all pains and miseries and calamities and all sin which is the cause of them as sin brought Death into our bodies so Death carries sin out of the body and however these vile bodies be dissolved into dust yet they shall be raised up again at the last day and be made like unto Christ's Glorious Body Phil. 3. last 2. For the Soul It shall be no loser but a great gainer by Death and that three wayes 1. In the place it goes unto viz. from Earth unto Heaven 2. In the excellent qualities it shall be endowed withall viz. perfection in all the faculties of it as it goes to the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 3. In the excellent company it goes to enjoy leaving the company of sinners here and going to enjoy the company of Saints and Angels and the ever blessed Unity in Trinity 2dly In that it cannot hurt us appears in that it can never dissolve the Union between Christ and a believing Soul but brings it to a nearer sweeter and fuller Union of a Gracious makes it a Glorious Union however it separates Soul and Body one from the other yet it cannot separate either from Jesus Christ the Soul upon Death goes immediately unto Christ in Paradise and Christ goes down with the Body into the Grave where it sweetly rests as in its Bed in the Arms of Jesus Christ until the morning of the Resurrection of the Just Isa 57.2 1. It can never break the Covenant of Grace between God and the Soul for it 's an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17. And he hath not only promised to be their God unto Death but after Death and to all eternity 2. It can never untie the Marriage-Knot between Christ and his Spouse for he hath betrothed her unto himself for ever Hos 2. And whom he loves he loves to the end John 13.1 even with an everlasting love Jeremiah 31.3 3. It can never reverse those grants of Grace that God hath vouchsafed his as the grants of Reconciliation Justification Adoption Sanctification Salvation for the Gifts and Callings of God are without repentance Rev. 11.29 3dly As it is no way able to hurt you so it will every way do you good Though it be the last enemy that shall be destroyed yet of an enemy it shall be made a friend and the best friend that ever you had How so Why because Jesus Christ by undergoing Death and lying in the Grave he hath altered the nature both of Death and the Grave Death of a King of Terrors it made a Prince of Peace of a passage to eternal Death made a passage to eternal Life unto all that do believe the Grave that is a loathsome Dungeon to the wicked is made a sweet resting-place to the Saints That you may the more clearly and fully see the good will come to you by Death and so be made the more willing to it and chearfully resign your Spirit into the hands of God when he calls for it take serious notice of these ten following Particulars 1. Death is no Death to a true Believer It 's not his last day but the beginning of an everlasting day 2. Your dying day will not be your worst day but your best day better is the day of a mans Death then the day of his Birth saith Solomon Eccles 7.1 it being the egress of all misery and the ingress of eternal felicity 3. A Christians dying day it will be his enlarging day when he shall be set at liberty out of the Prison of the Body and brought home to his Fathers House 2 Cor. 5.8 It is but as Christ stiles it His departing and going to the Father John 13.1 4. A Christians dying day will be his resting day wherein he shall rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering from all temptations corruptions vexations Job 3.17 And who desires not rest 5. His dying day will be his reaping day having sown here in Tears he shall reap in Joy reap the fruit of all the Sermons they have heard all the Prayers they have made all the Tears they have shed all the Sighs and Groans they have uttered all the good Thoughts they have had all the good Words they have spoken all the good Works they have done all the Evils they have suffered and all they have forgotten to do and suffer Mat. 25.34 When saw we thee an hungry and fed thee not c. Then Christ will remember them and say In that you did it unto them ye did it unto me Yea there is not the least good work that any have done for any of his but it shall be remembred and rewarded even to a cup of cold Water Mat. 10. last 6. A Christians dying day will be his conquering and tryumphing day over all his Enemies Sin Satan and the World Death and Hell here we are in a continual warfare there 's not a day hour or moment wherein we can rest either from corruption within or temptation without but then there shall be an end of all then we shall tryumph over all in the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where 's now thy sting c. 7. A Christians dying day will be his transplanting day from Earth to Heaven from Misery to Glory from a Valley of Tears to a Valley of blessed Visions from a howling Wilderness to a heavenly Paradise It is no other then a straight Gate to a Pallace of Glory a dark Entry to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light And oh Who would not be willing to exchange a Sodom for Sion an Egypt for Canaan Misery for Glory 8. A Christians dying day it 's his uncloathing day of a body of Sin and Death and the cloathing him with his House from Heaven his putting off his old Rags of Sin and Corruption and his putting on of the White Robe of Christ's Righteousness and with it the Robe of Glory 9. A Christians dying day it 's his marriage day with the Lamb the King of Saints and if the day of a Believers espousals be so sweet how sweet will the marriage day be Rev. 19.7 10. A Christians dying day will be his corronation day wherein Christ will crown all those that love his appearance with the Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 where they shall be still following the Lamb with Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their Hands and tryumphant Songs in their Mouths Rev. 5.11 12 13. Mix these Meditations with Faith and Prayer and you will find them mighty through God not only to make you willing but even long with the Apostle to be dissolv'd and be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 1.23 Amen and Amen Secondly That which follows DEATH is JUDGMENT Sect. 6. In and about the Judgment Day to take notice of and meditate seriously on these things 1. The Certainty 2. The Uncertainty 3. The near approach of it 4. The great solemnity of it 5. The universality of the Persons to be judged 6. The impartiality of it
a man to win the World and lose his Soul Or what will he give in exchange for his Soul Suppose a Man had all the Honours Riches Pleasures the World could afford him what will it avail him in the day of death when he must part with all and his Soul too and never recover them more Men may lose these things of the World and recover them again if God seeth good as you may see in Job's Case to whom God restored all that he had taken from him and doubled all to him in the latter end Job 42. But now for a Soul that being lost can never be recovered it 's not a World nor ten thousand Worlds can recover the loss of a Soul it cost more to redeem a Soul Psal 49. Whereas you see the great folly of men in selling and losing of their Souls What do they get by their sin but the Curse and Wrath of God with the loss of their precious Souls Fourthly To meditate on the greatness of the salvation of a Soul and the means to procure the salvation thereof 1st The greatness of the salvation of the Soul this appears by the greatness of the Author of it no other then the great God Titus 3.5 2dly The greatness of the price paid for it no other then the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 3dly The greatness of the evil we are saved from As 1. The Curse of the Law Gal. 3.10 13. and the rigour of the Law Rom. 7.5 6. 2ly From the reign and dominion of sin Rom. 6.14 3. From the tyranny of Satan Col. 1.13 Col. 2.15 4. From the evil of the World John 16. last 5. The sting of Death and the slavish fear of it Heb. 2.14 15. 6. The wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 4thly The greatness of the good things we are saved and brought unto viz. The Life of Grace here Ephes 2.1 and the Life of Glory hereafter Col. 3.4 Fifthly To meditate on the means To make sure and procure the means of Salvation to you which are briefly these 1. To see and acknowledge your selves lost in your selves Luke 19.10 2. To humble your selves under the consideration of it James 4.9 Luke 13.31 3. To turn every one from the evil of his wayes Ezek. 18.30 Isa 55.7 8. 4. To lay hold on Jesus Christ by a lively Faith John 3.16 Acts 10.43 5. To get a new Nature 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Pet. 1.4 6. To lead a new Life a Life of Holiness 1 Pet. 1.15 and to order your Conversation according to the rules of the Word Psal 50. last To him that orders his Conversation aright I will shew the Salvation of God Now here to take notice what it is to order our Conversation aright I shall stay a little the longer because the Conversation of most are such an open contradiction to their Profession Now by ordering our Conversation aright is meant a putting of our Life in a method and order a Saint must not walk at random or at large but in a regular and orderly way Col. 2.5 that is According to those rules laid down in the Scripture the Law and the Gospel and these Rules according to which we are to order our Conversation they are either more general or more particular First For the General Rules You have them laid down in two places the first in the Old Testament Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good Q. Where hath he shewed Man his duty A. Why in his Word there God hath laid down plainly what the Duty of every Man is to God and others and himself so as there is no Man or Woman can plead ignorance and say he knew it not to be his duty for God hath plainly revealed it in his Word what is good how that all in his Word is good and will do good to him that doth it Micah 2.7 Do not my Words do good to him that walks uprightly And what the Lord requires of thee What is that 1. To do justly i. e. To make Conscience of all the Duties of Justice and Righteousness required in the second Table to render to every one his due and do unto others as you would have others do unto you which is the Law and the Prophets 2. To love Mercy that is To shew mercy to the Bodies and to the Souls of others as you have opportunity Gal. 6.10 Heb. 13.16 3. To walk humbly with thy God This comprehends all the Duties of the first Table as the two former of the second Table So as the meaning in short is this Thou shalt set God alwayes before thee give him the Homage Worship and Service that is due to him approve thy heart to him in all the service thou tenderest to him humble thy self under thy fallings and failings acknowledge when thou hast done all thou art but an unprofitable Servant and desire only to be found in the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ More clearly and fully you have these Duties laid down Titus 2.11 12. The Grace of God bringing Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Soberly in respect of our selves Righteously in respect of others Godlily in respect of God Haec tria perpetuo meditare adverbia Pauli Haec tria sunt vitae regula sancta tuae Make these three Adverbs the subject of your continual Meditation and the proposed Rule of your daily Conversation Your duty here is as every day 1. To watch against and deny ungodliness that is Those sins forbidden in the first Table so called because they are immediately against God And worldly lusts that is all sins forbid in the second Table called Worldly because they have the World for their Object and Subject 2. It follows and that we should live soberly the former contain'd the negative commands of the Law these latter the affirmative commands of the Law to note unto us it is not enough to be negative Christians but we must be also affirmative Christians Isa 1.16 17. Cease to do evil learn to do well 1. Your duty is to live soberly in respect of your selves that is to be moderate in your desires and use of all Creature Comforts as Meat Drink Apparel Recreation Phil. 4.5 1 Cor. 7.30 2. Righteously in respect of your Neighbours that is To act and exercise Righteousness in all your Thoughts Affections Words Actions Tradings and Dealings with others made a sign of one that shall dwell in God's Holy Hill Psal 15. 3. In respect of God to carry your selves Godly or God-like to be Holy as he is Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 that is Publickly Privately Secretly Daily Hourly Continually 2 Cor. 7.1 Rev. 2.10 To quicken you to this godliness to meditate on that place 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable to all things and hath the promise of this life and that to come that is Hath all the blessings of Heaven
