthen your Patience, and cauſe both to have their perfect work.

1. To encourage your Faith: as 1. his immutable decree, 2 Tim. 2.19. 2. His unchangeable Love, Jer. 31.3. 3. His everlaſting Covenant, Jer. 32.39. 4. His continual Interceſſion, Heb. 7.25. 5. His almighty Power to keep them through Faith unto Salvation, 2 Pet. 1.4. however we ſhould let go our Faith, yet he will hold it faſt by his Spirit.

2. The grounds to ſtrengthen our Patience: 1. It's a Lord, whoſe Will cannot be reſiſted; a Father, who ought readily to be obeyed; a wiſe p. 178Father, who knows what is better for his Children, then they do for themſelves; a pittiful tender-hearted Father, that is afflicted in all the afflictions of his; that will not afflict his too much, becauſe he knows whereof they are made, that they are but Duſt, nor too long, leſt the Spirit faint, and the Soul which he hath made; a Father from whom they have received all the good they have had, and therefore to be contented to receive a little evil; and the rather, becauſe it is in order to their ſpiritual and eternal good, Rom. 8.2.

Ah! but the pains of my Body are great, and the pangs of Death are bitter; but to quiet your ſpirits under theſe, Conſider, 1. That the pangs of Death, are ſometimes leſs then the pains they feel before; as to Mr. Bolton, who ſaid to his Friend, that askt him, How it was with him when the pangs of death were upon him? He ſaid to him, Your cold hand is the greateſt pain I feel, (in his Epiſtle to the Four laſt Things). 2. You are content to undergoe a great deal of pain here, for a little gain; how much more ſhould you for an eternal gain? Theſe pains are but like the throwes in Travail, to bring forth eternal Life. 3. Whatſoever your pains and ſufferings are, they are little, or nothing to thoſe your ſins made Chriſt to ſuffer, and that many of his dear and precious Saints have, and do ſuffer, and to thoſe eternal ſufferings Chriſt hath redeemed you from, and that exceeding exceſſive and eternal weight of glory that will follow your ſufferings, 2 Cor. 4.17.

Fourthly, To meditate on the many and great evils that Death will free you from; as 1. from p. 179a body of Sin and Death, that is ſtill inclining you to evil, and indiſpoſing you to good, ſtill dulling, deading, and diſtracting you in all the ſervices you do. 2. From a wicked World, wherein continually we ſee and hear what doth, and ſhould more vex our ſouls, 2 Pet. 2. 3. From the diſſention of Brethren, who are continually undermining the credit and comfort one of another, which made Melancton ſo willing to die; when a Friend of his askt him how it was with him, and whether he were willing to die? He anſwered, Oh yes, Not only that he might be freed from a body of Sin, and Death, and a wicked World, but from the diſſention of Brethren, and go there where all ſhall be perfected in love. 4. From a malicious Devil, that is ſtill tempting us to evil, and diſcouraging us from all that is good, walking up and down like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5. In a word, from all Labours, Pains, Fears, Doubts, Sorrows, Sufferings, Rev. 14.13. Rev. 21.4. Death will perfectly cure you of all Diſeaſes, Corporeal and Spiritual at once, both an aking Head, and an unbelieving Heart; a ſickly Body, and a diſtemper'd Spirit; the beſt Phyſitian that ever you met with.

Fifthly, To meditate on the many and great benefits Death will help you to, as that glorious Place, Company, Imployment, Priviledges you ſaw before in the Life of Glory, the continual Preſence of God, the bleſſed Viſion of God, the immediate, perfect, and everlaſting communion with God, perfection of Holineſs, fulneſs of Joy, and an everlaſting Sabbath.

p. 180Sixthly, To conſider the evil of being unwilling to die: By this, Chriſtians manifeſt too much ignorance, unbelief, hypocriſie, love to the World, ſenſleſneſs of the body of Sin and Death, that World of wickedneſs they live in, and hereby procure more diſquiet to their Spirits, and haſten Death the ſooner upon them, beſides the great unreaſonableneſs of it, that when God ſhould be ſo willing of their company, they ſhould be ſo unwilling of his; and when Chriſt ſhould be content to leave Heaven, and to come to Earth for them; they ſhould be unwilling to leave Earth to go to Heaven, that they might enjoy him, and know, and profeſs it to be beſt of all to be with Jeſus Chriſt.

Seventhly, To meditate on the good of being willing to die. Hereby you will make a vertue of neceſſity, ſeeing you cannot put it off, therefore you will voluntarily yeeld to it; hereby you will manifeſt your hatred of ſin, contempt of the World, Faith in God's Promiſes, Love to God, deſire of immediate Communion with him, honour your Chriſtian Profeſſion, and make Death the leſs terrible to you.

Eighthly, and Laſtly, Conſider what the Apoſtle ſayes 1 Cor. 13. to the end; Death is yours; Yours no way to hurt you, but every way to do you good.

