the most sweet and melodious Voices and all other delightful things as Musical Instruments of all sorts he denied not himself any thing that was pleasing to his Eyes or grateful to his Senses or that his heart desired neither was he hindred from the free and comfortable Enjoyment of all his Labours either by Wars abroad or Tumults at home or personal Afflictions or any outward Calamity or imbittering Occurrents and he had a heart to use and taste the sweetness of all his labours which the eager covetousness of wretched Misers will not suffer them to do who reap no more benefit by their Riches than to look upon them and to say the property thereof is Mine So true is that of the Royal Preacher He that loveth Silver Eccl. 5.10 11. shall not be satisfied with Silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase When Goods increase they are increased that eat them and what good is there to the Owners thereof saving the beholding them with their Eyes Which is a poor benefit indeed unable to make the Worldling compensation for his cares of getting and fears of losing them a Priviledge which is common to all others who may every day see more goodly sights the radiant lustre of the Sun adorned with Light as with a beautiful Garment and smiling upon the Earth with a most pleasant and amiable Countenance the sparkling Glories of the heavenly Bodies in their Constellations the lovely and fragrant Flowers of the Field the Rarities and Treasures of Nature and all the Pomp and Gallantry of Princes and Nobles all which are more pleasing sights to the Beholders But mark what Character he gives of all outward things after that he had taken a serious Review of all his Wealth and Labour and found himself disappointed in them Eccles 2.11 I looked saith he on all the labours that my hands had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit a disappointment of all my hopes and desires of satisfaction This was my portion of all my labour Alas all things here below are of too narrow an extent to satisfie the vast and capacious Desires of our Souls which are enlarged with enjoying and therefore the inspired Pen men of the holy Scripture have advis'd us That we labour not to be rich Prov. 23.4 Mat. 6.19 Colos 3.2 nor lay up for our selves Treasures upon Earth but that we set our affections upon things above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Glory and the Inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us and not on things on the Earth the Pleasures Honours and Profits of this World which we are prone to desire inordinately and to pursue immoderately tho' we are charged to the contrary Love not the World 1 John 2.15 neither the things that are in the World if any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him Know ye not that the Friendship of the World is enmity with God James 4.4 whosoever will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God in open hostility with him and unfit to see his Face in Death or Judgment therefore our Saviour warned his Disciples to take heed and beware of Covetousness Lake 12.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an inordinate desire of earthly things a Mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth he may live as easily and comfortably without it Nature is content with little and Grace with less Abundance is not necessary to render our Lives happy the Poor are as merry and chearful as vigorous and healthy as well satisfied and contented with a small pittance as the Wealthy and Opulent with their Superfluity which serves only to administer to Pride and Vanity Prov. 23.11 to make them wise in their own conceit to puff them up with Haughtiness and Arrogancy Insolency and Imperiousness of Spirit and to betray them to sin and solly They that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts 1 Tim. 6.9 which drown men in destruction and perdition which take up their time and fill their heads with solicitous Cares and Fears engross their Affections encumber their Lives with toilsome Labours about them expose them to a great many Sorrows which pierce their Souls and render Death and Judgment exceeding formidable to them Therefore since the love of this World is so dangerous a thing let us not with Martha be careful and troubled about many things and leave Mary's Vnum Necessarium wholly unregarded but rather spend our Days and Years in this mortal state in adorning our Souls with Evangelical Graces and Vertues to fit us for Heaven for if we had the Riches of both the Indies we can take nothing away with us when we depart hence Job 1.21 Naked came we out of our Mothers Womb and naked shall we return We must everlastingly part with all that we have when we dye and leave it as Solomon saith to the Man that shall come after us and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise Man or a Fool Ecoles 2.18 19. yet shall he have rule over all our labour and gather all that we have heaped up but works of Righteousness will accompany us into the other World and now is the time for us to be rich in good Works to grow in Grace and Holiness To give all diligence to add to our Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge to Knowledge Temperance to Temperance Patience to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and Charity for if these things be in us and abound and our Minds fit loose to the Affairs of this Life we shall be ready and willing to leave them whensoever our Lord shall please to call us hence 3. This Readiness and Preparation for Death and Judgment does confist in making our Peace and Reconciliation with God and Men. 1. With God which is a thing of infinite moment for so long as we continue in enmity with him and maintain a Rebellion against his Crown and Dignity he is engaged for the Vindication of his own Soveraign Power and Justice to be our Enemy and to execute his severe Judgments upon us and we have no Security that he will not do it speedily without giving us farther time to consider our ways and throw down our Arms of Hostility against him For the Psalmist assures us Psal 7.11 12 13 That God is angry with the wicked every day even while his Providence seems to smile upon them and they think themselves most secure and confident If he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready he hath prepared for him the Instruments of Death God is loth for the Glory of his Patience and Long suffering forthwith to proceed against us For my Names sake Isa 48.9 will I defer mine
be the lights of the World ought to take heed to themselves that their lives and actions may command a reverence from men 1 Tim. 4.16 and induce them to conform to their pattern and practice a holy life being a great advantage to Religion and the best preparation for Death and Judgment 2. Particularly The readiness and preparation I am speaking of does consist in the several acts and duties of the Christian Religion which must be performed by us with all diligence zeal and vigour viz. in the speedy setling our domestick concerns and moderating our affections to this world in making our peace and reconciliation with God and Men in doing all the good we can whilest we live in keeping Conscience clear and free from offence in bearing with patience the troubles we meet with in living under a constant sense of Gods all-seeing Eye and inspection over us and possessing our selves with frequent thoughts of Death and Judgment So that duly to dispose our selves for a blessed Eternity does not consist in one transient act but is to commence as soon as we come to a consistency of reason and understanding Eccles 12.1 and must be carried on through the several periods of our lives till God is pleased to dissolve the vital union between the Soul and Body and make a separation between them 1 The speedy settling of our domestick concerns and disposing of our temporal affairs while we have opportunity to do it deliberately and advisedly with prudence and discretion is one part of this preparation for Death and Judgment Death is a debt which we all owe to God and Nature and which we are sure to pay whensoever it pleaseth the God of Nature to require it from us But since we know not the time when nor the manner how we shall die and depart this life Omnibus est eadem lathi via non tamen unus est vitae cunctis exitiique modus it is not only wisdom but our duty to dispatch this work lest we should be taken away as experience shews us many are by some sudden casualty or unexpected surreption But suppose we go off the Stage of this world deliberately and by slow degrees some previous sickness or sensible decays of Nature forewarning us of our approaching dissolution 't is not fit then to have the disposition of our secular affairs upon our hands to disturb and disquiet our Minds and to rob us of our precious time every minute of which must be bestowed to the best advantage and to the true interest of our Souls for what they are when they leave the body and enter into a state of separation from it that they shall be to all eternity therefore it should be our chiefest care to get them washed clean in the blood of the immaculate Lamb from all their impurities that whatsoever defilements they have contracted during their union with their Bodies through the lusts of the flesh within or the wiles of Satan from without these being purged away they may appear spotless before the great Tribunal and stand with exceeding great joy before the Impartial Judge It is not fit when we come to die to have the settlement of our Estates then to take up our last moment which ought to be employed in renewing our repentance and in making our peace with God and solemnly preparing for a comfortable passage into the eternal world There are very sew if any of us whose outward circumstances are so mean and low but that we have some of the Gifts of Fortune to dispose of at our death Some Estate more or less to bequeath among our Friends and Relations when we leave the World Those of us that have the fairest Inheritances the fullest Baggs and Barns can take nothing away with us when we die but are at the courtesie of our surviving Friends for a Shrowd and a Coffin to intomb us in the Earth For as Job said when the Chaldaean and Sabaean Robbers had taken away all his goods Naked came I out of my Mothers womb Job 1.21 and naked shall I return So may we say with the Son of Syrac As we came forth of our Mothers womb naked shall we return to go as we came and shall take nothing of our labour which we may carry away in our hands Holy David affirms the same of the rich man tho the glory of his House is increased when he dieth Psalm 49.17 he shall carry nothing away his glory shall not descend after him All his Wealth and Power and Grandure shall die with him Nudos fudit in lucem Nudos recepit terra Seneca Epist VVe must carry out no more than we brought in So that it concerns us to make our Wills with great Justice and Piety and to take care that they be penn'd with clearness and plain expressions to prevent all Animosities and Incumbrances Wranglings and Suits of Law amongst our Children and Legatees For we are obliged to provide for the Quiet Peace and Prosperity of those that are to succeed us in our Possessions that it may go well with them when we are dead and gone Now forasmuch as Solomon saith Eccl. 3.1 To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven The most proper and convenient season for the dispatch of this weighty Affair is the day of Health while we have our wits about us while our understanding is clear and our memory perfect and that we can duly consider which way God may be best served by our Bequests Vertue encouraged and Justice may be done to every man and the Poor in some measure be provided for according as God hath enabled us ever remembring that what we have comes solely from his bounty who is the Soveraign Lord and true Proprietor of all that we have We but Stewards only and the Poor his Proxies and Receivers therefore we must not forget them in our Wills but remember that Precept of Solomon With hold not good from them to whom it is due Prov. 3.27 when it is in the power of thy hand to do it because such actions are works of Charity and Bounty to the Poor and acts of Righteousness to God and they that give nothing at their departure hence Luke 16.9 betray their trust for the good things of this life are committed to their care and management upon such conditions and reservations that they should use them comfortably while they live and dispose of them wisely and charitably when they die lest they give a bad account of their Stewardship and have reason to expect a severe sentence from their Lord Jam. 2.12 August For he shall have judgment without mercy who shewed no mercy Desideravit guttam qui non dedit micam This piece of Wisdom we may learn from the Example of Abraham who did dispose of his Estate among his Children some time before his death reserving only the enjoyment of it to himself during his