God Let all the Angels of God worship him and were all along at his command and service attended on him in his Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascention and shall at the last day in his comming to Judgement as you may see clearly in reading the Gospel Luke 1.13 22.43 24.5 6. Acts 1.10 11. Mat. 8.38 13.49 3. They minister to the Church and People of God in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life They Minister both to the well-fare of their Bodies and Souls in watching over them and protecting them from evil Psal 34.7 Psal 91.10 11. instructing and directing quickning incouraging and comforting them in that which is good Dan. 8.16 17. Dan. 9.12 Gen. 24.7 Gen. 32.1 Isa 6.6 7. Rev. 22.9 2. In Death They are about their Beds refresh them in their Sufferings as they did Christ in his Agonies stand ready to receive their Souls and to carry them as they did the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom Luke 16.22 3. After Death They watch over their Bodies as Michael the Arch-Angel did over the Body of Moses Jude 9. And at the last day they shall open their Graves and bring out their Bodies and secure them from the fire that it shall not hurt them as in 〈…〉 these three Children in the Fiery Furnace Dan. 3. And whereas the Devil will then be most raging the good Angels will restrain them and stop their mouths as they did stop the mouths of the Lyons when Daniel was cast into the Den after this they will gather together all the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth Mat. 24.31 and separate them from the Reprobates Mat. 13.40 Take them up into the Clouds to be Accessors with Christ in Judgment on the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 and joyn with them 〈◊〉 praising God Rev. 4.9 10. Rev. 5.11 12. 7.9 10. Q. 2. What are our duties in respect of the good Angels A. These are many and weighty though little known and less practised by the most and therefore mind them well 1. To admire the wonderful love of God in honouring us with such glorious and blessed Guardians not only vouchsafing his own protection and the protection of his Son and Spirit but also of his blessed Angels Is not this matter of admiration what are the Angels but the most glorious Creatures in the World the glorious Courtiers of Heaven No Prince on Earth hath so glorious a Guard as every Saint even the poorest hath every day and night and therefore to be still admiring and adoring this wonderful love of God and say Lord what is Man and I among the Sons of Men that thou shouldest honour me so far as to give thy Angels a charge to minister to me and watch over me every day and night 2. To glory in this priviledge above all other priviledges in the World that we have such high and excellent Creatures to minister to us and to be our Guardians If men have a great and long Train at theit heels of great and Noble Persons in Silk and Sattin and Golden Chains how do they run after them and gaze upon them whereas alas all this bravery is but beggery to the Glory of those that wait upon the Saints they have higher and more glorious attendance those noble and glorious Courtiers of Heaven men need a fair day and a clear Sun-shine to discover their bravery or half the shew of it is lost but now nothing can darken the glory of the Saints attendance Mat. 28.2 3. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his Raiment white as Snow 3. Take heed you do not injure any the least of God's Saints the poorest meanest most contemptible of them Why Because they have the glorious Angels to wait upon them and minister unto them Mat. 18.10 See that thou despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you the Angels behold the Face of my Father Why should any think them unworthy of their company and countenance when the greatest Angels think them worthy of their attendance and service if any wrong them the Angels will certainly right them When the Sodomites rose up against Lot the Angel smote them with blindness and rescued Lot out of their hands If Balaam go about to curse God's Israel an Angel stands in the way with a drawn Sword to withstand him If proud Sennacherib threaten to destroy Hezekiah and his People an Angel goes forth and slayes in one night a hundred eighty and five thousand in his Army And therefore take heed of wronging any of them any way 4. Be quickned hence to honour and serve that God more chearfully that hath so highly honoured and incouraged you in the service of him as to appoint the Glorious Angels to attend upon you in it shall they that are so high and holy above us stoop so low as to attend upon us and Minister to us at God's command and shall not we who are so inferior to him readily do service to him who is so high above us and hath no need of our service and whose service cannot any way reach to him but only to our selves And when our honour and happiness is wrapt up in it what a shame were this and what an aggravation will this be upon all idle Servants at the last day 5th Duty To carry our selves so as we may injoy the benefit sweet and comfort of this glorious and blessed Priviledge the Ministration and Service of the Angels Q. How is that A. Mind well it consists in these Particulars 1. To take more notice of this glorious Priviledge then ever you have done If you have been ignorant and heedless of it heretofore take the shame of it and labour to get a more distinct knowledge of it and get your Faith confirmed and established in it for is it not a foul shame that such glorious Spirits should take notice of us and minister to us and we take no notice of them 2. To see that you be such Persons as God hath given his Angels a charge over Who are they 1st Such as fear the Lord Psalm 34.7 2ly Such as keep in God's Wayes the wayes of his Commandments Psalm 91.1 3ly Such as continually pray to God for their direction and protection as Abraham's Servant did Gen. 24.7 and the Israelites Numb 20.16 4ly Such as are Heirs of Salvation for they minister only unto such Heb. 1. last 3. To carry your selves reverently in their presence and take heed you do nothing that should offend and grieve them whence that 1 Cor. 10.11 12. A Woman ought to cover her Head because of the Angels that is as Mr. Perkins sayes not onely in respect of God's Ministers but the Angels and not without great reason 1. Because they are present to observe our carriage in all the Service of God
over the Creatures he that was Superiour to all was made inferiour to all Psal 49.20 Isai 1.3 Jer. 8.7 The Prophet puts them to School to all to learn of the Creatures 4. As Man lost his preheminence so his authority over all he that was Lord over all became a Slave to all who instead of serving Man rebels against Man labours to pick out his Eys Pro. 30.17 to eat his Flesh and lap up his Blood 2 King 9.36 Sixthly Man lost his liberty by Creation he was a free Denizen and Citizen of the World all at his command but presently after the Fall became a Slave and was in Bondage to all the Devil the World and the Flesh 1. To the Devil taken and carried Captive by him to do his pleasure 2 Tim. 2 last Eph. 2.2 2. To the World so as to be drawn aside from that which is good and drawn into evil by the baits and allurements of it on the one hand and the menaces and persecutions of it on the other 1 Epist Joh. 4.5 whence that of James 4.4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses c. and 1 John 2.15 3. To the Flesh to do whatsoever it shall suggest for the gaining and retaining of honour and profit and pleasure Rom. 6.16 John 8.34 2 Pet. 2.19 and in this slavery and bondage all Men and Women are by nature and that not unwillingly and grudgingly but readily and cheerfully and with the greatest delight so far from being desirous to be brought out of it as they account those their greatest Enemies that would endeavour to bring them out of it Jer. 18. There is no hope but we will walk every â—ne after the imagination of our own hearts Jer. 43.1 2 3. Jer. 44.16 17. Thus you see the greatness of the punishment of loss Et heu quantum mutatus ab illo How much is Man alter'd from his first estate Tristis Lacrymosa commutatio a most sad and lamentable change you see from favour to wrath from fellowship to banishment instead of the Image of God the image of sin and Satan for glory misery for dignity infamy for dominion subjection for liberty slavery Secondly For the Positive part of punishment or the punishment of Sense that followed the fall upon every Son and Daughter of Adam and that was the curse of God Gal. 3.10 and what is this curse but the infinite and unsupportable wrath of God and all manner of Plagues Judgments and Miseries in Life at Death and after Death 1. In this life in Soul and Body in Name and Estate 1. In Soul blindness of mind hardness of heart Isai 6.9 a reprobate sense Rom. 1.23.26 strong delusions 2 Thes 2.11 horrors of conscience Isai 65.13 seconded with Hellish despair and blasphemy as in Cain Saul Judas 2. In Body all manner of aches sicknesses diseases Deut. 28.21 to the end 3. In name infamy shame reproach Deut. 28. â—â— 37. 4. In Estate losses crosses curses in getting cares in keeping fears in losing sorrows and that many times unto death Deut 28.16 Jer. 12.13 Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings yea I have curst them already Secondly In the end of this life death the King of terrors Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6. last Job 18.14 Thirdly After this life if men die in their sins impenitentâ—â— 1. As soon as the Soul is separated from the Body it is immediately carried by the Devil into Hell Luke 12.20 and there kept in Prison till the Day of Judgment 1 Pet. 3.19 the Body thrown into the Grave where Death gnaws upon it as upon Carrion in a ditch with the mouth full of Earth and the Belly full of Worms and the Carkass full of stinch 2. At the Day of Judgment by the Almighty Power of the Lord Jesus Christ the Supream Judg of Heaven and Earth the Soul is brought out of Hell and the Body out of the Grave out of which as soon as it begins to peep it shall behold the whole World on Fire about its Ears Christ on his Throne of Glory the Saints whom they derided and persecuted taken up into the Clouds to be assessors with Christ in Judgment upon the wicked World whil'st they with the Devils are left below to stand forth before the Tribunal of Christ and hear that dreadful Sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels wherein every word is a Hell before they come to Hell 3. After the Sentence is past all wicked Reprobates shall be thrust away from the Judgment Seat of Christ and thrown into Hell with the Devils there to lie and fry and cry under easless endless and remediless torments And thus much of the cursed state of man by transgression and the things to be meditated on in it That your meditation on them may be the more effectual to cause you speedily to hye out of it 1. Beg the Spirit of God to convince you thorowly of the truth of it it being no other than what God hath spoken in his Word and we find by bitter experience 2. Labour to be truly sensible of and deeply humbled under the fight and sense of it so as to give no rest to your selves until that you are brought out of it for the promises of mercy run only unto such Mat. 9.13 Luke 19.10 Mat. 11.29 And that you may be truly sensible of and effectually humbled under it beg the Spirit of God to prick your hearts with the consideration of it as he did those Converts Acts 2.37 and tremble to stay a moment in your unregenerate estate as the Jaylor Acts 16. when Paul had preacht unto him 4. Be willing to receive Jesus Christ on his own terms not only as your Jesus but your Lord and Christ John 1.12 Rom. 13. end Lastly Hearken to that Counsel of your Lord and Saviour Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel and then his promise is to receive all and cast away no one Soul that comes to him and rests upon him for Conversion and Salvation Joh 6 37. Amen Sect. 3. The third state of Man is his gracious state by Regeneration and here to take notice of and meditate on these things First The free and unsearchable love of God to us in it 2. The nature of it what it is and wherein it consists 3. The differences of true grace from false grace from restraining grace 4. Degrees of true sanctifying grace 5. The signs of it 6. The priviledges of such as have it 7. The motives to it 8. The means for the maintaining encreasing and persevering in it First For the free unsearchable love and grace of God to his in not leaving his Elect in their fallen cursed condition but in his appointed time effectually calling all such as belong unto his Election of grace out of a state of nature into a state of grace God might have for ever passed by fallen Man-kind as well as he did the fallen Angels though he lookt in mercy upon some he might have passed
of these as 1. on Death because it will be a notable means 1. to make us apply our hearts unto Spiritual Wisdom Psal 90.12 2. To restrain us from sin lest Death should find us in it or presently after it As a Copy of Writing is safest from blotting when dust is cast on it so we are safest from sinning when we remember that we are but Dust Callamy 3. A notable means to quicken us to repentance an instance you have in Waldus A rich Merchant of Lyons in France who seeing one drop down dead in the streets went home repented and changed his life studied the Scriptures became a Teacher and Father of those Christians called the Waldenses or the poor Men of Lyons Therefore 2. To meditate on the great and terrible day of Judgment because it will be as a curb to restrain from sinning so a spur to quicken to duty 2 Cor. 15.9.10 11. 3. Therefore to meditate on Hell because it will be a notable means to keep us out of Hell whence one adviseth thus Descendamus viventes ut non descendamus morientes Bernard Let us often look down into it that we may never fall into it 4. Therefore to meditate on Heaven because it will make us more willing to leave Earth to go to Heaven whensoever God calls for us the reason why so few go to Heaven when they die is because they never thought of Heaven until they came to die Calamy First On DEATH In it to meditate on those things that may fit you for Death and those things that may make you willing to die First On those things that may fit you for Death as 1. that it is one of the chiefest parts of Wisdom that which God you saw wisheth to Man in a most pathettical manner Deut. 22.29 Oh that men were wise c. 2. The original procreant cause of it viz. Sin Rom. 6. last The wages of sin is death therefore as often as you are tempted to sin by the present credit profit and pleasure of it to think on the fruit of it Rom. 6.21 What fruit had you in those things whereof ye are now ashamed 3. On the certainty of it In the day that thou eatest of it in dying thou shalt die that is thou shalt most certainly die Gen. 2. Heb. 9.27 It 's appointed for all to die 4. The uncertainty of it as nothing more certain so nothing more uncertain Ut morior scio sed nescio ubi quomodo quando That I shall die I know but where how and when I know not It 's a Proverb When Health is highest Death is many times nighest 1 Thess 5.3 When men cry peace then comes sudden destruction To day the Sermon-Bell tolls to call you to Church to morrow it may be the Passing-Bell to summon you to the Grave and therfore to wait for it at all times and in all places in all manner of wayes because all things come alike to all Eccles 9.1 5. To consider to die is but once to be done and that which is but once to be done had need to be well done or we are for ever undone if this work be not done or but half done at the time of dying there 's no doing or finishing it afterwards Eccles 9.10 As the Tree falleth so it lyeth as Death leaves men so Judgment finds them Heb. 9.27 6. To meditate on the terribleness of Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the King of Terrors Job 18.14 and needs must seeing it separates those two friends Soul and Body delivers up the Soul immediately to stand forth before the Tribunal of Christ to receive his peculiar Sentence of Damnation before the Judgment Day comes and after the Sentence to be carried by the Devils into Hell and throwes the body of the wicked into the Grave where Death gnaws upon it as upon Carrion in a Ditch puts an end to all his temporal felicity and begins his eternal misery strips him of all the comforts of this life and brings him to eternal torments 5. To meditate on the means you are to use to use to fit you for Death and they are amongst others these 1. To acquaint your selves with God and make your peace with him by Jesus Christ as Eliphas counsels Job Job 21.22 2. To get and clear up your interest in Jesus Christ who hath destroyed Death and him that had the power of Death Heb. 2.14 3. To pull out the sting of Death by Faith in the Blood of Christ and repentance for every known sin 1 John 1.7 Acts 3.19 to see that Sin die ere you die for it 's one of the terriblest threatnings in the Book of God John 8.21 If you believe not that I am He you shall die in your sins and Luke 13. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish And therefore Antequam moriaris moriantur in te vitia before thou dyest be careful to see that sin die 4. Labour to die daily as unto sin so unto the World 1 Cor. 7.29 The time is but short and the fashion of this World passeth away it 's the worst husbandry in the World to have Grace to seek when men should make use of it and the sick Bed is the worst time of all others to seek it in being then scarce able to think on any thing but Pain and Death and Hell 5. To get and clear up a Work of Grace that may entitle you to Glory or there will be nothing else able to stand by you and comfort you all things in the World without a Work of Grace will like Job's Friends prove miserable Comforters 3 John 3. Except a man be born again c. Flesh and Blood shall never inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 6. Not only look to this that you have Grace but that you keep it in exercise not only that you have Lamps and Oyl in them but that you trim them against your Lord's coming Mat. 25. that is that you act and exercise your Graces especially these your Faith and Patience Heb. 6.12 your heavenly-mindedness and contempt of the World Phil. 3.20 7. That you get and keep good Consciences this will be light in darkness and life in death Prov. 14.32 The Righteous hath hope in his death 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing in the testimony of our Consciences c. Isa 38.2 Remember how I have walkt before thee in Truth c. Lastly It was Moses's Prayer and let it be yours daily Teach us Lord so to number our dayes as we may apply our hearts unto Wisdom Psal 90. In a word Let the ends of all your thoughts be the thought of your latter end that so when you come to die you may have nothing else left to do but to die and whensoever Death comes you may bid it wellcome in the Name of Christ and when you are to die to die in charity with all in obedience to God's Call and in Faith to go to and be for ever with the
