The Gods are Men, Sermon

The Gods are Men · Sermon

p. 1The GODS Die like MEN, OR MAGISTRATES are Mortall.

Pſal. 82. v. 6, 7.

I have ſaid, Ye are gods: and all of you are children of the moſt High.

But ye ſhall die like men, and fall like one of the Princes.

ONeaaAmbr. Offic. lib. 1. cap. 32. of the Fathers reſembleth the whole Bible to the viſible Heavens, wherein ſaith he, the Pſalms are like the Sun, whoſe beams ſhine brightly, and rays warm comfortably. An Engliſh Divine compareth all the Scriptures to the body of Man,Luther calleth them parva biblia, & ſummarium utriuſque teſtamenti. and the Pſalms to the heart, the moſt Pathetick part, the ſeat and center of ſweet affections. Nay as one obſerveth, the very Turks, that diſclaim both Old and New Teſtament in general, yet will ſwear as ſolemnly by the Pſalms of David, as by the Alchoran of Mahomet. But what need have we of the teſtimony of men? when God is pleaſed to give ſuch large witneſſe in the Goſpel to this book of Pſalms. In which the Pſalms are quoted above ſixtybbLeighs hiſt. p. 35. times. The Apoſtle calleth them ſpirituall ccColoſ. 3.16.Col 3:16ſongs, both becauſe they were p. 2inſpired by the holy Spirit of God, and becauſe they are inſtrumental to ſpiritualize mens affections, and alſo becauſe they do ſute with mens ſpirits; they are ſo penned, that every man may think they ſpeak de ſe, in re ſua, of himſelf and to his own condition.

**Quia reges & quicun que poteſtate praediti ſunt, immenſam ſibi licentiam, faſtu excoecati, ut plurimum indulgent: denunciat Propheta, reddendam eſſe rationem ſummo judici qui omnem mundi celſitudinem ſupereminet. Calvin. argu. Pſal. 82.Ps 82This 82 Pſalm containeth a ſevere reprehenſion of ſuperiours, for their ungodly oppreſſion of inferiours.

The Text preſenteth you with their Majeſty and with their Mortality. In Verſe 6. They are gods; and children of the moſt High: there is there Majeſty. In Verſe 7. They die like men, and fall like Princes: there is their Mortality.

Plautus telleth us concerning Hercules, that he was the ſon of uJpiter, and ſo immortal, and the ſon of Amphitrus, and ſo mortal: The former Verſe ſpeaketh that Ye are the ſons of God; thereby ye ſeem to be immortal: but the latter pronounceth plainly that Ye ſhall die like men; and therefore it is apparent ye are mortal.

In Verſe 6. Ye are exalted as high as Heaven; I have ſaid, Ye are gods. In the 7. v. Ye are debaſed as low as Earth; But ye ſhall die.

In ver. 6. How beautiful are your features? how Evangelical are your faces? Nay, how God-like are your looks? I have ſaid, Ye are gods. In the 7. when the other ſide of the Picture is turned, what hoary heads? what heavy hearts? what quivering lips? what trembling loyns? what dying fleſh? what decaying ſpirts have ye?

‖‖Ʋt caeteri omnes natura ſunt obnoxii morti, & quidem aeternae damnationi, ſi in delictis adverſus conſcientiam ad extremum uſ que perſeverent: ita ſcitote vos quo que iiſdem legibus ſubjectos eſſe. Moller. in loc. Ea cogitatio de fragilitate veſtra & de poenis ſecuturis commone facere & excitare vos debebat, ut in procuratione muneris veſtri majore diligentia & ſtudio verſaremini, Idem ibid.And it is not without cauſe that the Spirit of God ſubjoyneth your humanity to your Deity, your Mortality to your Majeſty, as a means to prevent ſin, and as a curbe to reſtrain you from making your Luſt your law, or your Will the rule of all your actions.

In the words we have the Mortality of the Magiſtrate (namely from the ſeventh Verſe) Firſt affirmed, Ye ſhall die like men. Secondly amplified, and fall like the Princes. Thirdly confirmed, ſurely and certainly; as ſurely as ye live like gods, ſo ſurely ye ſhall die like men, Certe ſicut homo. Calvin. Moller. Trem. legunt.

I have formerly in this place, upon the like occaſion p. 3from the 6. v. diſcovered the dignity of**At a… Aſſize holden at Hertford, for that County, upon the 2. day of Auguſt, 1653. Magiſtracy. I ſhall now proceed to the frailty of the Magiſtrate. My work now will be like Philip's youth, to mind you that ye are but men: And I hope there is none here of the Perſian Monarchs humour, into whoſe preſence none might come cloathed withddEſt 4.2.Esth 4:2 ſackcloth; nor like Lewis the 11th. of France, who would not permit the word Death to be named in his Court: For all the Diſh I have to entertain you with at this time, is a Deaths head: Neither ſhall I garniſh that with the flowers of humane eloquence, as knowing there is no need of it. The deformed Harlot wanteth colouring, but the Virgin truth of God is moſt beautiful in her native dreſs. And there is little good by it. A painted window keepeth out the light; a paint…d fire will not burn; a painted ſword will not cut; and if ever theaaJer. 23.29.Jer 23:29 fire of Scripture warmbbLuke 24.32.Luke 24:32 the heart; or thisccEpheſ. 6.17.Eph 6:17 ſword of the ſpirit wound the Conſcience, to conviction and converſion, it muſt be drawn out of the gawdy ſcabbard of mans wiſedom.

I ſhall firſt ſpeak to the Explication of the words, and then draw the Obſ…rvation from the words.

But i.e. For all the glorious titles wherewith ye are inveſted, as gods amongſt mens, and the adminiſtration of juſtice wherewith ye are intruſted, as my Lieutenants on Earth; yet for all this, Ye ſhall ddAc ſi diceret, quum inſtructi ſunt poteſtate ad regendum mundum, non exuiſſe tamen naturam ut mortales eſſe deſinerent. Calv. in loc.die; though your names are Divine, your natures are but Humane.

Surely, i.e. Though ye ſhould flatter your ſelves becauſe ye are gods, ye ſhall ever live, yet know certainly that ye are but men, and muſt die. All God's words are true and ſure; but on ſome there is affixed a ſpecial note of certainty, becauſe of mans (eſpecially great perſons) extraordinary infidelity. Though ye ſhould neither regard it, nor provide for it, as if it were a thing of ſmall conſequence, or little concernment, Yet eeJob 17.14.Job 17:14ye may ſay to corruption, Thou art my father; and to the worm, Thou art my brother and ſiſter.

Ye ſhall die like men. Your ſouls and bodies that have been joyned together like husband and wife, ſhall be parted aſunder: Death will looſe all bands, untie all knots, even this conjugal one, 'twixt ſoul and body, which is the ſtrongeſt of all.

p. 4eeSicut plebeius homo. Tremel.Like men. i. e. Like ordinary men; like Adam, ſaith Ainſworth: Though in your lives ye are like Saul, higher by the head and ſhoulders then the people; yet in your deaths they and you meet, are equal.

Two things ye do as men:

1. Ye ſin as ye areff1 Cor. 3.3. Errare humanum eſt.1 Cor 3:3 men; to walk as a man, is to walk carnally, to walk ſinfully.

2. Ye die as ggPſal. 9. ult. quod ſint homines, i. e. quod ſint miſeri, infirmi, mortales. Moll. in loc.Ps 9men; to know your ſelves to be men, is to know your ſelves to be mortal.

And fall like one of the Princes. Theſe words have a double Lection, and four-fold Conſtruction.

We read them, And fall like one of the hhEt ſicut quilibet principes cadetis. Calv. Qui exquiſitiſſimis tormentis cruciantur. Potentes potenter torquebuntur.Princes; others read them, And ye Princes ſhall fall like one.

For their four-fold Conſtruction:

1. Some underſtand them of a fall into Hell. So ſeveral of the Ancients take them, like the Prince of the Divels; this is true of evil Magiſtrates, death to them is but the trap-door to Hell; the higher their exalation is, the greater and lower their damnation will be. The words of the Prophet are Emphatical,iiIſa. 30.33. Ingentia beneficia, ingentia flagitia, & ingentia ſupplicia Kings, ſaith one, are fair marks for traytors to ſhoot at. Tra. on Eſth. 2.Isa 30:33Esth 2 Tophet is prepared of old; yea, for the King it is prepared. The greater mens preferment is, the greater their defilement, and the greater their puniſhment.

2. Others underſtand them of a fall by a violent death. So many Princes fall: In that bloody way, Saul, Abner, Ahab, and many other Princes mentioned in Scripture, went to their long homes. The Roman Hiſtorian obſerveth, that the Ceſars got little by their places, niſi ut citius interficerentur. Some mens honour hath been the Knife to cut their throats.

Horat. ad Licin.Saepius ventis agitatur iugens

Pinus: & celſae graviore caſu

Decidunt turres, feriunt que ſummos

Fulmina montes.

3. A third ſort Expound the words of falling as the Princes of other Nations;Deodati in loc. though ye are the Princes of God's people, yet ye are not thereby priviledged from the p. 5arreſt of death. For as the ſun of proſperity ſhineth as well on the briars in the Wilderneſſe, as on the roſes in the Garden: ſo the froſt of adverſity falleth as well on the fruitfull corn as on the hurtful weeds. The moſt notorious ſinner liveth as well as the moſt gracious Saint: and the moſt gracious Saint dyeth as well as the moſt notorious ſinner. Grace is an Antidote againſt the poyſon of death, but not a preſervative from undergoing death.

4. The words are conſtrued thus, Like the Princes that have been before you. Ye know that your Anceſtours who were as high in honour and as great in power as your ſelves, yet ſubmitted to death; ſo muſt ye doe as they have done. Etiam muta clamant cadavera, Their graves amongſt you do read a Lecture of mortality to you.

The term whereby the Spirit of God deſcribeth death, is conſiderable; its called a fall, and fall like one of the Princes.

**Rom. 14.13.Rom 14:13Sin is called a fall, and ſo is death. Death is the firſtborn of ſin; and therefore no wonder if the Child be called after the name of its Parent.

Death is to every man a fall, from every thing but God and godlineſs. Ye that are Magiſtrates fall more ſtairs, yea, more ſtories then others; the higher your ſtanding while ye live, the lower your falling when ye die.

Death to ſome is a fall from Earth to Hell; to all from the ſociety of men to the company of worms. To you that are great men, it will be a fall from your richeſt treaſures, from your delightful pleaſures, from your ſtatelieſt poſſeſſions, from your lovelieſt relations,Job 7.7.Job 7:7 from whatſoever is called the good of this world, Your eyes ſhall no more ſee good.

Hor. ad Poſth.Linquenda tellus, & domus & placens

Ʋxor: ne que harum, quas colis, arborum

Te praeter inviſas cupreſſos

Ʋlla brevem Dominum ſequetur.

Death is called an uncloathing,2 Cor. 5.4.2 Cor 5:4 becauſe it will ſtrip you of all your places of honour, of all the ornaments of nature; p. 6As ye came naked into the World, Job 1. ult.Job 1ſo ye muſt go naked out of the World. Nothing will follow you when ye die but your works. Rev. 14.13.Rev 14:13When the good Magiſtrate dyeth that hath been zealous for the Lord's honour, and ſtudious of his ſouls welfare; his works follow him through free grace, into an eternal weight of glory. When the evil Magiſtrate dyeth, who hath been careleſs of his Conſcience, and unfaithful in his calling, his works follow him through divine ſeverity, into a boundleſs Ocean of endleſs miſery.