then our ways and goings are to Gods pure and piercing eyes who beholds our closest artifices and subtilest disguises as clearly as he sees our open and scandalous offences For the darkness hideth not from him Ps 139.12 the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to him Job 34.21 22 His eyes are upon the ways of man fixedly and intentively and he seeth critically and curiously all his goings there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of Iniquity may hide themselves Seneca told Lucilius Epist 41. Jer. 17.10 Ps 7.9.94.12 God is near unto us he is with us an observer of our good and evil actions the searcher of our hearts who knows the secret motions counsels and affections of our Souls and keeps acquaintance with our thoughts and is familiar with all our purposes and designs Now if we do believe this great truth it must doubtless be of unspeakable use to us for the regular and orderly government of our lives and make us as circumspect and cautious of our thoughts words and works as if we visibly saw him standing before our eyes writing down every action of our life in order to call us to account for it This consideration had so great an influence upon holy Davids practice that he assigns it as the motive of his obedience I have remembred thy name and have kept thy Law Psal 119.55 168. c. I have kept thy Precepts and thy Testimonies for all my ways are before thee this is a powerful Amulet against sin and a great preservative of vertue a means to make us sincerely upright in all our ways and to tremble to commit any sin or wickedness in the sight of our all-seeing Judge before whose presence we shall not be afraid to appear hereafter if we set him before our Eyes here as an observer and witness of our actions Psal 16.8 for thereby our hearts will be over-awed with a sense of his omnipresence so that we shall walk very cautiously and circumspectly before him having respect to all his Commandments and with a concern to please him in all things by this means death and judgment will not be formidable to us 8 That we may be ready for a comfortable passage into the eternal World it is necessary that we possess our Souls with frequent Thoughts of Death and Mortallity This is the earnest and pathetical charge of the merciful and compassionate God who is very heartily concerned for the everlasting happiness of Men by his eminent Servant Moses whom he was pleased to make choice of to be the Commander and Governour of a numerous People he bespeaks them in a most affectionate and obliging manner to remember the days of old what great things he had done for them in chosing them for his People and delivering them from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt by a mighty hand and an out stretched arm in preserving them at the Red Sea and in the Wilderness in subduing the Nations about them and in giving them possession of the Land of Promise flowing with Milk and Hony he intreats them to consider the transitoriness of their condition and to withdraw their affections from Farthly Glories O that they were wise to consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 to study and apply their minds to that holy wisdom which would fit them for Life eternal We are now Gods peculiar People he is as solicitous for our happiness and salvation as once he was for the Israelites and with the same tender affection doth he importune us to consider our end and to what Eternity we are going whether to bliss or misery we are but Sojourners and Pilgrims here having Heb. 13 14. no continuing City no certain abiding place our condition here is fleeting and vanishing Jam. 4.14 we know not whether we shall continue here till to morrow for what is our Life it is even a Vapour exhaled from the Earth by the influence of the heavenly Bodies Psal 90.9 Psal 73.20 that appears for a little time and then vanisheth away like a Tale that is told which is at an end e're we consider it or as a Dream when one awaketh suddenly which disappears being then that we are such weak creatures Psal 39.4 we should pray with David Lord make me to know my end and the number of my days that I may know how frail I am and how near to death so teach us to number our days that we passing by the cares the glories and pleasures of this World may apply our hearts with all diligence unto true wisdom 90.12 which is to be wise unto Salvation For the attainment whereof and for the more effectual impressing upon our minds deep and serious thoughts of our mortal state it is expedient that we visit sick and dying persons as oft as opportunity invites us not only to condole with them and to afford them our pity and compassion in their affliction Job 6.14 Chap. 19.21 Heb. 13.2 3. which is some alleviation of their misery to administer seasonable comforts to them to give them ghostly advice and counsel to bear with patience the chastisements of the Lord and humbly to resign themselves to his wise disposal but also to stir up in our selves many Pious and Devout Considerations of our approaching Change In the presence of dying Persons there is represented both to our eye and mind many objects that will naturally suggest to us holy Meditations serious and awful Thoughts of Death and Eternity There we may see the person visited strugling with strong pains of bitter Agonies and Death sit in his ghastly countenance we may hear the rueful Groans of his expiring nature and observe him exercised with Soul-conflicts with great terrors of mind and with powerful convictions of sin and dreadful apprehensions of the wrath of God unfit perhaps to die and yet past all hopes of continuing long in this transitory life There we may see the mournful looks of the spectators and hear the bitter lamentations and cries of Wife and Children and observe the trickling tears of dear Relations For if Alexander the Great wept when he heard of the death of Darius and Caesar at the relation of Pompey's and Titus Vespasian at the miserable destruction of the Jews how shall they refrain from tears at the sight of a dying Friend strugling with the pains of Death and perhaps doubting of his salvation Such a spectacle as this will administer to us such thoughts as these This person is now about putting off his Earthly Tabernacle his Soul is entring into the Confines of Eternity and his Body ere long will be a prey to Death and be laid down in the cold and silent Grave where the Worms shall be its companions till it hath put on rottenness and corruption The Angels will convey the immaterial Soul to the Bar of Judgment to receive sentence to its eternal state This
is a visible instruction to me really to converse with sickness and weakness and to think that it will not be long but I shall feel and endure mortal pains and the miseries of a Death bed I shall breath short feel cold sweats dying pangs My Body which I am now so indulgent and tender of shall be wrapped in a Shroud be nailed up in a Coffin Luk. 7.12 and carried forth as the Widow of Nain's Son was upon the shoulders of men to be intombed in the Grave the House of all living and my immortal Soul shall expire and go to God who gave it to be rewarded and sentenced according to the things done in the body Such serious thoughts as these will be a sovereign Antidote against all Sin and Wickedness and dispose and prepare us before hand that when the critical moment comes we may not run the great hazard of miscarrying for ever For in the day of Death we play the last Game for everlasting Felicity or endless Misery so that we had need to do it wisely and warily because an uncorruptible Crown of Life and Glory depends upon it the winning whereof will make us unspeakably happy and the losing of it eternally miserable beyond all humane apprehension Thus have I shewed at large both generally and particularly wherein this preparation does consist because the burden of the Text lies upon it II I proceed now to the second thing in order of method which is to manifest the urgent necessity of this readiness and the great obligations which lie upon us to be always prepared for death and the Son of Mans coming The omniscient God who certainly knows what is best for our present good and future happiness hath very warmly pressed it home upon our hearts by many Precepts and Commands the work it self is difficult the time allotted us to do it in is very precious life it self is very short and uncertain and Death inevitable and if we be not prepared for our change by inherent holiness and sanctification we shall fall short of happiness So that upon these accounts it is absolutely necessary that we be always in readiness 1 The omniscient God who certainly knows what is best for our present good and future happiness hath very warmly and earnestly pressed it home upon our hearts by many precepts which he hath inculcated in the Scriptures that we knowing our Duty may yield a cheerful and and filial obedience Throughout this whole Chapter of the Text we are taught that the coming of our Lord will be very sudden like Lightning which in the twinkling of an eye Verse 27. darts through the Air and surprizes the Inhabitants of the Earth before they are aware of it or can avoid it that it will be at a time when the spirit of security hath seized the hearts of Men and they are given up to sensuality and debauchery wholy unconcerned at all Gods invitations and warnings and unmindful of the great things which belongs to their everlasting Peace This was the case of the old World and of Sodom and Gomorrah Verse 37 38. Luke 17.28 29 30. in the day of Noah and Lot They did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded they went on securely in their luxurious courses and lived in a careless regard of their Duty till the day that Lot went out of Sodom when God rained down fire and brimstone from Heaven upon them and destroyed them all even so shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed Now the time of his coming being concealed from us lays the greatest obligation upon us to be Vigilant watch therefore saith Verse 42. Mark 30.33 c. our Saviour watch and pray for ye know not when the time is for the Son of Man is as a Man taking a far journey who left his House and gave authority to his Servants and to every Man his work and commanded the Porter to watch watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the House cometh at even or at midnight or at the cock-crowing or in the morning lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping and what I say unto you I say unto all watch The design of which precept is to engage all of us to abstain from all sin and to be diligent and industrious in doing of our duty that at what time soever our Lord cometh we may be ready Luke 21.34 35 36. Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness and the cares of this Life and so that day come upon you unawares the day of particular or general Judgment For as a snare it shall come upon all that dwell on the face of the Earth watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be able to stand before the Son of Man to stand with cheerfulness and confidence without fear of condemnation in the last Judgment for the ungodly shall not stand in judgment Psal 1.5 nor be able to lift up their heads before the presence of the severe Judge because they have not been diligent to be found of him in peace without spot or blemish The design of our Lord in the Parable of the Ten Virgins is to press upon all Christians the urgent necessity of a constant preparation for his coming and not to content themselves with having Lamps and making a bare profession of Religion but to keep Oyl in their vessels with their Lamps i. e. truth of grace fruits of the spirit and works of mercy To have their Lamps trimmed their Loins girded about and their lights burning as those that look for their Lord. Herein lay the Wisdom of the prudent Virgins they provided Oyl in store to replenish their Lamps a good stock of faith and love and other divine graces to feed and maintain their profession and they trimmed their Lamps and took care to prepare themselves for the Bridegrooms coming by which means they being found ready were at his coming admitted by him into the place of Nuptial entertainments But the indiscretion of the improvident and formal Professors lay in pleasing themselves with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a false Vnction they traded for the goodly Pearl the rich Treasure hid in a Field but they did it so unseasonably and coldly that they were not sensible of their mistake till it was too late to retrieve and amend it The Bridegroom came when they were not in a readiness to receive him and so the door was shut against them and tho' they cryed with earnest intreaties and ingeminations Lord Lord open to us yet there was no admission for them they were for ever excluded Which dismal Fate of theirs teacheth us this useful instruction To improve the present seasons of Grace and to work while it is to day For when the Night cometh no Man can work John 9 4. as the Tree falleth so it lieth if it fall toward the South
