The Believers Happy Change by Dying, Sermon

The Believers Happy Change by Dying · Sermon

THE Believers happy Change BY DYING As it was Recommended in a SERMON Preached, on the Occaſion of the DEATH of Capt. Thomas Daniel Eſq. Who was interred the day before, November 17th 1683.

By the Reverend Mr. Joſhua Moodey, late Paſtor of the Church of Chriſt at Portſmouth in New-England, now gone to Reſt.

Iſa. 57.2.

He ſhall enter into peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds, each one walking in his Uprightneſs.

BOSTON in N. E. Printed by B. Green, and J. Allen, 1697.

p. 3The Heads of a SERMON Preached upon the Occaſion of the Death of Capt. Thomas Daniel, Eſqr. Who was Interred on the 17th. of November, 1683. Being Satturday, and this was Preacht the next Day.

Daniel XII.13.

But go thou thy way until the end be, for thou ſhalt reſt, & Stand in thy Lott at the End of Dayes.

A Prudent Phyſician obſerves the State of his Patient's Body, and Adminiſters accordingly, Purgatives, Cordials, &c as his Condition may require.

The Scripture is the Chriſtian's Apothecaries Shop where he may go and take freely (if he buy, it is without money and without Price, p. 4as Iſa. 55.1.) what his Occaſions call for. If a man needs Reproof, Correction, Doctrine, Inſtruction, &c. all theſe are there to be had. 2 Tim. 3.16. I… Cordials, they are ready, Rom. 15.4. David experienced the Lords Statutes to be his Songs in the Houſe of his Pilgrimage. Pſal. 119.54. And tells us that he had fainted unleſs he had believed to ſee the Goodneſs of the Lord. (Pſal. 27.14.) of which the Scripture gives an account.

The laſt Lords-Day we were called upon in the word (and that in compliance with ſuch awful Diſpenſations of Divine Providence as were then among us) to mourn & weep, but withal to weep as tho' we wept not; ſince which time we have been under ſuch Diſpenſations as call for an Ocean of Tears, ſo that there is leſs danger of exceeding; our great care is (or ſhould be) leſt thro' inſenſibleneſs of Gods hand we be found ſhort of our Duty.

We were yeſterday at the opening of a Grave, wherein no ſmall part of the remaining Glory of this Province is covered up.

Death, and Graves, and Funeral Diſcourſes are of late grown common among us, tho' ſuch Graves (I confeſs) are not common.

Since the coming in of this laſt Month, how many Witneſſes hath the Lord renewed againſt us? how many Deaths in this little place? Let me without offence allude to a Text in 2 Sam. 2.30. where the loſs of Davids ſide is reckoned up and worded thus [Nineteen men and Aſahel] And why p. 5not twenty men? Becauſe Aſahel was a man of ſingular Worth, and therefore deſerved to be named ſingly, and hence not reckoned in the number of the vulgar, but ſet by himſelf. Among our ſelves I may ſay, we have loſt within the time prefixed preciſely the like number, and let it be thus worded [Nineteen men and Daniel] A perſon that deſerved to be diſtinctly mentioned, let him ſtand alone, it being very difficult to find an equal to ſet by him. It was part of Iſraels Bleſſing. (Numb. 23 9.) to dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the Nations. A Daniel he was indeed, Daniel ſignifies Judgment of God, or Judgment from God, and we may ſay ſo of him two ways, either,

He was a man of Judgment, which was given him by God from whom all Wiſdom, Prudence and Judgment comes, and he had a large meaſure of it, was a man of great Judgment, Meekneſs and Moderation alſo, prudent and patient, as all that knew him know.

Again, Judgment of God, as a man the taking away of whom is a great Judgment from God upon us, for ſo is the removal of the Prudent and Counſeller, &c. accounted (Iſa. 3.1 —3.) A man whoſe loſs eſpecially at ſuch a time we ſhall have occaſion many a Day hence to bewail, a uſeful perſon removed (I fear in Judgment to us) from the Evil to come. Thus God takes away ſuch of whom the World is not worthy, and leaves ſuch among us that are not worthy of a place in the World.

I remember ſome of his dying words. I have p. 6(ſaid he) eſpecially of late times made it any Buſineſs to ſecure mine Intereſt in Chriſt, and have made ſuch progreſs therein, that I can hopefully lean upon him for pardon and life, and am willing to dye. So lived, ſo died this pious, righteous, prudent, patient, amiable perſon. I neither need nor dare flatter in the caſe. To flatter a man is to ſpeak more good of him than he deſerves, a Crime not ſo eaſily committed upon ſo worthy a Subject. We may and muſt ſpeak of perſons and things as they be, and of him we may truly ſay as David ſaid of Abner, 2. Sam. 3.38, 39. Know you not that here is a Prince and great man fallen this Day in Iſrael, and I am this day weak, &c. A Text which I had ſome thoughts of making the Subject of my preſent Diſcourſe, had I not been for ſome cogent reaſons diverted; however take theſe four notes from the words, very ſuitable to our preſent Concerns, which I ſhall but name, and come to my Text.

1. Men of Prudence and Conduct, are great men; yea, Princes in a Place. So is Abner called, and ſo was our Daniel.

2. Whatever perſons be in themſelves, or whatever the Concernment of the place is in them, yet Death will make them fall. This great man and Prince (ſaith David) is fallen. Wiſe men dye as well as fools. Pſa. 49.10. Neither piety nor prudence, nor uſefulneſs can keep men from falling. Princes and Counſellors, the Studs and Staies of a Place muſt fall.

3. The Fall of ſuch perſons is a weakening to the Survivers. His Fall made David weak.

p. 74. The Death of ſuch Worthies ought to be noted: Hence know you not, ſuppoſing they did, & could not but know, & that it was their Duty to know.