Doctrine. After this brief Explication of the words, I proceed to the doctrinal Obſervation.

That Magiſtrates are mortal, or they who live like gods, muſt die like men; the moſt potent Emperour muſt take his leave of this life as well as the pooreſt beggar.

Death is called**Joſh. 23.14.Josh 23:14 the way of all the Earth, becauſe all fleſh on Earth go this way. Is the greateſt road in the World, never without many travellers, of all ſorts, ranks and degrees. The grave is the Inn or reſting place whither this way tendeth; and Job tellethkkJob 3.19.Job 3:19 us, that The ſmall and the great are there.

The mortal ſythe of death is Maſter of the royal Scepter, and moweth down as well the Lillies of the Crown as the graſſe ofllIſa. 40.6, 7.Isa 40:6Isa 40:7 the Field.At one end of the Library in Dublin was a Globe, at the other end a Skeliton, to ſhew, that though man were Lord of all the World yet he muſt die. All fleſh is graſſe, and all the goodlineſs thereof is as the flower of the field. The graſſe withereth, the flower fadeth.

As Athanaſius ſpeaketh of Julian, ſo I may ſay of the greateſt King in the World, Nubecula eſt, quae citò tranſibit.

Do we not find by experience, that the greater Candles conſume and burn out as well as the leſſer. And that the boyſterous wind of ſickneſs bloweth down, and rooteth up, as well the tall Cedars of Lebanon and the ſtrong Oaks of Baſhan, as the lower ſhrubs and weaker trees of the Vallies

We Miniſters that preach the Word of life, muſt ere long ſubmit tomm2 Cor. 4.7.2 Cor 4:7 death; ye have the Heavenly treaſure in earthen veſſels. And you Magiſtrates that are the Bulwarks of the Countrey under God, to preſerve us from the ſhot of a violent death, muſt neceſſarily your ſelves undergoe a natural p. 7death. Ye are callednnPſal. 47.9. Scuta terrae ſunt terrea ſcuta.Ps 47:9 the ſhields of the Earth; yet ye are but Earthen ſhields. Ye are called the ooIſa. 44.18. As at a game at cheſs, when done, not only pawns, but Kings, Queens and Knights are tumbled into the bag: ſo when the race of life is finiſhed, noble as well as ignoble are tumbled into their graves.Isa 44:18ſhepherds of the people; but this Wolf of death will ſeiſe as well on the ſhepherd as on the ſheep.

I ſhall not ſtand to prove it any further at this preſent; there is not one of you either Judge or Juſtic…s that hear me this day, but within a few days ſhall be the proof of the text.

I ſhall only give you the cauſes of the Doctrine, and then make ſome Uſe of it.

But why do the gods die like men?

There are three Cauſes of it, as they are men.

**Grounds of Doctrine. 1 Ethicall cauſe of death is ſin. Rom. 5.12. Rom. 6. ult. Stipendium peccati mors.Rom 5:12Rom 6Firſt, the moral or meritorious cauſe of death is ſin. Sin and death like Jacob and Eſau were brought forth at one birth; they were twins and came into the World together. As the thread followeth the Needle, ſo death followeth ſin. Wherefore, as p by one man ſin entred into the World, and death by ſin: and ſo death paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned.

A worthy Divine of our own doth ſolidly though briefly ſtate that queſtion, viz. Whether man had not died, if he had not ſinned; Or whether death be natural or accidental; and doth evidently prove, that mans life ſhould have laſted as long as his obedience; that man had never fallen into his grave, if he had never fallen into tranſgreſſion. H… died not becauſe his nature was ſubject to corruption, but becauſe ſin had corrupted his nature. If he had not turned from God, he had not returned to duſt: Man was wholly a ſtranger to death, till acquainted with ſin. If he had continued in a ſtate of innocency, he had continued in a ſtate of immortality.

Though Adam died not actually aſſoon as he fell, yet he preſently became mortal, and liable to death; for immediately upon his fall, ſentence was paſſed uponqqGen. 3.19.Gen 3:19 him. Duſt thou art, and to duſt thou ſhalt return; according to thatrrGen. 2.17. Some ſay the Pope hath a book called Taxa camerae Apoſtolicae, ſhewing the rate of every ſin; At what rate one may be drunk, or ſwear, or keepe an Whore.Gen 2:17 law, In the day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. As the Malefactour is a dead man in Law, when the ſentence is pronounced upon him, though there be ſome time between his Condemnation and Execution: ſo was man dead both p. 8in the decree and threatning of God when the ſentence of death was denounced againſt him,This word death alone implyeth at what rate man may ſ…n. Death temporal which is the ſeparation of body and ſoul; death ſpirituall which is the ſeparation of God and the ſoul, in part, and for a time; eternal which is everlaſting and total perdition from the preſence of the Lord and the glory of his power, are the rate of ſin, and the ſad fruits that grow on this root of bitterneſs. Sin is the father of death; but death like Senacherib's iſſue will at laſt deſtroy its Parent. Sin in the body is like the Leproſie in the houſe, which will not out till it be pulled down; but when the body of the Saint ſhall be diſſolved, that body of death ſhall be wholly deſtroyed. though there was ſome reſpite between it and his actual diſſolution.

Now Magiſtrates ſin; therefore muſt die. If you perform but that duty (of much difficulty, yet of abſolute neceſſity) of communing with your own hearts, & looking ſomtimes back upon your lives, without queſtion you will find beſide your original depravation, a numberleſs number of actual provocations. I believe the beſt of you are too like the Egyptian Temple, without fair and beautiful, but within full of Serpents and Crocodiles. Your lives poſſibly may be unblameable as to the eye of man, but are there not ſeven abominations in your hearts?

2 Cauſe is Phyſical, the corruptibility of mans body. Contraria inter ſe pugnant, & mutuo ſe deſtruunt. Gen. 3.19.Gen 3:19The ſecond Cauſe of death is the corruptibility of Magiſtrates bodies; this is the natural cauſe, your bodies are corruptible. Its now common to all Creatures mixt of Elements, to be reſolved into that out of which they were made. Contrary qualities will for a time contend, and at laſt deſtroy each other. In the third of Geneſis we read mans exodus, viz. that he was duſt in regard of his original production; and ſhall be duſt in regard of his ultimate reſolution.

As the fineſt garment breedeth a moth, and that moth eateth up the garment;Phyſitians have a rule, Ʋltimus ſanitatis gradus, eſt morbo proximus. As the ſtrongeſt tree breedeth a Worm, and that Worm devoureth the tree: So the faireſt and ſtrongeſt bodies breed ſuch diſeaſes as will at laſt conſume them.

Eliphaz ſpeaking of the higheſt men, aſſureth us, that their foundation is in the duſt. Now the ſtability of a building dependeth on the ſtrength of its foundation.Job 4.19.Job 4:19 The Church is therefore immoveable, becauſe Chriſt her foundation is invincible;Matth. 16.18.Matt 16:18 but our natural foundation being in the duſt, we cannot hold out long. The houſe of mans p. 9body is walled and roofed with Earth, and founded upon no better then duſt. The bodies of Magiſtrates have the ſame foundation. The Pſalmiſt ſpeaking of a Prince, ſaith,Pſal. 146.4.Ps 146:4 that he returneth to his Earth. As if his body could challenge no alliance to, or propriety in, any thing but Earth.L. Cur. and Plut. in vit. It is His earth. Alexander the Great being wounded at the ſiedge of an Indian City, ſaid, I have been told, I am the Son of God; but I ſee now I am liable to wounds and death as well as others.

3. The ſupernatural cauſe of death, is the appointment of Heaven. It is appointed for all men once to die, Heb. 9 27.3 The Metaphyſical cauſe is God's decree.

Some men, yea moſt in the World die twice; the ſecond death hath power over them; but all muſt die once. The exception of one or two that were tranſlated, and of them that ſhall be found alive at the comming of Chriſt,The greateſt Landlords are but Tenants at God's will in theſe houſes of clay. will not make void this general rule.

Magiſtrates that Execute the Statute-law of men, die by a ſtanding Law of God. When God is pleaſed to give ſickneſs a warrant under the great Seal of Heaven, it quickly executeth its Office and turneth men into Earth. It is thus ordered in God's high Court, that Judges and Juſtices who now ſit on the Bench, ſhall die and appear at his Bar. The Turkiſh Hiſtorian obſerveth, that when the great Baſſaes are feaſting, oftentimes there commeth a Meſſenger by order from the great Sultan, and caſteth a black Mantle over them, and they are preſently forced to ſubmit to ſtrangling: So the proudeſt Potentates in the midſt of their mirth, are often ſurprized by a ſudden diſtemper (commiſſionated by God) and ſent to their long homes.Ʋſe by way of Inference that nothing can free from death.

I ſhall now draw ſome Inferences from the Doctrine.

Firſt, If Magiſtrates are mortal, obſerve hence deaths prevalency and power above all the Priviledges and Prerogatives of nature.Lib. 5. in concluſion of cap. ult. It is a memorable Speech of Sir Walter Rawleigh, Though God who loveth men is not regarded, yet death which hateth men, is quickly obeyed. O mighty death! O eloquent death! whom no man could adviſe or perſwade, thou canſt prevail with: Take notice from hence that nothing in this World can priviledge a man againſt the arreſt of death.

p. 101. Strength cannot.Firſt, ſtrength cannot; all the ſtrength and power which the gods have, cannot free them from death. Magiſtrates have civil ſtrength as they are Magiſtrates; the Command of whole Counties, Kingdoms, yea Empires; in this reſpect it is that Magiſtrates are calledſſTi…us 3.1. Principalities and Powers; yet death hath power over them that hath power over others. Alexander and Ceſar that Conquered. Countries and Kingdomes, were conquered by death. Magiſtrates have natural ſtrength as they are men, but death trippeth up the heels and layeth on their backs the moſt ſtrong and valiant.ttJob 21.23, 24. Plato ſaith, that Marrow is not only the ſourſe of generation, but the ſeat of life.Job 21:23Job 21:24 One dyeth in his full ſtrength, being wholly at eaſe and quiet: His breaſts are full of milk, and his bones are moiſtned with marrow.

Put the caſe that a man be in the z…nith and height of his eſtate, when his health is moſt pure, and his ſtrength is moſt perfect, when he hath the choiceſt complexion in his face, and ſoundeſt conſtitution in his body, when there is moſt agility in his joynts, and moſt appetite in his ſtomach; yet even then ſickneſs arreſteth him at the ſuit of death, haleth his body to the priſon of the grave, and ſendeth his ſoul to his own place. Man at his beſt eſtate, yeauuPſal. 39.5.Ps 39:5 ſurely every man at his beſt eſtate is altogether vanity.

2. Riches cannot Luke 16.22.Luke 16:22Secondly, as the ſtrength, ſo the wealth of Magiſtrates is inſufficient. The holy Ghoſt telleth us, that the …i…h man alſo dyed. Men may put riches into the grave with them,The Iriſh have a Proverb, What aileth a rich man to die? but they will not keep them one moment out of the grave. Death like jealouſie will not regard any ranſome, not be content though men would give many gifts. Job ſpeaketh (ſuppoſing that he had dyed) Then I had been at reſt with Princes that had Gold, and filled their houſes with Silver. Its reported of Cardinal Beauford that when on his death-bed, he ſhould ſay, Fie will not death be hired? will Money doe nothing? if the whole Realm would ſave my life, I am able either by wealth to buy it, or by wit to procure it; but it could not help him, die he did. Money is the Monarch of this World, but not of the next; it can neither ſtave off ſickneſs, nor buy out death.