or toward the North in the place where the Tree falleth there it shall lie which Scripture is thus interpreted by a learned Author Olympiodor in Eccles. In whatsoever place therefore whether of light or darkness whether in the work of wickedness or vertue a Man is taken at his death in that degree and rank doth he remain either in light with the just and Christ the King of all or in darkness with the wicked and Prince of the World There is no rectifying the errors of this Life in the next the day of Grace ends with this Life here all the Evidences and Graces of a Christian are to be acquired in the future state he shall receive his reward according to the things done in the Body Vid. Victoris Erabdum whether they be good or bad After we are gon from hence There remains no place for repentance no effect or benefit of satisfaction here Life is either lost or obtained and at the moment of death thou hast a passage hence to immortality So that whatever is done by us to obtain the favour of God and a blessed immortality must be done in this World The time of this Life Dr. Sherlock upon Death is all the preparation time that ever will be afforded to us to work out our Salvation There is no middle state or place as they of the Roman communion do fondly fancy to do it in we consist but of two parts Body and Soul and Solomon hath assured us that when we die Eccles. 12.7 the body returns to the Earth from whence it originally came Fundamentum ex pulvere et in pulvere finis ejus and the Soul to God that gave it The holy Angels conveyed Lazarus his Soul at his death into Abraham's bosom immediately upon its separation from the Body so saith the Spirit from henceforth from the instant of their dying the dead are blessed and rest from their labours from all the labours of their Christian calling their Race is at an end their course is finished and the crown is to be received All the Divine graces and Religious dispositions of mind which are requisite to fit the Soul for Heaven and make it happy when it leaves the Body must be obtained and exercised in the Body So that to day whilst it is called to day we must seriously mind and prosecute the things which belong to our peace and give obedience to the Commands of God which are reasonable and easie advantagious to our interest and do claim a Priority in our affections and endeavours for so we are directed to remember now our Creator and to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness in the first place for by so doing we not only secure to our selves the temporal Emoluments of this Life so far as the wisdom of God seeth them good for us but dispose and prepare our selves for eternal Glory and our obedience shall not miss of a suitable reward ii The solemn work of preparation for Death and Judgment is difficult it is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of his Father which is in Heaven that sincerely endeavours to fulfil the whole will of God by faith and holyness The truth power of piety lies not in a mouthful of good words be ye warmed be ye filled be ye cloathed nor in a meer outside Form of worship but in practice 't is not enough for us to live inofsensively and harmlesly to abstain from that which is evil but we must actually do good and abound in fruits of righteousness 'T is a great work to die well and unless we do lay up an ample stock of spiritual preparations we shall never be able to go safely through the dark passage of death to Eternity Assure your selves dear Souls that a few penitent resolutions forced promises death-bed sorrows mournful tears melancholy looks formal prayers and crying God's mercy and asking him forgiveness will not serve the turn and prove effectual no we must put forth the most painful efforts of our Souls in mortifying our earthly Members in conquering vicious habits in regulating disordered appetites in governing according to the Laws of reason and religion all the faculties of our Souls in eradicating strong prejudices from our Understanings in bending our obstinate and rebellious Will in regulating unruly Affections in taming wild extravagant Passions in guarding our Hearts from vain Thoughts and inordinate Desires in subduing powerful Lusts which war against the Soul in resisting temptations and repelling the fiery darts of the professed Enemy of our Salvation in fighting manfully under Christ's Banner against Sin the World the Devil and the rebellious Flesh in curbing its impetuous and eager desires in bridling our Tongues from idle obscene and unsavoury talk in directing our steps in the straight path of holiness in sustaining Crosses Afflictions and Troubles with a generous patience and unshaken constancy doing our duty faithfully to God conscientiously waiting upon him in his Ordinances studying to know his Pleasure to do his Will to obey his Commands to promote his Interest advance his Glory in the World We shall have need of sincere Repentance Faith unfeigned unshaken Patience universal Charity seraphyck Love invincible Constancy an humble submission to the Will of God to bring down the Joys of Heaven into our Souls perseverance unto the end and a well grounded hope of partaking with the Saints in joys unspeakable and full of glory unless our Souls be habited and attired with these goodly vertues we shall be very unfit to die and to appear in Judgment Now to obtain these heavenly Graces is the work which we are to apply our selves unto with diligence and vigour For every Vertue hath its peculiar difficulty 2 Thes 1.11 1 Thes 1.3 Faith is called the work of Faith 'T is a difficult thing to believe the Existence of things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither is the heart of man able to conceive the immortality of the Soul and the existence of it in an immaterial world It 's hard to believe firmly all the promises and threatnings of the Word to rely upon Christ alone for Salvation perfectly to submit our Understandings and to resign our Wills to his holy will Repentance is a work not easily wrought upon the Soul though it be highly reasonable that when we have done contrary to our duty we should be cordially sorry for it resolve to do so no more and labour to undo what we have done amiss by godly sorrow and compunction of heart humble confession to God and restitution to Men yet experience sheweth that it is very hard to do this Gan the Aethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots Jer. 13.23 then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil Hence it is called renovation a new creation regeneration a new birth in which there is pain and difficulty Charity
The Great Necessity of Preparation for Death and Iudgment A SERMON Preached in the Parochial Chappel OF MACCLESFIELD In the County Palatine of CHESTER AT THE FUNERAL OF Mr. John Corker al 's Cor Cor of HURDESFIELD on the Eleventh Day of November 1693 and since Revised and Enlarg'd at the Request of the Relations of the Deceased By Samuel Corker al 's Cor Cor M. A. Rector of Alderley in the County aforesaid and sometime a Student in Trin. Coll. in Cambridge Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him Mat. 26.5 Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh c. Luke 12.40 Veniet fratres veniet sed vide quomodo te inveaiet Aug. Ser. 140. de Tempore DUBLIN Printed by Joseph Ray 1695. TO HIS TRULY HONOURED AND MUCH VALUED COUSIN Edward Corker al 's Cor Cor Esq The Authour wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace THE death of Friends who were loving and amiable in their Lives and Encouragers of Vertue is very piercing and grievous but most of all pensive and afflictive when they are taken away as your dear Brother and my truly loving Kinsman was by a sudden surreption without a foregoing Visitation and Sickness which severe and startling Providence made a very great breach in his Family and Neighbourhood and a deep impression upon my Thoughts But the Great and Wise God in whose Hands our Lives are hath a Sovereign Right to dispose of and put a period to them when and in what manner his Infinite Wisdom seeth meet without being accountable to his Creatures for his Actions Our Duty is humbly to submit to his Holy Will and with good Old Eli to say It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good When Your Affectionate Brother had paid that Debt which We yet owe to God and Nature His mournful Relict desired that I would perform the last Ministerial Office for him at his Interment I had not power to deny her Request altho at the same time I was sensible he deserved a better Orator to commemorate his Vertues The Discourse I then made and here present to You Revis'd and Enlarg'd is plain not cloathed with pomp of Words and tunable Expressions which in Sermons and Books of Divinity are like Paint laid upon Pearls which shine best in their native lustre Flourishes of Wit and fine Phrases may tickle Mens Ears and please their Fancies but rarely convince them of the important necessity of preparing for Death and Judgment or prevail with them to live holily that they may die happily The Text it self is very momentous and the subject matter of the Comment is salubrious and may claim attention and regard from all Orders and Degrees of Men who by the eternal and unchangeable Decree of God must once die and appear in Judgment But if it meet with unkind entertainment from some persons of corrupt Principles and profligate Lives who atheistically droll upon and ridicule every thing that is serious yet it may be beneficial to others who are really solicitous to know what they must do to obtain Salvation and to inherit Eternal Glory That the God of Mercy and Consolation would sanctifie and sweeten to you this sharp and afflictive Providence that he would work in your Soul a cheerful resignation to his Holy Will and enrich you with all the Blessings of Heaven and Earth is the dayly fervent Prayer of Your most affectionate Relation and very humble Servant Samuel Corker al 's Cor Cor. A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of Mr. John Corker of Hurdesfield November the 11th 1693. Mathew 24.44 Therefore be ye also ready for in such an Hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh THese Words are part of a Sermon Preached by our Blessed Lord and Saviour to his Disciples the Occasion was this They were all met together at the Temple of Jerusalem admiring the Magnificence Firmness and Stateliness of it and highly commending the Beauty and Order of the Fabrick which was Adorned * Luke 21.5 with goodly Stones and sumptuous Mate rials set off with all the Advantages and Curiosity of Art Pains and Industry which Josephus calls a Work of all that we have ever seen or heard the most Admirable both for the greatness of the Pile the sumptuousness of the Edifice and the Riches of the inward Furniture in which respect Tacitus calls it a Temple of Immense Riches Immensae Opulentiae Templum suitable to the Majesty of God who was therein to be Adored and Worshipped Our Lord to take off his Disciples Eyes from beholding those Gay and Stately Things with so pleasing Admiration foretold the Destruction of it and the utter Ruin of the City that it should come to pass according to the Predictions of the Prophets Jer. 26.18 Zion for your sakes shall be Plowed as a Field and Jerusalem shall become Heaps and the Mountain of the House on which the Temple Micah 3.12 one of the Wonders of the World did stand as the high places of the Forrest i. e. shall be demolished and become so desolate that Trees shall grow there as in a Wilderness See ye not all these things Verily I say unto you there shall not be left one Stone upon another that shall not be thrown down Lib. 7. de Belle Jud. cap. 10. which was fulfilled as Josephus Reports by the Roman Army who burnt all of it that was of combustible Nature expresly contrary to the command of Titus Vespasian who would have saved it but could not restrain the fury of his Souldiers tho' he charged Liberalis the Centurion of his Guard to beat them that would not Obey him and to drive them away and the Foundation which the Fire consumed not was Ralsed by Turnus Rufus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the General of the Roman Army there who at his departure thence drew a Plow over it as God had said And after this when Julian the Apostate out of spight and opposition to the Christians gave all manner of Encouragement to the Jews to Rebuild their Temple Re-edifie their Altar and Restore their Sacrifices and the Solemnities of their Worship and appointed Alypius of Antioch to over-see and carry on the Work with all possible Briskness and Activity hoping by that means to evidence to the World that our Saviour was a false Prophet and an Impostor in pronouncing the final and irrevocable Dissolution of that Church and State Heaven was pleased on a sudden to baffle the whole Undertaking and by many Illustrious and Miraculous Instances of God's Displeasure Viz. Violent Hurricanes dreadful Earthquakes and Eruptions of Fire which brake as it were under the Foundation and seized upon the Work-men and Spectators burnt their Tools and Instruments and made the place inaccessible for any such Attempts for the future A more full Relation hereof is given by the Learned Dr. Cave from Socrates Philostorgus Rufinus Am. Life of St. Cyril of Jerusalem Sect. 9th Marcellinus and others where the
Curious may meet with fuller satisfaction The Astonishment of this dreadful Relation impressed upon the minds of the Disciples struck them with silence till they came from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives which afforded a curious Prospect of the Holy City about a * Acts 1.12 Sabbath Days Journey distant from it a Mountain famed in Sacred Scripture for the frequent Apparitions of Angels and for being often honoured with the Presence of Christ Luke 22.39 for hither He was wont to retire here He Prayed and from the summit top hereof He Ascended into Heaven but at this time he sate down here either to rest himself for he was of like Infirmities with us or else in imitation of the Jewish Doctors who when they were about to Teach in the Temple sate down testifying by that Gesture their great Authority and the calm composure of their Minds Our Lord by this Posture giving his Followers a fair opportunity of making their Address unto Him St. Peter James and John came and asked him privately Mark 13.3 When shall these things be and what shall be the Sign of thy coming and of the end of the World For 't is probable they did suppose that the Dissolution of the World should immediately follow the Ruin of the City and Temple and Destruction of the Jewish State and therefore they desired some Prognosticks by which they might discern its approaching Funeral Master what Sign shall there be Luke 21.7 when these things shall come to pass Our Lord gave them no certain Sign from whence they might positively conclude the particular time but he gave them many common Signs which should portend the Destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the World which when they and others in their several Generations should see them they might from thence conclude that the time was at hand and from which we also may be assured that they are Fore-runners of the near Approach of the Great Day of Judgment for it is agreed by Divines that the Ruin of Jerusalem was a Type of the Destruction of the World as therefore before the particular Judgment upon the Jews many Deceivers and Seducers did arise such as Theudas who boasted himself to be some body some great Prophet Lib. Antiq. 