The Application and Improvement of theſe Notes, I leave to the ſerious hearer, and the Intelgent Regarder of the Operation of Gods Hand, who will readily underſtand the ſeaſonableneſs and ſuitableneſs of ſuch Truths.

But to come to my Text.

This verſe is the cloſe of the Prophecy of Daniel, one of the Children of the Captivity, & a man of great Integrity & Intimacy with God, whom the Lord preſerved in Babylon, and (tho' a Captive) made uſe of as an eminent Inſtrument in his Hand for the Service of the Church, & for that end advanced him unto great Dignity, made him a chief Ruler, and kept him in his place for the good of his poor people, tho' he had many Enemies, that out of envy and malice watcht for his halting. And beſides that, the Lord was pleaſed to be very familiar with him, & acquaint him with much of his mind and will concerning both his preſent and future Diſpenſations in his Providence, both to the Church and the World, as is to be ſeen at large in his Prophecy.

Not to go any further back than this Chapter, here is in the Beginning of it a Revelation of a Time of great Trouble coming upon his people; ſuch as had not been ſince they were a Nation; (v. 1.) with other things that Daniel greatly deſired a plainer diſcovery of, and further ſatisfaction about, p. 8as not fully underſtanding what was ſaid, & therefore enquired, v. 8. but received that Anſwer v. 9. that the words were Sealed till the Time of the End, and therefore willed him to go his way, and adds that many ſhould be tried, and that the wiſe ſhould underſtand, &c. and annexes ſomething (tho' darkly too) concerning the Time of the end. v. 10, 11, 12. about which he had enquired. (v. 8.)

The words read are an Encouragement and Cordial referring to his own particular Caſe, there ſhould be ſuch and ſuch diſmal Changes and Troubles in the World, and upon the Jews, but as for his part it ſhould be well with him, he ſhould go to Reſt, and at the End of Dayes ſhould riſe and ſtand up to take his Lott.

The People of God that have a proſpect of Evil to come, are very much concerned there about, & ſo was he, but God gave him this word of Conſolation, which is of uſe to all other in like Condition.

But thou] i. e. Thou Daniel, as v. 9. unto whom this ſpeech was directed.

Go thy way] Satisfy thy ſelf with what I have told thee, ceaſe to be over inquiſitive about the premiſes, ſet thy heart at reſt, ſpeak no more to me, concerning this matter.

Until the End] i. e. until thy End, which is quickly coming, or which thou haſt but a little way to; go about thy Buſineſs till thou come to the end of thy Buſineſs, be not over ſolicitous about thoſe future events, nor diſtractingly thoughtful about what ſhall fall out. Think of thine end p. 9to which thou art going, and there ſhall be an end of all Trouble with thee.

Thou ſhalt reſt] Sometimes God gives his Eminent Servants a particular Exemption from future Trouble, tho' they live in the Time of it, they ſhall not ſhare in it; he finds Chambers of Providence to hide them in (Iſa. 26.20.) we hear concerning Noah, Daniel and Job what ſhall be their perſonal Lott in troubleſome Times; tho' they ſhall Save neither Son nor Daughter, yet themſelves ſhall eſcape. Ezek. 14.14, 16. But this ſeems not to be the meaning here, rather it refers to the end of his life, that he ſhould reſt in the Grave which is given in Scripture as the common place of certain Reſt to all the Saints. See Rev. 14.13. with Iſa. 57.2. ſo Job calls the Grave a reſting place. Job 3.17, 18. and probably Daniel was now near the end of his life, drawing on toward the Evening of his Day, ready to be put into the Bed of his Grave, there to take his Reſt.

Shall ſtand up] ſhalt riſe again, or come up out of thy Grave. Death is a falling, and therefore the Reſurrection is a ſtanding up again, or a recovering after that fall.

In thy Lott] i. e. in that place and condition which God has appointed for thee. Thou ſhalt have thine Inheritance or Portion in another World, called a Lott, becauſe the Land of Canaan, an eminent Type of Heaven was laid out by Lott to the people; hence a poſſeſſion there was called a Lott, in alluſion to which the Lord minds Daniel p. 10of a Lot laid out to, & reſerved for him there, which he ſhould ſtand up in, or come to the poſſeſſion of.

At the End of Dayes] That is, at the end of the World, when Time ſhall be no more; then an Eternity of Happineſs ſhall be thy Lott or Portion.

As if he had ſaid, Oh! Daniel, thou haſt heard from me a Prediction of Impending Calamity, I have ſomewhat darkly diſcovered it, and thou art very thoughtful thereabout, but go thy way, content thy ſelf with what has been told thee, thy Time is haſtening to a period, and then for thy part thou ſhalt go to reſt, and in the ſeaſon of it ſtand up to take thy Lott among the Righteous, and let that be enough to thee.

DOCTRINE; It ſhould quiet and ſatisfy the People of God when Evil Dayes are coming, that he can take them away to reſt, and cauſe them to ſtand up again at the End of Time in their Lott.

The taking away of pious ones is the bringing them to reſt till the End of Time when they ſhall ſtand up in their Lott.

There be four Propoſitions in the Doctrine.

1. God can and ſometimes doth take away his precious Ones by Death, when Evil is coming.

2. When the Saints are taken hence, they go to Reſt.

3. All ſo removed and laid to Reſt, ſhall Stand up again at the End of Dayes.

4. Each ſhall ſtand up in that Lott which is appointed for them.

p. 11Propoſition 1. God takes away ſome of his People when Evil Dayes are coming.