1. No way to hurt you, becauſe however it be a Serpent, yet 'tis a Serpent without a ſting; by ſtinging of Jeſus Chriſt to death, it loſt its ſting; ſo that though it may hiſs, yet it cannot hurt; however the Devil brought Jeſus Chriſt unto the Croſs, unto Death, unto the Grave, yet therein p. 181Jeſus Chriſt out-ſhot the Devil in his own Bow, ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, and made a ſhew of it openly, tryumphing over them on the Croſs, Col. 2.15. And that it can no way hurt you, appears further by theſe Particulars. 1. In that it is not the deſtruction or annihilation either of Soul or Body, but onelyonly the alteration and change of their condition for the better: As for inſtance; 1. In the Body. The Body, by Death, is freed from all pains, and miſeries, and calamities, and all ſin, which is the cauſe of them; as ſin brought Death into our bodies, ſo Death carries ſin out of the body; and however theſe vile bodies be diſſolved into duſt, yet they ſhall be raiſed up again, at the laſt day, and be made like unto Chriſt's Glorious Body, Phil. 3. laſt. 2. For the Soul; It ſhall be no loſer, but a great gainer by Death, and that three wayes. 1. In the place it goes unto, viz. from Earth unto Heaven. 2. In the excellent qualities it ſhall be endowed withall, viz. perfection in all the faculties of it, as it goes to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, Heb. 12. 3. In the excellent company it goes to enjoy, leaving the company of ſinners here, and going to enjoy the company of Saints and Angels, and the ever bleſſed Unity in Trinity.

2dly, In that it cannot hurt us, appears in that it can never diſſolve the Union between Chriſt and a believing Soul, but brings it to a nearer, ſweeter, and fuller Union; of a Gracious, makes it a Glorious Union; however it ſeparates Soul and Body one from the other, yet it cannot ſeparate either from Jeſus Chriſt; the Soul, upon Death, goes immediately unto Chriſt in Paradiſe, p. 182and Chriſt goes down with the Body into the Grave, where it ſweetly reſts, as in its Bed, in the Arms of Jeſus Chriſt, until the morning of the Reſurrection of the Juſt, Iſa. 57.2. 1. It can never break the Covenant of Grace between God and the Soul, for it's an everlaſting Covenant, Gen. 17. And he hath not only promiſed to be their God unto Death, but after Death, and to all eternity. 2. It can never untie the Marriage-Knot between Chriſt and his Spouſe, for he hath betrothed her unto himſelf for ever, Hoſ. 2. And whom he loves, he loves to the end, John 13.1. even with an everlaſting love, Jeremiah 31.3. 3. It can never reverſe thoſe grants of Grace that God hath vouchſafed his, as the grants of Reconciliation, Juſtification, Adoption, Sanctification, Salvation, for the Gifts and Callings of God are without repentance, Rev. 11.29.

3dly, As it is no way able to hurt you, ſo it will every way do you good. Though it be the laſt enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed, yet of an enemy it ſhall be made a friend, and the beſt friend that ever you had: How ſo? Why, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt, by undergoing Death, and lying in the Grave, he hath altered the nature both of Death and the Grave; Death of a King of Terrors, it made a Prince of Peace; of a paſſage to eternal Death, made a paſſage to eternal Life unto all that do believe; the Grave that is a loathſome Dungeon to the wicked, is made a ſweet reſtingplace to the Saints. That you may the more clearly and fully ſee the good will come to you by Death, and ſo be made the more willing to it, and chearfully reſign your Spirit into the hands of p. 183God, when he calls for it, take ſerious notice of theſe ten following Particulars.

1. Death is no Death to a true Believer; It's not his laſt day, but the beginning of an everlaſting day.

2. Your dying day, will not be your worſt day, but your beſt day; better is the day of a mans Death, then the day of his Birth, (ſaith Solomon) Eccleſ. 7.1. it being the egreſs of all miſery, and the ingreſs of eternal felicity.

3. A Chriſtians dying day, it will be his enlarging day, when he ſhall be ſet at liberty out of the Priſon of the Body, and brought home to his Fathers Houſe, 2 Cor. 5.8. It is but as Chriſt ſtiles it, His departing and going to the Father, John 13.1.

4. A Chriſtians dying day, will be his reſting day, wherein he ſhall reſt from all ſinning, ſorrowing, ſuffering; from all temptations, corruptions, vexations, Job 3.17. And who deſires not reſt?

5. His dying day, will be his reaping day, having ſown here in Tears, he ſhall reap in Joy; reap the fruit of all the Sermons they have heard, all the Prayers they have made, all the Tears they have ſhed, all the Sighs and Groans they have uttered, all the good Thoughts they have had, all the good Words they have ſpoken, all the good Works they have done, all the Evils they have ſuffered, and all they have forgotten to do and ſuffer, Mat. 25.34. When ſaw we thee an hungry, and fed thee not? &c. Then Chriſt will remember them, and ſay, In that you did it unto them, ye did it unto me: Yea, there is not the p. 184leaſt good work that any have done for any of his, but it ſhall be remembred and rewarded, even to a cup of cold Water, Mat. 10. laſt.

6. A Chriſtians dying day, will be his conquering and tryumphing day over all his Enemies, Sin, Satan, and the World, Death and Hell; here we are in a continual warfare, there's not a day, hour, or moment wherein we can reſt, either from corruption within, or temptation without; but then, there ſhall be an end of all, then we ſhall tryumph over all, in the words of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.55. Oh Death, where's now thy ſting? &c.

7. A Chriſtians dying day, will be his tranſplanting day, from Earth to Heaven, from Miſery, to Glory; from a Valley of Tears, to a Valley of bleſſed Viſions; from a howling Wilderneſs, to a heavenly Paradiſe: It is no other then a ſtraight Gate, to a Pallace of Glory; a dark Entry, to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. And oh! Who would not be willing to exchange a Sodom for Sion, an Egypt for Canaan, Miſery for Glory.