18. c. 1 6. Judas also of Galilee mentioned by Josephus and Sadoc his Confederate who Laboured to seduce the People and a certain Aegyptian Magician who took upon him to be a Prophet and coming into the Country of Judea gathered a company of deceivable People to him to the Number of * Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 2. c. 21. Acts 8.9 30000 and Simon the Sorcerer whom the Antients called * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Eldest Son of the Devil who gave out that he was some great one and pretended to be that Divine Being who made both the Angelical and Visible World and perswaded all from the least to the greatest to believe that he was that Numen or Divine Person who was under one Name or other Adored and Worshipped in every Nation as the Supream and Sovereign Deity in honour of whom the Emperour Claudius Erected a Statue with this Inscription upon it Simoni Deo Sancto to Simon the Holy God Even so in the last Ages of the World there shall come many Deceivers Evil Men Lying Spirits that would Vent their own Idle Fancies and seduce others from the Truth to their corrupt way The Truth of this needs no Proof in our Days for the time is come when many that live in the Bosom of the Church 2 Tim. 4.3 4. will not as the Apostle saith endure sound Doctrine which tends to promote Holiness to recover the Soul from Sin and teacheth to Order the Life aright But after their own Lusts heap to themselves Teachers having itching Ears disposed to Novelty and Error to be Tossed to and fro like Ships without Ballast and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 by the slight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to Deceive Heb. 13.9 Nullum saeculum Religionis feracius nec pietate Sterilius No Age ever made a greater Profession and less practice of Christian Vertue Never was there a more splendid shew of Religion and less sincere Love and serious Piety for if we may without breach of Charity judge of the Tree by its Fruit and of Mens Religion by their Conversation and Actions little remains with some but an outward Form and with too many nothing but the empty Name and Title of being Christians for by their Immoral and Licentious Lives they may rather pass for Turks and Heathens than for the Disciples of Christ so that our Saviours Advice is very seasonable beware look about you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take heed that ye be not deceived Nay rather look home into your hearts lest the Old Man of Sin the great Impostor deceive you and the Son of Man come at that time when ye are least prepared for his coming In this Chapter Our Blessed Saviour Remarks several other searful Presages of the downfal of the Jewish State Such as great Rumours and Discourses of Wars which would create panick fears civil broils and commotions Seditions and Insurrections both in Judea and other Countries for Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom and there shall be great Famines and Pestilences and Dreadful Earthquakes in divers places Persecutions of the Saints who should be delivered to the Synagogues and into Prisons Luke 21.12 and be brought before Kings and Rulers for the Name of Christ and be put to Death So Stephen was Stoned Acts 7.29 Peter and John were called before the Jewish Sanhedrim where the Scribes Elders Ch. 4.26 Annas and Caiphas used to sit in Council Paul was brought before Agrippa and Festus James was killed with the Sword Ch. 16.23 and afterwards as the Doctrine of the Gospel spread it self Ch. 12.2 the Professors of it were Persecuted by the Heathen Powers with the keenest Malice and put to most lingering and tormenting Deaths and by reason of the great sharpness of these Afflictions many would stumble and turn Apostates as Phigellus Demas Hermogenes Hymeneus and Philetas did for Iniquity would abound and the Love of many both Parents and Children Friends and Relations Strangers and others would grow cold and the Gospel should be Preached to all the World these are percursory Tokens of this great Destruction But those which should immediately precede its coming were the Abomination of Desolation set up in the Holy Place the which would be attended with great Tribulation By which Expositors do understand the Roman Armies made up of Idolatrous Souldiers besieging the City of Jerusalem as once God in his Righteous Judgment suffered the Holy Place to be polluted by the abominable Armies of Antiochus which made most horrid devastation And the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven
Herald and in the Text proclaimeth the certainty of his coming but from the uncertainty of the time when presseth his Disciples to rouze up themselves and to stand perpetually upon their Watch looking for and awaiting the coming of the Lord either by Death or Judgment for it is all one in effect whether he come to us or we go to him whether the World endeth to us or we to it for when we die we then part with all our dear Delights and sweet enjoyments of this Life and go to Judgment for as Death leaves us Judgment will find us as soon as ever the Soul is separated from the body it is winged by the holy Angels to the Tribunal of God to receive its definitive Sentence to Joy or Misery according to its Works done in the body in this Life So that we had need to be ever waiting and prepared for that hour Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh Which Words were spoken by our Lord particularly to his Disciples but are of Universal concern to all Christians and do as much belong to Vs in our days as to Them in theirs and therefore I shall look upon them with particular Application to our selves they do contain two General Parts I. Our Blessed Saviours seasonable and serious Advice solemnly to prepare our selves for Death and Judgment Be ye also ready II. A powerful and cogent Motive enforcing this good Advice For in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh I. The first thing to be considered is our Saviours serious Advice solemnly to prepare our selves for Death and Judgment therefore be ye also ready for this Reason because ye must die and come to Judgment and the time when is unknown be ye ready the Original imports set in the way as all those are whom God hath set in the Path of his Commandments Psal 85.13 Righteousness shall go before him as his Harbinger and shall set us in the way of his Steps i. e. in the path wherein he walketh and which he hath prescribed and appointed us to follow him in The Vulgar Latine reads it Parati made fit Now for as much as this is a long and difficult work and requires many Acts and Duties to be performed by us to dispose and qualifie us to meet our Lord with Joy and Comfort I will therefore shew i. Wherein this Preparation does chiefly consist ii Manifest the urgent necessity hereof and the many Obligations which we lie under to be always prepared for Death and Judgment i. My first work is to shew wherein this Preparation does chiefly consist this I shall do two ways Generally and Particularly 1. Generally This preparation does consist in the constant course of a Religious Holy and Heavenly Conversation and in the daily practice of Universal Purity 1. For this end the great and wise Creator did make us noble and reasonable Creatures Neh. 5.9 to walk in the fear of God to approve our selves by a blameless and harmless life Phil. 2.15 the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a perverse Nation among whom we being enlightned by the Son of Righteousness shine as lights in the World that others may see our good works the beauty and splendor of our Gifts and Graces Mat. 5.16 Joh. 15. â—8 and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven For herein is he glorified if we bring forth much fruit of Righteousness and true Holiness Not that it is in our power to add any thing to the essential glory of God but only contribute to the manifestation of his Glory and Majesty 2 This he doth command and require from us as we are his Creatures When God had chosen the Seed of Abraham and had separated them from all Nations and from all Impurities and Idolatries and set them apart for himself a peculiar People an holy Nation a chosen Race a People purchased to himself by Temptations by Signs and by Wonders and by War and by a mighty Hand and by a stretched out Arm and by great Terrors Deut. 4.34 according to all that he did in Aegypt He charged them thus Levit. 20.7 8. Sanctifie your selves and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God and ye shall keep my Statutes and do them We are the Seed of Faithful Abraham Gods peculiar People his proper portion and possession he hath brought us into a state of Salvation Tim. 1.9 and hath called us with an holy Calling not according to our works nor for any merit of ours but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began and as he that hath called us is holy so should we be holy in all manner of conversation 1. Pet. 1.16 for it is written be ye holy as I am holy Now there is a two fold likeness to God in holiness viz. a conformity to his nature and will in reference to which we are engaged to crucify the old man with his deeds to mortify the corruption of nature with all those sinful affections and actions which flow from it and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness 3 Cor. 5.17 2 Pet. 1.4 Which is called by St. Paul the new Creature and by St. Peter the divine Nature which consists not in any communication of the divine Essence to us but in our partaking of those divine Qualities and dispositions of knowledge righteousness and holiness which do express the perfections of God and in our analogical resemblance to him in his Attributes of Meekness Humility Patience Long suffering Justice and Faithfulness Mercy and Charity Love and Purity and in our sincere endeavour to please him to do his Will and keep his Commandments which require us to do justly to love mercy Micah 6.8 and to walk humbly with God To love him with all our hearts and soul and strength and might to discharge all the Duties that we owe to his Divine Majesty and to be fervent in spirit in his service To abstain from all injurious practices against our Neighbours to perform all kind and friendly offices to all men to bear good will to them to rejoyce at their happiness to pity their miseries and commiserate them in adversity to pay all due respect to them sutable to their degree and quality to shew all meekness to all men candidly favourably to interpret their words and actions mildly to reprehend their faults and sparingly relate their miscarriages forgiving and forgetting their greater offences and conniving at their lesser injuries which make no great breach upon our interest or reputation studying by all fair means as much as lieth in us if it be possible to live peaceably with all tho we we may sometimes sail in our purposes because some men are of such a turbulent fiery and malicious spirit and such profest enemies to
peace and love that it is scarce possible to obtain their good-will or to maintain a friendly correspondence with them In regard to our own persons the holy God commands us to depart from all iniquity to put away the evil of our doings Isaiah 1.16 17. to cease to do evil to learn to do well to watch and be sober to cast off the works of darkness and to walk as children of the light Rom. 13.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honestly and decently as becometh those to whom the glorious light of the Gospel hath appeared shunning all those vices of Gluttony and Drunkenness Whoredom and Uncleanness all lustful and lascivious dalliances Strife and Envy which are a stain and blemish to our Nature and to our holy Profession and to live in the constant practice of universal Purity Psal 37.24 2 Tim. 2.19 Jam. 4.8 which obligeth us to depart from evil to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts i. e. to reform and amend our lives and actions out thoughts and affections and through the assistance of Divine Grace which is never wanting to those that endeavour to obey God 2 Cor. 7.1 and do his Will to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit i. e. from all bodily pollutions such are sins of Intemperance Fornication Uncleanness c. in respect of which it becomes the duty of a Christian to learn and exercise that holy skill 1 Thes 4.4 to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour for such sins as these are a real dishonour to the body Rom. 1.2 And since God hath shewed his Art in the curious workmanship of it Os homini sublîme dedit coelumque tuerj jussit c. Materiam superabat opus Ovid. Met. which was not at first made without a consultation of the whole Trinity after what eminent manner and majestick form they should make it the rare and admirable structure whereof Gen. 1.26 being exquisitely composed of Bones and Muscles and Sinews of Veins and Arteries and variety of members excellent both for beauty and use filled David's Royal Soul with such admiration of God's infinite Wisdom and Power that when he contemplated his own Body he praised God Psal 139.14 and said I am fearfully and wonderfully made and curiously wrought with various embroidery and since God I say hath bestowed so much pains and cost upon the workmanship of the Body and that it is a part of Christ's purchase and together with the Soul is become a member of his and a Temple for the Holy Spirit of Purity to reside and dwell in it is principally incumbent upon us to keep it pure and clean chast and holy and free from all carnal pollutions We ought to have a greater regard to our noble Souls which are of an heavenly Original to purify and preserve them from spiritual wickedness from extravagant