This was the caſe in the Text, unparallel'd Evil was coming, v. 1. and now go thy way Daniel. Iſa. 57.1, 2. is a plain Confirmation thereof. Scripture Inſtances abound for the proof of it: Methuſelah dyed juſt before the Flood. Joſiah was to go to his Grave in peace before the threatned Calamities came. 2 Chron 34.28. Hezekiah was to have Peace and Truth in his Dayes, and the Judgments ſpoken of not to come till he was gone. Iſa. 39.6, 7, 8.

Daily Examples alſo confirm it.

The Reaſons are,

1. From the great love of God to his Children to call them home before Trouble comes. A tender Father & Mother will do ſo by their Children; call them in when the night is drawing on, or when a Storm is riſing.

2. From the Saints themſelves, whom the Lord may find ripe, and ſo houſe them before a Storm, their work may be finiſhed, and ſo he calls them off, to give them their Reward.

3. For warning to the wicked, and as a means to awaken them, if ought may prevail, or elſe to leave them without excuſe.

4. On the account of the Godly that do Survive, who are concerned in the removal of them that go, &

1. For their further Exerciſe and Trial of their Faith and Patience; and a great Trial it muſt needs be to be deprived of ſuch Helps.

2. To neceſſitate them to Live by Faith; when he p. 12takes away ſuch Props that they leaned on. When Chariots and Horſemen, Studs and Pillars are removed, it's time then to look to, & lean upon the Lord.

5. From God himſelf, who hereby diſcovers his Soveraignty in taking and leaving when he pleaſes. His Wiſdom in having other ways to carry on his work than we can think of. His Power in raiſing up other Inſtruments when he pleaſes.

Or that he may appear ſo much the more clearly & gloriouſly with his own Arm and Power when Inſtruments (that often eclipſe his Glory) are taken away.

Prop. 2. When Godly Ones go, they go to Reſt.

For proof ſee Iſa. 57.1, 2. Rev. 14.13. Hence Death is called a falling aſleep; ſo did Stophen juſt before the heat, or at the beginning of that great Perſecution. (Acts 7. ult.)

Queſt. What Reſt do they go to?

Anſw. 1. A Reſt from Labour. This Life is a laborious Life, eſpecially to the Godly; many others ſin, and play and ſleep away their time, but they labour and ſtrive, & run, & fight, & wreſtle; all which are very laborious Imployments. Rev. 14.13.

2. A Reſt from Sin; there is no man lives & ſins not; but when the Saints dye, they ceaſe from Sin.

3. A Reſt from the Temptations of Satan. There is no Serpent in that Paradiſe whither the Spirits of Juſt men go at Death.

4. A Rest from Oppreſſion by, or any vexation from evil men. Job 3.17, 18, 19.

5. A Reſt from all Suffering and Sorrow from within, p. 13without, themſelves, or others, they ſhall have no more Pain, Grief, &c. All Tears ſhall be wiped away.

6. To make up all that can be thought on that good is; it is a Reſt in Chriſt and with Chriſt, and that is beſt of all, yea all that is beſt or good.

Queſt. Why do the Saints then Reſt?

Anſw. Becauſe they Laboured and Toyled while here, were faithful at their labour while they lived, and therefore go to reſt when they dye. And it is a righteous thing with God to give the labouring and troubled ones Reſt at that Day, 2 Theſ. 1.6, 7. Our life time is the Day wherein we are to work, there is no work, device or labour in the Grave, Eccl. 9.10. which tho' it be a Judgment to the wicked, who ſlept away their labouring Time, that they ſhall then have no more Opportunity to work, yet it is a comfort to the Godly Labourers that they ſhall have no more need or occaſion to work, but ſhall go to their Reſt, & ceaſe from all work.

Prop. 3. After their going away to Reſt, they ſhall ſtand up again at the Laſt Day.

There needs no more to be ſaid toward the Confirmation of this Aſſertion, ſave the Doctrine of the Reſurrection, which is one of the main Articles of our Faith, and that without which all our Faith and Hope would be vain, as not reaching any further than this life, and ſo leaving us moſt miſerable. 1 Cor. 15.17, 18, 19

Chriſt told Martha, her Brother ſhould riſe aagain, and ſhe owned it. This was Pauls hope. p. 14(Act. 24.15.) and Jobs Comfort. Job 19.25.

The Scripture is full of this Truth.

The ground of it is, partly from their Union to Chriſt their Head, who dyed and roſe again, and ſo ſhall they by vertue of his Reſurrection. Partly that they may receive their Reward according to their works.

Prop. 4. When they ſtand up, each ſhall ſtand in his Lott.

1. There ſhall be a Lott Laid out to each of them; a peculiar place and ſtation provided for every one: All the Saints both great and ſmall, not only a general State of Glory for all, but each ſhall have his own Lott, Manſion, Crown.

2. He ſhall ſtand, abide or continue therein. The Lot is that State of Glory peculiar to every Believer. Indeed there ſhall be degrees, ſome greater, ſome leſſer, tho' every Veſſel ſhall be filled. Some ſhall have Five Cities, others two, every one anſwerable to the Meaſure of free Grace beſtowed on him, and the Degrees of its acting in him, each ſhall be rewarded both for kind and meaſure according to his works.

And the Reaſon is from the Righteouſneſs of God, who will therefore (as Juſtice obliges) render to every one what is his own, or due. Indeed not unto Believers on Chriſt for the ſake of their works upon the account of their own merit properly, but for the ſake of the Works and Merits of Christ only, yet ſtill according to their works▪ Not for … ſakes, but for mine own Name ſake.

p. 15Uſes of the Firſt Propoſition.

If God doth uſe to take away ſome of his Eminent Ones, or bid them go away before Evil Days.