8. A Chriſtians dying day, it's his uncloathing day of a body of Sin and Death, and the cloathing him with his Houſe from Heaven; his putting off his old Rags of Sin and Corruption, and his putting on of the White Robe of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and with it the Robe of Glory.

9. A Chriſtians dying day, it's his marriage day with the Lamb, the King of Saints; and if the day of a Believers eſpouſals be ſo ſweet, how ſweet will the marriage day be? Rev. 19.7.

p. 18510. A Chriſtians dying day, will be his corronation day, wherein Chriſt will crown all thoſe that love his appearance with the Crown of Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4.8. where they ſhall be ſtill following the Lamb, with Crowns on their Heads, and Palms in their Hands, and tryumphant Songs in their Mouths, Rev. 5.11, 12, 13. Mix theſe Meditations with Faith and Prayer, and you will find them mighty, through God, not only to make you willing, but even long, with the Apoſtle, to be diſſolv'd and be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all, Phil. 1.23. Amen and Amen.

Secondly, That which follows DEATH, is JUDGMENT.

Sect. 6. In, and about the Judgment Day, to take notice of, and meditate ſeriouſly on, theſe things. 1. The Certainty. 2. The Uncertainty. 3. The near approach of it. 4. The great ſolemnity of it. 5. The univerſality of the Perſons to be judged. 6. The impartiality of it. 7. The ſtrictneſs of the account. 8. The terror of it to the Wicked. 9. The comfort of it to the Godly. 10. What we are to do to eſcape the terror, and enjoy the comfort of it.

1. Meditate on the Certainty of it. However wicked men, and atheiſtical wretches, ſcoff, and ſay, Where's the promiſe of his coming? yet he will moſt certainly come to Judgment, for he hath appointed a day that he will judge the World in Righteouſneſs, by that Man Chriſt Jeſus, Acts 17.31.

p. 2862. On the Uncertainty of that day: He will come to Judgment, in a day and hour [that] knoweth no man, no nor the Angels in Heaven, Mat. 24.36. He will come as a Thief in the night, 2 Pet. 3.10. and in an hour when men think not of, Mat. 24.44. As the Lightning out of the Eaſt, Matth. 25. and as Travel upon a Woman with Child, 1 Theſ. 5.3.

3. To think on the near approach of that day; Phil. 4.5. Let your moderation be known in all things; for the Lord's at hand, ſayes the Apoſtle. And James 5.8. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh; and verſ. 9. Behold, the Judge ſtands before the door. If he were ſo near then, doubtleſs he cannot be far off now; now he is ready to come to Judgment, if not the general, yet remember your particular Judgment may be before the next morrow.

4. Meditate on the great ſolemnity of that day; Then the Trumpet will ſound to ſummon all the World before the Judge of all the World, 1 Theſ. 4.16. Mat. 25.31.

5. On the univerſality of that Judgement: 2 Cor. 5.10. We muſt all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, none to be exempted, not the greateſt Potentate, Rev. 6. to the end. I have read of a wicked King, that on his death-bed fell a weeping, and being askt by his Brother why he ſo wept? Anſwered, Oh, (ſaith he) to think that I who have judged others, muſt ſtand forth to be judged my ſelf.

6. The impartiality of that Judgment. He will judge the World in Righteouſneſs, Acts 17.31. p. 287There will be no reſpect of Perſons, no Advocate to plead the cauſe of wicked Men, no Bribes to be taken in that Court.

7. Of the ſtrict account that is to be made in that day of all mens moſt ſecret Thoughts, Words, and Works. Firſt, Their Thoughts, Rom. 2.16. Secondly, Their Words, Mat. 12.36. Thirdly, Their works, Eccleſ. 12.14. And the Books wherein all theſe are written, Rev. 20.12. I ſaw the dead, &c. Q. What are theſe Books? A. There are five, the Book of the Creatures, the Book of the Scriptures, the Book of God's Remembrance, the Book of Conſcience, and the Book of Life.