2. Because they are Holy Spirits and cannot indure to see any unholy or unclean behaviour 4thly To imitate the Blessed Angels especially in these four things 1. their Humility 2. Piety 3. Charity 4. Alacrity 1. Their Humility Though they be glorious Spirits yet they are content to stoop to the meanest Servants of God at God's Command they came down from Heaven to bring glad tydings of Salvation to poor Shepherds are willing to wait on those that are despised of men Mat. 18.10 how much more should we stoop to one another and serve one another in love see the command Rom. 12.3.16 2. To imitate them in their Piety They are God-like Holy as he is Holy therefore called 〈◊〉 Holy Angels Mark 8.38 And we are commandâ—◠〈◊〉 be Holy as God is Holy 1 Tim. 1.15 They seek nor their own Glory but the Lords Isa 〈…〉 so we are commanded 1 Cor. 〈…〉 They stand ready prest to know and do the Will of God Psal 103.21 And we are commanded Tuâ—â— 3. â— Be ready to every good work They do it also zealously Dan. 9.21 He make 〈◊〉 Angels a flame of Fire and this we are commâ—nded Rev. 3.19 Be zealous and amend And they do it constantly Matth. 18.10 And we are commanded 1 Cor. 15. last Be stedfast uâ—â—oveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord c. Gal. 6.10 Be not weary of well doing And all this is no other then what we are taught to pray for in the Lords Prayer in these words Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven That is universally sincerely chearfully constantly 3. In their Charity They not only love one another but they love us and in love to us they are content to stoop to any Service wherein they may express their love to us how much more should we love one the other and as the Apostle exhorts serve one another in love and the rather because it is the express command of Christ and he hath given himself an Example of it and made it the chief character of a Disciple of his John 13.35 4. To imitate them in their Joy They rejoyce continually in the Glory of God the Exaltation of Christ the Conversation of Sinners the Salvation of Souls the Glorification of the Saints together with themselves how much more should we rejoyce in these things seeing the benefit redounds not so much to them as to us 6th Duty Not to fear the malice and rage of the Evil Angels for however the Evil Angels endeavour to do all the mischief they can to the Godly and God permits them to do it to wicked men Psal 78.49 50. and sometimes to afflict the Godly Job 1.6 yet here 's our comfort All the Godly have the Good Angels to protect them that they cannot hurt them as they would however Evil Angels may have a permission from God to do them evil yet the Good Angels have alwayes a Commission from God to do them good Psal 103. to the end And the power of Good Angels is more and greater then of the Evil they having lost much of it by their fall and therefore not so much to fear them A King that hath his Guard about him fears no danger how much less should we who have though not of men yet a Guard of Angels 2 Kings 6.16 7th Duty Not slavishly to fear Death but to wellcome it whensoever it comes seeing it is the last Office the Angels do for the Saints here to attend on their Death-beds and take the care of their Souls and carry them after Death to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Luke 16.22 Heb. 12.22 Lastly Remember still to return God the Glory of this Glorious Priviledge the enjoyment of the Ministry of Angels and all the good and comfort you have reapt by it The Shepherds Luk. 2.20 having heard of the glad tydings brought by the Ministry of Angels they returned glorifying and praysing God but not the Angels the Angels ought to have their due reverence and respect for their Ministry but we are to give the honour and glory of it only to God Thus Daniel 6.22 and Peter Acts 12.11 they did not ascribe the deliverance to the Angels but unto God that sent his Angels And great cause have we to glorifie God in and for their Ministry 1. In respect of the great honour God conferreth on us in vouchsafing such honourable Guardians to us 2. In respect of the great good that comes to us by them not only in protecting us from those evil spirits which rule in the Air but the quickning and leadings to the following and guidance of his ever blessed Spirit of Grace 3. Because they are only instruments in God's Hand it 's God alone is the Author of all the good we receive by them Make these uses of the Ministry of Angels and you will be sure to reap much benefit and comfort by it and to have them still to attend upon you and minister to you in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life to preserve you from evil and to incourage you in that which is good to comfort you in and deliver you out of trouble 2. In Death to stand about your Beds and keep off the evil Spirits and chear up your own Spirits arm you against the terrors of Death and as soon as your Soul shall be separate from the Body to carry it to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect And 3. after Death at the last and great Day to open your Graves and bring out your Bodies and take them up into the Air to the Accessors with Jesus Christ in judgment on the wicked World and after that to conduct you into Heaven there to be for ever with the Lord and with them still glorifying God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity Amen Secondly For the Evil Angels and Devils Sect. 2. In and about them to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. That there are such 2. What they are 3. How they became such 4. What their punishment 5. What their Office or Work is 6. What their Properties or Qualities are Lastly What our duties are in respect of them 1. That there are such evil Spirits or Devils is abundantly manifest by the testimony of the Scripture and their frequent Temptations Apparitions Possessions and Dispossessions the Scripture often mentions in the Old New Testament In the Old we read that the Devil was a lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets 1 Kings 22. and that Satan stir'd up David to number the People 1 Chron. 21.1 and how he afflicted Job cap. 1. and that he stood at the right hand of Joshua to resist him Zach. 3.1 In the New Testament we read how he tempted Christ Mat. 4. and how Christ cast him out of many possest by him as for those Atheists and Epicures that question it they have some of them been forced to acknowledge it here to their horror
God and more opportunities and abilities for the promoting of the worship of God amongst others It 's noted of Jehoshaphat when the Lord prospered him his heart was lifted up in God's ways 2 Chron. 15.6 7. and David's study Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits 5. To be more helpful to others making a supply of others wants out of your abundance as the Apostle exhorts 2 Cor. 9. remembring we are but Stewards of what we have Luk. 16.1 and therefore be willing and ready to distribute to the supply of others wants and necessities as the Command runs 1 Tim. 6.18 19. and Gal. 6.9 10. 6. To moderate our selves in the use of our Creature-comforts and not take so much liberty and delight in them as you may 1 Cor. 7.30 31. Phil. 4.5 7. To sympathize with others in adversity Heb. 13.3 Remember those in Bonds c. Lastly Consider how soon your day of prosperity may be turn'd into a day of adversity Summer will not last all the Year therefore wise men provide for Winter the Sun will not always shine the Weather will not always be calm we know not how soon a Storm may arise and therefore in a day of prosperity to look for a day of adversity in wealth for poverty in honour for dishonour in health for sickness in life for death Job 3.25.14.14 All the days of my appointed time c. Revel 16.7 And that you may be prepared for a day of adversity 1. Hearken unto that of Eliphaz to Job ch 22.21 Acquaint thy self with God be at peace labour to make your peace with God by Jesus Christ and this will fit you for enable you to bear adversity Rom. 5.1 3. He that hath secured his Eternal state will not much regard the loss of his temporal estate Heb. 10.34 they took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods c. And therefore hearken to that 1 Cor. 7.30 The time is but short c. Get off your hearts from Creature-comforts and you will more easily part with them when God calls for them as the Apostle Acts 21. What do you weeping c Thus much of your carriage under prosperous Providences For adverse and sad Providences mind well these Rules Take heed of some things and practise others 1. Take heed of some things as these the taking up hard thoughts of God murmuring thoughts against God despising and desponding thoughts under the Rod envious thoughts of others prosperity 1. Take heed of taking up hard thoughts of God of questioning God's love under the Rod for however prosperity be no mark of God's special love yet Adversity is as you may see clearly Heb. 12.6 and Revel 3.19 Whom I love I rebuke and chasten Q. But you will say To whom is it a pledge of God's special love Ans Not to all but some not to the wicked but the godly Not to Cain but to Abel not to Esau but to Jacob Rom. 9. Mal. 1. To all that unfeignedly love God Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me Q How shall I know I truly love God Ans Thus 1. If thou love nothing out of him or without him or in comparison of him and can'st readily part with all for him Mat. 10. end 2. If thou art one that makest conscience of yielding obedience universal and constant obedience in thy desires and endeavours to all his Commandments John 10.15.21 Q. But when is afflictions an evidence of God's special love Ans Only then when they are sanctified Q. How may we know that Ans Briefly thus when they lead men to repentance and a reformation of heart and life Jer. 31.18 19. Job 34.29 2. Take heed of murmuring and repining-thoughts under your afflictions and that 1. Because it is that which God expresly forbids and exemplarily punisheth 1 Cor. 10.10 2. That which makes Men like unto the Devil for this is his sin and punishment who is still repining and rising up against God provoking him the more 1 Pet. 5.8 3. It 's fruitless and bootless to strive with God he will be too hard for men and will afflict them the more Jer. 17.19 Do they provoke me to anger do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their faces And 1 Cor. 10.22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger than he 3. You do by your impatience but afflict your selves the more make your burthen the heavier Impatiens aegrotus crudelem facit medicum It is just with God to lay on more strokes as a Father on a stubborn Childe 3. Take heed of despising and desponding thoughts under the Rod. God forbids both Heb. 12.5 My Son despise not the chastning of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him a Christian must be careful to avoid both Extreams despising and desponding thoughts First Not to despise the Rod by slighting it that which the Lord complains of Jer. 5.9 Thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved Though it be a sin to faint under it yet it is a greater to slight it and despise it and therefore made the aggravation of Ahaz wickedness This is that Ahaz which in his afflictions trespassed more more 2 Chro. 28.22 Secondly Take heed of desponding thoughts for if thou saint in the day of adversity thy strength is but small Prov. 24.10 No sin more dishonourable to God to Christ to the Spirit to a Man's Soul than Desperation that which robs God of the glory of his grace Christ of the glory of his Merits the Spirit of the glory of his Power and sinks Soul and Body into everlasting destruction 4. Take heed of envious thoughts of others prosperity that which the best are subject to under their own adversity as you may see in David Psal 73.3 until he went into the Sanctuary and saw the end of such ungodly prosperous ones how suddenly they were brought to desolation even in a moment Psal 18.19 And therefore let not thy heart envy sinners c. Pro 22.17 2. For the things to be practised they are these 1. In the day of adversity consider Eccles 7.14 Consider 1. Whence-ever it comes who or whatsoever be the Instrument God is the Author Amos 3.6 Is there any evil in the City and I have not done it and Psal 39.10 Affliction comes not out of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground Job 5.6 But from an allwise disposing providence Can a Bird fall into a snare where there is no Ginn Shall there be any evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it Amos 3.6 7. The Bird seems to be taken by chance and yet taken by providence though the Bird did not see the snare yet the Fowler did and did set it purposely for him So afflictions may seem accidental to us but yet intended by God though we do not fore-see them yet God did fore-appoint them 1 Thes 3.3 See more to this purpose 1 Sam. 2.7 Is 45.7 Hos 8.14 2.