Uſe 1. Then it is an ill Omen, and ſhould be accounted matter of great awakening and ſolemn Conſideration to ſee good men removed. If prudent and uſeful, eſpecially if pious men be taken away, when meek and merciful ones are removed, it looks as if there were Evil at hand, which God is willing to Save them from. Noahs houſing in the Ark, and Lot's entering into Zoar carried an ill face to the Old World and Sodom. Eſpecially if the removal of ſuch be not Laid to heart, their removal is ſignal, and not laying to heart Cauſal alſo of approaching Evil.

Uſe 2 Learn hence alſo that however the Death of any may prove to the Survivers, it's always in mercy to the Godly. As all other Troubles, ſo Death is theirs; let it come when and how it will. It is an effect of his Kindneſs to them, and in purſuance of his Care for them. Gods way often is to take away the beſt firſt, and lay them up ſafe out of harms way, and leave the reſt, either to mend or grow worſe; and if they grow worſe, ſo to ripen them unto ruin, for not growing better under ſuch awakening Providences as the removal of the good.

Uſe 3. Then we ſhould not be inordinately careful or ſolicitous, for fear of Trouble before hand; do not diſtract thy ſelf about what may be hereafter; yea, tho' it ſeems to be near, even at the very door: p. 16For, beſides that fixedneſs without fear of evil Tidings is attainable, and ought to be laboured after, as a fruit of Faith. Pſa. 112.7, 8. and beſides that many times evils feared do not come at all. I ſay beſides both theſe, this may comfort us againſt approaching Trouble, that it may be we may be gone into the Grave before it comes: Who can tell how ſoon God may ſay to him, Go thy way Daniel, go to thy Reſt out of the reach of that Trouble thou feareſt, before it comes to ſuch an height as to work thee any conſiderable Damage. A prudent foreſight of evil, and guarding or preparing againſt it is good, and a Duty, but diſtracting thoughtfulneſs is always ſinful, and oft needleſs, becauſe poſſibly thou mayſt not live to ſee it.

If thou art a good, faithful and diligent Servant, the Lord may accept of thy good will, and call thee off before the pinch comes. A good Maſter will do ſo by a good Servant that is diligent, and willing to do what he is able; he will call him by name, and take him off when he ſees the heat of the day a coming, or ſome pinch at hand that will be too hard for him, he will favour him, and lay the burden upon others. So did the Lord here ſay to Daniel, Go thy way, give over, thou haſt done well, go lye down and take thy Reſt.

Uſes of the Second Propoſition

Do the Saints go to Reſt when they Dye?

Uſe 1. Then ſee what cauſe we have to bleſs God for Jeſus Christ, who hath made one of the worſt things in the Curſe, viz. Death, to be matter of p. 17comfort unto all his, as it brings them to eaſe quiet and reſt. That dreadful thing Death, the King of Terrours ſhall be to them their Sleep and Reſt.

Uſe 2. Then Death is not ſo dreadful to the People of God as it is repreſented and ſuppoſed uſually to be. If it be their Reſt, or that which gives them a Paſſage or Entrance into Reſt, it is a very pleaſant, ſweet, deſirable and comfortable thing.

It's true, Death is indiſpenſibly the Lot of all, and made ſo by Divine Appointment; (Heb 9.27.) and it is to Nature very irkſome, and unto ſinning Nature terrible and affrighting, but to them that are in Chriſt, and ſo have their ſins pardoned, & the Sting of Death removed, it ſhould not be ſo. And to prevent its being ſo, the Lord is pleaſed to find out the moſt ſweet, pleaſant and alluring Metaphors to ſet forth the Nature of it by, not only to take away the Terror of it, but to render it delightſome and deſirable to them; and among many other, theſe two of Reſt and Sleep which are not only harmleſs things, but very deſirable and attractive too; how does the labouring and travelling man long for the ſetting of the Sun, and end of his Journey that he may reſt, the ſick and pained man to whom weariſome days and nights are appointed; what would he give for a nights ſleep? Oh that I could ſleep! Oh that I could take my Reſt! that I could get a little ſleep. Then why ſhould a true Believer be ſcared at Death; there is no matter of Affrightment in going to reſt. And that is one thing the Lord is aiming at, in making the World a weary p. 18World to his people, that they may be willing to leave it, long to be out of it, deſirous of the Grave, that they may go to Reſt therein.

Uſe 3. Then be not over much troubled at the removal of any of our pious Friends whom God has taken away by Death, they are but gone to Rest, and why ſhould that grieve us? When perſons are ſick or diſeaſed and weak, one of the principal things we are ſolicitous about in their behalf is that they may take their Reſt, when their eyes have been long held waking, O how do we wiſh for them that they might take their Reſt, we make all quiet & ſtill, ſuffer no noiſe nor any diſturbance that might hinder them of their Reſt; and if we can ſee them take their Reſt, we hope they ſhall do well. So when night comes we get our Children to bed, and if they be once aſleep we are pleaſed, and think all is well with them. And why are we not as well ſatisfied and contented about our Friends that Dy in the Lord; they do Sleep in Jeſus, and ſo ſhall do well, they have been toyling in the world, and are tired with the labour of it, and are now gone to Sleep, why ſhould we begrudge them their Reſt?

Indeed for our own loſs of them we ſhould grieve and for Gods diſpleaſure that may appear in the ſtroke we ſhould mourn, and for our ſins that have made God angry, we ſhould cry bitterly; but for them that are gone to Reſt, ſee that we weep as though we wept not.