8. The terror of that day unto all found out of Chriſt, and enemies to him, and of all other dayes the moſt terrible to the wicked and ungodly of the World; and that 1. in reſpect of him that is to be their Judge, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Name they have blaſphemed, whoſe Creatures they have abuſed, who Sabbaths they have prophaned, whoſe Goſpel they have diſobeyed, whoſe Grace they have deſpiſed, whoſe Spirit they have deſpighted, whoſe Miniſters they have contemned, whoſe Children they have perſecuted; He to be their Judge, who is infinite in Knowledge to find out every ſin and ſinner, infinite in Juſtice to render to every man according to his work, infinite in Power to …row Soul and Body into Hell: If in the time of his humiliation, he ſtruck ſo many Souldiers to the ground with his Voice, when they came to apprehend him, Quid faciet judicaturus qui haec fecit judicandus, (ſaith one): If he did this when he was p. 188to be judged, what ſhall he do when he comes to judge; his preſence will be ſo terrible, as the [greateſt] will call to the Rocks and to the Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from this preſence of the Judge, R…. 6. about the latter end. 2. The terror will be the more, in reſpect of the dreadful manner of his coming, in that he will come ſuddenly, in an hour that men think not of, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 1 Cor. 15. as Travail upon a Woman with Child, 1 Theſ. 5. as a ſnare upon all the ſons of Men, Luke 21.35. And, as ſuddenly, ſo moſt gloriouſly will he come, with thouſand thouſands of his glorious Angels and glorified Saints, Dan. 7.10. And in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to all that know not God, and obey not his Goſpel, 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8.3. It will yet be more dreadful, in reſpect of the ſeparation that will be then made of [them] from all the Godly; thoſe wicked ones that upon the Earth ſcorn'd to take the left hand, or ſit in the loweſt place, ſhall then be forced, whether they will or no, to take the left hand, and ſtand below amongſt the Goats, and with the Devil and his Angels, when the Godly ſhall be taken up into the Clouds, and ſhall be Acceſſors with Jeſus Chriſt, in Judgement upon the wicked World. 4. The terror will yet be greater in reſpect of that moſt juſt and dreadful ſentence that is to be paſſed upon them, Depart ye curſed, &c. Wherein! every word is a Hell, before they come to Hell, breatheth out nothing but Fire and Brimſtone, is enough to break the heart of a ſinner, and add a new degree of miſery. To depart from ſo Glorious and Gracious a p. 189Preſence, were Hell enough, but they muſt depart with a Curſe, and not only ſo, but into Fire, and that everlaſting Fire, and that with no other Companions but the Devil and his angels inſulting over them, with helliſh …eſpight and ſtinging, exprobations of their folly and madneſs, in neglecting ſo great a Salvation as was tendred ſo often to them; and l…ſing Heaven for a baſe Luſt.

9. Meditate on the exceeding great joy and comfort to all true Believers and gracious Souls, the moſt joyfulleſt and comfortableſt day that ever they knew, and that in many reſpects; mind them well. 1. In reſpect of the Judge, Quia idem erit Judex qui patronus, qui mediator et pontifex, (ſaith Ambroſe) He to be our Judge who is our Advocate, our Mediator, our merciful high Prieſt, our dear Head and Husband; and who will be afraid to appear before ſuch a Judge. 2. In reſpect of their enemies, it will be a day of Revelation, Vindication, Exultation. Firſt, A day of Revelation, Rom. 8.19. when thoſe who were cenſured to have been Hypocrites, ſhall be found to have been true Nathaniels; thoſe that were cenſured to have been Factious and Rebellious againſt their Governors, ſhall be found and acknowledged to be the onelyonly true and loyal Subjects, the beſt Friends to Church and State; when thoſe that were cenſured to have been but preciſe Fools, ſhall be acknowledged even by the wicked themſelves, to have been the onelyonly wiſe Men, and themſelves the very Fools, as he brings them in the 5th of Wiſdom, We Fools, &c. Secondly, A day of Vindication, when God will avenge himſelf upon all the enemies of his p. 190Church and People, Luke 18. beginning. So as Joſhua dealt with the five Kings of Canaan, God will deal with all the Enemies of his People, command them to be brought forth, and make his Saints to tread on the necks of their Enemies, Rev. 17.6. and render tribulation to all that have troubled them, 2 Theſſ. 1.6. Thirdly, A Day of Exultation, When the Saints ſhall exult and tryumph over all thoſe that have over them here, Pſal. 44.14. in the morning the Juſt ſhall have dominion over the wicked. 3. In reſpect of their Friends, it will be a day of mutual aſſociation, and hearty congratulation; for at that day there ſhall be a meeting, not only of Soul and Body, but all godly Parents and Children, Husbands and Wives, Maſters and Servants, Friends and Acquaintance, that have loved, lived, and dyed in the Lord, never to part any more, but delight in one the other; yea, a meeting of all the Holy Patriarks, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, Saints, that ever have been in the World; and which is ſtill more, of all the glorious Angels; and which is the ſum of all, the moſt ſacred and ever bleſſed Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt. 4. The moſt comfortable day, in reſpect of themſelves, becauſe it will be a day of Redemption, Exaltation, Remuneration. 1. A day of Redemption from all ſin and miſery, not onelyonly of their Souls, but of their Bodies, Rom. 8.23. Whence that of our Saviour, Luke 21.28. When you ſee theſe things, lift up your heads, for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh. The word in the Original, foreign, hath an emphaſis in it, and imports not p. 191only a Redemption from miſery, but a reſtoration to liberty, a day of Exaltation to the higheſt degrees of Glory; for when Chriſt ſhall appear, they ſhall appear in Glory, Col. 3.4. and ſuch Glory as will make him and them to be admired, 2 Theſſ. 1.10. When the Angels that miniſter to them in life and death, ſhall then perform the greateſt office to them, gather together the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth, and ſeparate them from all further communion with the wicked; take them up into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air, 1 Theſſ. 4. and ſet them at his right Hand to be Acceſſors with him in judgment upon the wicked World; ſuch honour have all his Saints, 1 Cor. 16.1. and more then ſo, and which is more then all hearts can conceive, but they that feel it, they ſhall be welcomed by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with that raviſhing imbracement and extatical leaps of their rejoycing hearts, at the pronunciation of that bleſſed Sentence, Come ye Bleſſed, &c. And immediately after, uſher'd along by the Angels with Jubilees and Songs of Tryumph, through the Clouds, into the Preſence Chamber of the King of Kings, and there ever be with the Lord, 1 Theſ. 4.27. 3. A day of Remuneration, when God will crown his own grace with glory, and will render to every one according to his works, Rev. 14.13. Rev. 22.12. When God will reward all the Faſts you have kept, all the Prayers you have made, all the Tears you have ſhed, all the good Works you have done, all the Evils you have ſuffered, all the Offices of Love and Kindneſs you have ſhewed to him and his, Mat. 10. laſt. Then the Crown ſhall be ſet upon p. 192your Heads, the Royal Robe of Chriſt put on your backs, all ſee and know you have not ſerv'd God for nought; that in keeping of his Commandments there's great reward, even an exceeding, exceſſive and eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4.17.