3. Honours cannot.Thirdly, as neither ſtrength nor wealth; ſo neither can the honours of men help them againſt this laſt enemy. p. 11How have the higheſt men on Earth been laid as low as the Earth by it? Man in honour doth not abide; Pſal. 49.12.Ps 49:12His duration is ſometimes the leſſe, becauſe his reputation is ſo great.

Job ſpeaketh excellently, Where is the dwelling place of Princes? who ſhall declare his way to his face? Job 21.28.31.Job 21:28Job 21:31This perſon is ſo high that none dareth tell him of his wicked practices.Luther compla…neth that in his time Magiſtra…es Elati ſuperbia volebant eſſe ipſo verbo ſuperiores. Kings ſaith one, have Clouds in their brows as well as Crowns on their heads; they would be adored like gods, and not reproved like men: Yet theſe men which are ſo high that none muſt ſpeak to them, death will be ſure to ſpeak with them; Yet he ſhall be brought to the grave, and remain among the Tombes, Job 21.32. There is much weight in that word; Yet, i. e. though he be a Prince ſo proud that he ſcorneth to hear mens reproofs, yet he ſhall be forced to liſten to death's language; though his dwelling place was ſtately amongſt men, yet he ſhall be brought to an homely one amongſt Worms. Yet he ſhall be brought to his grave, and remain amongſt the Tombes. When Michael Paleologus Emperour of Conſtantinople, ſent for a preſent to Nugas the Scythian Prince, certain royal Robes, and rich Ornaments, he ſet light by them, ſaying, Nunquid calamitates, morbos aut mortem depellere poſſent?It was a notable ſpeech of the King of Perſia, who viſiting Conſtantine at Rome, was ſhewn the rare Edifices, rich Coffers, and great Honours of the Emperour, Mira quidem haec, ſed video ut in Perſia, ſic Romae hommes moriuntur.

If Magiſtrates are mortal;2. Ʋſe by way of Inference of the Magiſtrates folly. how much folly is in him that laboureth moſt for his body? The truth is, there is a ſecret conceit in the hearts of great perſons who have the World at will, that they ſhall not die; it is not vox oris, but it is vox cordis; they ſtill think of a longer life, though they have lived never ſo long; they can ſee death in other mens brows but not in their own boſomes.wwPſal. 49.11. How many be too like that Duke d'Alva, who b…ing aſked whether he had obſerved a late eclipſe of the ſun, anſwered, That he had ſo much buſineſs to doe on earth that he he had no time to look up to Heaven; ſo they ſpend ſo much time on their dyi…g bodies, that they can ſpare none for their never dying ſouls.Ps 49:11 Their inward thought is that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations. Hence it commeth to paſſe that they work altogether for this world; ſo they have Earth in their hands, they care not though they have nothing of Heaven in their hearts. Their endeavour is to live in the favour of great men, and not to die in the feare of the great God.

How many great Perſons ſpend their time (as Seneca ſpeaketh, inter pectinem & ſpeculum occupati) between the p. 12Comb and the Glaſſe, and not between Scripture and Prayer; their labour is to go finely, to fare deliciouſly, to live honourably, to proſper outwardly: but not to honour God fruitfully, to diſcharge that truſt which is committed to them faithfully, or to work out their own Salvation diligently.

There is a ſtory of a fat man riding through Rome on a lean horſe; it was demanded how it came to paſſe that he being ſo exceeding fat, his horſe was ſo lean? he anſwereth, Ego meipſum, ſtabularius equum curat, I mind my ſelf, but my Groom looketh after my Horſe. Too many God knoweth have fat bodies and lean ſouls; their outward man is flouriſhing, their inward man is periſhing: and the reaſon is, they themſelves regard their bodies, but they ſay they truſt God (or more truly the Divel) with their ſouls.

Prince Abſalon is a fit reſemblance of ſuch perſons; whilſt he lived he provided ſomewhat againſt the time he muſt die; But what doth he provide? only a place for his body to reſt in. The Spirit of God takes ſpecial notice how provident this ambitious youngſter was for his body.2 Sam. 18.18.2 Sam 18:18 Now Abſalon in his life time had reared up for himſelf a Pillar. But he never thinketh of his precious ſoul, where that might reſt when it left his body. How fooliſh and faulty are many Magiſtrates in this particular? whilſt they live they take ſpecial care that when they die, their bodies be in ſuch a vault interred, with ſuch a company of mourners attended, that ſuch a Monument be e…ected, but take no care that when their bodies go to the houſe appointed for all the living, their ſouls might go to that houſe which is not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens. They little conſider, that when their Friends are weeping over their bodies, the Divels may be laughing over their ſouls.

O unſpeakable folly! to make much of the Cabinet and diſeſteem of the Jewel, to trim the Scabbard and let the ſword ruſt; like Shimei to ſeek their ſervants and loſe themſelves. Man in regard of his body claimeth kinred with the beaſts of the field, in regard of his ſoul with the Angels of Heaven; and yet this beaſtial part is pampered whilſt the Angelical is ſtarved.

p. 13It is ſtoried of Archimides that when Syracuſe was taken by the Romans, he was ſecure in his Cloſet,Plut. in vit. Marcell. drawing circles with his Compaſſe in the duſt, and was then and there ſlain. So theſe men ordinarily leave the Earth when they are moſt buſie about it.

How did the fool in the Goſpel promiſe himſelf a long and a comfortable life? Soul take thine eaſe, Luke 12.20.Luke 12:20thou haſt goods laid up for many years. If he had ſaid, Soul take thine eaſe, thou haſt a treaſure in Heaven, or thou haſt Chriſt who will doe thee good to eternity, it had been ſomewhat like: but thou haſt goods ſaith he. Alas; how irrational is this? you may aſſoon ſatiate or content corpus aura, as animam auro, the body with wind as the ſoul with wealth. But I beſeech you conſider, he that thought then to begin to take his eaſe is forced that night to make his end. He was but a little before flouriſhing exceedingly, his mind full of mirth, his heart full of hope, and his ſoul full of expected ſatisfaction; But on a ſudden he is departed, and all his high hopes fruſtrated: If you ask me, whither he is gone? his eſtate to men, his body to the grave, his ſoul to Hell. Poor wretch! little did he dream when he was aſleep in ſin,How many die like thoſe that are ſtung of the Tarantula a viper in Italy, that even di… laughing though they are going to the place where is nothing but weeping. of going from a bed of feathers to a bed of fire. But too too many like him go from carnal pleaſures to eternal pains. Take notice how ſecure this rich fool was; and yet his ſecurity was but the forerunner of his future calamity. When the Wind lyeth, then the great rain falleth. When the Air is moſt quiet, then commeth the great Earth-quake. When Siſera was aſleep, then his Head was nailed to the ground. Pharaoh in his Chariot, Belſhazzar in his bowls, Haman at his banquet, Herod in his rob…s, are ſecure but not ſafe; when they leaſt looked for it, death ſurprized them; When they cryed peace peace, then ſudden deſtruction ſeized on them, as travail on a woman with child,1 Theſ. 5.3.1 Thess 5:3 which they could not eſcape.

Ambitious like the Jay, They are pruning and priding themſelves on the top of ſome high tree, when ſuddenly a ſhot from a Fowler tumbleth it down dead to the Earth.

Covetous like Ants; How buſie are they? like a company of Ants about white and yellow Earth, when death p. 14like the feet of the next paſſenger cruſheth them to pieces. Voluptuous like the little Fiſh that ſwims merrily down the ſilver ſtreams of Jordan, till they empty themſelves into the dead Sea and there periſh.

The worlds greateſt darlings are in no better condition then the Bull that goeth to be ſacrificed with a Garland on his head, and Muſique before him, when ſuddenly he feeleth the ſtroke of the murdering Axe, and is knockt down dead.

Job 21. ver. 7. to 13. They ſpend their days in wealth, and end their days in endleſs wo.Job 21:7–13I ſhall conclude this Uſe with Job's Character of this rich ſinner, who flouriſhing for a time and periſheth to eternity; The wicked live, become old, yea are mighty in power. They ſend forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They ſpend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to Hell.

Ʋſe by way of advice, Prepare for your dying hour. Iſa. 38.6. Doe it ſpeedily.Isa 38:6Exam. Are Magiſtrates mortall? Let me then in the fear of the Lord, beſeech you that are Magiſtrates, now preſently to make preparation for the hour of your diſſolutions. My counſel ſhall be with a little alteration, in the words of the Prophet Iſaiah to King Hezekiah; Now ſet your houſe in order, for you muſt die. I muſt tell you all the time ye have is little enough for a work of this weight: If Seneca can ſay, all a mans life is little enough for Philoſophy, etiamſi a paeritia, uſ que ad longiſſimos humani aeviterminos vita protendatur, though the ſilver-wyre of life ſhould be drawn out to the longeſt thread; I am ſure then that all your time is little enough for Chriſtianity. Ye have a great work to doe, a great journey to go, and a little time will not be ſufficient. Make much of time, ſaith Aquinas, eſpecially in the weighty matters of Salvation: O how much would he, that now lyeth frying in Hell rejoyce, if he might have the leaſt moment to get God's favour in! The ſun of your lives (Bleſſed be God) is not yet let, the gate of mercy is not yet ſhut; I requeſt you before the bridge of divine grace be drawn, in this day of God's patience, mind the things that concern your eternal peace. Auſtin profeſſeth, he would not be an Atheiſt one quarter of an hour for a world, becauſe he did not know, but in that time, God might cut aſunder his thread of life, and ſo let him drop into Hell.

p. 15Let me perſwade you, and the good Lord prevail with your hearts, to ſet your ſelves ſpeedily about this neceſſary work. Delays are dangerous, eſpecially in a buſineſs of infinite concernment.Mat. 24.44. Ideo latet unus dies, ut obſerventur omnes.Matt 24:44 How earneſtly doth our bleſſed Saviour exhort you, to be always ready, becauſe ye know not at what hour your Maſter will call you. Ceſar would never acquaint his Souldiers with the time of removing his Campe, that they might be always prepared to march.

Conſider that on this moment dependeth eternity;Petrach relateth an anſwer of one, who being invited to dinner a day after, ſaid, A mu tis annis craſtinum non habui. Quam ſerum eſt tunc vivere incipere, cum deſinendum eſt! Sen. ad Paulin. cap. 4. God hangeth heavy weights on weak wyers. And how dolefully have many complained, and mournfully lamented their loſſe of time, when it hath been too late. That ſtory of a great Lady of our land, which ſeveral ſpeak of, may awaken ſecure on…s, when on her death-bed ſhe dreadfully ſcreeched out, A World of Wealth for an inch of time, A world of wealth for an inch of time. And I have read of Chryſorius a man as full of wickedneſs as of wealth, when he commeth to die, cryeth out, Induc…as uſ que ad mane, Domine, Truce, Lord, but till morning, Truce, Lord, but till morning; and with theſe words he breathed out his laſt, Alterius perditio, tua ſit cautio, Let that which was a murdering piece to others, be a warning piece to thee.