The Grave is called an Houſe and Bed, & it is ſo ſanctified by the Death of Chriſt, that it is a good p. 19houſe, a good bed, both ſoft and warm, a comfortable bed, a place of quiet and repoſe, a place of Security and Secrecy; hence Job ſpeaks of Gods hiding him in the Grave. Job 14.13. a man in the Grave is hidden from the ſtrife of Tongues, hidden from the rage and malice of evil men, & out of the reach of all that deviſe miſchief againſt him; he is there freed from all Trouble and Moleſtation whatſoever: There the Servant is free from his Maſter, and they hear not the cry of the Oppreſſor? Job 3.13, 17, 18, 19. They that are lodged in the Grave, are lodged in an houſe, where they are ſafe from fear, are not diſturbed by all the noiſe and lumber in the World, tho' the Earth quake, & the Sea roar they are not moved, though the Mountains be caſt into the midſt of the Sea, they are not affected with it; the ſound of the Trumpet and Alarms of Wars do not affright them. There is no aking head, ſick ſtomach, pained Bowels, ſpending, weakning Cough to break their Reſt; no Evil Tidings can make their ears Tingle, or hearts Tremble; Diſeaſes, Pains, Buſineſs, Cares, Fears, would not let them reſt here, but none of theſe things ſhall moleſt them there; nothing ſhall awaken them till the Laſt Trumpet ſounds, when they ſhall ariſe to receive that Incorruptible Crown that fades not away, reſerved in the Heavens for them. Then let not … diſturb our ſelves about them, be at reſt concerning them, there let them reſt quiet till the Morning of the Reſurrection, in which they ſhall riſe to the full Enjoyment of that Chriſt in whoſe bosome p. 20they are now ſleeping. If they be quiet in their Beds, let us be quiet alſo about them, if they be at Reſt, labour we to compoſe our ſelves unto a free ſubmiſſion to Soveraign Diſpoſal; yea, and comfort our ſelves in this, that▪ however it may fare with us or others, yet ſuch and ſuch of ours are well and at reſt, gotten quite out of harms way, that no evil ſhall come near their dwelling however, they ate ſafe, enjoying quiet reſt, till the Pit be digged for the wicked. Pſal. 94.13. Such of our Friends are out of the Gunſhot of the malice and rage of men and Devils.

Rather let us ſo believe and live, ſo work and labour while here, that when we dye we may reſt with them, than ſpend our time in inordinately grieving for them who are at reſt.

Uſe 4. Let this ſerve alſo to comfort and quiet us against all the labour, toyl and travel that God hath appointed to us in this World. Work willingly, labour chearfully, bear our Croſs which God lays on us without repining or reluctance, it is but for a little while, Rest is a coming.

It comforts the Hireling while he is bearing the heat and burden of the day, that it is but for a Day, and when he hath accompliſhed his Day, there is a Recompence and Reſt ready for him, when he hath ended his work, he ſhall have his Reward, and go to his Reſt. And as the Reſt of a labouring man is ſweet, when it comes, ſo the fore-thoughts of it ſhould be ſweet while he is at work; be ſure it ſhould be ſo with all the Godly. It ſhould p. 21make every good mans work go off hand with the more content and comfort: I ſhall reſt anon, and the harder my work, the ſweeter my Reſt.

The Parents of Noah, when he was born, by a Spirit of Prophecy (no doubt Gen. 5.29.) called him Noah; promiſing themſelves Reſt by him under all their Toyl, &c. Jeſus Chriſt is the true Noah, from whom all true Reſt comes; he hath by his lying in the Grave made it a place of Reſt; and this ſhould be thought on, together with that Everlaſting Reſt that Death leads to; and with this ſhould we comfort our ſelves and one another.

And as this Conſideration ſhould comfort us while we live, ſo it is ſuitable to make us willing to dye; yea, to long for Death as much as ever a tired Traveller or weary Labourer did for his bed.

Alas! for all that lothneſs to dye which is to be found in us, either we are not weary of the world, but have too much content and reſt in it. Or we do not look upon the Grave as a place of Reſt.

Or we do not conſider the ſweetneſs of that Reſt; or we are not well aſſured that it is a Reſt for us; or elſe [Go thy way and go to Reſt] would be a ſweet word to us.

This ſhould make us Love Death, be fond of it, embrace it as a very welcome Meſſenger ſent to poor weary Creatures to put them to Bed. We read of ſome who out of their extream miſery, have been ſeeking Death, courting the Grave, hunting for a paſſage into the Grave; but how much more earneſt and intenſe ſhould we be, if beſide p. 22the Troubles here to drive us, we had the hope of Reſt to allure us.

Uſes of the Third Propoſition.

After they have reſted ſhall they ſtand up?

Uſe 1. Then Death is not an Annihilation, it is a Diſſolution, but does not annihilate, it returns men to Duſt, but not to nothing.

Uſe 2. This ſerves to magnify the power of God that can make a dead perſon ſtand up again, not only one that hath been four days, but more than ſo many thouſand years dead, to appear again. And the Conſideration of the power of God in the work of Reſurrection ſhould ſtrengthen our Faith with reference to all other difficult caſes whether bodily or ſpiritual, perſonal or relative, that our ſelves in particular, or the Church in general may meet with, however diſcouraging and afflictive; if the Lord can make the Body after its Diſſolution and reſolution into its principles to ariſe & ſtand up again, then he can do ſo by the Soul alſo which is ſunk, and low and diſcouraged, is ready to ſay that he is ſhut up, and ſhall come out no more, is become like the dry bones in the valley, the Lord can make him ſtand up. In like manner can he do by his own work, Religion, the Cauſe and Intereſt of Chriſt and his people; it may ſem to run low, and Iſrael may be brought very low, but the Lord can revive his work, and people; He can raiſe up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen: He can build up the walls of Jeruſalem. Jeſus Chriſt is the Reſurrection and the Life, both to Zion in general, and to all p. 23the true Sons and Daughters thereof; and will certainly give a Reſurrection to his fallen Cauſe and Work, and cauſe it to ſtand up.