passions inordinate affections and desires from Pride and Covetousness rash Anger and Contention Envy Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness for these Sins and Vices defile our Souls and make us both afraid to dye and unfit for judgment Therefore the Apostle calls upon us to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord and assures us that this is the revealed will of God 1 Thes 4.3 even our sanctification that we should be holy both in our hearts and lives inwardly in our thoughts and affections outwardly in our words and actions both intensively and extensively holy 3. For this end and purpose the Lord of Glory sent his beloved Son into the World in great humility to carry on this work of making us holy by his exemplary and virtuous life and by his patient and meritorious death First By his virtuous and exemplary life he hath given us the most illustrious pattern in his own person in all the parts of holiness and set us the fairest copy of the most sublime and perfect virtue For which cause we find him in Scripture dignified with eminent Titles as of a Prince and Captain a Master and Guide of holy life and obedience he voluntarily undertook to subdue our Enemies and hath encouraged us with a most bountiful promise of a glorious reward a Crown of Righteousness to follow his heroick Conduct in a holy warfare against Sin and Satan to fight manfully under his Banner against all the Enemies of our Souls as Plutarch saith Caesar's Souldiers did when his presence and unparallell'd Gallantry inspired them with Courage and Valour extraordinary Fortis in armis Caesareis Labienus erat Example hath a great influence and efficacy for as Pliny the younger hath observed Melius hominis exemplis docentur qua imprimis hoc boni habent qua approbant quae praecipiunt fieri posse Men are better instructed by Examples which have in them chiefly this advantage that they do prove the things may be done which they enjoyn And as Seneca tells Lucilius Homines plus Oculis quà m auribus credunt Epist 6. Men give greater credit to their Eyes than to their Ears to what they see than to what they hear The more Eminent any persons are that give Examples the more readily are they imitated Et in vulgus manunt exemplâ— Regentâ—um Such as sit in the Gate as all uppermost in the world have many followers that conform to their manners and practice When the King of Nineveh put on Sackcloath Jonah 3.6 his Courtiers and Citizens complied with the fashion When Constantinus Mag. embraced the Faith of Christ Heathen Superstition began to creep into holes and corners and Christianity overspread the face of the Empire Now our dearest Lord being the greatest and wisest person that ever lived and his example the most perfect and transcendent that ever was we should endeavour if we would live happily and die comfortably to conform our practice to his because he was the most exact mirrour of true Goodness and Virtue of general Kindness and Charity Patience and Contentedness Meekness and Humility which he most lovingly inviteth us to imitate him in Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart His Patience in bearing the Affronts and Indignities of Sinners his Contempt of all the Glories of this World his Self-denial and Submission to the will of God his unwearied diligence in his Service his Peaceableness and Gentleness to all men and readiness to perform all kind Offices to men especially to their Souls was written for our Admonition to influence our practice and lead us in the paths of Righteousness and to make us partakers of his Holiness 2dly Our Blessed Lord Saviour's patient and meritorious Death and Sufferings were primarily intended to work Holiness in us The design of his coming in the Flesh was not only as the Socinians say to give us an example of Christian Purity but to lay down his life for us We are assured of this from his own sacred lips Matth. 20.28 The Son of Man came not to
be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 2.6 a redemption-price so great and valuable that there needs no further satisfaction to be made for any St Paul saith that he gave himself a ransom for all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an emphatical word denoting the exchange of condition with another the laying down of ones life to save another And so did our dearest Lord and Saviour Tit. 2 14. Rom. 8.32 he gave himself for us and in our place and stead that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous ofâ—â— good works The price which he paid for our Redemption was his own blood not a few drops for then what he shed at his Circumcision and bitter Agony when he sweat drops of blood might have sufficed but it was his hearts blood Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold 1 Pet. 1.18 19 from your vain conversation and course of life which is unprofitable for your souls and insufficient for Righteousness and Salvation but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Precious in the Esteem of Angels and Men but most of all precious in regard of the Glory and Dignity of the Qualifications and Endowments of the Gifts and Graces of the Person that shed it Coloss 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge in whose mouth no guile was ever found who needed not to offer Sacrifices for his own Sins being a person so perfectly holy harmless and undefiled No! it was for us and for our Salvation that he died Rom. 4.25 He was delivered by the determinate counsel and fore knowledge of God for our offences Acts 2.23 to make full satisfaction to his Father for them and to reconcile us to God By his own free and spontaneous act he laid down his life Joh. 10.17 Gal. 1.4 and gave himself for our Sins Not only to take away the Guilt with all the causes and consequences thereof Once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 9.26 Rom. 5.19 to the abolition of Sin by the Sacrifice of himself by whose obedience many are made righteous but also to ease guilty souls of the pain and anguish of Conscience which doth fill them with dreadful fears and terrors and a certain fearful looking for of wrath Heb. 9.14 and fiery indignation The Blood of Christ doth purge your Conscience from dead works and not only justify and absolve the true penitent Sinner but also meritoriously purify the Soul from inherent corruption and sanctify it by infusing holiness So that body soul and spirit becomes one frame of Holiness to God to serve him here in the Beauty of Holiness and to enjoy communion with him in his Ordinances till he is pleased to fit him for the full fruition of himself in the Holy of Holies in Heaven This is the effect of Christ's Blood which was shed to put a silence to the clamours and accusations of Conscience and also to pacify the wrath of God for Sin Jesus being the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 1.10 Who delivers us from the wrath to come and is now actually delivering us by his prevailing Intercession and the supplies of his Grace enabling us to subdue the power of Sin and temptation and will most certainly compleat and perfect our deliverance at his second coming So that now the penitent Believer may safely make that bold challenge which the great St. Paul doth Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth and absolveth them who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died and by his Death hath made a sufficient attonement to God for all our Sins and washed them away in his Blood which is a Fountain opened for Sin and for Uncleanness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Laver to wash away the pollution and filth of all our Sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness he is a propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only 1 Joh. 2 2. but for the Sins of the whole World Eph. 5.25 27. He delivered himself up for the Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it i. e. Purify all its members from the guilt filth and power of Sin endue them with a principle of Holiness and consecrate them to God a glorious Church without having spot or wrinkle free from the smallest remainder of sin and misery 1 Joh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the Devil the original word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might dissolve those chains wherewith Satan holdeth all his Vassals in bondage 4. So great was the care of our Lord to make men truly good and virtuous that when he left the World he sent the Holy Ghost the Promise of the Father to superintend the Affairs of the Church Vicarius Christi in Ecclesia whom Tertul. calls Christ's Vicar a Metaphor borrowed from certain Church-Officers who are so denominated as our Civilians say Quasi vice fungentes Rectorum to attend the Offices of the Church in the Rectors absence To oppose the Torrent of Vice and Wickedness to instruct people in the fundamental Principles of Religion to guide direct and encourage them in the paths of Holiness and Virtue and by a continual residence upon his Cure to be ever ready to perform the Duties belonging thereunto Even so the Holy Spirit was sent to supply Christ's room in the Church Joh. 16 7. If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you He was not to enter upon his Oeconomy or Dispensation till after Christ's Ascension and Glorification as we learn from John 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Christ was not yet glorified Princes do liberally bestow their gifts and favours at the time of their Inauguration Eph. 4.9 and the Prince of Peace being ascended up on high and triumphing gloriously over all his Church's Enemies poured down a plentiful effusion of gifts and graces unto men As St. Peter acquaints his Auditors That Christ being by the power of God exalted Acts 2.33 and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear The design and end of his coming is as our Saviour saith Joh. 16.8 To reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment To convince us of the evil and obliquity of our ways and doings and reclaim us from Sin and Error to regenerate us unto God's Image infusing holiness into our souls and giving us a right to eternal Salvation Tit. 3.5 by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the
Holy Ghost changing of our corrupt Natures creating good Dispositions and pious Affections in us sanctifying us with Divine Graces Dr. Bar. Creed and begetting vertuous inclinations in us reverence towards God charity to Men sobriety and purity as to our Selves with the rest of those amiable and heavenly virtues of the Soul which is the work of Sanctification leading and governing us in our Actions and Conversations that we may actually do and perform those things which are acceptable in the sight of God These are the Offices of the Holy Spirit who is therefore denominated Holy because he is the Author and efficient Cause of holiness in us and hath the special Name of Spirit given him both because of his Spiritual Essence and in regard of his Spiritual dispensations and those Graces which he bestows upon every faithful Soul which are heavenly and spiritual for the performance of which Mat. 28.20 he is to abide with his Church for ever Lo I am with you always even to the end of the world to enlighten your Understandings to sanctifie your Wills Affections to assist you in Devotion to stir up in you good Desires and to lead you in the way of all truth and obedience to Gods holy Will and Commandments 5 For this purpose the great Ordinance of the Gospel Ministry was instituted and persons in sacred Orders appointed to make men truly holy to dispose and fit them for Death and Judgment Heaven and Happiness to teach and tread the way to Glory 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach the way to Heaven rightly to cut out to every man his portion and to divide the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 The titles which are given them in Scripture import the business they are to perform and do They are Ministers Stewards Embassadors Ministers of Christ 1 Cor. 4.12 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Acts 20 18. 