Do but think, ſhould God permit a danmed ſinner that is now in Hell, to come and ſit but one hour amongſt you, under the Goſpel of the Kingdome of Heaven, how highly would he prize this preſent opportunity; how greedily would he embrace every tender of mercy; how eagerly would he catch at every word of comfort; how heartily would he cloſe with Chriſt upon the hardeſt terms? I am perſwaded ye ſhould behold him with ſuch ſtreams of tears watering his cheeks, as if he were diſſolved into a fountain. And will ye trifle away ſuch golden ſeaſons, and waſte ſuch precious advantages, which others would purchaſe with worlds, if they had them to give; nay which ye your ſelves would redeem hereafter with your heart blood, but ſhall not be able; O therefore now prize time,Quare O miſer, non omni hora ad mortem te diſponis? cogita te jam mortuum quem ſcis neceſſitate moriturum; mors enim inopiae non miſeretur, divitias non reveretur; non ſapientiae, non moribus, non aetati parcit, niſi quod ſenibus mors eſt in januis, juvenibus vero in inſidiis. Bern. before you come to enter upon eternity.

p. 16Be ſerious in your preparation for death.And yet a little further to preſſe this needful duty upon your ſpirits; O that, if it were the will of God, I had the tongue, the underſtanding, the affections of an Angel! how willingly would I improve them to the utmoſt, and ſerue them up to the higheſt pitch in exhorting you to this weighty and abſolutely neceſſary work!

This, this is the one thing neceſſary; this, this is the whole duty of man;Mors eſt aeternitatis oſtium. this is the great end for which ye were born, and the great errand for which ye were ſent into the World. Its a work of infinite weight, and a buſineſſe of everlaſting concernment. I ſpeak to you that are great men, and I aſſure you from the great God, that ye muſt die, and that ye muſt come ere long to doe that which ye never did before, nor never ſhall doe again; even this, to throw your laſt caſt for eternity. Your everlaſting weal or woe, joy or ſorrow, pleaſure or pain dependeth on your well dying. As Scipio ſaid, In bello non licet bis peccare; So may I of death as he of War, in death there is no erring twice; he that erreth once errs for ever. Aſſoon as ever your ſouls launch out of your bodies, they ſail to the Ocean of eternity.Ca yl. on Job. That we tranſgreſſe the laws of living ſo often is the aggravation of iniquity on all men; but that we can tranſgreſſe the laws of dying but once is the ſeal of miſery on moſt men.

How pathetically doth God wiſh, that man would mind this real wiſdome;Deut. 32.29. Vid. 1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Pro. 19.20.Deut 32:291 Tim 6:171 Tim 6:181 Tim 6:19Prov 19:20 O that my people were wiſe, then would they conſider their latter end; or that they would conſider their latter end.

It ſeemeth to me one of the dolefulleſt ſayings in the book of God, (and by the way let men guilty of bribery or oppreſſion think of it) He that getteth goods and not by right, Jer. 17.11.Jer 17:11ſhall leave them in the midſt of his days, and in his latter end ſhal be a fool. To be a fool in the judgment or account of Scripture, while a man liveth, ſpeaketh his condition very dangerous: but to be a fool when he dyeth, ſpeaketh his eſtate altogether deſperate. For a Veſſel to leak much in the harbour is ſad; but O how ſad is it for the Veſſel to leak in the main, in the Ocean! It was Auſtin's prayer, Hic ure, ſeca, ibi parce, Lord launce me, burn me here, but ſpare me hereafter.

p. 17And the deſire of Fulgentius, Domine, hic da patientiam, poſtea indulgentiam.

But it is very emphatical and obſervable in the fore-quoted place, that the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh, In his latter end he ſhall be a fool. He was a fool before in the eſtimation of God, and in the opinion of godly men; but now in his latter end, he is a fool in the conviction and acknowledgement of his own conſcience; and now he will think, O what a fool was I? who was ever dying, never to live, to my Saviour, to my ſoul; What a fool was I? to reſpect ſo exceedingly my vile tranſitory body, and to neglect ſo unworthily my precious immortal ſoul. What a fool was I? to make ſo much proviſion for a little time, and ſo little preparation for eternity. What a fool was I? to be ſo diligent about Earth, and ſo negligent about Heaven; ſo careful about periſhing decaying vanities, and ſo ſlothful about reall enduring felicities.

Pliny obſerveth of the Mole, that though it be blind all its time of living, yet when it commeth to die, Oculos incipit aperire, moriendo, then it ſeeth. Men that whilſt they live are blind in the worth of their ſouls, inſenſible of the weight of their ſins, ignorant in the ſeverity of divine juſtice, incredulous about the neceſſity of the new birth; when they come to die their eyes are opened, and they ſee all theſe things cleerly;Lam. 1.9. Mumb. 24.20.Lam 1:9 and O then what a doleful ſcreech will that ſoul give, that ſtands quivering upon the pale lips of a dying man, ready to fly to its eternal home, and ſeeth nothing before it, but a bottomleſs boundleſs Ocean of the wrath of God, in which it muſt ſwim naked for ever, ever, ever.

My Lords and Gentlemen, I beſeech you attend diligently, that this Sermon, which is a funeral Sermon in regard of its ſubject, may be a reſurrection Sermon in regagd of its effect. Who knoweth what a day, yea what a great bellied hour may bring forth; I can aſſure you, this Sermon is a child of ſome prayers, yea and of ſome tears; therefore I hope it ſhall not periſh. If I ſpeak not the word of God, the mind of Chriſt, and the meaning of the Spirit, caſt back my words as dung in my face; But if I doe, hear attentively, and practice conſcientiouſly, leaſt my counſel riſe up in p. 18judgement againſt you, at the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

In reference to this great duty of preparing for your dying day, I ſhall commend ſix particulars to your moſt ſerious thoughts; my prayer ſhall be that they may all, eſpecially the two latter be written in your hearts.

1 Execute juſtice impartially.1. Diſcharge your truſt faithfully; the way to have great confidence when ye die, is to keep a good Conſcience whilſt ye live. Were Judges and Juſtices always to live upon Earth, there were no ſuch reaſon for the impartial Execution of juſtice; but God acquainteth you this day, that ye muſt die, Heb. 9.27.Heb 9:27and after death commeth judgement.

Judex nuper eram jam judicis ante tribunal,

Subſiſtens paveo judicor ipſe modo.

Ye are but Stewards and within a ſhort time ye muſt give an account of your ſtewardſhip. It behoveth you when you ſit on the Bench of men to act faithfully, that when ye ſhall appear at the Bar of God ye may anſwer comfortably. Remember when ye are paſſing ſentence of life or death on others, that Chriſt ere long will paſſe a ſentence far more weighty even of eternal life or death on you.

Iſid.Its reported concerning the Emperours of Conſtantinople, that on their Coronation day, a Maſon is appointed to preſent unto them certain Marble ſtones, ſaying theſe Verſes,

Elege ab his ſaxis ex quo (invictiſſime Ceſar)

Chooſe (Mighty Sir) under which of theſe ſtones your pleaſure is ere long to lay your bones.Ipſe tibi tumulum me fabricare velis.

If ye that now are in robes would conſider, death will levell you with them that are in rags; if ye would with the eye of your meditation, behold your Coffins ſtanding before you, on the table in the place of judicature, it might be an excellent curb to iniquity, and ſpur to fidelity.

4 Requiſites in a good Magiſtrate. 1. Magnanimity.Now there are four things requiſite in a Magiſtrate that would diſcharge his truſt faithfully.

Firſt, courage and magnamity, Every magiſtrate ſhould be a man of mettle, not daunted with dangers, nor frighted p. 19with frowns. He ſhould ſo carry himſelf that others ſhould fear him, (as a terror to evil doers) but he ſhould fear nothing but ſin. Like Chryſoſtom, who when a threatning Meſſage was ſent him from the Empreſſe Eudoxia, go tell her, ſaid he to the Meſſenger, Nill timeo niſi peccatum. Ye are called the ſhields of the people; Pſal. 47. ult.Ps 47and ſhields ye know are ventrous weapons, they are made to bear many blows. Be thou ſtrong and very couragious, Joſh. 1.7.Josh 1:7ſaith God to the chief Magiſtrate of Iſrael. 2 Chron. 9.18. Dureſcito Dureſcito O infelix Lantgravie ſaid the poor Smith to the Lantgrave of Thuringia, who was more mild then ſtood with his peoples profit, The ſword of juſtice ſaith one, ought to be furbiſhed with the oyl of mercy; But there are caſes wherein ſeverity ſhould caſt the ſcale.2 Chr 9:18The throne of Solomon was underpropped with Lions; and a Lion is part of the Royal arms, both ſpeaking that a Lion-like ſpirit is becomming him that is in a publike place, Deut. 1.17.

Secondly, uprightneſs and integrity,2. Integrity. Its reported of a King of Perſia, that he would come of from his horſe upon the way to doe juſtice to a poor man. A Magiſtrate as he ſhould not be frighted with fear, ſo not ſwayd by favour: Ye ſhould be like a Boul without a byas running on fairly and evenly, not leaning on this ſide or on that ſide; like the Sun which affordeth as gracious influences to the low violets as to the tall cedar, to the pooreſt beggar as to the moſt potent Emperour; like a publike Conduit in a City, whence juſtice ſhould run down like water, as freely and as fully to the meaneſt as to the greateſt.But it was a bad ſpeech of Ceſar, Cauſa Caſſii melior ſed Bruto nil denegare poſſum. Plut. in vit. Ceſ. Laws were never made to be Nets only to catch the little Fiſh and to let the great ones break through. The great Judge of Heaven is no reſpecter of perſons neither ſhould Juſtices on Earth, Deut. 1.17.

That Edict of Conſtantine was worthy to be written in letters of gold, If any of my Friends, Courtiers or Servants have wronged any, let them come to me, I wil not only right them but reward them.Plut. in vit. Public. And that act of Brutus memorable, who commanded his two ſons to be executed and ſaw it done, for conſpiring with Tarquin's Ambaſſadors againſt the Commonwealth.

Thirdly, bounty and liberality,3. Liberality. Exod. 18.21. Exod. 23.8.Exod 18:21Exod 23:8 A Juſtice ſhould not only not be covetous, but hate covetouſneſs. Its the duſt of money that is blown up into the Judges eyes, that hindreth their ſight into cauſes.

p. 20It was a witty ſpeech of a pious**Vines on 1 Pet. 2.13, 14. p. 25.1 Pet 2:131 Pet 2:14 perſon, He is the beſt Magiſtrate, that is good for nothing. Ye muſt neither take bribes your ſelves, nor by your ſervants; for Optimus & maximus venderetur imperator; There is not a gift ye take, but will be as a dagger at your hearts another day; like Achans wedge of Gold it will cleave your ſouls in ſunder. It will in this particular be happy for him, that when he commeth to die,1 Sam. 12.2, 3.1 Sam 12:21 Sam 12:3 can ſay as dying Samuel, Behold, here I am, witneſſe againſt me before the Lord, and before his Anointed: Whoſe Oxe have I taken? or whoſe Aſſe have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppreſſed? or of whoſe hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes? And they ſaid, Thou haſt not defrauded nor oppreſſed, nor taken ought of any mans hands.