all the sufferings of this life are not worthy the glory that shall be reveal'd Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 This light and momentary affliction c. Fourthly In the Resurrection of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth and certainty of his Resurrection we have the testimony of God Angels and Men for it 1 Cor. 15.3 to the end Secondly On the Ends of his Resurrection as First That he might declare to all the World that he was the Son of God true and very God Rom. 1.4 Secondly That He might manifest to all the World that he had fully satisfied the Justice of God John 16.8 9. Heb. 2.13 14. Thirdly That He might strengthen our faith in that full satisfaction and reconciliation He hath made for us whence that Rom. 4. last He died for our offences and rose again for our Justification and hence that Triumph Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemns It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again c. Thirdly The evidences you have in the Merits and Benefits of Christ's Resurrection Whether he be risen as our Head and will raise us up hereafter to glory which we may know thus if we be risen with him and by him from a state of death to a state of life and grace called the first Resurrection Revel 20.6 Such only shall have an interest in the benefits of the second Resurrection at the last day John 5.28 Fourthly What you must do to get an interest in the first Resurrection that you may come to have the comfort of the second and that is to attend constantly on the Ministry of the Word and to beg the Spirit of Christ to quicken that Word that it may quicken your dead Souls according to his promise John 5.25 Fifthly In the Ascension of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth of it by the testimony of Angels and Men Acts 1.10 11. Luke 24.51 52. Secondly The End of his Ascention to shew that he was true and very God in that he could lift up his Body into the Ayr 2. That he might open the Gate of Heaven for us which we had shut by our sin and prepare a place for us in it Heb. 10 19 20. John 14.3 4. Thirdly Take notice of the use you are to make of the Ascention of Christ which is To ascend daily in our hearts and affections to him Colos 3.1 2. Sixthly In the Session of Christ at the right hand of God First To take notice what it is viz. that Equality of Glory and Dignity Authority and Power He hath with his Father Phil. 2.6.9 Eph. 1.20 Secondly To meditate on the End of his Sitting there which is First That He may Rule and Raign until he hath made all his Enemies his Foot-stool 1 Cor. 15. Secondly That he may assure us that as he sits there in our name and nature so he will cause all his at the last to sit with him upon the same Throne of glory Rev. 3.21 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it which is the same Col. 3.1 2. Seventhly In the Intercession of Christ First To take notice what it is viz. the presenting of his active and passive obedience to his Father for the procuring all that grace and mercy he hath purchased and his Father hath promised to his Elect or if you will thus That part of his Priestly Office whereby for his satisfaction sake he desires wills and procures for all his Elect the acceptation of their Persons and Services and the remuneration of all their weak endeavours for his glory Revel 8.3 4. Revel 14.13 Secondly Meditate on the Ends of his Intercession as First That we may have the benefit of all he hath done and suffered for us which we could not had he not gone into Heaven to make Intercession for us Heb. 9.7.24 Secondly That so he might take away the iniquity of our holy things and render our Persons and services acceptable to his Father and so be able to save us to the uttermost 1 Epist John 2.12 Heb. 7.25 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it and that is In all our services still to draw neer to God in the name of Christ and beg the acceptance of our Persons and Service and all that grace we stand in need of for his Intercessions sake Col. 3. â—7 Heb. 4. last But then Eighthly To meditate on the great Priviledges that come by Jesus Christ to such as have a true actual and real interest in Him as 1. Remission of all our sins 2 Cor. 5.19 1 John 17. Rev 15. 2. Imputation of Christ's righteousness 2 Cor. 5.20 3. Reconciliation to God 1 Colos 20. And thereby 1. Peace with God and Conscience Men and Angels Rom. 5.1 Col. 3 15. Isai 11.6 Hos 2. end Heb. 1. last 2. Communion with the Father and the Son 1 John 1 3. 3. A spiritual right and title to all Creature-comforts which are lost by the Fall 1 Tim. 4.45 and all that is God's and Christ's all his Attributes Promises Providences 1 Cor. 3. 2 last 4. A sanctified use of every estate both of Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good c. 4. Priviledge Adoption of us into his Family to be the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever living God Eph. 1.5 Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 5.1 5. Sanctification of our natures Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith in Christ 1 Thes 5.21 The God of Peace sanctifie you throughout c 2 Pet. â— 4 Whereby we are enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 6. Acceptation of our Persons and all our Services notwithstanding all our infirmities and imperfections Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 7. Inhabitation of his Spirit to assist us in all our duties and lead us in all our ways 1 Joh. 3 last Rom. 8.14.26 8. Confirmation and establishment in a state of Grace Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 9. The continual Intercession of Jesus Christ for all that Grace and Mercy we stand in need of Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.2 3. 10. Lastly The Consecration of Souls and Bodies Rom. 8.30 John 17.22 Tenthly To meditate if you would have the comfort of the forenamed Priviledges To meditate I say on the Evidences of an actual and real interest in Christ and that 1. Because it is expresly commanded 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith Know ye not that Ghrist is in you c. 2. Because the most do deceive themselves herein flatter themselves that they are Christ's and Christ is theirs because they are baptized into his Name and make a profession of him to whom Christ will say at the last Day I know you not c. Luke 13.25 And therefore to search and see the interest you have in Him be not only nominal and professional but actual and real Q. Well then How may we know it Ans By the Grounds of it the Means of
pleasures of Christ 1 Cor. 3. end As Christ is a King so are Believers made Kings to God Rev. 1.6 As he is Heir of all things Heb. 1.3 so they are Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ of the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 they are compleat in him Col. 2.10 A third motive may be this The great willingness and readiness of Jesus Christ to receive and save poor lost sinners such as are willing to take Him and accept of Him upon Gospel-terms this appears in these Particulars First That his desire is towards his Cant. 7.10 Swears as he lives he desires not the death of a sinner Ezek. 33. so as the fault is Man's and not his if any be not saved John 5.40 you will not come unto me that you may have life See this clearly in that Book Entituled The Self condemning Sinner Secondly In that he offers Himself freely to all without exception of any that will come to him in a way of faith and love Isaiah 55 1. Rev. 22.17 Thirdly In that he invites all to come to him that find their want and need of him Mat. 11.29 and promises to cast away none that come to him John 6.37 Fourthly In that he sends his Ministers to woe and beseech them in the name of Christ to come in and be reconcil'd to God 2 Cor. 5.20 Fifthly In that he bewails their folly that will stand out against him and their own salvation Mat. 23. Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets how often would I have gathered thy children together as the Hen gathers her chickens and you would not Lastly You are to take notice how you are to walk worthy of and suitable to so dear a Redeemer and precious Saviour by imitating him in his carriage both towards God and Man in his doings and sufferings 1. His doings 1 Epist John 2.6 He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked Q. But you will say Can any walk as he walked He was void of all sin we are sull of sin A. There 's a double As one that imports Equality and another Similitude as it imports equality it 's impossible for any to walk as he walked but as it imports similitude and likeness so we may and must walk after him As a Scholar that writes after his Master's Copy he begins every Line as his Master begins and ends as he ends he frames every Letter as his Master frames it joyns letters and syliables together as his Master doth though there be no equality he cannot write as well as his Master yet there is a similitude he labours to imitate and write like his Master So true Christians though they cannot live and walk so exactly as Christ did yet they labour to come as neer to him as they can to imitate and follow him though not in his divine acts which he did as God and as Mediator which is impossible yet in his moral and humane acts which he did as Man so they labour to make him their only pattern in their carriages both towards God and man First In their carriage to God now for his carriage towards God that was full of piety full of saith full of zeal full of heavenly-mindedness First Full of Piety Heb. 7.26 He was holy harmless separate from sinners 1 Pet. 2 22. He did no sin neither was there any guil found in his mouth and we required to follow him in that 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Ep. John 3.2 Secondly Full of faith ever confident of his Father's presence assistance and acceptance in whatsoever he did even in his greatest desertion on the Cross crying my God my God He held fast his faith and we requir'd to follow him in thiâ— Isaiah 50.10 Heb. 3.14 1 Pet. 1.13 Thirdly He was full of zeal for God both in publick and private First In publick the Zeal of God's House even consum'd him John 2.15 16 17. Secondly In private He went about doing good to the bodies souls of others Acts 10.38 We are to imitate him in this it being the end of our Redemption Titus 2.14 The end of his correction of us Revel 3.19 Fourthly He was full of heavenly-mindedness still extracting spiritual and heavenly discourses from worldly and Earthly occasions John 4.10 Joh. 13.2 John 6.26 27. and we are requir'd to follow him in this Col. 3.1 2. Phil. 3 20. Secondly Follow him in his cariage towards man now for that you may observe in the Scripture it was full of wisdom innocency truth justice humility meekness love mercy and pitty to others and we commanded in the Scriptures to imitate him in all these First In his wisdom and innocency Mat. 10.16 Secondly In his truth Eph 4 24. Thirdly In his justice and righteousness Rom. 13.7 Luke 1.6 In his humility and meekness Mat. 11.20 In his patience 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. In his love to all even our very Enemies Mat. 5.44 45. Eph. 5.2 and in mercies to the Bodies and Souls of men Rom. 12. the 3 last James 5. 2 last In his pitty and compassion Gal. 6.1 1 Pet. 3.8 Jude 22.23 Thus for his doings Secondly To imitate him in his sufferings 1 Pet. 2.21 Q. How did Christ suffer A. 1. He suffer'd willingly none could compel him to it John 10.18 You must follow him in this when God calls unto it as the Apostle Acts 21.13 Secondly Christ suffered patiently Isaiah 53.7 Heb. 12.2 we to follow him in this as we are commanded in the same place to look unto Jesus and 1 Pet. 2.21 tread in his steps Thirdly He suffer'd believingly that God would support him and deliver him so must we 1 Cor. 10.13 Fourthly He suffer'd fruitfully so as to learn obedience by his sufferings Heb. 5.8 so are we Micah 6.7 8. Revel 3.19 Fifthly Christ suffer'd constantly even to the death and so are we requir'd Rev. 2.10 Thus of Christ CHAP. IV. The Third Head the Spirit of God called the Holy Ghost IN and about him to meditate on these things First What he is Secondly What his Offices Thirdly What signs you have of the Spirit 's Inhabitation 4. Motives to get him 5. Means to procure him and 6. The means to preserve and increase communion with him First What the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost is viz. the Third Person in the sacred Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son And here to take notice of three things First That he is a distinct Person from the Father and the Son and the Third Person in Sacred Trinity 1 Epist John 5.7 Secondly That he is true and very God as well as the Father and the Son as is evident 1. By testimony of the Scripture Acts 5.3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost thou hast not lied unto man but God 2. By Reason 1. Because He is the Author and Inditer of the Scripture Acts 28.25 2 Pet. 1.21 2. Because the Scripture ascribes those Attributes to him that are proper to God as Eternity