Uſe 3. Hence alſo, Pious Friends though gone away are not loſt; as they are not annihilated, ſo as not to be, ſo neither are they loſt ſo as not to be found. As to this world, ſo they are loſt never to be ſeen here any more in that Capacity as formerly: the place that has known them, ſhall know them no more, they ſhall no more have a Portion in ought that is done under the Sun; but really they are not loſt, they ſhall all be found and ſtand up: Not one Grain ſhall be loſt; all the Dead both ſmall and great ſhall make their perſonal appearance; and eſpecially none of Chriſts Beloved Ones ſhall be loſt.

We think it no great matter to take leave of our Friends at Bed Time, yea to look on them and ſee them unclothe themſelves and go to bed, lye down to reſt, we can chearfully bid them good night, expecting to ſee them upon their legs again, ſtanding up next morning. It's want of Faith that we do not treat our dying friends accordingly; take leave of them chearfully, wiſhing them a good nights reſt, expecting to ſee them in the Morning of the Reſurrection. (as Pſal. 49.14.) when the Righteous ſhall ſtand up, and be uppermoſt too, have dominion over all their Enemies that deſpiſed and trampled upon them in this World.

Uſe 4. See a vaſt difference between a pious Saint, a precious Daniel in his Condition then, and that of p. 24a wicked man, an ungodly one. The Godly ſhall ſtand, the wicked are not ſo, they ſhall not ſtand in Judgment. (Pſal. 1.) they ſhall riſe only to fall, to fall utterly and eternally. The Believer only ſhall be accounted worthy to ſtand when the Son of Man ſhall come; but others ſhall be thought worthy to fall, yea ſhall be caſt down into utter Deſtruction.

Uſes of the Fourth Propoſition.

Shall each ſtand in his Lot?

Uſe 1. Hence there is a peculiar Lott appointed to each after the Reſurrection. Every one ſhall have his own lot, reward and portion; every one that is written up among the Living ſhall ſtand up unto a Lot, and to that which is his own lot, not another mans. Many now that profeſs Religion, do but trim themſelves with borrowed Feathers, adorn themſelves with a Form of Godlineſs without the power of it, & ſo get the name & repute which belongs to Godly men indeed, being by charity ſo accounted, but then it ſhall be otherwiſe; every man ſhall have his own lot, ſhall be rewarded according to his works. Not only great Daniel, but every one of Chriſt's little ones ſhall each have his Lot and ſhare of Glory.

Uſe 2. See hence what ought to be our great care while here, viz. after a good Lot then, & our ſtanding therein. E're long we muſt go into the Grave, where there is no work or device, nothing more to be done, ſave only to receive & take poſſeſſion of our lot anſwerable to the life we have led while p. 25here. To work cut our Salvation with fear & trembling is therefore our buſineſs now, and then our Lot will be anſwerable. Be found in the way that may lead us to the getting a good lot then; we would not then be gathered with Sinners & bloody or worldly men. (Pſal 26) then do not caſt in our Lot with them now, which we may be tempted to, as Prov. 1.14. it is no great matter what we get or loſe here, ſo we may have a good lot there. Here is a great deal of ado among us at this day about our Lots & Lands, what a ſcuffle is there about a little Earth? here is arreſting, pleading, impleading, fending and proving; one pleading his right, & another his, one claiming & another endeavouring to invalidate his claim; and about this how buiſy are men! But be not over ſolicitous here, know that there is a far greater Queſtion in hand, viz. What ſhall be my Lot and where ſhall it lye in the other World; & how ſhall I get a good Title to a good Lot there, and how ſhall I maintain it, and ſecure my right againſt all that would diſpoſſeſs me? Oh! let this be the main buſineſs with us. Alas, the beſt Lot that any man has in this world is Cabul, a dirty place, & it will coſt more to keep it than its worth, conſidering what ſtriving and contending there is about it: but if thou get a Lot there, God is the maintainer of it; it was purchaſed for thee, and given to thee by Chriſt, and alſo reſerved and kept for thee, that God who hath given it thee is obliged to make good & to warrant his Deed of Gift againſt all Claimers whatſoever. No Writ of Ejection ſhall ever diſpoſſeſs p. 26thee. And it is a Lot lying in a pleaſant place, and a goodly Heritage. It is the Lot of the Righteous upon which the Rod of the Wicked ſhall not always reſt: A lot which God hath caſt for thee, which Chriſt is gone before as thy Forerunner, Agent, Advocate, to take poſſeſſion of for thee, and in thy name & ſtead, if thou be a believer on him, kept for thee, & thou kept for it & to it, by the mighty power of God thro' Faith unto Salvation. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. Thy Lot there is the Inheritance among the Saints in Light, Abrahams Boſome, the Maſters Joy, an Incorruptible Crown, a Kingdom prepared, &c. Then let not worldly Poſſeſſions, Enjoyments, Profits, Pleaſures, Buiſineſs take up that time, and thoſe thoughts that ſhould be imployed about things of an higher Import & Concernment. We may conclude our Diſcourſe with this one practical Queſtion.

Q. What ſhall I do that when called away, or commanded to go away, I may be ſure to reſt till the end of Dayes, and then ſtand up in an Happy Lott? Or how ſhall I ſo live that I may go to reſt when I go away from hence?