1 Cor. 3.9 and Stewards of the mysteries of God to whom he hath committed the Ministry of Reconciliation the word of Power They are Overseers and Comptrollers of his Family Embassadors for Christ to pray beseech and court men in their great Lord and Masters stead to be reconciled to God Labourers and Co-operators with God in the work of Conversion and Edification He Joh. 20.21 22. Rom. 10.15 the principal Agent They Officers under him ordained and sent by him and furnished with Gifts and Abilities to negotiate his great Affairs He made them able Ministers 2 Cor. 3.6 fitted by a supervening act and influence of Grace to discharge the trust which he hath reposed in them to the souls of men He strictly charged them to preach all the counsel of God Acts 20.27 whatsoever he requires of any one in order to eternal blessedness even the whole doctrine of Christianity which teacheth us to deny all ungodliness c. to reprove rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and patience 2 Cor. 5.11 and as knowing the terror of the Lord to persuade men to believe the dreadful comminations and threatnings of God revealed in his Word Rom. 1.18 against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and accordingly to frame their lives innocently and holy that at the dreadful day of Judgment which the Prophet calls a day of wrath Zeph. 1.15 He alludes to it in the ruin which he foretold should fall upon the Jews by the Chaldeans a day of trouble and distress a day of wasting and desolation a day of darkness and gloominess a day of Clouds and thick darkness and the Apostle a day of terror because there will be a very strict scrutiny a narrow search made into the thoughts words and actions of men done in the flesh nothing but holiness will then stand in any stead therefore the Ministers of the Gospel are commanded to use the most prudent and effectual course Acts 26.18 to open mens eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith which grace doth purifie the heart from sin corruption They must not connive at or comply with the lusts of men as Ahabs Priests did but handle the Word of God sincerely with zeal and courage not fearing the faces of men in the work of the Lord who hath charged them at their peril not to be dismaid at the presence and frowns of great men Jâ—r 1.17 or presumptuous sinners yet at the same time when they do shew their zeal against their sins to manifest their reverend esteem and love of their persons and tender affection to their souls instructing those that oppose themselves with all gentleness and winning insinnuations and restoring them in the spirit of meekness which is the most probable way to enamour them with the love of Vertue and to save their Souls 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To tread the way to heaven and to walk uprightly Cal. 2.14 according to the truth of the Gospel So passionately desirous is God of mens happiness that he would have his Ministers to be Shining Lights as John the Baptist was shewing the power of Godliness in their lives that by their good Conversations their People might be drawn to imitate them in the practice of all Christian Graces 1 Tim. 4.12 St. Paul exhorts his Son Timothy to be an example of Believers in word in Conversation in Charity in spirit in faith in purity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Believers not of moral honest men only but of Gods Jedidians Pro. 12. the excellent of the earth in whom he delighteth of those first-born Souls Mal. 3.17 those bright and sparkling Jewels of whom the world is not worthy those darlings of heaven that are the Apple of Gods Eye Heb. 11.38 Deut. 32.9 those precious Sons of Sion who are the lot of Gods inheritance and the glory of Christ 1 Cor. 8.23 To such noble and vertuous persons as these are the Ministers of the Gospel to shew themselves patterns in Sacerdotal exemplariness and in the habits exercise of grace Prov. 4.18 and in holiness of life which is a shining light that hath influence and powerful operation upon others to excite them to bring glory to God For this reason they are stiled Presidents Shepherds Guides because they are not only to preach Angelical Sermons but to live heavenly lives to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour by the purity and lustre of their Conversations For the greatest part of Mankind are like Sheep Heb. 10.24 Prov. 27.17 which go rather as they are led then as they are taught A good Example is greatly influential to Vertue to provoke unto love and to good works as a bad one is an occasion of much harm faciles imitandis Turpibus pravis omnes sumus we having a great proclivity to follow ill Examples Those therefore that are to teach others that are to
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3.3 except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish except ye be born again ye cannot see the Kingdom of God All Births are painful Chap. 16.21 Gal. 4.19 both the Natural and Supernatural but nothing is too hard for Omnipotency He can cause dry Bones to live and if we set our selves in earnest to amend our ways and doings and to implore the help of his Grace he will send his holy Spirit to invigorate and assist us with Divine Aids and infuse every Grace into the Soul which constitutes the Divine Nature The Conversion of a Sinner is a work purely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above 1. Pet. 1.23 We are born again not of corruptible Seed but of that which is incoruptible and are sanctified and cleansed by the washing of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 and renewing of the H. Ghost and so made meet for our Lords Appearance 2. By Faith in Christ This Peace of Reconciliation with God may be obtained by a firm and stedfast belief that our Lord Jesus Christ hath appeased his Fathers Anger satisfied the Demands of his Justice slain the Enmity established a steady Friendship between God and us and purchased eternal Life and Salvation for us God the Father hath promised him in the Covenant of Redemption Rom. 3.25 to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood and it is by the Blood of his Cross that he made Peace as the Apostle affirmeth Coloss 1.20 for without shedding of Blood there could be no Expiation or Remission of Sins Therefore he became obedient to the accursed Death of the Cross that by the bloody Sacrifice of himself there once offered Heb. 9.14 he might perfect for ever them that are sanctified and do all that was necessary for their acceptation with God and the forgiveness of their Sins But altho' he hath done this for us yet it is Faith on our part which must lay hold of the Value and Merit of his Sacrifice and Suffering and apply the Benefit which he hath purchased for us God is the principal Efficient Christ the Meritorius and Faith the Instrumental Cause of our Justification the Accomplishment whereof is by Faith and not by Works By the Deeds of the Law there shall be no Flesh justified Rom. 3.20 and acquitted from Condemnation in the Court of Heaven and accounted righteous in the sight of God for by the Law cometh the knowledge of sin and a more exact and perfect Discovery of the nature and turpitude thereof than the Light of Nature could afford But there is another way of becoming righteous which is of God's Ordination and Appointment and which alone he will accept by Faith Being justified by Faith Rom. 5.1 we have Peace with God with whom before we were at Enmity as the Apostle testifies But now we are reconciled Coloss 1.21 Ephes 2.14 2 Cor. 5.18 19 by the Blood of his Gross and the Merit of his Death for he is our Peace and hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself and by Faith in him we become righteous in the sight of God Tit. 3.5 Jam. 2.22 Acts 15.9 not by any works of righteousness which we have done but by a lively operative Faith which is made perfect by Works and purifieth the Heart and bringeth forth the good Fruits of Sanctification and new Obedience in Life and Conversation This is that Divine Grace which renders God propitious to us and our Persons and Religious Services acceptable to him Without which it is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 This is the Shield wherewith we shall be able to quench the fiery Darts of the Wicked Mat. 13.19 i. e. the Devil who is denominated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Wicked One because it is a Name that fitly denotes his spiteful malicious nature his desire to vex and annoy us with his violent Temptations wherewith he and his wicked Instruments fiercely assault us this is that part of our spiritual Armour by which we become victorious over the Fears and Terrors the Hopes and Joys the Temptations and Desires of this World which are the great Obstructions and Hinderances of our Obedience 1 John 5.4 This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith By the assistance of this heavenly Vertue we are enabled to live above the World and despise the Pomps and Vanities of it because it represents unto our Minds * Heb. 11.1 invisible Glories and Felicities all the Riches and Treasures of Heaven and the future Recompences of Reward For this cause we faint not tho' our outward man decay 2 Cor. 4.16.18 our inward is renewed day by day whilst we look not at the things that are seen but at the things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor have entred into the heart of Man to conceive For the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal This is that Fruit of the Spirit which gives us Union and Communion with Christ Ephes 3.17 John 3.15 16. and entitles us to Eternal Bliss to live for ever with the Lord. Whosoever believes on him and commits the Care of his Soul unto him relying on him alone for Salvation hath such an Interest in him that he is not afraid of being condemned by the severe Judge at his Appearing He that over-cometh Rev. 21.7 8. shall inherit all things and I will be his God to love and glorifie him and he shall be my Son to inherit all the Joys and Happiness of Heaven and to live with me for ever but the fearful and the unbelieving shall have their parts with the Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and all Liars in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death 3. By Prayer this is the most effectual means which God hath consecrated for receiving the highest Blessings for the obtaining of Peace with him and to compleat our Reconciliation Haec vis Deo grata est Tert. Salvation is not to be obtained without great vehemency in Devotion This violence which we offer to God in fervent Prayer is very grateful to him Jam. 5.16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man is very prevalent with God for obtaining of what is desired When God had determined to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbouring Cities by raining down Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon them to consume them for their filthy lusts Abraham by his powerful intercessions had most certainly averted Gods indignation from those wicked people if there could have been found but Ten Righteous Persons among them Hereby Jacob in his conflict with the Angel of the Covenant wrestled so vigorously that he obtained the Victory and had the name Israel given him Gen. 32.28 For saith the Text
thing is hard to an unwilling mind yet it is absolutely necessary for without emptying our hearts of all rancour malice ill will and desire of revenge we cannot obtain peace with men nor remission of our sins and reconciliation with God He hath declared that no religious duty which we perform will be pleasing and acceptable to him so long as we are not in charity with our Neighbour as appears from the forequoted Scripture If thou bring thy gift to the Altar Mat. 5.23 c. go first and be reconciled to thy Brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do thy endeavour at least to appease his anger and make him friends with thee then come and offer thy gift If he receive thy submission thou hast gained thy Brother if he continue the Enmity the fault is his and he shall answer it to Almighty God whose Law he violates in denying his pardon to the Penitent If thy Brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him if he trespass against thee seven times a day and seven times i. e. as often in a day turn again unto thee Luk. 17.3.4 saying I repent thou shalt forgive him and lay aside all thoughts and desire of Revenge This is a Doctrine directly contrary to the principle of the Stoicks a Sect of Philosophers who pretended to be most sublime and refined in their Morals which was this That a wise man ought not to pardon another mans faults nor to commiserate his sufferings for this is to invite injuries by a stupid patience Magni animi injurias despicere Lib. 2. de Ira. But the wise Seneca was of another mind who saith That it is the character of a great Soul to despise injuries Chap. 34 and that nothing is more glorious then to change enmity into amity The World may think a man stupid and without sense of honor that passeth by wrongs But Cato a wise Heathen is commended by Seneca for not resenting an affront or blow given him by a rude fellow in the Bath to whom he said when he came to make satisfaction Chap. 32. I remember not that thou didst strike me as thinking it a wiser part not to acknowledg the wrong then to repay it And a wiser man than he affirmeth that the slower a person is to anger and the readier to forgive the more understanding he hath and is more worthy of praise and honour Prov. 19.11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression When the Prince of Peace came into the world to set up his his Kingdom introduce his holy Religion he enacted Laws of Peace Love of gentleness and forbearance of forgiveness as most agreeable to his own nature and the design of his coming He charged his Disciples to love their Enemies 1 Pet. 3.9 1 Thess 5.15 to be kindly affectionate one towards another to render to no Man evil for evil but ever to follow that which is good To bear no grudge or ill will to harbour no thoughts of Revenge for that is God's Prerogative Dearly beloved avenge not your selves Rom. 12.19 but rather give place unto Wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord. It so properly belongs to Him that none but His Ministers who are commissioned by Him may execute it He severely threatned the Edomites and Philistines for their revengeful usage of the Jews Ezek. 25.14 15 16 17. I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my People Israel and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and fury and they shall know my Vengeance saith the Lord behold I will stretch out my hand upon them and will execute great Vengeance upon them in furious Rebukes or fierceness of wrath and without pity and they shall know that I am the Lord when I lay my Vengeance upon them But tho' God is sometimes forced to vindicate his own Honour in Acts of vindictive Justice yet in regard of his ordinary proceedings with Men he is frequently stiled the God of Love and Peace of Patience and Consolation the Father of pities rich in Mercy full of bowels ready to turn from his anger easie to be intreated and willing to forgive those who are guilty of the greatest trespasses against him This is his glory and delight because he is merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 7. long suffering and abundant in goodness keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Now this kind and indulgent disposition of Mind which is the perfection of