10. And Laſtly, Meditate on what we may do to eſcape the terror of that day, and enjoy the comfort of it. Q. What is that? A. To obſerve and make Conſcience of thoſe duties the Scriptures hold forth in reference to that day.

As, 1. In general to prepare for it, expreſly required, Mat. 24.44. Be ye alſo prepared, for in an hour ye think not, will the Son of Man come. And this Exhortation, you may find backed with a double Argument; the firſt drawn from the bleſſed eſtate of ſuch as are prepared, verſ. 49, 50. Q. But how are we to prepare for Judgement? A. 1. By being diligent, that we may be found of him in peace; the uſe the Apoſtle teacheth you to make of it, 2 Pet. 3.14. That is, to ſee your peace be made with God, in and through Jeſus Chriſt; of your Enemy, he be made your Friend, Epheſ. 2.14.

2. You are alſo to give diligence, that you may be found of the Lord without ſpot or blemiſh; as he further exhorts, verſ. 14. That is, That you endeavour to get the guilt of ſin, and the ſpots of ſin, to be waſht away in the Blood of Chriſt, 1 John 1.7. That you break off alſo all, and every ſin, by ſpeedy and unfeigned repentance; the uſe the Scripture teacheth us to make of this day, Acts 3.18, 19. Repent, that your ſins p. 193may be blotted out when the time of refreſhing comes from the preſence of the Lord, &c. ſee Acts 17.30. to the end.

3. To erect every one a Tribunal in his Conſcience, it being the end wherefore God puts Conſcience within every one; and having done ſo, to ſearch out after every Malefactor againſt God, to apprehend, accuſe, judge, and do execution upon every ſin; and then the promiſe is, if we remember, he'l forget; if we confeſs, he'l forgive, if we judge our ſelves, he'l not condemn us with the World, 1 Cor. 11.32.

4. To get and furniſh our Lamps with Oyl, to wit, the Oyl of Grace, and to trim them that exerciſe thoſe Graces, that ſo you may be ready to enter with the Bridegroom whenſoever he ſhall come to call for you, Matth. 25.10. Amongſt others, be ſure you have theſe three Graces in Act and Exerciſe. 1. A filial fear to ſin againſt God: The more you fear ſin, the leſs you'l fear judgment; therefore tremble to ſin now, that you may not tremble at judgment hereafter; this uſe the Scripture teacheth you to make of it, 1 Pet. 1.17. Rev. 14.7. Eccleſ. laſt. laſt. 2. Get an unfeigned love to God and the godly; for if our love be perfect or true, we ſhall have boldneſs in the day of judgment, 1 John 1.17. 3. Look to the ſincerity and uprightneſs of your heart in all your wayes; For if our hearts condemn us not, then we have confidence towards God, 1 John 3.21. That is, We ſhould ſtand with boldneſs before the Judge; but on the contrary, if our Conſcience condemn us, the Judge will much more, verſ. 20. and therefore herein I exerciſe my ſelf, p. 194to have a Conſcience void of offence, (ſayes the Apoſtle) Acts 24.14, 15. Why, you may ſee 2 Cor. 5.8, 9, 10. We muſt all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt, &c.

5. You muſt be willing to ſtand up for, and make a bold confeſſion and profeſſion of Chriſt here, if you will have him to own you hereafter before all the World, Mat. 10.32. But if you be aſhamed of him, he will of you.

6. And Laſtly, You muſt hearken to that of our Saviour, Luk. 21.36. Watch and pray alwayes, that you may be accounted worthy to eſcape all thoſe things which ſhall come to paſs, and ſtand before the Son of Man. 1. Watch for his coming, as to general, ſo to particular Judgment, which you know not how ſoon it may be; Bleſſed is he that watches and keeps his Garment, Rev. 14. Bleſſed is the Servant, whom when his Lord ſhall come, doth find ſo doing, Mat. 25. 2. Pray, pray without ceaſing, that whenſoever he comes, you may be able to bid him welcome, and lift up your heads, becauſe your Redemption draws nigh, Amen. Theſe ſpecial things you are to meditate on, in, and about the Day of Judgment; and the rather, becauſe many and great will be the benefits of it. For, 1. it will make you to take the more heed to your thoughts, words and wayes, ſeeing all muſt come to judgment. 2. It will quicken you, to get and clear up your intereſt in Chriſt, and make him your Friend, that ſo you may find him an Advocate inſtead of a Judge. 3. It will cauſe you to erect a Tribunal here, and ſit in judgment on your ſelves, that ſo you may not be condemned with the wicked World. 4. It will p. 195ſtir you up to a more faithful diſcharge of your duties, as it did the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5.8, 10. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we perſwade men, and labour, that whether preſent or abſent, we may be accepted of him. 5. It will make you take heed how you cenſure and judge others, Rom. 14.10. and ſlight what others cenſure and judge of you, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. Seeing we muſt all be …udged of the Lord, and we are ſure he will judge … … teous judgment, acquit the Innocent, and condemn only the Nocent.