4. Ability.The fourth Thing requiſite in a Magiſtrate is ability. A Magiſtrate muſt be not only a man of piety, but a man of parts, quick-ſighted uf a deep apprehenſion, knowing the laws exactly; becauſe if he be not, he will ſometime or other condemn the innocent, and juſtifie the wicked. And the rather every Judge ought to be able,There are they that can make Candida de nigris, & de candentibus alba. in regard he hath to deal with men that can draw a fair Glove over a foul hand; blanch over a bad cauſe with ſpecious pretences, as Ziba againſt Mephiboſheth.

I honour the Profeſſion of the law, and I wiſh that ſome men did not diſhonour their profeſſion, who indeed value their ſubſtance above their Conſciences, not believing that of the father, In die judicii plus valebit conſcientia pura, quam marſupia plena.

Beza telleth us, that he once ſaw on a table the Pictures of four ſorts of Perſons, and their ſeveral Poſies. 1. The Courtier with this Poſie, By my ſword I defend you all. 2. The Clergy man with this Poſie, By my prayers I preſerve you all. 3. The Countrey-man with this, I feed you all. 4. The Lawyer with this, I devour you all. I requeſt Lawyers to conſider that of God to Moſes, Exod. 23.2.Exod 23:2Thou ſhalt not ſpeak in a cauſe to wreſt judgement; and that ſpeech of the Apoſtle, I can do nothing againſt the truth, 2 Cor. 13.8.2 Cor 13:8but for the truth. But I have digreſt too far already.

Secondly, If ye would fit your ſelves for death, live p. 23among men exemplarily. You that muſt die ſhortly,Live among men exemplarily. Auguſt. had need to live ſtrictly. Muſt you ere long fall, then whilſt you ſtand be holy to admiration, to imitation. Nihil ſic revocat à peccatis ſicut frequens meditatio mortis. Some ſay the ſtroaking of the belly with the hand of a dead man, will cure the Tympany; I am ſure the thoughts of death ſeriouſly laid to the heart are a good Medicine for an evil heart.

Nothing in the War will ſo much dead the Cannon, as a mound of Earth: The conſideration that ye ſhall be turned into Earth, ſhould dead the Cannons of temptation which Satan ſhoots againſt yoir ſouls.1 Pet. 2.11. Plut.1 Pet 2:11 As pilgrims and ſtrangers abſtain from fleſhly luſts which war againſt the ſoul. Lycurgus made the firſt law that the dead ſhould be buried about the temples, intimating thereby that they which are dying ſhould be very religious.Nihil facit mortem malam, niſi malum quod praecedit, vel ſequitur. Nothing maketh death evil but the evil that goeth before it; for without that no evil could follow after it. I have read of one that gave a Ring with a deaths head to a young Ruffan, upon this condition, that he ſhould meditate on it one hour every day for ſeven days together, which he did, and through the help of God, it wrought a bleſſed change in him. Take a turn or two daily in Golgotha, walk often among the Tombs; ponder frequently your own frailty, it may much quicken you to walk exemplarily.

Your high places call for holy practices. Its eſteemed one of King Alphonſus his ſayings, That a great man cannot commit a little ſin. I muſt tell you,As Ceſar ſaid, That Ceſar's wife ſhould be without all ſuſpition of fault. ye have many following you either to Heaven or Hell, in the narrow or broad way; ye had need to chooſe a right path. Great mens vices are as ſeldom unaccompanied as their perſons. Dives was a great man and a bad pattern, and he had many brethren following him to the place of torment.Vivitur exemplis potius quàm legibus. M…n are led more by the eye then by the ear, and follow rather the doings of Magiſtrates then the ſayings of Miniſters;

—**Claudian. Componitur orbis

Regis ad exemplum; nec ſit inflectere ſenſus

Humanos edicta valent, quàm vita regeniûm.

p. 22Sin indeed commeth in at firſt by propagation,

Many ſay to ſuch as Tiberius to Juſtinus, Si tu volueris ego ſum, Si tu non vis ego non ſum.but is much encreaſed by imitation.

Ye are the heads of the people, Numb. 7.2. Mich. 3.11. If the head be giddy, the body muſt needs reel. Ill humours from the head deſtroy and conſume the vitals in the body.

Iſa. 49.23.Isa 49:23Ye are the Nurſes of the people; and our Naturaliſts obſerve, that what diſeaſe Nurſts have, the Children will partake of.Joſh. 24.15. It is a great praiſe that Melancthon aſcribeth to George Prince of Anhalt, His Bed-chamber ſaith he, was Academia, curia tenplum. And Xenophon of Cyrus, that a man might winke and chooſe among his Courtiers he could not miſſe of a good man. 3. Walk humbly with God.Josh 24:15 Now how will it gall your conſciences when ye come to die, if ye have been ringleaders in iniquity, and not patterns of piety; believe it ringleaders in a rebellion will be moſt ſeverely puniſhed; and with thoſe whom ye have made wicked without repentance, ye will be made eternally woful.

Take up the practice of dying Joſhua, who was going the way of all the Earth, I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord.

Theodoſius the Emperour being asked how a Prince might promote good abroad, anſwered, By ordering all well at home. If ye cannot rule your family well, ye are unfit to rule Cities and Counties. Let me requeſt you to follow David's pattern, I will walk in the midſt of my houſe with a perfect heart until thou come unto me, (Pſal. 101.2. or O when wilt thou come unto me) leſt when ye come to die, ye have cauſe to cry out as ſhe did, They made me keeper of others vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept, Cant. 1.6.

Thirdly, As your frailty calleth upon you to be faithful in your places, holy in your practices; ſo likewiſe in the third place to walk humbly with God. I would have others to have high thoughts of you, becauſe Ye are gods; but I deſire you to have low thoughts of your ſelves, becauſe ye muſt die like men. A Magiſtrate ſhould be like a ſtar or ſpire-ſteeple, the higher he is, the leſſer he ſhould ſeem to be.Pride as one obſerveth is the ſhirt of the ſoul, put on firſt, and put off laſt: it is a weed that will grow in the beſt ſoil; but men that are higheſt in place, are uſually higheſt in ſpirit. Its rare to ſee a man great in others eyes and little in his own: Honour is often the ſtinking breath of the vulgar, which being blown into the bladder of a graceleſs heart, cauſeth it to ſwell; But here is a Pin in the p. 23Text to prick this bladder and take down its ſwelling. Did you but ſpiritually conſider the brittleneſſe of your bodies, it would abate the ſwelling of your ſpirits. I ſhould think the evil diſpoſition of your ſouls, and the frail condition of your bodies ſhould keep you low, while ye live.

Alas! notwithſtanding all your powers, places or preferm nts, what are ye, but clods of clay, a little refined earth, moving ſlime, enlivened duſt, breathing aſhes? Some Naturaliſts obſerve of Bees that when they riſe and buz on high, if you throw duſt upon them, they will houſe and be quiet. When your thoughts are lifted up on high becauſe of thoſe places in which God hath ſet you, I pray caſt ſome duſt on thoſe thoughts, rememember ye ſhall be laid as low as the worms are. Abraham was a Prince, a great man, but how much did this thought humble him;Gen. 18.27.Gen 18:27 Lo I have undertaken to ſpeak unto the Lord who am but duſt and aſhes. I have read of Agathecles King of Sicily, that being a potters ſon, he would be always ſerved in earthen veſſels to mind him of his original.There was one Willigis B…ſhop of Ments, who being ſon to a Wheelwright cauſed wheels to be hanged on the walls up and down his Pallace with theſe words written over them, Willigis, Willigis, Recole unde veneris. 4. Act zealouſly for God. Some write of a Bird ſo light and feathery that it is forced to flie with a ſtone in its mouth leſt the wind ſhould carry it away. The truth is, men that are high in place, are apt to be carried away with the wind of high mindedneſſe: they had need therefore to have earth in their minds, I mean their frailty, and it may prove through the bleſſing of Heaven a ſingular preſervative.

O that you who are Judges and Juſtices, would but take the length of your bodies in the duſt, where ye muſt ere long lie, and believe that a little dſtemper will kill you, a little ſheet will wind you, a little grave hold you, little worms feed on you, and a little time quite conſume you: could ye then be great in your own eyes? Remember that your remembrance is like unto duſt, and your bodies are bodies of clay, Job. 13.12.

Fourthly, Muſt ye die and would ye prepare for it, then be active for God whilſt ye live; the ſerious thoughts of death in your hearts will put life into your hands. This life is all your day of working, death is the night of reſting;**Rev. 14.13.Rev 14:13 the dead reſt from their labours. When ‖‖Pſal. 104.23.Ps 104:23the ſun of mans life ariſeth he goeth forth unto his labour until the evening of death. p. 24The heavenly bodies are ever in motion, though the earth ſtand ſtill; and the more pure any being is, the more active it is. Deus eſt actus purus. Fire is the moſt active of creatures without life; Angels of creatures that have life. O ſhew your ſelves to be as Angels amongſt men, by walking humbly with God; the Angels vail their faces in his preſence; by working diligently for God, Angels are ever employed in the ſervice of God.

Work induſtriouſly in your general callings, as Chriſtians;John 12.35.John 12:35 yet a little while the light is with you, walk while ye have the light. The task of Chriſtianity is great, the time ye have is little; the time ye have loſt is much: O now beſtir your ſelves in redeeming time, and improving every opportunity to the beſt advantage of your ſouls. How fervently ſhould ye pray? as not knowing but that every prayer ye pray may be your laſt prayer; that ye may never have another ſeaſon to beg mercy in for your ſouls, for your relations, for the afflicted members of the Lord Jeſus. How attentively, and how hungerly ſhould ye hear the word of life, even as for life? How carefully, and how conſcientiouſly ſhould ye keep the Sabbath, conſidering ye may be very neer your eternal Sabbath? How ſedulouſly ſhould ye hang on every Ordinance, as Bees on Flowers, never leaving them till ye have ſucked ſome honey,Praecipita tempus; mors atra impendet agenti. ſome ſweetneſs from them? Ponder this, there can be but a few days, and ye ſhall never pray more, never hear more, never ſanctifie Lord's day more, never enjoy Ordinances more; I that am now Preaching, and ye that are now hearing, muſt ſhortly be carried on mens backs, and laid in the belly of the earth; and can we do too much in ſo little time, eſpecially in a work of ſuch infinite weight!

Rev. 12.12.Rev 12:12The Divel is the more buſie becauſe his time is ſhort, and therefore ſtriveth in a quick diſpatch of the works of darkneſſe, to out-wit the children of light. The time is ſhort, therefore be indifferent about earth,1 Cor. 7.29. foreign.1 Cor 7:29 1 Cor. 7.29. the time is ſhort, therefore be diligent about Heaven; the word is, The time is rolled up; it's a Metaphor from Mariners; the Sails that were ſpread before, when they draw nigh to the Haven, are then rolled up: You know not how ſoon the p. 25ſails of your lives may be rolled up; how nigh ye are to your eternal haven; O beſtir your ſelves carefully; ply the Oars diligently, that the veſſels of your ſouls may not miſcarry eternally. Whatſoever thine hand findeth to do, Eccleſ. 9.10.Eccl 9:10do it with all thy might, for there is no work, nor knowledge, nor device in the grave whither thou goeſt.