the divine Nature John 4.11 Eph. 4.31 32. the holy Apostles recommend to our imitation and practice beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away with all Malice and be kind one to another be tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you It is mighty kindness in our heavenly Father to offer us easie tearms of Peace and to beseech us to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.20 the consideration hereof should melt us into love and tenderness towards our offended Brother for the wrongs and injuries which he hath forgiven us are infinitely greater and of a more provoking nature then those which he requires us to forgive our Brethren our offences against him are like Beams their 's against us but as Motes ours for Number and Magnitude are Ten thousand Talents their 's for paucity and meanness but a hundred pence and since he hath so frankly forgiven us Reason and Ingenuity should engage us to be very easie to forgive those that have offended us freely and fully unfeignedly and cordially from our very Hearts This the great King in the Parable insisteth much upon to his ungrateful Servant Mat. 18.22 I forgave thee all that Debt thou owedst me because thou desiredst me should'st not thou also have had compassion on thy Fellow Servant even as I had pity on thee Our Saviour gave us his admirable Pattern of Charity and Forgiveness he shewed greater love to us whilst we were professed Enemies to him then ever any of us have done to our Neighbour and when he was upon the Cross in the height of his bitter Passion in the agony of Death he Prayed for his mortal and most malicious Enemies and earnestly interceded with his Father for his Crucifiers Luk. 23.34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Now so worthy a Precedent should Rouse our industry and influence our Practice and we are the greatest Monsters of ingratitude in the World if we are not provoked by an Example so illustrious in it self and so advantagious to us to go and do likewise The benefits which accrew unto us thereby are very considerable the inconveniencies which attend the neglect of so doing are very dangerous and hurtful 1 The benefits which we gain
will attend us no further than the Grave and if we dispense it not well and wisely but hoard it up as the unprofitable Servant did his Talent in a Napkin the rust and canker thereof will be a Witness against us and convince us of our unmercifulness in doing no good with it it will kindle the wrath of God against us and gall our Consciences with a vexatious remembrance of our Sin and Folly But good Works will certainly follow us into the future Life blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord Rev. 14.13 so saith the Spirit for they rest from their Labours and their Works follow them to Witness for them before the great Judge of the quick and dead and I had almost said to appease his Wrath Jam. 2 13. Dr. Ham. in locum Mat 5.7 and to prevent their Condemnation for St. James saith mercy rejoyceth against Judgment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 triumpheth over it for the merciful shall obtain mercy our Saviour doth not say that they shall Merit mercy at the hand of God but obtain mercy the reason is plain for when we have done all we are unprofitable Servants and have not at all benefitted the infinitely Glorious and Blessed God by our services but only done that which was our Duty and therefore must expect to receive our reward from Gods free mercy and not of merit Non properito accipis Vitam aeternam sed tantum pro gratiâ August St. James is very express Chap. 1.14 That we must be perfect and entire wanting nothing as to all the integral parts of Christianity to render us truly acceptable to God yet this we may firmly relie upon that no one single Vertue can better qualifie us for mercy or more effectually prevail with God to shew us mercy then this of mercifulness Phil. 8.14 which is an Odour of a sweet smell a Sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God the consideration whereof should induce us upon all occasions and opportunities to do good to be rich copious in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for our selves not for our heirs and executors a good foundation against the time to come that we may lay hold on eternal Life A Life Bp. Reynolds which may be held when the last general conflagration shall have melted all the Treasures of the World our good works will abide that Tryal the Inheritance unto which they follow us is incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for us But we must qualifie our selves for it upon Earth by making it the whole business and trade of our Lives to do good which is to act according to the frame of our Natures and to comply with the best of those inclinations which God hath planted in us and to do a most delightful and pleasant Work even in the Opinion of Epicurus himself the great Patron of pleasure which is accompanied with satisfaction in the present performance of it and in the after reflection doth yield a huge refreshment to our Minds and a spring of peace and joy to our Souls which far exceeds all sensual and bodily delights and will most of all be sweet and comfortable to us when the pains of Death are upon us and our Souls are ready to take their flight into the eternal World therefore if we would have our Passage easie at our Death we must treasure up now a stock of Comfort against the evil day good Works will certainly support us in the Agony of Death and stand by us in the day of Judgment and plead for us before the Righteous judge and obtain for us a glorious Reward a Kingdom not purchased by our Works Mat. 25.34 35 c. but prepared for us from the foundation of the World and freely bestowed upon us for our obedience to his Holy Laws in being kind and merciful to his suffering Servants 5 The preparation which our Lord requires to fit us for his coming consists in keeping Conscience clear and free from offence either by abstaining from all filthiness of flesh and spirit or by a sincere endeavour if the mind and Conscience be defiled to get the guilt of sin done away by Godly sorrow which worketh Repentance unto Salvation for so St. Paul directs us alluding to the purifying under the Law by the sprinkling of Blood Heb. 10.22 1 Tim. 1.19 To get our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and to hold Faith and a good Conscience To this he assiduously applied himself with all his might Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to have alway a Conscience void of offence towards God and Man He made it his constant study and the daily business of his life continually to live inoffensively and to do his duty concscienciously both to God and Men. He felt the sweetness and comfort of it in his Soul when he was by the malice of the Jews imprisoned at Jerusalem and brought before the Sanhedrim where he makes this solemn profession Men and Brethren Acts 23.1 I have lived in all good Conscience before God Tho' Tertullus impleaded him with all the insinuative Arts of Learning and Eloquence he is able to make his own defence sully to answer the charge laid against him and his home and powerful reasonings of Temperance Righteousness and Judgment to come made his Judg to quake and tremble See here the great advantage a good man hath of his Adversaries and what invisible supports a good Conscience affords in the day of danger and adversity Hor. Car. L. 3. Od. 3. Neither the tumults of the People nor the face and indignation of Tyrants can abate his courage Inocency and Virtue animate him with boldness and confidence against all their accusations and terrors and lay the firmest foundation of a durable contentment and satisfaction therefore Seneca represents the mind of a wise man by the state of the superior Regions which were free from storms and tempests always serene and temperate A good man is never without joy Ep. 59. his contentment groweth not but from the Conscience of Vertue This made Paul and Silas when they were cast into Prison and thrust into the inner Dungeon Sanctorum sors est non melesté ferenda and their Feet mast fast in the Stocks sing divine Hymns and Songs of praise to God This was holy Job's comfort under all those piercing afflictions which besell him the loss of all his Substance and Children and desertion of his nearest Friends and Relations In these sad and miserable circumstances when there was none to pity and comfort him the conscience of his own innocence and integrity supported his Spirit Job 27.5 6. I will never remove my integrity from me my righteousness will I hold fast and will not let it go mine Heart i. e. my Conscience shall not reproach me so long as I live This supported and comforted the Primitive Believers in all their
Tribulations and Persecutions which were too great for human patience to bear Our rejoicing is this 2 Cor. 1.12 the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world A good Conscience is a continual Feast a Jubilee Pro. 15.15 in that dark dismal time when Death is breaking that Vital Union and making a separation between Soul and Body and the man is walking through the valley of the shadow of Death Ps 23.4 which is very full of terrors and dangers this will relieve his fears fill him with unspeakable Joys and enable him to grapple with the King of Terrors with courage and constancy of mind and to say with the blessed Apostle 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8 The time of my departure is at hand I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith upheld and maintained it in and by my Ministry and lived in the exercise of the grace of Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me of his free grace at that day My Soul shall enjoy it at my dissolution my whole man at the general resurrection Such a comfortable departure as this free from the stings accusations of Conscience is worth the most solicitous care earnest endeavour of a Christians whole life for when he comes to die Conscience will administer unspeakable Consolations to him make him lift up his head with joy and with a cheerful countenance to stand before the Son of Man and to say with Hezekiah Remember now o Lord Isa 33.3 I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight But on the contrary the case of a wicked man will be very deplorable when he falls into any calamity or affliction Job 15.24 pain or Sickness when the days of darkness are at hand Conscience is then most active upbraiding him with the greatness multitude and aggravations of his sin Guilt lies throbbing on his Soul Trouble and anguish make him afraid they shall prevail against him as a King ready to the Battle Who goes forth to fight with all the strength and power of his Kingdom attended with his Guards and Battalions of disciplined Soldiers and with all his Engines and Military preparations for slaughter and destruction which strikes a dread and terror into his Enemies which fills them with fears and anxious thoughts what the event issue may be Such are the troubles and agitations of Conscience in wicked men and that not only of the weaker fort but of such also as are cloathed with Purple and invested with Imperial Power The mighty Monarchs of the world such as Nero Tyberius Caligula c. who are above the reach of human Justice these are not exempted from the disquiets and stings of Conscience the Gripes and Convulsions of Self-conviction and the apprehensions and fears of a Caelestial Tribunal which they shall not escape tho' they have derided and laughed at it in the day of health But the dread and horror thereof encreaseth upon them as they draw near to the end of their days and this will be the case of every one of us if we do not now get our Consciences purged from dead works and the guilt of all our sins cancelled by a cordial sorrow for and moral revocation of it Therefore it very nearly concerns us to make a strict and severe inspection into our Consciences to state our Account right between God and our Souls For if any sin remain uncrossed it concerns us as much as our everlasting happiness is worth to set about it with all possible speed and diligence to give no rest to our Eyes nor slumber to our Eye lids till we have by an actual repentance and revocation of all that we have done amiss totally discharged them and gotten all our sins blotted out that they may not be found upon record against us When the times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord Jer. 17.1 For Conscience registers all that we do be it good or evil And when the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father and the Book of Conscience shall be opened and according to what is found written therein we shall be judged sentenced and rewarded for Conscience will be with us in Death and Judgment either to comfort justifie and acquit us or to terrifie accuse and condemn us 6 That we may be ready for the coming of our Lord it is necessity that we bear with patience and constancy the various troubles and tryals which we may meet with in this Life for as Job saith Affliction cometh not forth of the dust Chap. 5.6 neither doth trouble spring out of the ground but Man is born unto trouble as the sparks flie upward Crosses and Troubles befall us not by chance or accident but are fore-ordained by the Wisdom and dispenced by the providence of God or by his allowance Can a bird fall in a snare upon the Earth where no Gin is for him Amos 3.5 John 16.33 nor industriously prepared and laid to take him in the World we shall have tribulation reproach and injuries from Men the loss of Goods and good Name disappointments in Children Friends and Relations provocations to anger and revenge sickness and distempers in our Bodies troubles within disquietudes anxieties of mind which are little Deaths not only prologues but preparatives to Death Acts 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God even as the Israelites went through many hardships in their peregrination through the Wilderness to the Land of Canaan so must we in our Pilgrimage through this World to the Inheritance which is above reserved in Heaven for us Therefore patience is absolutely necessary for us to enable us to bear our burdens to persevere in our Duty and to wait for our promised reward We have need of patience that after we have done the will of God Heb. 10.36 we may receive the promises Now many of the promises are of a long date and distance from us the reward is given to those that hold out unto the end wherefore the Apostle adviseth us To strengthen our selves with all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Coloss 1.11 Heb. 12.1 2.3 and to run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith who for that joyful and glorious state which was faithfully promised by his Father to be the reward of his Sufferings endured the Cross with all the concomitants of it despifing the shame and disgrace poured on him by his Enemies and is set down as a glorious and triumphing conqueror over Sin and Satan Death and Hell at the Right Hand of the Throne