a Chain hath the whole Chain so he that hath one saving sanctifying grace in truth hath all what is said of original sin una essentiâ sed multiplex efficientiâ is true also of sanctifying grace though but one in it self yet it is vertually all I shall give you only three evidences of each such as desire more may see them in other Books where they are fully handled 1. For the truth of sanctifyed knowledge it is thus evidenced it is experimental practical and humble First Experimental Phil. 1.9 Secondly Practical Psal 111. last Thirdly Humble Prov. 30.2 2. For the truth of sanctifying faith it is thus evidenced it is a self-emptying working converting faith 1. It is a self-emptying or self-denying faith it makes a Soul to deny his own righteousness in point of Justification and acceptation and with the Apostle desires to be found only in Christ's righteousness Phil. 3.8 9. to disclaim also his own ability for any thing that is spiritually good 2 Cor. 3.5 and to enter upon duty only in the Name and Strength of Christ Phil. 4.12 Secondly It is a working faith that which works by love to God and unto others for God's sake Gal. 5.6 It is still working-out corruption Acts 15.9 and working-in grace Acts 26.18 Thirdly It is a conquering faith that which enables a Soul to with-stand and over-come temptations from within and without 1 Ep. John 5.4 This is the victory that covercomes the World even our faith Q. What 's meant here by World A. Partly the Men of it that lye in wickedness 1 Ep. John 5 19. and partly the lusts of the World as the honours riches and pleasures of it 1 Ep. John 2.16 so victorious as it enables them to hold fast their confidence to the end Heb. 3.14 Heb. 11.19 and makes them more than Conquerors over all their spiritual Enemies Rom. 8. the end 3. For the truth of repentance that is evidenced thus It is a universal sincere and continued repentance 1. It is universal for all and every sin little as well as great secret as well as open one as well as another Psal 119.104 128. Secondly It is sincere from the heart Joel 2.13 Thirdly It is continued and renewed daily as we renew our provocations Ephes 4.26 Let not the Sun go down on your wrath Fourthly The truth of obedience evidenced thus 1. It is universal without partiality John 15.14 2dly Sincere without hypocrisie 2 Chron. 28.9 3dly Constant without Apostacy Mat. 10.22 Rev. 2.10 Fifthly The truth of your love thus evidenced 1. It is spiritual for Grace sake and the Truths sake 2 John 2. to the Elect Lady whom I love in truth and for the Truths sake 2. It 's impartial to one Saint as well as another Colos 1.4 3. It 's permanent and abiding unto death like Ruths to Naomi the ground of it is Gods unchangeable love to his Jer. 31.3 Sixthly The truth of your fear of God thus evidenced 1. If you fear to sin rather then to suffer fear the displeasure of God more than the displeasure of Man Luke 12.4 5. 2. If you fear him for his Mercy as well as his Justice his Goodness as well as his Greatness Psal 130.4 Hosea 3. last 3. If you fear to sin against him in secret where there is no eye to observe you but only Gods as Joseph Gen. 39.9 and Job 31.1 4. Seventhly The truth of your hope in God thus evidenced 1. If it be grounded on the Scripture Rom. 15.4 2. If it purifie the Heart and sanctifie the Life 1 John 3.3 3. If it cause you patiently to wait on God for the fulfilling his promise 1 Thes 1.3 If now you would know whether you are brought out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace try your selves by these clear evidences out of the Word of God or believe it Friends God and Conscience and Satan will try you to the purpose at the last when you will wish but all too late you had hearkened unto Counsel and tryed your selves if you cannot find yet these evidences of such a gracious state be exhorted in the next place Eighthly To meditate on the many and weighty Motives the Scripture layeth before you to quicken you to look into and labour after a work of Grace as the absolute necessity the transcendent Excellency and the great Utility of it 1. There is an absolute necessity of it 1. In respect of the Decree of God because he predestinated his to Grace before Glory to be conformable to the image of his Son Rom. 8.29 in Grace here and in Glory hereafter Ephes 1.4 2dly In respect of the revealed Will of God 1 Thes 4.7 This is the Will of God even your Sanctification 3dly A necessity of it in respect of your Salvation for without Regeneration no Salvation John 3.6 without Holiness no Happiness Heb. 3.14 2. There 's a transcendent excellency in it for Grace is no other then the Off-spring of God a beam of the Divine Majesty John 1.13 a spark of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 that which is called elsewhere the Name of God Isa 57.15 the Seed of God 1 John 3.9 the Will of God 1 Thes 4.3 the Image of God Ephes 4.24 the Life of God Ephes 4.18 the Glory of God Rom. 3.23 Exod. 15.11 because God sees more of himself in a gracious Soul and more of his own Glory in the poorest Saint then in all the glory of the World Isa 43. begin 2. Because it 's that which puts a lustre on all other things Honour Wealth Birth Beauty Gifts Parts all without Grace is but as a Jewel in a Swines snout Embroiderings on a Fools Coat whereas a little true sanctifying Grace honours the poorest in the eyes of God of Angels and Saints Isa 43. Psal 15. Psal 16. All my delight is in the Saints 3. Consider the great Utility and Benefit that comes by Grace 1. It will interest you in all the Promises 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable for all things it hath the promise of this Life and that to come 2. It will fortifie you against all the temptations of Satan to unbelief Doth the Devil tempt you to distrust Gods love to you and your right to Heaven charge you with Hypocrisie why pull out the evidences you have of a Work of Grace and let him shew if he can if ever any wicked man or Hypocrite had such evidences the Devil may sooner prove himself a Lyar then a Saint to be a Hypocrite 3. It will bring you contentment and make you a gainer in and by every condition as it did the Apostle Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.6 4. It will sweeten and sanctifie every estate and condition to you Prosperity Adversity Health Sickness Life Death Rom. 8.28 5. It will support chear and comfort you in every estate both of Life and Death 2 Cor. 1.12 6. It will not only accompany you to the Grave where all other things leave you but to the Tribunal of
Lord. Secondly To meditate on such things as may not only fit and prepare you for death but meditate on such things as may make you willing to die and help you to die comfortably What are they Mind here well for they are of special use to you As first 1. The certainty of another and a better life after this nothing so sure as that by what you have seen already by the testimony of Scripture and many weighty grounds of it in your meditations on the Life of Glory 2. Meditate on the evidences you have of an interest in that better Life of Glory as your interest in God in Christ in the Spirit and in the Graces of the Spirit as your effectual Vocation Justification Adoption Sanctification and those Graces unto which 't is promised as Saving Sanctifying Knowledge Faith Repentance Obedience love to the Saints the Truth sincerity and uprightness of your heart in all to which you may see it frequently promised Psal 84. to the end Psal 37. v. 37. Isa 57.2 Thirdly To meditate on the many and weighty grounds God hath given to encourage your Faith and strengthen your Patience and cause both to have their perfect work 1. To encourage your Faith as 1. his immutable decree 2 Tim. 2.19 2. His unchangeable Love Jer. 31.3 3. His everlasting Covenant Jer. 32.39 4. His continual Intercession Heb. 7.25 5. His almighty Power to keep them through Faith unto Salvation 2 Pet. 1.4 however we should let go our Faith yet he will hold it fast by his Spirit 2. The grounds to strengthen our Patience 1. It 's a Lord whose Will cannot be resisted a Father who ought readily to be obeyed a wise Father who knows what is better for his Children then they do for themselves a pittiful tender-hearted Father that is afflicted in all the afflictions of his that will not afflict his too much because he knows whereof they are made that they are but Dust nor too long lest the Spirit faint and the Soul which he hath made a Father from whom they have received all the good they have had and therefore to be contented to receive a little evil and the rather because it is in order to their spiritual and eternal good Rom. 8.2 Ah! but the pains of my Body are great and the pangs of Death are bitter but to quiet your spirits under these Consider 1. That the pangs of Death are sometimes less then the pains they feel before as to Mr. Bolton who said to his Friend that askt him How it was with him when the pangs of death were upon him He said to him Your cold hand is the greatest pain I feel in his Epistle to the Four last Things 2. You are content to undergoe a great deal of pain here for a little gain how much more should you for an eternal gain These pains are but like the throwes in Travail to bring forth eternal Life 3. Whatsoever your pains and sufferings are they are little or nothing to those your sins made Christ to suffer and that many of his dear and precious Saints have and do suffer and to those eternal sufferings Christ hath redeemed you from and that exceeding excessive and eternal weight of glory that will follow your sufferings 2 Cor. 4.17 Fourthly To meditate on the many and great evils that Death will free you from as 1. from a body of Sin and Death that is still inclining you to evil and indisposing you to good still dulling deading and distracting you in all the services you do 2. From a wicked World wherein continually we see and hear what doth and should more vex our souls 2 Pet. 2. 3. From the dissention of Brethren who are continually undermining the credit and comfort one of another which made Melancton so willing to die when a Friend of his askt him how it was with him and whether he were willing to die He answered Oh yes Not only that he might be freed from a body of Sin and Death and a wicked World but from the dissention of Brethren and go there where all shall be perfected in love 4. From a malicious Devil that is still tempting us to evil and discouraging us from all that is good walking up and down like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. In a word from all Labours Pains Fears Doubts Sorrows Sufferings Rev. 14.13 Rev. 21.4 Death will perfectly cure you of all Diseases Corporeal and Spiritual at once both an aking Head and an unbelieving Heart a sickly Body and a distemper'd Spirit the best Physitian that ever you met with Fifthly To meditate on the many and great benefits Death will help you to as that glorious Place Company Imployment Priviledges you saw before in the Life of Glory the continual Presence of God the blessed Vision of God the immediate perfect and everlasting communion with God perfection of Holiness fulness of Joy and an everlasting Sabbath Sixthly To consider the evil of being unwilling to die By this Christians manifest too much ignorance unbelief hypocrisie love to the World senslesness of the body of Sin and Death that World of wickedness they live in and hereby procure more disquiet to their Spirits and hasten Death the sooner upon them besides the great unreasonableness of it that when God should be so willing of their company they should be so unwilling of his and when Christ should be content to leave Heaven and to come to Earth for them they should be unwilling to leave Earth to go to Heaven that they might enjoy him and know and profess it to be best of all to be with Jesus Christ Seventhly To meditate on the good of being willing to die Hereby you will make a vertue of necessity seeing you cannot put it off therefore you will voluntarily yeeld to it hereby you will manifest your hatred of sin contempt of the World Faith in God's Promises Love to God desire of immediate Communion with him honour your Christian Profession and make Death the less terrible to you Eighthly and Lastly Consider what the Apostle sayes 1 Cor. 13. to the end Death is yours Yours no way to hurt you but every way to do you good 1. No way to hurt you because however it be a Serpent yet 't is a Serpent without a sting by stinging of Jesus Christ to death it lost its sting so that though it may hiss yet it cannot hurt however the Devil brought Jesus Christ unto the Cross unto Death unto the Grave yet therein Jesus Christ out-shot the Devil in his own Bow spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of it openly tryumphing over them on the Cross Col. 2.15 And that it can no way hurt you appears further by these Particulars 1. In that it is not the destruction or annihilation either of Soul or Body but onely the alteration and change of their condition for the better As for instance 1. In the Body The Body by Death is freed from