Work induſtriouſly in your particular callings, as Magiſtrates, becauſe ye muſt die. Be active for the puniſhment of iniquity; for the encouragement of piety. Let the practiſe of Chriſt be your pattern;John 9.4. foreign. 2 Cor. 8.9. Phil. 2.6.John 9:42 Cor 8:9Phil 2:6 I muſt work the work of God while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. To work a work noteth the ſtrong intention of his ſpirit about the work: Chriſt though he was rich, and for greatneſſe the Lord's equall, yet did not (as many rich and great men do) play his work; he did ſweat at work, yea he ſweat drops, nay clods of blood.Luke 22.44.Luke 22:44 Now be ye followers of Chriſt as dear children,Magnarum rerum tarda molimina. and think you can never do enough for that Saviour which hath done ſo much for your ſouls. How ſad is it, that great bodies ſhould move ſo ſlowly?

How many talents hath God committed to you?Nothing more ſads the heart when a man comes to die, then his neglect of ſuch opportunities which God's providence or his own place have put into his hands of doing or receiving good; nor is there a ſharper corroſive then the reflection upon thoſe days that have paſſed over him, Male, aliud, nihil agentem. Vines Eſſ. Fun. p. 19. Phil. 2.7.Phil 2:7 when others have one, ye have ten: A talent is any thing that a man is betruſted with to glorifie God; and it's called a talent, becauſe of the great price that is in the leaſt opportunity to honour God: Ye have many ſuch talents; ye may hinder much wickedneſſe, further much holineſſe; be a great terror to evil doers, a great praiſe to them that do well; let it not be ſaid of you, that ye do the work of the Lord negligently.

Did not Chriſt humble himſelf for you?Magiſtrates are cuſtodes utriuſ que tabulae. Socrates was adjudged to death by the Athenians for a diſhonorable ſpeech concerning their gods. and ſhall you think it below you to ſearch Alehouſes, thoſe head quarters of Hell; to enquire into mens obſervation of God's day; to uſe all means whereby ye may know mens prophanation of God's name, by helliſh oathes, and curſed blaſphemies, and abuſe of God's creatures by drunkenneſſe, that ſo they may be ſeverely puniſhed? Alas, a few dayes will come, and the beſt of you ſhall have no ſuch opportunity to diſcover your p. 26love to God for his abundant mercies;Plut. in vit. Nici. Vid Lev. 24.16. Job 31.26, 27, 28.Lev 24:16Job 31:26Job 31:27Job 31:28 your thankfulneſs to Chriſt for his precious merits: do therefore now act to the utmoſt of your power for the glory of God, and your Saviour.

Be not like the talleſt trees, which bring forth either no fruit,Matth. 25.26, 30.Matt 25:26Matt 25:30 or that which is only for Swine. Remember God puts no difference betwixt nequaquam & nequam, an idle and an evil ſervant; the unprofitable ſervant is for utter darkneſſe.

Do but conſider the time of your departure may be at hand, and ſhould not this reſolution be in your hearts, to act vigorouſly and ſtrenuouſly for God? The neerer ye are to your centre, the faſter ye ſhould move: The ſetting Sun ſhineth moſt brightly: The dying Swan ſings moſt ſweetly: The approaches of a Needle are ſo much the more quick, by how much it draweth neerer to the Loadſtone: The Rivers run with a ſtronger ſtream,Oportet imperatorem ſtantem mori. Veſpa. when they are about to empty themſelves into the Ocean. Ye are neerer death then ever, be quicker in your motions for God then ever, that it may be ſaid of every one of you, how young ſoever ye may die, as one ſaid of Juel, Diu vixit & ſi non diu fuit.

5. Mind the power of godlineſſe.Fifthly, Muſt ye die, and would ye prepare for death? labour to find ſome inward work of grace wrought upon your hearts; be not contented with forms, but mind the power of godlineſs. A man may live by a form, but he cannot die by a form: An heart not ballanced with grace, may hold out in the calm of life; but when the boiſterous winds of ſickneſſe blow, and the ſtorm of death cometh, it will ſuffer ſhipwrack: When death cometh, when that damp ariſeth, the Candle of Profeſſion ſeparated from the Power of Religion, will firſt burn blew, and then go out: The bellows of death will blow the ſpark of ſincerity into a flame, and the blaze of hypocriſie into nothing. O therefore get that ſaying of our Saviour written on your hearts; Verily, John 3.3.John 3:3verily, I ſay unto you, except a man be born again, he can never ſee the Kingdom of God. Pious Mr. Strong on Heb. 12.14. p. 39. vid.Heb 12:14A worthy Divine, now in Heaven, obſerveth four things from this verſe: 1: The manner of the aſſertion, Verily, verily. 2. The matter aſſerted, except a man be born again; Non unius partis correctionem, p. 27ſed totius naturae renovationem deſignat. Calvin. He that is born but once, dieth twice. He that is born twice, dieth but once.3. The univerſality of the aſſertion, it is equivalent to an univerſal propoſition, though he be a man civil in his converſation, a Saint in his generation, yet he muſt be born again. 4. The neceſſity of it, without regeneration no ſalvation; he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God.

You know what the Phariſees were, how ſtrict in their lives,aaPhil 3.6.Phil 3:6 according to the Law blameleſſe; how abundant inbbMatth. 23.14.Matt 23:14 duty; they made longccMatth 6.Matt 6 prayers; gave muchddLuke 18.12.Luke 18:12 alms; faſted twice aeeMatth. 23.15.Matt 23:15 week; compaſt Sea and Land to make Proſelytes: Nay, they were ſo holy that the Jews would ſpeak commonly, That if but two in the world went to Heaven, the one ſhould be a Scribe, and the other a Phariſee: Yet our Saviour ſpeaketh expreſly;Matth. 5.20.Matt 5:20 Except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of God. Phariſaical holineſſe will never evidence your right to eternal happineſſe.foreign Duo negativae apud Graecos vehementius negant. He that conſidereth how great their priveledges, how ſeemingly gracious their practices were, will at firſt wonder why Chriſt ſhould ſet a double bolt on Heavens gate to keep them out: But their chief falling was in this which I am exhorting you to, namely, in the want of the power of godlineſſe; their actions (to the eye of man) good, but their affections were bad; their practices did not proceed from renewed and gracious principles: Whatſoever civility was without in the life, there was no real ſanctity within in the heart.

You that are Magiſtrates may probably be free from ſcandalous enormities; none can taxe you, it may be, with ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, whoredome, or the like; nay, I hope you go farther, that ye perform duty in ſecret by your ſelves in private with your wives and children, in publike with the Congregation, that ye inſtruct your families in the things of God, and be earneſt with all under your power to mind their eternall good; theſe things are commendable, and the Lord increaſe the number of ſuch Magiſtrates; but I muſt tell you that though this reformation in your lives be good, yet without an alteration and change in your hearts, it is not ſufficient. I may ſay to you as Chriſt to the p. 28young, One thing lackeſt thou yet. As the rude Satyre in Plutarch, who ſtrove to make a dead man ſtand upright, had ſo much wit as to ſay, Deeſt aliquid intus; There wants ſomething within. So I ſay to you, if ye go no further, there is ſpiritual life, the ſeed of God, the divine nature, the new creation, the power of godlineſſe wanting within; without this all other things will come to nothing. Alchimy Gold may ſhine brighter then true Gold; but as ſome obſerve, it will neither cheer the heart as a Cordial, nor paſſe the ſeventh five: A dram of true grace will be of more worth to you when ye come to die, then a Sea of gifts. Heaven is the Father's houſe, and none can come thither but his own children, ſuch as are born of God.

6. Apply the death of the Saviour to your own ſouls.Laſtly, If ye muſt die, to prepare your ſelves for death make ſure of an intereſt in Chriſt, in the death of the Lord Jeſus: There is no ſhroud to this, namely, to be wrapt in the winding ſheet of Chriſt's righteouſneſſe.

I would requeſt …ou to diſcharge your truſts ſo faithfully, to work for Heaven ſo induſtriouſly, to walk with God ſo humbly, to live among men ſo exactly and exemplarily, to mind the renovation of your natures ſo carefully, out of thankfulneſs to God for his Son, out of affection to him that hath loved you, and waſhed you in his blood, out of a deſire to cleer up your title to the Covenant of grace, as if ye were to be juſtified by your works, to purchaſe Heaven by your holineſs;Iſa. 64.6.Isa 64:6 but when ye have done all, throw them away as filthy rags, as a menſtruous cloth, as dung and droſſe in compariſon of the excellency of the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt.Phil. 3.8, 9.Phil 3:8Phil 3:9

He that is to incounter with this grand enemy death, had need to have Armour of proof:Joh. 11.25, 26.John 11:25John 11:26 And as David ſaid of Goliah's ſword, ſo I of this death of Chriſt; There is no weapon like it. That which makes a man die with true courage, and ſtep with an holy boldneſſe unto the grave, is to remember that Chriſt died not only before him, but for him; and hath conquered and vanquiſhed the King of terrors upon his own dunghil.

I deſire, ſaith the Apoſtle, to know nothing but Chriſt, and him crucified: All the mercies that believers enjoy, p. 29come ſtreaming to them in the blood of Chriſt; though there be much attribued to his interceſſion,**Calvin obſerveth on 1 Joh. 2.1. that Chriſts interceſſion is nothing elſe but a perpetual application of his death. Chriſt intercedeth by ſhewing to his Father his wounds in his hands and ſide, quot vulnera, tot ora, to plead for ſinners.1 John 2:1 yet that like the King's ſtamp on ſilver, addeth no real value to it, only maketh it currant. By his deathaaEph. 1.7.Eph 1:7 ſin is pardoned; God's juſtice ſatisfied, his wrathccCol. 2.14, 15. Heb 2.14.Col 2:14Col 2:15Heb 2:14 appeaſed; Satan vanquiſhed;ddGal. 3.13.Gal 3:13 the curſe of the Law endured;eeTit. 2.14. Heb. 9.14.Titus 2:14Heb 9:14 grace purchaſed for the Saints here,ffJohn 14.2. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56.John 14:21 Cor 15:551 Cor 15:56 and an eternal weight of glory hereafter.

bbEph. 1.6, 5, 2.Eph 1:6Eph 1:5Eph 1:2The whole Ring of Chriſt's Mediatorſhip ſurely takes its value, not only from the Diamond of his Divinity, but alſo from the Paſſion of his Humanity. Its out of the carkaſſe of this Lion of the Tribe of Judah, that the true Sampſons get ſo much honey of comfort. Thence it is that the Apoſtle rings ſuch a challenge in the ears of death, O death, where is thy ſting? O grave, where is thy victory? Vide Mr. Herberts temple-dialogue between the Chriſtian and death, p. 164. Lenietur mortis damnum; non enim eſt invicta ut antea, cum Chriſtus illam ſuperavit, ac in ſuo certamine crucis, faeliciſſime vicit. Pet. Martyr. loc. comm. de Luct. pro mort. Gen. 46.30.Gen 46:30The ſting of death is ſin; But thanks be to God, which hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh as alluding to a ſouldier that having fought with, and diſarmed his adverſary, triumpheth, O Sir! where is your ſword wherewith you threatned ſo bitterly? where is your piſtol with which you would wound me mortally? O death! where is thy ſting with which thou threatnedſt to make me ſmart eternally? O grave! where is that victory of which thou boaſteſt ſo exceedingly? Thanks be to God that hath given us the victory through Chriſt. Chriſt died not only in bonum fidelium ſed in loco eorum, not only for their good, but in their ſtead; now death like a Bee left its ſting, and loſt its ſting in Chriſt, that now it may make a noiſe, but cannot ſting the believer.