Thirdly, Of HELL.

In and about that, to meditate on theſe things, What Hell is. The hideouſneſs of the place. The greatneſs of the puniſhment, both of loſs and ſenſe. The eternity of it. How inexpreſſibly they bewail their folly in bringing themſelves there. What they would be willing to do and ſuffer they might get out of it. And what our duties are in reſpect of it.

1. What Hell is, viz. That place which God hath prepared and appointed to be the habitation of the Devil, and wicked Reprobates, to puniſh them with everlaſting torments, for the praiſe of the glory of his Juſtice. That there is ſuch a place, is clear out of the Word, Mat. 25. laſt. Mark 9.43, to 49. 2 Theſſ. 1.8, 9.

2. The hideouſneſs and dreadfulneſs of the place, called, A great Deep, a bottomleſs Pit, Rev. 9.1. A Priſon, 1 Pet. 3.19. Darkneſs, and utter p. 196darkneſs, Mat. 22.13. A Lake of Fire, Rev. 19.20.

3. The greatneſs of the puniſhment there, both of loſs and ſenſe. 1. Of l…ſs, not only of all Honours, Riches, Pleaſures, and Comforts of this Life, but a ſeparation for ever from the gracious preſence of God, and bliſs of the Saints, 2 Theſſ. 1.9. (Quod omnium omnino ſuppliciorum ſummum quo Deus homines punire poteſt) The greateſt puniſhment God can inflict upon the Creature; Nam uti videre Deum ipſiſſima beatitudo eſt, ita Deum videre non poſſe maxima damnatorum poena eſt, (ſaith a Father) As the happineſs of the Saints conſiſts in the Viſion of God, ſo the miſery of the damned, in that they are deprived of the preſence of God; this is that which they call paena damni, the puniſhment of loſs. 2. For the paena ſenſus, the puniſhment of ſenſe; That is ſo great, as it cannot be greater, Luke 16.23. I am horribly tormented in this flame, (ſaith Dives). And needs muſt it be ſo, 1. In reſpect of the things they are to ſuffer, as the Worm that never dyeth, and the Fire that never goes out, Mark 9.44. A Fire that ſo far exceeds in torment this earthly Fire, as real Fire doth painted Fire; now Fire of all torments is the greateſt, and Fire with Brimſtone of all fires the hotteſt, Rev. 21.8. Iſa. 20.23. And as extremity of fire, ſo ſome think of cold, becauſe it is ſaid, There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. 2. The torment is ſo great, in reſpect of the extent of it, becauſe it is to be inflicted on the whole Man, Soul and Body, every faculty and power of both, none here being free from ſin, none there ſhall be free from p. 197puniſhment; and if the pain of one member ſometimes be unſufferable here, what muſt the torture of all? if a drop of God's Wrath be ſo bitter, what will be the Sea of God's Vengeance? 3. So great in reſpect of the ground of their ſuffering, to wit, the infinite wrath of God, which the whole Creation cannot ſtand under, much leſs a poor weak ſinful Worm of the Earth.

4. To meditate on the eternity of the puniſhment in Hell. After the damned have been in thoſe torments as many thouſands and millions of years, as there be Creatures in the World, and motions in thoſe Creatures, they are as far from ending, as at the firſt beginning; for the wicked ſhall go into everlaſting puniſhment, Mat. 25. laſt. There the Worm of Conſcience never dies, and the Fire of Hell never goes out; and if a gnawing o… a Worm in the Tooth or the Bowels, the holding of the hand or the foot in the fire but a few …ours be unſufferable, what will the eternity of it be? Well might he cry out, Oh! Eternity, Eternity, Eternity, in Hell, for ever, for ever, for ever. Eternity is enough to make the leaſt puniſhment (though it were but the biting of Fleas, or ſtinging of Ants) intollerable.

5. Meditate on the remedileſsneſs of thoſe torments. As they are endleſs, ſo they are remedileſs, Inſernus ſine miſericordis quos tenet cruciat, (ſaith one) Ther's neither Silver nor Gold, Wit nor Policy, Might or Power can help; neither Tears nor Prayers, Sighs nor Groans, Vows nor Promiſes, Cries nor Wiſhes never to have been, or to have been the vileſt of Creatures, will be heard or prevail, no nor any Creature in Heaven or p. 198Earth to interceed for them; nay, ſhould all the Angels and Saints in Heaven fall down at the feet of Chriſt to beg mercy for one Soul, it would be to no purpoſe, Chriſt would deny them all there, without mercy, without pitty, without remedy they muſt lie and cry, and never die; whence that pathetical wiſh of the Lord, Deut. 32. Oh that men were wiſe, &c.

6. Meditate on the ſad company wicked men ſhall have in Hell: Viz. No other then the Devil and his Angels, Mat. 25.41. And if Job complained that he was a Companion for Owls, Job 30.29. and David cries out, Wo is me that I dwell in Meſech, &c. Pſal. 120.5. How will the wicked then, to have no other Companions than the Devils? If the appearance of an evil ſpirit be ſo dreadful to them here, what will it be to be ſtill in their company and never ſuffered to go out of it? Conſider well but theſe two things: 1. Their ghoſtly deformity, they make Hell look black, (as one ſaith). 2. Their deadly antipathy, they are filled with rage againſt mankind; and therefore, having been temptors here, they become for ever tormentors there.