when God will avenge himself upon all the enemies of his Church and People Luke 18. beginning So as Joshua dealt with the five Kings of Canaan God will deal with all the Enemies of his People command them to be brought forth and make his Saints to tread on the necks of their Enemies Rev. 17.6 and render tribulation to all that have troubled them 2 Thess 1.6 Thirdly A Day of Exultation When the Saints shall exult and tryumph over all those that have over them here Psal 44.14 in the morning the Just shall have dominion over the wicked 3. In respect of their Friends it will be a day of mutual association and hearty congratulation for at that day there shall be a meeting not only of Soul and Body but all godly Parents and Children Husbands and Wives Masters and Servants Friends and Acquaintance that have loved lived and dyed in the Lord never to part any more but delight in one the other yea a meeting of all the Holy Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Saints that ever have been in the World and which is still more of all the glorious Angels and which is the sum of all the most sacred and ever blessed Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity Father Son and Holy Ghost 4. The most comfortable day in respect of themselves because it will be a day of Redemption Exaltation Remuneration 1. A day of Redemption from all sin and misery not onely of their Souls but of their Bodies Rom. 8.23 Whence that of our Saviour Luke 21.28 When you see these things lift up your heads for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath an emphasis in it and imports not only a Redemption from misery but a restoration to liberty a day of Exaltation to the highest degrees of Glory for when Christ shall appear they shall appear in Glory Col. 3.4 and such Glory as will make him and them to be admired 2 Thess 1.10 When the Angels that minister to them in life and death shall then perform the greatest office to them gather together the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth and separate them from all further communion with the wicked take them up into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air 1 Thess 4. and set them at his right Hand to be Accessors with him in judgment upon the wicked World such honour have all his Saints 1 Cor. 16.1 and more then so and which is more then all hearts can conceive but they that feel it they shall be welcomed by the Lord Jesus Christ with that ravishing imbracement and extatical leaps of their rejoycing hearts at the pronunciation of that blessed Sentence Come ye Blessed c. And immediately after usher'd along by the Angels with Jubilees and Songs of Tryumph through the Clouds into the Presence Chamber of the King of Kings and there ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4.27 3. A day of Remuneration when God will crown his own grace with glory and will render to every one according to his works Rev. 14.13 Rev. 22.12 When God will reward all the Fasts you have kept all the Prayers you have made all the Tears you have shed all the good Works you have done all the Evils you have suffered all the Offices of Love and Kindness you have shewed to him and his Mat. 10. last Then the Crown shall be set upon your Heads the Royal Robe of Christ put on your backs all see and know you have not serv'd God for nought that in keeping of his Commandments there 's great reward even an exceeding excessive and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 10. And Lastly Meditate on what we may do to escape the terror of that day and enjoy the comfort of it Q. What is that A. To observe and make Conscience of those duties the Scriptures hold forth in reference to that day As 1. In general to prepare for it expresly required Mat. 24.44 Be ye also prepared for in an hour ye think not will the Son of Man come And this Exhortation you may find backed with a double Argument the first drawn from the blessed estate of such as are prepared vers 49 50. Q. But how are we to prepare for Judgement A. 1. By being diligent that we may be found of him in peace the use the Apostle teacheth you to make of it 2 Pet. 3.14 That is to see your peace be made with God in and through Jesus Christ of your Enemy he be made your Friend Ephes 2.14 2. You are also to give diligence that you may be found of the Lord without spot or blemish as he further exhorts vers 14. That is That you endeavour to get the guilt of sin and the spots of sin to be washt away in the Blood of Christ 1 John 1.7 That you break off also all and every sin by speedy and unfeigned repentance the use the Scripture teacheth us to make of this day Acts 3.18 19. Repent that your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord c. see Acts 17.30 to the end 3. To erect every one a Tribunal in his Conscience it being the end wherefore God puts Conscience within every one and having done so to search out after every Malefactor against God to apprehend accuse judge and do execution upon every sin and then the promise is if we remember he 'l forget if we confess he 'l forgive if we judge our selves he 'l not condemn us with the World 1 Cor. 11.32 4. To get and furnish our Lamps with Oyl to wit the Oyl of Grace and to trim them that exercise those Graces that so you may be ready to enter with the Bridegroom whensoever he shall come to call for you Matth. 25.10 Amongst others be sure you have these three Graces in Act and Exercise 1. A filial fear to sin against God The more you fear sin the less you 'l fear judgment therefore tremble to sin now that you may not tremble at judgment hereafter this use the Scripture teacheth you to make of it 1 Pet. 1.17 Rev. 14.7 Eccles last last 2. Get an unfeigned love to God and the godly for if our love be perfect or true we shall have boldness in the day of judgment 1 John 1.17 3. Look to the sincerity and uprightness of your heart in all your wayes For if our hearts condemn us not then we have confidence towards God 1 John 3.21 That is We should stand with boldness before the Judge but on the contrary if our Conscience condemn us the Judge will much more vers 20. and therefore herein I exercise my self to have a Conscience void of offence sayes the Apostle Acts 24.14 15. Why you may see 2 Cor. 5.8 9 10. We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ c. 5. You must be willing to stand up for and make a bold confession and profession of
all the Secretaries of Nature cannot number the kinds of the Creature much less the Individuaes Jer. 33.22 Psal 104.25 3. For the Variety of the Creatures This is much more wonderful As there are innumerable Kinds of Creatures so there are kinds of divers forms and fashions one from the other Amongst so many thousand Pebles on the Sea-shore you cannot find two stones alike in all things amongst so many thousand Heards of Cattle you cannot find two Beasts alike in all things amongst so many thousand Men and Women that are in the World you cannot find two persons alike in all things but they differ in Face or Voice or Gesture 4. For the Beauty of the Creature How hath the Lord bedeckt the Heavens with Stars the Earth with all variety of Beauties well dressed Gardens fruitful Orchards green Meadows pleasant Woods sweet Fountains Chrystal Streams all variety of Colours so as Solomon in all his Royalty was not cloathed as the Lilly Matth. 6.29 5. For the Structure of the Creatures how admirable is this In the least as well as the greatest the Soul of a little Fly sayes Austin excels the glorious Body of the Sun the Teeth of a Moth as wonderful as the Tusks of a Boar the Thigh of a slender Gnat not inferior to the Thigh of the hugest Elephant the Wings of a Butter-fly may compare with the Wings of an Eagle There 's not the least Creature but is so admirably fram'd as all the Artists in the World not able to mend or make the like 6. For the Vertues of the Creature How wonderful is this in the Elements above and the Planets beneath in the Herbs and Trees and precious Stones there is no Creature even the vilest and basest but is good for some use or other 7. For the Sympathy of the Creatures and the Antipathy between them How strong is this No reason can be given of the sweet agreement between the Load-stone and the Iron the Lilly and the Garlick nor of the mortal hatred between the Swan and the Eagle the little Birds and the Owl A serious meditation on these things will not onely discover the great love of God and draw out your hearts the more in love to him who hath done all these things for you Secondly To meditate on those things in the Creatures that may disingage your hearts from the inordinate love of them and the eager pursuit of them amongst others on these things The Vanity Uncertainty Unsatisfactoriness Commonness Unprofitableness Deceitfulness Hurtfulness and the great folly of men in making them their portion 1. On the Vanity of them Being things in shew rather then in substance appearance rather then reality Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not Viz. In respect of any advantage and comfort when God withdraws himself from the Creature then they are like standing Pools in Summer dryed up when the Creature comes to make use of them yea they are not onely vain in the Concrete but vanity it self in the Abstract verily Man in his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 Not onely thus the Man but every Man not in his worst but best estate not only in parts but in every part altogether vanity and if Man the very best of Creatures how much more those Creatures which God made for Man What is Honour but Magnum nihil a glorious Fancy Acts 25.23 What is Wealth but a little white and red Earth What is all pleasure here but a little bitter sweet Solomon that extracted the quintessence of all concludes after the tryal of all all is vanity and vexation of Spirit 2. Meditate on the uncertainty of them 1 Tim. 16.17 Charge them that be rich they trust not in uncertain riches So uncertain as like Tennis-Balls they are banded up and down from one to another they cannot promise a day or an hours continuance to you or you to them Prov. 23.5 Riches take to themselves Wings and fly away like a Partridge in one mans Field to day in anothers to morrow many of great estates are on a sudden brought to nought by Fire Water Thieves How often have you heard of such and such in honour to day and disgrace to morrow a Rich Man one day and a Beggar another in health and jovial to day and dead nay it may be damned to morrow be warned by others harms 3. Meditate on the Vnsatisfactoriness of them They that have most of them are never satisfied with them Eccles 1.8 Eccles 4.8 Eccles 5.10 Isa 55.1 Wherefore do you lay out your Money for that which cannot satisfie You have instances of it in all times The Rich Fool in the Gospel not content to have his Barns full but he must pull them down to build them bigger Absalom not content to be a Kings Son but he must aspire also to his Fathers Throne Ahab not content with a Kingdom but is sick after Naboths Vineyard We need not look so far back our latter times give us too sad Examples he that hath climed the Ladder of Preferment high enough to break his neck yet will indeavour to climb higher and higher ut lapsu graviore ruat that he may have the greater fall he that by base and unjust Courses hath scrapt together a great heap of Wealth more then he knows well how to despose of yet is still labouring to add House to House and Field to Field and Bag to Bag till he hath added Hell to all he that hath run riot into all manner of excess and even glutted himself with the pleasures of the Flesh will yet be still adding Drunkenness to Thirst and Fuel to the Fire of Concupiscence until he hath brought Poverty into his Estate and Rottenness into his Body and Destruction both upon Soul and Body So unsatisfactory are all those things here below that like the Fire Grave Sea and Hell they have never enough 4. The Commonness of them How that all these worldly things are common to the Wicked as well as the Godly God gives Riches to them to whom he will never give Grace here nor Glory hereafter Riches were never an evidence of Gods Love here or Salvation hereafter but only an Interest in Christ and Grace from Him Men may have Riches and yet be damned Heirs and yet be damned Gifts and Parts and yet be damned for all these earthly things are common to the wicked with the Godly Eccles 9.1 and usually wicked men enjoy more of them then the Godly Job 2. Psalm 73. because it is their portion in this Life Psal 17. end 5. Take notice of the Unprofitableness of them Mark 8.36 What will it profit a man to win the World and lose his Soul they cannot profit a Mans Person neither his Soul nor Body nor his Posterity they may seem to profit in a day of Prosperity but not of Adversity a day of common Calamity Sickness Death Judgment 1. They cannot profit or better a mans person it may make him a