Surely If Jacob could ſay when he had ſeen Joſeph, Now let me die, ſince I have ſeen thy face: The ſoul that with the eye of faith hath ſeen this ſon of Joſeph, may with greater boldneſs dare death, and encounter the grave. How ſweetly doth old Simeon ſing out his ſouls requiem, having (ſaith one) laid in his heart that holy Child Jeſus,Luke 2.29, 30. The ſoules ſolace.Luke 2:29Luke 2:30 whom he lapt in his armes, ſings his Nunc dimittas; I fear no ſin, I dread no death: I have lived enough, I have my life; I have longed p. 30enough, I have my love; I have ſeen enough, I have my light; I have ſerved enough, I have my ſaint; I have ſorrowed enough, I have my joy: Sweet babe, let this Pſalm ſerve for a lullaby to thee, and for a Funeral to me. Oh do thou ſleep in my armes, and let me ſleep in thy peace.

Valde proteſt atus ſum me nolle ſic a Deo ſatiari. Luther. Melch. Adam in vit. Luth.Be not contented with any gift from God beneath his ſon. Say as Abraham, Lord, what wilt thou give me, if I go Chriſtleſſe. Lord, thou haſt given a plentiful eſtate, comfortable kinred, a goodly dwelling, lovely children, much honour from men, many lawful pleaſures and delights: But Ah Lord; what are theſe to a Chriſt? Give me Chriſt or I die: yea Lord, give me Chriſt or I die eternally.

View thy Saviour on the Croſſe, fighting with this laſt enemy, for thy ſins, for thy ſoul. See his arms ſtretched out to embrace thee, his head hanging down to kiſſe thee, his feet nailed that he cannot run from thee, his ſide opened to ſhew thee how nigh thou lieſt to his heart; and take him down with the arms of faith, and lay him in the ſepulchre of thy ſoul: O be not faithleſſe but believing, Cry out, My Lord and my God.

I tell thee couldſt thou heap up mountains of prayers? couldſt thou pray ſo frequently that thy heart even bled within thee, and ſo frequently that thy knees were as hard as Camels knees, as is reported of James the brother of our Lord; couldſt thou weep (as ſome ſpeak of Mary Magdalen in Balba) thirty years together; couldſt thou faſt as many Millions of years as there have been moments ſince the Creation: yet without an intereſt in this death of Chriſt it would all be of no worth, of no value, to no purpoſe at all.

Motives.I ſhall in the next place annex ſome motives, that the former particulars may have the deeper impreſſion on your affections.

1. Other things are unprofitable. Honour is called foreign An opinion. Matth. 4.8. foreign. A fancy.Matt 4:81. Conſider how vain and unprofitable all other things wil be to you when ye fall. Do but ponder that word, fall, when ye die.

1. Ye fall from the higheſt pinacle of honour and reputation. The place of Magiſtracy which knoweth you now, will know you no more. One of the Ancients ſtanding by Ceſar's tomb, cryeth out, Ʋbi nunc pulchritudo Ceſars? quo p. 31abiit magnificentia ejus? Where is now the beauty?Acts 25.23. foreign, A mathematical figure, a meer notion. 1 Cor. 7.31. One was appointed at the Popes inthronization, to burn a wad of Straw, and running before the Pope, to cry out, Sic tranſit gloria mundi. Gen. 25.32.Acts 25:231 Cor 7:31Gen 25:32 what is become of the magnificence? where are the Armies now? where the Honours, the Triumphs, the Trophies of Ceſar? All was gone, when Ceſar was gone. Your honours, and your worſhips, your power and your places all die with you, if not before you. Titles of honour gliſter like Glowworms in the dark night of this life: but in the day of death, they all vaniſh and diſappear. Its probable ſome of you, may be nobly born, finely bred, highly advanced; but when ye come to die, ye may ſay of all theſe as Eſau of his birthright, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit ſhall this birthright do to me? What good will my honour, my credit do me? Chriſt will do me good when I come to die; ſo will the power of godlineſs: but none of my places or preferments will.

2. Ye fall from your greateſt treaſures and poſſeſſions;1 Tim. 6.7. All the Cains of Adam are Abel's; all the poſſeſſions of man are vanity. Mr. Broughton.1 Tim 6:7 As ye brought nothing into the world, ſo it's certain ye ſhall carry nothing out of the world. Saladin the mighty Monarch of the Eaſt is gone, and hath carried no more along with him then ye ſee, (i. e. a ſhirt hung up for that purpoſe) ſaid the Prieſt that went before the Bier.

The holy Ghoſt obſerveth well, that rich men are by their wealthaa1 Tim. 6.17.1 Tim 6:17 rich only in this world, and they arebb1 John 3.17.1 John 3:17 this worlds goods. For as the Martyr ſaid, I am going to the place where money beareth no maſtery; In another world Gold and Silver are not currant coyn.Holy Mr. Burroughs. A Divine (now with Chriſt) giveth me two ſtories of dying rich men; The one is of a Miſer, that being to die, called for his bags, and hugging them, crieth out, Muſt I leave you, Muſt I leave you? The other is of one that being on his death-bed, called for ſome pieces of Gold, and layed them to his heart; but preſently ſaid, I find them cold; Take them away; They will not do, They will not do. The unſearchable riches that are in Chriſt will do; His warm blood applied by faith, will not be cold to thy heart.

3. Ye fall from all your friends and relations; when ye die, they that were neer and dear to you will leave you. Ye may when ye lie on your death beds look on your left hands, and there is none to help you; on your right hands, p. 32and there is none to pity you; on the one ſide of the bed, thy neighbours may be ſighing and ſobbing; on the other ſide thy wife and children may be wringing their hands, and renting their hearts;ccPſal 142.4, 5.Ps 142:4Ps 142:5 but if thou canſt not then with David, look up and ſay, Lord, thou art my refuge: O what a ſighing, ſobbing, weeping condition art thou in indeed!

O what a comforting cordial will it be to a dying perſon, to be able in uprightneſſe of heart to ſay withddPſal. 73.26. It was an excellent ſaying of a worthy perſon to a great Peer of this Realm: (that ſhewed him his houſes goods, lands, honours, pleaſures, and the like) My Lord, you had need to make ſure of Heaven; otherwiſe your Lordſhip will be a very great loſer when you die.Ps 73:26 Aſaph, My fleſh and my heart fail me; but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. When news cometh that ye muſt die, can the ableſt Phyſitian in the world, preſcribe or provide ſuch a cordial as good Hezekiah had? He turned to the wall and weepeth, ſaying, Lord, thou knoweſt I have walked before thee with a perfect heart.

Believe me, Sirs, your honours, treaſures, and relations, will ſhake hands with you at death; like leaves in Autumn, fall from you; like Abſalom's Mule, fail you even in your greateſt extremity. Then Dives and his diſhes; Herod and his Harlot;eeIſa. 38.2, 3.Isa 38:2Isa 38:3 Baltaſar and his bowls; Achan and his wedges; Balaam and his wages; the ambitious man, and his honours; voluptuous man, and his pleaſures; covetous man and treaſures muſt part, and that for ever, ever. Doth it not concern you then, to chooſe that part that ſhall never be parted with,2. Hereby your names will be highly honorable. Prov. 3.13, 15. Salvian complained that in his time men thought Religion made Noble men vile; when indeed, ſaith he, it maketh vile men Noble. Job 1.8. Car. in loc.Prov 3:13Prov 3:15Job 1:8 which ſhall never be taken from you?

2. By this means you names may be highly honoured; true glory is entailed on piety. The Heathen would go through the Temple of Vertue to the Temple of Honour. Happy is the man that findeth wiſedom; length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour.

I do not ſay that wicked men ſhall commend you for godlineſſe; no, their good word were a blot to your names. What evill have I done, ſaid the Philoſopher, that this vicious wretch ſpeaketh well of me? Yet godlineſſe will make you like ſtatues of Gold, which the polluted breath of ungodly ones cannot ſtain; the more the dirty feet of men rub on a figure graven in braſſe, the more luſtre they give it: But God and godly men will honour you for holineſſe. What doth God ſay of a living Saint? Haſt thou not conſidered my ſervant Job? i. e. I am ſure in thy travels p. 33and wandrings about the world, thou couldſt not chooſe but take notice of Job; he is my jewel, my darling,Job was a godly magiſtrate. Godlineſſe doth truly ennoble a perſon, the four Monarchs without it are reſembled to four beaſts, King Herod to a fox, Nero to a lyon, the Princes of Iſrael to the kine of Baſhan Nam genus & proavos & quae non fecimus ipſi, Vix ea noſtra voc…. Ovid. a ſpecial man among all the ſons of men: He is ſuch a ſpectacle, as may juſtly draw all eyes, and hearts after him: When thou walkedſt to and fro, didſt thou not make a ſtand at Job's door? I cannot but look upon him my ſelf, and conſider him; therefore ſurely thou haſt conſidered him. And how honourably doth God ſpeak, not only of a godly Magiſtrate living, but when he is dead alſo?ffJoſh. 1.2.Josh 1:2 Moſes my ſervant is dead. ggIſa. 41.8.Isa 41:8The ſeed of Abraham my friend. So godly men will honour you if ye fear God: When your eyes are ſhut, mens mouthes will be open: And what will good men ſay of a pious judge? There was a Judge that would not ſwerve a tittle from the Law, but executed it couragiouſly, without fear, impartially without favour; who made the Malefactor to tremble with his frowns, and cheered the innocent with his ſmiles: He was one that did juſtly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God; of whom the world was not worthy, for he is now enjoying a weight of glory. And of a good Juſtice when dead; what a character will good men living give? There was a Juſtice that would ſecure his conſcience, whatever became of his credit; that would pleaſe God, how much ſoever he diſpleaſed men; that was not only ſtrict to puniſh, but active to find out ſwearers, drunkards, and Sabbath breakers:Pious Maſter Vines at Eſſex Fu. p. 15. He was one that ever counted the toleration of men in ſuch ſins, an intolerable ſin: Or if you will have it in the language of a learned Divine now in Heaven; He was a Juſtice that would ſcatter drunkards from their Ale-bench, and never underſtood the language of a Bottle or a Basket. O how gallantly, if ye act nobly for God, will theſe trumpets ſound your praiſes when ye are in the place of ſilence.

When of a wicked Magiſtrate they will ſpeak when he is dead, (as Nazianzen of Julian, Caligula could ſay of his father in law Marcus Silanus, that he was but a golden brute.when he was ſmitten and wounded; It was to him indeed vulnus lethale, but foreign) The ſickneſs whereby he died was (poſſibly) damnation to him, but it was ſalvation to us; we are thereby freed from his wicked pattern, and ungodly practiſes. Or as the Romans of Pompey, by a witty ſolleciſme, Miſera p. 34noſtra magnus eſt, The more he was advanced, the more our miſery encreaſed. The very * Heathen can tell us of a long lived vicious man, Diu fuit, non diu vixit. Multum jactatu eſt, Senec. ad Paulin. cap. 8.non multum navigavit. Believe me, the higheſt ungodly Magiſtrate when he dyeth, goeth out like a Candle that leaves a ſtinking ſent, a noyſome ſmell behind him.

3. If ye mind godlineſs, your deaths will be truly peaceable.3. Hereby your deaths will be truly peaceable. An ungodly man can never die with true peace, though he may die in much ſecurity. He may die by his own hands, and yet not with his own will.hhLuke 12.20. Job 27.8.Luke 12:20Job 27:8 Such a mans ſoul is taken from him, and ſnatch'd away by fo…ce.