A. It is a great Queſtion, and that which nearly concerns us all.

In general, I would ſay it is for the Lords faithful ones, his Daniels, or beloved ones, this Reſt remains for the People of God, and that for thoſe that are really not only nominally ſo. It is the Righteous man, who when he dyes enters into his Bed, & Reſts in his Grave, (Iſa. 57.1, 2.) The Securing to thy ſelf that thou art one of theſe will ſecure the other.

p. 27More particularly take theſe three Directions.

1 If thou wouldeſt go to Reſt when thou dyeſt, See that a State of Sin which is a State of Nature be made a Reſtleſs ſtate to thee: See that thou be not able to reſt in Sin, or in any thing in this World; ſee that nothing under the Sun quiet or give thee reſt.

Thoſe whom God brings to reſt when they dye, are ſuch as were diſreſted while alive, driven out of all falſe Reſts that Sinners take up withal in the World. Some reſt in one thing, ſome in another. Some cannot reſt unleſs they Sin or have done ſome miſchief: Some rejoyce in Iniquity, ſome reſt in the Abundance of the World, fill their Barns & Bags, and then go to reſt; ſome get a Profeſſion of Godlineſs, a Name to live, they hear, read, pray, &c and therein they reſt, their Priviledges, their own Righteouſneſs is the Rest of many. But the Lords way to give Reſt is firſt by diſquieting and diſreſting them in till he brings them out of all other things that ſo he may bring them to the true Reſt. Sin ſhall give thee no Reſt, no nor the World, nor any thing therein. If the Lord intend to bring thee to reſt, an Unregenerate Eſtate ſhall be an unquiet State to thee, thou ſhalt find no reſt to the Sole of thy foot, while in …, no reſt till got into the Ark, the only place of Reſt If ever God give thee Reſt, Sin ſhall be a meer Slavery & Bondage to thee, worſe than Egyptian Bondage, under which he will make thee to groan and ſigh and cry till he bring thee out. He will make indwelling Sin, out-breaking Sin, Original Sin, actual Sin, a burden to thee too heavy for thee to bear, if ever he give thee Reſt. This know, that one of the next Mercies to Chriſt, and a Preparatory Mercy in order to the giving of Chriſt & Reſt in him, is to diſreſt in Sin, and for want of Chriſt; nor will he ever bring any to Reſt but in this way. And thou muſt be ſo diſquieted about Sin, that all p. 28the World cannot quiet thee, neither pleaſures, profits, honours, company, buſineſs; no nor thy Duties, Prayers, Tears, own Righteouſneſs, &c. ſhall be able to give thee Reſt.

2. Being thus weary, labouring and reſtleſs, Come to Christ at his Call, and his Promiſe is, that he will give thee Reſt (Mat. 11.28.) Oh! make that thy buſineſs (as our Daniel whoſe Death we are bewailing, ſaid he had done) to ſecure an Intereſt in Chriſt, and there is Reſt. Faith in Chriſt will give thee true Reſt. Faith ſtabliſhes and ſixeth the Heart. Pſal. 112. Faith in his Power, Promiſe, Will. And be ſure thou make Chriſt not only the Refuge, but the Reſt of thy Soul, which no Hypocrite does or can do; ſay of him and to him, I have none but thee: he whoſe heart can ſay, None but Chriſt, none but Christ, ſhall have him and in him Reſt here, and with him everlaſting Reſt hereafter. Make uſe of all Bereavements, diſquietments, troubles here to make thee hie away to Chriſt for Reſt. The poor Dove found nothing but Water all over the face of the Earth, and could not be quiet till gotten to the Ark, where Noah was ready to put forth his hand and pull her in. This World hath alwayes been, though at ſome times more than other, it is a troubled Sea, there is nothing but inſtable Water; uncertain comforts, certain diſquietments; let this Serve to make Chriſt Precious, with whom is certain Reſt.

And the reaſon why thoſe that get into Chriſt ſhall reſt is becauſe he takes away Sin the only cauſe of diſreſt, Sin the ſting of Death, and then Death cannot ſeparate from the Love of Chriſt, and where that is muſt needs be Reſt. He that hath ſeen Chriſt and in him obtained Salvation from Sin, he may depart in peace, and ſhall goe to Reſt.

3. Then follow Jeſus Christ Ʋniverſally, Laboriouſly in all the wayes of New Obedience; and that will carry thee to p. 29Reſt. Thoſe only that followed the Lord fully entered into Reſt, and had a Lott in Canaan, and they were only two of the Congregation, Numb. 14 24 with 32.12. If you would Reſt when you dye, work hard for Chriſt while you live. The Reſt of a Labouring man is ſweet; then labour with all your might, and that will both ſecure your Reſt and make it Sweet. And indeed it is a buiſy World in which we are, here is a great deal of work, much buſineſs to be done for Chriſt, none need ſtand ſtiil for want of work, and none ſhall reſt but thoſe that did work. Lazy, idle, ſlothful Sinners ſhall never goe to reſt: Idleneſs tends to diſreſt, but all regular labour and motion leads to reſt.