worse but not a better man he may conceit himself a better man and the men of the World may esteem him the better for his abundance of these things his high Place his brave Apparel his great Revenues but God esteems no man the better for these things Job 34.19 Job 36.19 2. They cannot profit or better the Soul hurt it they may and do as for instance 1st They keep them from looking after piety Luke 14.18 2ly They distract them in duty Ezek. 33.31 3ly It makes them unfruitful in duty Mat. 13.22 They may better his outward condition he may eat more and go finer and lie easier but they cannot better his inward condition help to Pardon or Peace Grace or Glory Thou and thy Money perish with thee that thinkest the Gift of God may be purchased with Money said Peter to Simon Magus Acts 8.20 God will not give away his Graces as the Indians do their Gold for Gaudes and Rattles Toyes and Trifles 3. Unprofitable to the Body Can Honour or Wealth buy Health or get a stomach to meat or procure ease rest and sleep No we find by experience the contrary he that hath most of these outward things can but eat and drink and cloath himself and so doth a poor man and with more comfort and contentment many times then the Rich and hath usually a a better appetite to his meat and more sweet sleep after his labour Eccl. 5.11 Job 20.22 4. Unprofitable likewise to his Posterity How often have you seen after that men have toyled and turmoiled in the World all their dayes for their Children their Children to be either suddenly snatcht away from their Wealth or their Wealth from their Children How often have you seen the Proverb made good Covetous men have either Prodigals or Fools to their Children such as either presently consume it away or are soon cheated of all If you would observe it you may find many Parents bewailing their folly at the last that they have toyled so much in the World for such wicked and rebellious Children and many Children cursing the time that ever their Parents left them so great and ill-gotten Estates according to that Job 21.19 5. However they may afford them some comfort in the day of prosperity and in a day of peace yet not in the time of Adversity and in a day of Calamity in a day of Sickness Death and Judgement 1st Not in a day of common Calamity when the Judgments of God are upon the Land Sword Famine Pestilence 1 Sam. 12.21 Prov. 11.4 Zeph. 1. last Ezek. 7.19 2ly In Sickness It is not high Places honourable Titles full Bags great Revenues that can prevent or remove Stone Gout Strangury Feaver or any Sickness or Pain it 's true they may procure Physicians and Medicines but those kill rather then cure without the Lord. 3ly In the hour of Death Job 27.8 What is the hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul All the Rich Fools Wealth could not keep his Soul one night longer Luke 12.15 20. 4ly In the day of Judgment all the World is so far from profiting as they shall see all in fire about their ears have nothing left but an account how they got and kept and imployed it and the more they have had of this Worlds good and the less good they have done with it and the more they have abused it the more and greater will be their torment 5ly All they have of the World cannot save them from Hell Luke 16.23 Rev. 21.8 nor mitigate their torments there Dives could not procure a drop of Water to cool his scorched tongue Luke 16.24 25. So as you see clearly and fully what unprofitable and helpless things these of the World are without Grace they cannot free from any thing that is truly evil Sin or Pain nor help to any thing that is truly good Pardon or Peace they cannot keep sickness from the Body or trouble from the Mind or terrors from the Conscience or the Soul out of Hell they may make men worse but never the better 6. Think on the Deceitfulness of the things of the World They do promise to men much help and comfort or rather men promise to themselves much by them but both they and themselves deceive themselves and meet with bitterness instead of sweetness and trouble instead of comfort therefore called deceitful Riches Mat. 13.22 Like Jael seeds men with Milk but pierceth their heads and hearts afterwards with sorrow like Joab and Judas who salute with a Kiss but stab to the heart 7. On the Hurtfulness of them Especially being got and kept by unlawful means and used and imployed to unlawful ends they keep them from a great deal of good and expose them to a great deal of hurt 1. They keep men from a great deal of good as the minding the glory of God and the good of Souls both their own and others keep them either from using the means of Grace or from profiting by them Ezek 33.31 32. Luke 18.19 2. Expose them to a great deal of evil both of Sin and Punishment the wrath and curse of God and Man both here and to all eternity in Hell as you may see clearly Eccles 5.13 1 Tim. 6.9 10. James 5.1 2 3. Hence it is that Solomon stiles them not only Vanity but vexation of Spirit because they are still vexing men either with cares in getting or fears in keeping or sorrows in losing and our Saviour compares them to Thorns because they are still piercing both head and heart with troubles in getting and grief in parting with them 8. Meditate on the great folly and madness of men in minding affecting and pursuing these things of the World before and more then the things of God and Christ and his Spirit and Kingdom and the wellfare of their own precious and immortal Souls The Spirit of God brands them frequently in the Scripture for Fools or the Fools and the worst of Fools Prov. 1.22 Mat. 23.17 18. Luke 12.19 20. and not without cause 1. He is a Fool that is not able to discern between Copper and Gold Pebles and Pearls that will part with the richest Coyn for the richest Counter what are all temporal things in comparison of spiritual and eternal Excellencies but dross and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offal and Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ Grace and Glory as the Apostle stiles them Phil. 3. 2. He is a Fool you know that minds onely things present and nothing for the future A wise man foresees the evil and hides himself but a fool passeth on and is punished Prov. 22.5 A wise man fore-sees and fore-casts his business but a fool doth neither And such fools are all worldly wise men all for this present World and nothing for another I have read a story of a certain great Man that having many Houses was wont every month to go from one House to anothe◠and send Harbingers before
take heed of all sin especially those sins which resemble men to the Devil as Pride Envy Malice Lying Slandering false Accusing of others tempting others to sin and hindering others from Good for these you may find in the Scripture to be the sins of the Devil especially the last Acts 13.10 Thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all Righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord said Paul to Elymas 3. To search and see whether you are under his Power and Dominion yea or no for all Men and Women are so by Nature as you may see Eph. 2.2 2 Tim. 2. last whence he is called the Prince of the Air John 14.30 and the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 because he rules like a Prince or rather like a Tyrant and governs like a God or rather like a Devil as he is in all wicked men holding them and leading them like Bears by the Snout like Dogs in a Chain and hath them as the Centurion had his Servants at his beck and command to commit any wickedness for Honour Profit and Pleasure in the World Now for the signs and characters of such as are under his power the Scripture gives amongst others these 1. Wilful blindness when men shut their eyes against the Light and refuse to see sin to be sin and duty to be duty because they are loth to leave the one and do the other John 3.19 2 Cor. 4.4 5. 2. Impenitency in a course of sinning 2 Tim. 2.24 25. when men give up themselves to the service of Sin and Satan and will not be reclaimed from it Rom. 6.16 John 8.34 3ly Security and senslesness of God's displeasure because he lets them alone in their evil courses and does not presently punish them Luke 11.21 where all things are at peace there the strong man keeps possession Psalm 50. ver 18. to the end 4. And principally Derision Opposition and Persecution of Righteousness and Holiness in others Acts 13.10 These are the black marks of Satans dominions in men 4th Duty Be perswaded speedily in the use of the means to get out of his Dominions because so long as you are under the power of Satan you are under the power of Sin and the power of the Law and the power of the World and the power of Death Judgement and Hell 1. Of Sin Rom. 6.12 2 Tim. 2. last 2. The power of the Law both the rigour and the curse of it Deut. 27. last 3. The power of the World 1 John 4 5. 4. The power of Death and Judgement and Hell Rom. 6. last Eccles 12. end Heb. 9.27 Psal 11. end Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and therefore in all these respects to labour speedily to get out of his Dominions To this end 1. Be willing to be convinced of this truth That all men naturally are under the power of Sin and Satan for it 's that which the Scripture speaks expresly Ephes 2.2 and this is the first work of the Spirit in the conversion of a sinner John 16.8 2. Labour to be sensible of and humbled under the sad condition of being in vassallage and slavery to Sin and Satan thus those Converts were Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their hearts and cryed out Men and Brethren c. That you may be the more sensible of it and humbled under it consider it 's the saddest of all other conditions so as the condition of the Israelites under Pharaoh and Gally-slaves under the Turk or Pope is little or nothing to this that being only of the Body this of the Soul that a sensible slavery this an insensible until God make them sensible that an unwilling slavery but this men are most forward to and delight in until the Lord come in and over-power their wills and of unwilling make them a willing people in the day of his power Psalm 110. as he did them Acts 2.37 3. Take notice of him who was appointed and annointed by God the Father to rescue you out of his power viz. the Lord Jesus Christ Isa 61.1 He hath destroyed Death and him that had the power of Death Heb. 2.14 and hath destroyed the works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 to lay hold on him by a lively Faith and that Ransom he hath paid for your Redemption Ephes 1.7 1 Joh. 1.7 Acts 16.31 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved 4. Be willing to cast off the service of Sin and Satan for the future and to give your selves only and wholly to the service of Jesus Christ Rom. 6.16 17. Sin is the snare and the chain by which the Devil holds men in his power and repentance breaks that snare and chain and sets them at liberty 2 Tim. 2. last Acts 3.19 Repent that your sins may be blotted out c. 5. Wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word the means he hath appointed to turn men from Darkness to Light and the Power of Satan to God Lastly Go unto God by earnest and constant Prayer for his Spirit to make his Word effectual for the translating you out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 5th Duty If you find that you are such as have been rescued and redeemed by Jesus Christ out of the power of Satan which you may know farther by this if you are such as truly believe in Christ and are sanctified by Christ Acts 26.18 and labour to crucifie the flesh with the corruptions and the lusts Gal. 5.24 and are not conformed to the World Rom. 12.2 but walk in a contradiction to it get victory over it 1 John 5.4 then your duties are such as these Continue to bless God for it and rejoyce in it above all your rejoycings not slavishly to fear his Power Malice Rage for the future and to carry your selves so as still to be preserved from being hurt by him 1. To be continually blessing the Lord Jesus Christ for rescuing us out of the power of Satan as the Saints have done before us Psal 86.12 13. Psal 103.1 the Apostle Rom. 7. last 1 Cor. 15.55 and to bless him not only for our selves but others Rom. 6.17 18. and the rather considering we were by nature under the power of Satan as well as others and nothing but his own Grace that rescued us and pluckt us out of his snares to bless God that hath and doth so wonderfully preserve us from the power malice and rage of Satan and his Instruments Is it not wonderful that we should lie down in peace and sleep in peace and arise in peace and walk up and down in peace and injoy so much peace and quiet in the midst of so many Devils and devilish minded men the safety and preservation of the three Children in the Fiery Furnace of Daniel in the Lions Den of Jonah in the Whales Belly was wonderful and truly no less wonderful is it that we injoy our lives and the comforts of