7. Meditate and conſider, before it be yet too late, how inexpreſſibly the damned in Hell do, and will for ever bewail their folly and madneſs, in hearkening to, and following the temptations of the Devil, the World, and the Fleſh, and miſſpending their health and ſtrength, time and tallents, in the ſervice of them; and neglecting ſo great Salvation, as was ſo frequently and affectionately offer'd them from time to time.

p. 1998. Meditate and conſider what thoſe damned Souls in Hell would be willing to do and ſuffer if they might come out thence, and have one offer more of a Chriſt, Life and Salvation; doubtleſs they would be willing (in teſtimony of their thankfulneſs) to ſpend every moment of time from the beginning of the World to the end, (could they live ſo long) in the moſt holy, pure, ſtrict, preciſe manner they poſſibly could, and would be content alſo to ſuffer whatſoever Men or Devils ſhould invent, or impoſe, ſo they might but eſcape the eternity of thoſe helliſh torments; but all in vain, for out of Hell there's no redemption, Pſal. 49. Once in Hell, and for ever in Hell.

9. And Laſtly, Meditate on the duties you are to perform, if you would eſcape thoſe endleſs, eaſleſs and remedileſs torments of Hell. Q. What are they? A. I will but name a few. 1. Be ſtill bleſſing God for Jeſus Chriſt, and Jeſus Chriſt for undertaking the great Work of Redemption, from the wrath to come. 2. Get and clear up your intereſt in him, and his redemption, by the directions I have given you before. 3. Be careful ſpeedily to hearken unto, and accept the offer of Chriſt, and Life, and Salvation in him, before it be too late. 4. Haſten as faſt as you can out of the Suburbs of Hell, I mean, your natural unregenerate eſtate, an eſtate of ignorance, unbelief, impenitency, diſobedience, for this is the broad way to Hell. 5. Learn from what you have ſeen, to hate and fear, and fly from all and every ſin, as you would from Hell; and the rather, becauſe it is worſe then Hell, it being that which made Hell to be Hell, and therefore to p. 200hearken to the counſel of our Saviour, Mark 9.43. If thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it's better for thee to enter into life maimed, then having two hands to go into Hell, &c. 6. Be willing to do and ſuffer what ever God ſhall be pleaſed to call you unto here, rather then by refuſal to throw Soul and Body into Hell Fire; Heb. 12.5. Fear not them which can only kill the Body, &c. 7. Pitty poor Souls, who are every day running and poſting in the broad way to Hell, and labour by your Counſels, Exhortations, Admonitions, Prayers, Tears, Examples, to turn them back: It may be they will be angry with you for it, but it's better they ſhould be angry with you, then God ſhould be angry with you for not doing it; better you ſhould feel a little of their wrath, then they and you lie under the eternal wrath of God, that you may not. 8. Be perſwaded your ſelves, and do you perſwade others to look every day into Hell, that you may not fall into Hell; and that you may look to the purpoſe, think, and think again, think every day, and all your dayes, of thoſe things I have laid before you, how unconceivably miſerable the condition of the Damned is in Hell, and yet you (of free and rich Grace, wonderful patience, and long ſufferance) out of Hell, who have deſerved it as well as others; you yet have a day of Grace, when 'tis paſt to others; and therefore whilſt it is called to day, harden not your hearts, but turn every one of you from your evil wayes, that he may turn away his wrath, and you may eſcape the damnation of Hell. Amen.

p. 201Fourthly, Of HEAVEN.

In and about it, to meditate on thoſe things I directed you before, in, and about the Life of Glory, that glorious Place, and glorious Company, and glorious Endowments, and glorious Imployments, and glorious Injoyments the Saints ſhall have, there add to thoſe, theſe two or three particulars more; What Heaven is, The excellent Titles given to it, The glorious Objects we ſhall ſee there, And the perfect happineſs we ſhall for ever in joy there.

Firſt, What Heaven is, viz. The higheſt and moſt excellent of places, called, the Heaven of Heavens, and by the Apoſtle, the Third Heaven. This God hath prepared and appointed to be the Habitation of the Glorious Angels, and all the Bleſſed Saints, who have liv'd and died here in the Lord, to reward all their faithful ſervices here, with everlaſting bliſs and happineſs, to the praiſe of the glory of his Grace, Mat. 25.34. laſt. 1 Theſſ. 4. laſt.