the swiftest and strongest of wing Isaiah 40.31 they shall mount up with wings as Eagles which soar aloft in the Air so high that the eye of man cannot see them yet themselves are so quick-sighted that they can discern their prey at that vast distance and sowce down upon it like a Thunderbolt hunger adding swiftness to their wings therefore Job makes use of that Emblem to set forth the shortness of the life of man Among the Evangelical Writers we find St. Paul comparing it to a Race And to the end we may perform our Christian Course well he adviseth us to imitate the Roman and Grecian Racers who when they were to run for the Prize put off their cumbersom cloaths that they might run with briskness and agility so as to obtain the reward which was a leafy Crown made up of Bay's or Lawrel c. A fading corruptible and perishing one but we Christians run for an incorruptible Crown 1 Pet. 1.4 an immortal Inheritance that sadeth not away laid up in store for us Wherefore we are the more obliged to lay aside every weight Heb. 12.1 and the Sin which doth so easily beset us and run with patience the Race that is set before us for it is but short and will soon be over Behold saith David Thou hast made my days as an hand breadth which is one of the least measures whether we take it in the largest dimension and expansion of the hand or in the more restrained limitation the breadth only of the hand in both which respects it is very short an inch long saith * In Carmine Lyrico Plutarch Seneca Alcaeus much shorter yet in the grave Moralists Opinions who stile it but a Point Punctum est quod vivimus adhuc puncto minus But St. James who spake by a more excellent spirit Ch. 4.14 Job 14.1 represents it more diminutively in that he calls it a meer Appearance What is your life it is even a Vapour that appeareth for a little while and then vanisheth away Man that is born of a woman is of few days Few in comparison of the Antidiluvian Patriarchs from Adam to Noah who lived near a thousand years fewer yet in regard of the years of Abraham whose life was prolonged but to one hundred threescore and fifteen years Gen. 25.7 8. and yet Moses saith of him that he died in a good old Age an old man and full of years In Moses's time it was limited to threescore years and ten Ps 90. A Psalm of Mâ—ses c. and if by reason of strength men come to fourscore years which is a singular and extraordinary favour yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow and through weakness and infirmities of Age they are a burden to themselves unable to bear the aches and pains and indispositions and diseases incident to their sickly natures and unfit to perform the acts and offices of Religion and Repentance towards God and in a little time they are cut off and gone to their long homes where they can never have any more opportunities of Repentance In a moment which is the shortest parcel of time that we can imagine they go down to the Grave and on a sudden vanish away Lo this is the length of the short life of man and since we must shortly put off this Tabernacle of Flesh and Bones it concerns us as much as our Souls are worth to prepare them with grace and holiness that they may be fit for the appearance of Christ and be precious and lovely in his eyes and that we may not be terrified and affrighted at his coming as those Kings of the Earth and great Men and rich Men and chief Captains and mighty Men whom St. John speaks of in the Revelation Ch. 6.15 16 17. Who shall then hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and say to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand 2. It is very uncertain Man knoweth not his time as the Fishes that are taken in an evil Net and as the Birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time Eccles 12.9.12 when it falleth suddenly upon them Death often comes when persons are most secure and careless and least expect it Dives the representative of the Voluptuous World promised himself long life secular prosperity and the fullest satisfactions that the creature could afford To that end he resolved to make the largest preparations for many years Festival living He said to himself This will I do I will pull down my Barns Luke 12.18 19. and build greater and there will I bestow all my Fruits and my Goods and I will say to my Soul Soul thou hast much Goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry But alas all his projects failed him and his designs were disappointed for he never saw the light of another day God said unto him thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee Then whose shall all those things be which thou hast provided And for ought the wisest of us know this may be our own case while we are seeking after the fulness of earthly contentments and delights our Souls may be separated from the embraces of their Bodies and all our hopes perish Do not our lives depend upon many uncertainties diseases and fatal accidents See we not Epist 120. saith Seneca to Lucilius How many incommodities do torment us sometimes we complain of our heads then of our breast and throat sometimes we are pained in our Nerves and vexed in our feet to day the Flux to morrow a Rheum disturbs us sometimes too much blood sometimes too little every way we are troubled Nihil satis est morituris nihil morientibus There is nothing that contenteth us that are to die nay that die every day for we daily approach our last hour and there is not a day or hour that driveth us not into the Grave where we must rest It is observed by Gallen and Hippocrates that Man is more liable to diseases and distempers and his life is more endangered by them then any other Creature Rom. 5.12 the reason may be because he hath sinned more then they for by sin Death with all its antecedents fore runners and harbingers entred into the world and so passed upon all men for that all have sinned There is not the least disease incident to our frail nature but hath been armed with power sufficient to conquer and overcome Some die by Fevers as Vespasian Antonius Julius the 2d and Boniface the 9th Platina Riâ—aut in vit others by Apoplexies as Valentinian the Emperor Pope Paul the 2d occasioned by his intemperate eating of Melons Sometimes
by Gouts as Septimius Severus Julius the 3d. Sozimus the Syrian and Sixtus the 4th others by the Stone and Cholick as Gregory the 11th and Pius the 5th Some by Plurisies as Gelasius the 2d c. others by violent pain and anguish as Crassus the Orator some have ended their days in transports of Joy as Philippides the Comedian when his Lauriat Poems were preferred and Diaggoras of Rhodes Bp. Taylor 's great Ex. part 3. disc 20. and Chilon the Philosopher embracing their Sons crowned with Olympick Lawrels others have expired in excess of sorrow Many have lost their lives by overmuch fulness repletion and ingurgitation of meats and drinks but more have perished by pinching Famine O the havock and desolation which it made at the Sieges of Jerusalem and Samaria 2 Kings 5.25 Joseph de bello Jud. l. 7. c. 7 8. when the poor miserable Jews did for very penury eat their Girdles Shoes and the Skins that covered their Shields and an Asses Head which hath but little meat upon it and that also both unwholsome and unclean by Law was sold for 80 pieces of Silver which amount to about 5 l. of our Money a vast price for so small a pittance Mille modis lethi miseros 〈◊〉 una fatigat and the 4th part of a Kab or quart of Pease for 5 pieces of Silver Death is every day making its approaches near to us with speedy and undiscerned steps it follows us and will arrest us e're we be aware of it but when or how we know not every breath we draw may be our last and the next step we take may be into the Grave Who sees not then the absolute necessity of being always ready for his departure hence No man dies so cheerfully as he that hath prepared and composed himself for it by a foregoing preparation Death will not wait for us one moment and therefore it is extremely dangerous to flatter our selves with hopes and expectations of long life and that we shall repent hereafter for we have not one day or hour or minute at our disposal Qui poenitenti veniam spospondit peccanti crastinum diem non promisit Death spares none neither for age nor manners We see the Rose-buds are gathered as well as the ripe Roses Many young persons are snatched away in the flower of their time and strength Job 10.22 ch 3.19 The Grave is without order there are small and great in it Goliah not too bigg David's Child not too little to fill a Tomb. So that upon this account we ought to live in a constant expectation of Death and the coming of our Lord and to dispose of every day in such sort as if it did lead to the consummation of our lives Luke 12. Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find so doing 3. As Life is very short and uncertain so Death is inevitable and therefore the preparation for it is indispensibly necessary the very Heathens wondred not to see Bodies composed of earthly materials dissolve into dust and ashes What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Ps 89 48 There is an Erotesis in the words a Figure peculiar to the Idioms of the Hebr. and Greek Tongues we frequently meet with it in the Scriptures as in Isaiah 58.3 Who can declare his Generation i. e None can Heb. 1.13 because he is eternal Again To which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son c. i. e. He never said so to any of them So in these words of the Psalmist the interrogation bears the force of a positive affirmation There is no man living shall escape death Job 3.13 14 15. for it is the end of all men Of Kings and Counsellors of the Earth of Princes and great Warriors of Oppressors and Prisoners of Captives and mean Persons of Masters and Servants of Small and Great all go to the place of Silence where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be at rest 17 v. Your Fathers that have been in all Ages before you where are they Zech. 1.5 and the Prophets that Preached to you and warned you of your danger do they live for ever These are all laid down in the dust and we must all follow in our order i. e. Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye none shall escape the irreversible decree save those that shall be found alive at the coming of Christ 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed which change shall be either by their dying for a short time and then reviving again as the Sleep there mentioned seems to imply or else by the mighty power of God their natural and corruptible bodies shall be changed into spiritual and incorruptible bodies which change shall be equivalent to death but all other persons shall see death and undergo the common fate of all mankind Neither Achitophel's Policy nor David's Piety nor Solomon's Wisdom nor John Baptist's Zeal for God nor Tertullus his Silver Tongue nor Aristotle's Philosophy nor Demosthenes his Oratory nor Bathsheba's Beauty nor Sampson's Strength nor Orpheus his Harp could charm Death nor prevent its all-subduing Conquests Death knocks at the Palaces of Princes as well as poor mens Cottages What is become of all the Egyptian the Persian the Grecian and the Roman Monarchs the Renowned Cesars Julius and Augustus celebrated in History for War and Peace Where are the Egyptian Ptolomies the Syrian Antiochus's the Theban Labacides's the famous Constantines the pious Theodosiis's and all those Religious and Valiant Kings that have filled the Brittish Throne and awfully sway'd the Scepter of this Kingdom in their several Ages from William the Conquetor to William our glorious Deliverer all that remains of them is an imperfect Historical account of all their Vertues and Heroick Acts recorded in our English Annals What is become of those wise and experienced Generals Joshua Othniel Ehud Barak Gideon c. Achilles Hannibal c. whose noble Exploits we read of in the Book of Judges in Josephus's History and in Plutarch's Lives they have all been conquered by the King of Terrors Where are now the Seven Angels of the Asiatick Churches the Bishops of Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis c. where Christianity was once in its zenith and flourished most gloriously What is become of those extraordinary Lights of the African Churches Panaenus Clemens Alex Origen c. incomparably furnished with divine and human learning as also the rest of the Fathers of the Greek and Latin Churches Irenaeus Tertul. Chrys August Jerom. and multitudes more who enlightned the World with the knowledge of divine things and shined as lights in their lives and conversations These