Divine Meditation and therefore it should be our endeavour to take notice of it and improve it to the Glory of God and our own and others spiritual advantage in the way homeward to Eternal Life because the most are ignorant or not so well acquainted as they should with this Divine Art of Extracting Spiritual out of Temporal things For your help and furtherance herein I shall briefly direct you in a few Particulars from the beginning of the day to the end and so conclude this Subject Pray mark them well I. WHen you awake to give God the first of your thoughts As David Psalm 139. When I awake I am presently with thee How precious are the thoughts of thee unto me To think also of our duty of awaking out of Sin unto Righteousness Ephes 5.14 and of our awaking at the last day out of the Grave by the sound of the Trumpet 1 Thess 4.16 This you may find was David's thought Psalm 17. last When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Remember sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Grave and the Morning of the Resurrection at the last Day II. When you have had a sweet nights rest think thus If natural rest be so sweet refreshing and reviving how much more is Spiritual Rest and will be Eternal Rest Oh what cause have you to bless him that hath given his Beloved Rest when others have been altogether restless and others it may be slept their last sleep Think and say to thy Soul Oh how justly mightest thou have been awakened out of thy sleep at midnight as the Egyptians were with a cry or else have slept the sleep of Death whereas we have layen down in peace and slept because the Lord sustained us III. When you see the light of the day shining into your eyes think and say If the light be sweet and it be a pleasant thing to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 Oh how excellent is thy loving kindness in causing the Son of Righteousness to arise with healing in his Wings upon us Mal. 4.2 Oh what great cause have we to bless God for the Light of Life especially for the Light of the Gospel the Light of Grace here and the hope of the Light of Glory hereafter to beg also of God to lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us and help us to walk in the Light of his Countenance all the day long IV. When you are about to rise think upon the first Resurrection to Grace here and the second Resurrection to Glory at the last day because without an interest in the first Resurrection you can never expect an interest in the second and therefore to be careful as you rise out of your beds so to look to this that you arise out of sin unto newness of Life V. When you put on your cloaths think on sin which was the cause both of your nakedness and your need of Apparel to be humbled under the one and keep you from priding your selves in the other think also what infinite cause you have also to bless God for Jesus Christ that he hath fulfilled and brought in everlasting Righteousness whereby your nakedness might be covered and you might stand amiable in his sight without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5. end And therefore when you put on your Apparel remember to put on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. end and put him on wholly for Justification Sanctification Consolation Salvation and take heed of spending too much time in apparelling your selves It is reported of one Pambo that seeing a Gentlewoman dressing her self all the morning by the Glass he fell a weeping and being asked Why He answered Because this Woman had spent all the morning in dressing her Body and I scarce one hour in dressing my Soul VI. When you look into the Glass to see what is amiss about you remember to look into the Glass of the Word to see what is amiss in your hearts and lives and to order your Conversation according to it Psalm 119.9 Where withall shall a young man cleanse his wayes but by taking heed to thy Word VII When you begin to wash your hands and face think of that Fountain which God hath opened to wash in from sin and from uncleanness Zach. 13. What infinite cause have you to bless Jesus Christ that was willing to shed his precious heart-blood for you to wash in and the love of the Spirit to you in opening your eyes and revealing this Fountain to you begging of him That he would put you in and wash you and rinse your Souls and Bodies more and more from your remaining filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 2 Corin. 7.1 VIII When you are about to go apart into your Chamber or Closet to read the Word and pray unto God in secret Think thus What a mercy is it to have this liberty which is denied unto many What a mercy is it to look into that blessed Book of the Scriptures Lord open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things contained in it What a mercy also is it to have access with boldness and confidence to the Throne of God when we cannot to the throne of Men to go to him also as my Father and a Father not onely able but as willing as able to supply all my wants that sees in secret and hath promised to reward me openly Matth. 6.6 IX When you are to pray with the Family think thus What a mercy is this that I have a Family to pray with and for and that we have all health and liberty to pray together and that any have hearts to joyn with us in Prayer and are not as too many are in other Families scoffing Ishmaelites and prophane Esaues X. When you are about to imploy your selves about the duties of your particular Calling Remember that as God requires every one should live in a Calling so that every one be diligent in it because it 's the diligent hand makes rich yet not to labour so much after the meat that perishes as that which endures to eternal Life John 6.27 1. So to labour in your particular Callings as that you may be more serviceable to God and helpful to others in the duties of your general Calling 2. That you be faithful and just 1 Thess 4.6 11 12. 3. That you be useful and fruitful not seeking only your own profit but the weal and benefit of others Phil. 2.4 1 Cor. 10. about the end 4. That you be Spiritual and Heavenly careful to trade for Heaven as well as for Earth and lay up a stock of Grace that will stand by you when all other things will fail you and forsake you XI When you are trading and trafficking buying and selling and making any bargain think on the best Bargain that which will make you rich for ever that of the wise Merchant who sold all he had to purchase the Pearl Matth. 13.44 Think of buying the Gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.18 and
will teach you sayes Job to trust in God for a livelyhood Mat. 6.26 and to know your times and seasons for every work Jer. 8.7 The Dove will teach you Innocency and Sympathy the little Birds to sound forth praises to God every morning and evening Cantat a lauda Deo laudes gratissima summo Hinc vos in gratâ—s gratu lacessit avis 3. Ask the Fishes of the Sea and they will teach you sayes Job The Sea by her continual fluctuating and foaming will mind you of the continual unquietness and resâ—lesness of wicked men Isa 5â— 20 They are like the troubled Sea c. The Fish of the Sea they will shew you the misery of want of Government they being every one without a Ruler so as the lesser are still devoured of the greater Hab. 1. Why hast thou made mâ—n like the Fishes of the Sea c. XX. When you are to go to wait an God in the use of his Ordinance think what a mercy it is to have the Doors of God's Sanctuary open when they are shut to others to see Souls flock to the Ordinances as the Doves to the Windows that some Souls might still be added to the Church and brought into Christ and built up further in Grace and gracious practices When you are to hear the Word remember you are not only to hear a Man but God who speaks in and by Man who hath said His Word shall not return in vain but surely prosper to the end he sends it Isa 55. last And if it be not the savour of Life it will of Death 2 Cor. 1. end When the Sermon is ended remember though the Minister have done the Sermon is not done until you have done and practised it if it be not practised it will be preached over with more terror another day when you will not be able to hear it XXI When you are walking abroad and meet with any Christian Friend think if it be sweet with a dear Christian Friend upon Earth Oh how sweet will it be to meet with all in Heaven When you hear of any good news from them then think Oh what good news hath Christ brought from Heaven and did the Angel sing at the time of his Birth and hath the Spirit of God brought home and spoken unto my heart if it be bad news that you have heard yet think and comfort your hearts with this However you have sad expectations from Earth yet you have comfortable expectations from Heaven God and Christ and the Spirit is yours and will be for ever yours 1 Cor. 3. last Psal 112.7 When you hear of any Prodigies or dreadful appearances of God in the Heaven or the Earth or the Sea then think and say How terrible O Lord art thou in all thy wayes Who knows the power of thy anger what mean these dreadful tokens of thy displeasure make me and all to fear and tremble before thee When you see or hear the corruption of men to break out into Drunkenness Uncleanness Blasphemy Persecution c. then think and say as Bradford the Martyr Lord what a wicked heart have I what cause have I to give glory to Grace that keeps under corruption in me that does not break out in me as in others When any cross or affliction befals you on the day in Body Soul Name Estate think say Lord what sin is it that thou correctest shew me my sin sanctifie this affliction and do me good by it When any mercy is renewed upon you and yours think and say Oh how great is that goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou workest daily for the Children of men Psal 31. XXII When the day draweth towards an end remember you are nearer to your end by one day then you were in the morning as the night approacheth towards you so do you to the Grave and for ought you know may be your last day When you look up and see the Stars appear in the Heaven think thus Though your life here be hid with Christ in God yet when he shall appear you shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 and then your bodies shall shine as the Stars Dan. 12. When you see the dark night to come upon you and you begin to light Candles then think if outward darkness be so uncomfortable how much more is the inward darkness of the Soul and utter darkness in Hell if the light of a Candle be so comfortable how comfortable is the Life of Grace here and will be the Life of Glory hereafter When you are about to put off your Cloaths think thus It will not be long ere I must be uncloathed of this body of Sin and Death and if I be so willing to the one why not to the other that I might be cloathed with my House from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 And if I be so willing to go into Bed to take my rest that I may have renewed strength for Body and Spirit to fit me for the service of the next day why should I not be as willing and more willing at God's call to lay down my body in the Grave there to rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and to be raised up at the last day with renewed and perfect strength both in Soul and Body to be still serving and glorifying God to all Eternity Remember still O my Soul thy sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Image of thy Grave and the Sheets of thy Winding Sheets the biting of the Fleas but the gnawing of the Worms on the Body the crowing of the Cock in the morning the sounding of the Trump of God at the last day by the Voice of the Arch-Angel Awake ye dead and come to Judgment Isa 57.2 1 Thess 4.16 Lastly When you are about to sleep labour to sleep with precious thoughts of God for such as your thoughts are when you are about to sleep such will your thoughts be when you awake When we rake up fire in the Ashes at night so we usually find it in the morning and such I say as our thoughts are of God when we sleep will be when we awake In a word Think of your sleeping in Jesus and your awaking and appearing with him in glory in the morning of the Resurrection And thus I have as briefly as I could with any profit to you directed you how to make a Spiritual use of whatsoever presents it self to your senses from morning to evening at home and abroad What remains but that we put in practice what we see to be our duty motives to iâ— and directions for it you have had before I need not add any more onely this consideration there 's a double use God expects we should make of every Creature a natural and a spiritual and if we should content our selves only with the natural use without the Spiritual we should lose the one half and the best half of that comfort in the Creature which God gave it for and we shall do no more then natural carnal sensual men yea the very Beasts do and therefore if we will evidence our selves to be Christians indeed that mind the wellfare of our Souls as well as our Bodies then to apply our selves more then ever we have done to the practice of this sweet weighty and profitable duty of Meditation both Solemn and Occasional Which that we may blessed Lord thou who hast put it into the heart of thy weak and unworthy Servant to study and write these things for the good and comfort of thy People be thou graciously pleased by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit to make them useful to all into whose hands they shall come for the promoting and carrying on the Work of Grace in their hearts and lives and the furthering of their everlasting Salvation Oh Lord I pray thee let it not be in vain that this or any other help is afforded them but do thou give success to the weak endeavours of thy unworthy Servant so as there may be glory to thee profit to them and comfort to him who hath found that grace in thy sight to be accepted and enabled to be any way instrumental for their help and comfort in the way homeward to everlasting life This is and shall be the Prayer of Your Affectionate and Antient Pastor J. B. FINIS