And the nearer we come to our end the more vigorouſly let us move toward our reſt. Its obſerved of natural Motions the nearer the Centre the Swifter, ſo let it be with Chriſtians. Are there any of us Aged and Gray-headed, do we ſee the Time of our Diſſolution drawing nigh, are the Shadows of the Evening ſtretcht out upon us, then let us lift up our feet, put on, mend our pace, the Grave is in view, we walk & work in the ſight of our Reſting place, and that ſhould quicken us. It is the laſt day of the Week with many of us, and toward the evening of that alſo, and then comes the Sabbath, the Rest, the conſtant, eternal reſt of labouring Believers, thoſe who have been working, their Works follow them and yield them Reſt. And if the Lord help us now to believe, and that with ſuch a Faith as works by Love, we not only ſhall, but already doe enter into Reſt. Heb. 4.3. Troubles in the World we ſhall have, but peace and reſt in Chriſt. Sin diſturbs, fleſh makes us groan, bodily diſeaſes afflict us, toyl & travel in the World tire us, evil Tidings make us afraid, and fears of worſe diſquiet us, but ſtill this Reſt remains ſure. And know that there is a voice of p. 30Chriſt in every trouble, loſs, bereavement, is that we come to him for Reſt, he is Father, Mother, Wife, and he is the only Husband in whoſe Houſe we ſhall find Reſt. Oh! let all the Sorrowful, bereaved ones that are ready to ſay with him (Jer. 45.3.) Wo is me, I faint and find no Reſt; I ſay, let all ſuch hear Chriſt ſaying, Come to me and take my Yoke on you and walk with, and work for me, and you ſhall find Reſt. Hearken to this Invitation unto Reſt, which Faith leads to the beginning of, Obedience helps to a progreſs in, and Death will bring to the full Accompliſhment of. And let us follow them who through Faith and Patience doe inherit the Promiſes: and for our Imitation, let me Commend to you ſome of the Excellencies found in this Daniel of whom the Text ſpeaks, and there were not none of them wanting in our Daniel, whoſe Death we are lamenting.

He is noted for a man of Great Wiſdom and Prudence, (Chap 1.) The Fear of God is the beginning of Wiſdom, and the Lord has directed all that want Wiſdom to ask it.

He was a man of a Tender Conſcience, afraid of defileing himſelf with the Portion of the Kings meat. Oh! get and keep a Tender Conſcience, eſpecially in dangerous, tempting and defiling times; a Tender Conſcience, eſpecially where there is an inlightened underſtanding, and sound Judgment, is a choice Mercy.

Again, He was a man not given to Appetite, but one whoſe Moderation was eminently obvious, he could content himſelf with Pulſe & Water, when he might have had Wine and fleſh.

A man much in Prayer, eſpecially in Secret Prayer, from which Duty three Times a day, the Kings Edict, and Danger of being devoured by Lyons could not deterr him, yea was converſant alſo in Fasting and Prayer. A man of p. 31Prayer, hence mentioned as ſuch an one. Ezek. 14.14. Never more need of Prayer than in our dayes: Pray alwayes, Pray ſervently; and in evil Times we ſhould pray more frequently and ſervently than at other Times He is no Chriſtian that does not Pray, he cannot be miſerable what ever befalls him that can and does Pray.

He was a Thankful man, as well as a Praying man. See Chap 2. & 7.

A very Humble, ſelf-denying man; ſtill gave God the Glory of ought that was done by him: Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy Name be the Praiſe, ſay they, Pſal. 115.1. So he Chap. 2.28, 30. God revealeth Secrets, and it is not for my Wiſdom, &c. above others.

He was not lifted up by his great Advancement, ſo as to forget his God, himſelf, or his buſineſs; one of the firſt or beſt of thoſe few that was not the worſe for Worldly greatneſs or advancement, loſt nothing of his Religion by his preferment.

An Exact and Circumſpect walker; much afraid and ſhy of Sin, and ſo punctual and prudent in his Carriage, as that they could find nothing againſt him, ſave in the matter of his God, though he was miliciouſly and curiouſly watch't; he was a man that had obtained an Anſwer to that Prayer, Lord, lead me in a plain path becauſe of mine obſervers. And indeed his being ſo mucn in Communion with God help't him to be ſo harmleſs & blameleſs, like one of the Sons of God among men, though in the midſt of a Crooked & Perverſe Generation.

He was much concerned for the Church of God; ſo was good Nehemiah alſo. And note, the beſt men have alwayes been moſt Solicitous for Sion; its a good Character of a good man that is full of thoughts for, Inquiries after the S…te of, and much in Prayer in the behalf of Gods Church and People: one that has imbark't his All with the p. 32Church of God joyes their joy, feels their Trouble, weeps their Tears, … heartily mourn when Sion mourns, cannot drink Wine in … and not be grieved for the Aff…tion of Joſeph; can take up his Lott with the Church tho' in a low and ſorrowful Condition, and deſires no other joy than to be made glad with the gladneſs of Gods …; this is … Daniel: tho' Daniel himſelf was in Proſperity, in great plenty, Credit & Reputation ſo that he wanted nothing, yet Sion lay at his heart; his Prayers and tears, and faſtings, were for Jeruſalem. And this is alwayes indiſpenſibl…, but at ſome Times more eminently the Duty of every Chriſtian▪ we ſhould prefer Jeruſalems Joy before all our Joy, and mourn when Sion mourns, what ever matter of rejoycing we may have in our ſelves, As it fairs with Sion, ſhould it fair with us.

If we thus live lives of Faith & Obedience, we ſhall keep our ſelves in the Love of God, and have the Peace▪ of God to keep us. Troubles are come and will come, but we ſhall be under the ſpecial Care of God even in worſt Time; and it will not be long … Lord … to every Sincere Soul that has followed him in the Regeneration, that has known him, and loved him, and made it his buſineſs to Serve him, and to abound in the work of the Lord; Go thy way, goe to Reſt, thou haſt laboured long enough, done and ſuffered ſo much as I had appointed for thee, now goe take thy Reſt, enter into the bed of thy Grave, which I have Sweetened and Sanctified for thee, there take thy quiet Repoſe, till the end of Dayes, and then thou ſhalt ariſe again and stand up in thy Exit to receive that … of Life which Chriſt the Righteous Judge ſhall give at that Day, to all that Love his Appearing.

In the mean Time let all Sincere Souls, Comfort themſelves and one another with theſe Words.

FINIS.

End of the text · Joshua Moodey, The Believers Happy Change by Dying (1697)