Secondly, Take notice of, and meditate on, the excellent Titles given to it in Scripture; as for inſtance in ſome, 1. In reſpect of the loving and kind imbracements of it, it's called Abraham's Boſom, Luke 16. 2. In regard of the pleaſure and delight of it, it's called Paradiſe, Luke 23.48. and the Joy of the Lord, Mat. 25. and the Fulneſs of Joy, Pſal. 16. laſt. 3. In regard of the greatneſs and ſpaciouſneſs of it, it's called God the Fathers Houſe, John 14.2. The City of the p. 202Living God, Heb. 12.22. The Kingdom of God, Luke 12.32. A Heavenly Kingdom, Mat. 7.21. A Kingdom which ſo far excelleth all earthly Kingdoms, as Heaven doth Earth; and further, The Kingdom of God, whoſe Kingdom infinitely excels all other Kingdoms, as he doth all other Kings. 4. In regard of the dureableneſs and continuance of it, it's called an Inheritance, Acts 10.32. and a rich and glorious Inheritance, Epheſ. 1.18. The Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Coloſ. 1.12. An Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, 1 Pet. 1.4. 5. In reſpect of the Honour and Glory of it, it's called a Crown; and that we may not think it to be a Crown gotten by Injuſtice, it's called a Crown of Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4.8. And leſt we ſhould think it to be like earthly Crowns, ſubject to change, it's called an Incorruptible Crown, Luke 9.25. and a Crown of Life, James 1.12. And that we not think it too mean a Crown, it's called a Crown of Glory, 1 Pet. 1.4. An eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. which all other Crowns and Jewels do but darkly ſhaddow out; It is, as one ſaith, A ſuperlative tranſcendent Phraſe, ſuch as is not to be found in all the Rhetorick of the Heathens, becauſe they never treated of ſuch a Theam, or with ſuch a Spirit as the Apoſtle did.

Thirdly, Meditate on the Glorious ſights we ſhall have there. Auſtin wiſhed he might have ſeen three things before he died, Rome in its Glory, Paul in the Pulpit, and Chriſt in the Fleſh: but the Saints ſhall ſee better ſights there, They ſhall ſee, not Rome, but Heaven in its Glory; Paul not in Pulpit, but on the Throne; Chriſt not p. 203with a crucified, but glorified Body: They ſhall behold the King in his beauty, Iſa. 33.17. And what a glorious ſight will this be? And which is more then all, the ever bleſſed Viſion of God in himſelf, and God in us, and our ſelves in God.

Fourthly, To meditate on thoſe things wherein the happineſs and bleſſedneſs of the Saints conſiſt, viz. In a removal of all evils, and a confluence of all good things.

1ſt, In the removal of all evils, which may be reduced to theſe three heads, viz. … Evil of Sin, The Evil of Temptation, The Evil of Affliction.

1. The Evil of Sin. The Saints ſhall not only be freed from the power of ſin, but from the very being of ſin; Grace here weakens Sin, but Glory there will wholly aboliſh it, Rev. 21. laſt. No unclean thing ſhall enter there.

2. From the Evil of Temptation. Here we are continually ſubject unto temptations, from within, and from without, from the Devil, the World, and the Fleſh; but there ſhall be freed from all; though in Paradiſe, yet none in Heaven, no Serpent can creep in there, nor any wicked one to vex our righteous Soul, or any corruption left to incline us to evil.

3. From the Evil of Affliction. Here we are continually ſubject to one affliction or other, in Body or Soul, Name or Eſtate, our ſelves or ours; but there freed from all: Rev. 21.4. God ſhall wipe away all tears from our eyes. This happineſs conſiſts,

2dly, In a confluence of all good things. The Saints there will be bleſſed in their Bodies, in p. 204their Souls, in their Company, in the ſecurity and perpetuity of all. 1. In their Bodies; their bodies made immortal, moſt beautiful, vigorous, active and glorious bodies, as you ſaw before, 1 Cor. 15.42. Phil. 3. laſt. 2. For the Soul; the Underſtanding, Will, Memory, Affections, all perfected in their acts and operations, 1 Cor. 13. 3ly. For their Company; They ſhall have communion with all the glorious Angels, and glorified Saints, and the ſacred Trinity in Unity, God bleſſed for ever. 4. For the ſecurity and perpetuity of this bleſſed condition, it runs parallel with God to all eternity, Mat. 25. laſt.

Fifthly, To meditate on the duties you are to perform, for the getting and making ſure Heavens happineſs to you; as amongſt others, theſe. 1. To ſee you be conformed to Chriſt in holineſs, becauſe without holineſs, no happineſs, Mat. 5.8. John 3.3. Heb. 12.14. Rom. 8.29. 2. To ſtrengthen your Faith in this happy condition, by the conſideration of this, That Chriſt, your Head, is gone into Heaven, and taken the poſſeſſion of it in your Name and Nature, Heb. 6.20. and hath promiſed to come & take you to himſelf; that where he is, you may be with him, and that for ever, John 14.3, 4. 3. To admire and adore the infinite love of God to you in Chriſt, in preparing for you, and appointing you to ſo happy and bleſſed a ſtate after this miſerable life here, ſaying ſtill with David, Lord, what is Man, and I amongſt the Sons of Men, that thou ſhouldeſt have ſuch thoughts of love, and eternal love to me? Pſal. 103.1. Praiſe thou the Lord, O my Soul, &c. 4. To contemn the World, and all the p. 205glory of it, in compariſon of that glory above, as David did, Pſal. 4.6. and the Apoſtle, Phil. 3.7, 8. 5. To quicken and encourage your ſelves and all others, eſpecially your near and dear Relations, to lay out themſelves, all they are, and can, for the making ſure Heavens happineſs to them, 1 Cor. 15. laſt. 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. 6. To be ſtill loving, looking, and longing for the appearance of Chriſt in Glory, that when he appears, we may appear with him, as the promiſe runs to ſuch, Coloſ. 3.4. 2 Tim. 4.8. Titus 2.13, 14. Rev. 22. laſt. Great will be the benefit of meditation on theſe things, it will put life and vigour into all your actions, 1 Cor. 15. laſt. and all your paſſions, Rom. 8.18. One hour in Heaven, will make an abundant recompence for all your ſufferings here.