Were I not by experience too too much acquainted how hard and deſperately wicked the heart of man is, I ſhould much wonder how any man ſhould die in his wits, that dyeth not in the faith of Chriſt; that their ſouls go not out of their bodies, as the Divels out of them that were poſſeſſed, renting, raging, foaming and tea…ing. I am confident were the conſcience awakened, no graceleſs wretch alive can look death in the face with blood in his ch…eks. It muſt needs make the ſtouteſt heart alive to quake, to look that diſtemper in the face, that at once may both kill him and damn him.

Yet we ſee by experience, that many die like Lambs, whilſt their ſouls are amongſt Lions,Ariſtotle when dying ſpake thus (ſaith one) Dubius morior, que vadam, neſcio. And Adrian more dolefully, Animula Vagula, blandula, quae nunc abibis in loca, &c. and they are going to the place of Dragons. We read there are no bands in the death of rich wicked men, Pſal. 73.4. And that phraſe in Job. 21.13. In a moment they go down to the grave, is generally interpreted thus, They die quickly and quietly. In quiete in infernum deſcendunt, ſaith an Expoſitour, like a Lampe that goeth out of it ſelf when the Oyl faileth. So Ceſar ſaid, the day before he was ſlain, Finis vitae commodiſſimus eſt repen…inus & inopinatus. And Julian the Apoſtate ſaid, Vitam repoſcenti naturae, tanquam de bitor bonae fidei, redditurus, exulto. But this quietneſs ariſeth or rather carnall ſecurity to them, not from any knowledge of their good eſtate, but from ignorance of their bad eſtate. A wicked mans hope is like the giving up of the Ghoſt, Job. 11.20. He breaths out his ſoul, life, and hope together.

Pſal. 33.37. Some of the Martyrs thanked their Judges for condemning them, Sententiis veſtris gratias agimus, cum damnamur à vobis a deo abſolvimur. Tertul. Apol. c. 5. Si vis in pace mari, ſis ſervus dei.Ps 33:37The good m…n only hath true hope in his death, Prov. 14.32. I am neither aſhamed to live, nor afraid to die, having p. 35a good Maſter to go to, ſaid Ambroſe. And how manlike did that feminine Martyr ſubſcribe her Confeſſion,**Fox Acts, vol. 2. p. 576. Extrema Chriſtianorum deſiderantur etſi non exordia. Florus ſaith of the Romans, Populus Roſaepe praeliis, nunquam bello victus. They were often conquered in skirmiſhes, but never in a pitcht battell. The godly may be often foyld in their lives, but never in their deaths. At that long run they are always too hard for their moſt potent adverſaries. 4. This will make your conditions everlaſtingly comfortable. Subſcribed by me Ann Askew, that neither wiſheth for death, nor feareth its might, but is as merry as one that is bound for Heaven. He that with the Apoſtle can ſay, I have fought a good fight, 2 Tim. 4.8. may ſail with a Plerophory, with top and top gallant into the Ocean of eternity. An happy death is the concluſion of an holy life. The godly man and his godlineſs are like Saul and Jonathan; lovely in their lives, and in their deaths they are not divided.

Now what an Argument is here to ſtir you up to godlineſſe? Is any thing more deſirable then a good end, then to doe your laſt act well? The evening crownes the day. The laſt Scene commends the act, Finis perficit tam agentem quam actionem. Balaam could deſire to die the death of the righteous, and to have his latter end like theirs, Numb. 23.10. The Papiſts have a Proverb, It's good to live in France (becauſe there is moſt liberty) and to die in Italy (there is moſt Popiſh purity and ſtrictneſs) When Julius Ceſar was ſurpriſed and wounded in the Senate, he caſt his robe about him, ut honeſtè caderet, that he might die decen…ly. If ye would not die ill, then be ſure ye live well; let holineſs be your way, and happineſs ſhall be your end.

4. This will make your eſtates and conditions eternally comfortable. Death to you then will be no night, but the day-break of eternal brightneſſe. O what welcome will Chriſt give that Magiſtrate in Heaven, that hath ſerved him faithfully on Earth! All the good ye doe for God or his people, is now perfectly recorded, and ſhall then be bountifully rewarded. It's obſervable the Epiſtl…s to the Churches begin with Novi opera, and end with Vincenti dabo, to aſſure us that Chriſt is a ſtrict obſerver of our good works at firſt, and will be a rich rewarder of them at laſt.

All your …nduſtry in your generall callings of Chriſtianity, all your prayers are now on the file in Heaven, all your tears for ſin are in God's bottle, all your faſtings, watchings, duties in ſecret between God and your own ſouls, in publike in the great Congregation: All your ſedulity in your particular callings of Magiſtracy, all your pains p. 36to preſerve us in peace, all your labour for the Lord's honour, all your juſtifying the righteous, condemning the wicked, all the good ye doe, evil ye prevent, if done out of conſcientious Principles are not loſt,Locker 2 Kings. 10.30. If God valued counterfeit coyn at ſo high a rate, how highly will he value true gold. Eſſe Chriſtum cum Paulo ſumma ſecuritas, eſſe Paulum cum Chriſto ſumma felicitas. Ber. Aug. on thoſe words, No man can ſee me and live, ſaith, Moriar domine ut te videam. Auſtin deſired to ſee Romam in flore, Paulum in ore, Chriſtu… in corpore. Bede cometh after him and correcteth his laſt thus, Imo vero regem in ſolio ſtellato ſedentem, the King in his glory rather. I wiſh for death, ſaith Melancthon, Ʋt deſiderato fruar conſpectu chriſti. Melch. Ad.2 Kgs 10:30 but will all be found to your praiſe, honour and glory at the comming of Chriſt. Duty is ſweet at laſt, it cometh off with Heaven, though Hell dog it for a time. If God give that Magiſtrate Jehu, who ſerved him in Hypocriſie, an earthly Kingdom to the fourth generation; ſurely he will give an Heavenly Kingdome that is eternal to thoſe Magiſtrates that ſerve him in ſincerity.

O how comfortable will your conditions be when ye die, if ye be cordial to God, and zealous for God, whilſt ye live, ye ſhall be wi…h Chriſt, is not that enough? Did the wiſe men rejoyce ſo much to ſee the ſtar; and will not your hearts (think ye) rejoyce much more to ſee the Sun in its Noon-day brightneſs? This was the ground of Paul's deſiring death, Phil. 1.23. This was the rich inheritance that Chriſt bequeathd to his in his laſt Will and Teſtament, Joh. 17.24. This was the enlivening cordial which the Phyſitian of ſouls adminiſtred to the dying thief, Luke 23.43. In a word, this is the top of the Saints ambition here, and the apex of their perfection hereafter, even to enjoy Chriſt. Ignatius could ſay, Fire, Croſſe, breaking of my bones, quartering of my members, and all the torments that Man and Divel can invent, Let come, ſo I may enjoy my Lord Jeſus. And Jerome thus ſweetly, If my father ſtood weeping on his knees before me, and my mother hanging on my neck behind, and my brethren, ſiſters, children, and kinsfolk howling on every ſide to retein me in a ſinful life; I would fling my mother to the ground, run over my father, tread my kinred under my feet that I might run to Chriſt. What is that which cauſeth the Saint, to be ſo buſie about the Scriptures? but becauſe they are they that teſtifie of Chriſt, they prize the Cabinet for the Jewels ſake; what maketh the godly man ſo frequent at prayer? ſurely becauſe therein he enjoyeth Communion with his Saviour, with Jeſus Chriſt; his voice to every Ordidance is, Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth. Now this is the felicity of the Magiſtrate that is godly, he ſhall be with Chriſt when he dieth. There will p. 37be a perfect freedome from all evill; when the Sun is at the higheſt there ſhall be no ſhadow. When the Chriſtian hath paſſed this red Sea, he ſhall ſee all his enemies both bodily and ſpiritual dead on the ſhore.

There will be a full fruition of all good,Pſal. 16. ult.Ps 16 In his preſence will be fulneſſe of joy, and at his right hand pleaſures for evermore. The preſence of this King will make a Court indeed; There will be all that thine eye ever ſaw, or thine heart ever deſired, or thy tongue ever asked, or thy mind ever conceived; yea ten thouſand times more then thou canſt either ask or think. There will be all beams of light in this Sun, all ſtreams of water in this Ocean, out of whom as out of a chriſtal Fountain, thou ſhalt drink down all the refined ſweetneſſe of all Creatures in Heaven and Earth for ever. And this Condition will be eternally thus comfortable, 1 Theſ. 4.17. We ſhall ever be with the Lord. O how ſweet is that word! Ever, Ever to be happy and ever happy, to enjoy Chriſt fully, immediately, and ever to enjoy him. Certainly as the Word, ever is the Hell of Hell,**Baxter's Reſt excellently. ſo it is the Heaven of Heaven. Frailty is a flaw in the beſt diamond of nature, which abateth its price. Eternity is one of the moſt precious jewels in the Crown of glory, which encreaſeth its value exceedingly.

What an Argument is here to incite you to live to Chriſt,Cyprus famoſa divitiis paupertatem populi Rom. ut occuparetur, ſolicitavit. Sextus Rufus. why? when ye die ye ſhall eternally live with Chriſt. When the Gauls had once taſted the wine, made of the grapes in Italy, they marched eagerly deſiring to conquer it. I have given you a taſte of Canaans grapes; O uſe violence for the inheritance above; Be conſtant, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for your labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. ult.Plutarch. Pericles that famous Oratour, before ever he pleaded would intreat his God, that not a word might fall from him beſides his cauſe. Plut. in vit.

To conclude all, Its reported that Scipio African when he had any weighty work in hand, would go before day into the Capital, in Coelum Jovis, quaſi conſultans de Republica cum Jove. d And alſo that Moſes in four cauſes which came before him; two whereof were not weighty, and two were more material; Caeterum tam de his quam de illis dicebat, Non Audivi. Of both the lighter and weightier Moſes ſaid, I have not heard; To wit, from the Lord: to ſhew that a deliberation and conſultation as it were p. 38with God,Jewiſh Antiq. lib. 5. cap. 6. Plato in his 6 lib. de legibus would have the Palaces of Princes joyned unto temples. ought to be in all judgement before ſentence be pronounced. Your cuſtome (Sirs) is commendable to make your ſupplication to God, before the adminiſtration of juſtice to men. I beſeech you again and again in the bowels of Chriſt, As ye would have your Saviour to ſtand by you, when all your friends, eſtates, honours will fail you, as ye would have your names to ſmell a ſweet ſavour in the Churches of God, when your bodies ſhall be rotten, as ye would die the deaths of the righteous and have your latter end like theirs, as ye would render up your accounts with joy when ye muſt appear at the Judgement ſeat of Chriſt: Now execute juſtice impartially, Live among your inferiours exemplarily, Walk with God humbly, Work for God zealouſly, Mind the power of ſanctity, and know a crucified Saviour. In a word, let true righteouſneſs towards men, and reall holineſs towards God, be your work while ye live; that perfect holineſs among men that are good, and eternal happineſs in the fruition of God may be your reward when ye die. For though he hath ſaid, Ye are gods: and all of you are children of the moſt High; Yet ye muſt die like men, and fall like one of the Princes.

FINIS.

ERATA.

Page 2. line 13. for uJpiter read Jupiter, line. 21. for Evangelical read Angelical.

End of the text · George Swinnock, The Gods are Men (1657)