like the sons of Anak in faith and holinesse Thirdly Walk and be orderly Christians keep to the rule in every thing be not Antinomians in practice Our doctrinal Antinomians are not many our practical Antinomians are very many they dispute and we practice our heads oppose our lives embrace their dangerous opinion Psal 50. ult Oh let your conversation be an ordered conversation An ordered Covenant calls for an ordered conversation our Grace in duty must answer to Gods grace in mercy Your Covenant is ordered in all things 2 Sam. 23.5 Let your carriage answer to this Covenant Doe nothing but be able to say Here 's my rule for what I doe Fourthly Walk act from a free spirit Psalm 51.12 Let your obedience be nothing but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a labour of love Heb. 6.10 act not as slaves but as sonnes not to shun the rod but to please the Father Though Heaven and Hell should be burnt up as that famous Martyr said that there should be no punishment to affright you no reward to allure you yet from an inward principle of love to the wayes of God walk in them look upon it as your meat and drink John 4.34 to be doing the Will of your heavenly Father Say Lord obedience is enough a sufficient reward to it self This spiritual ingenuity will be your crown and glory Nothing commends an action saith Lactantius so much as this 'T is the will that is mensura actionum saith Aquinas let a man do that which is never so good if he doth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 5.2 Aug. Confess l. 1. c. 12. that spoils the action for Nemo invitus bene facit etiamsi bonum est quod facit saith Augustine Fifthly Walk hold on with an even pace in the good wayes of God The even Christian is the excellent Christian when the pulse beats evenly all is well To be sometimes up and somes times down sometimes hot sometimes cold this argues a distempered heart many are like your Jades either they will gallop or stand still either they will be very good or nothing at all Oh that we could get a fixed heart Psal 57.7 to be constant and uniform in the whole tenor of our life Thus I would have you walk but farther walk with God that 's the second thing And here First Walks alwayes as in the Presence of God believe this as a truth where-ever you are God is with you Sin may hinder you from his gracious presence but no place can secure you from his observing presence Psal 139.7 8 9 10 11 12 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or Whither shall I fly from thy presence If I ascend up into heaven c. 'T is with God as 't is with a Picture if it be well drawn where-ever you are in the room its eye is upon you Thus 't is with the All-seeing eye of God 't is upon us where-ever we are 2 Kings 5.26 Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee saith Elisha to Gehazi We think to carry things closely but we are foolish God is privy to our very thoughts to our greatest secrets and retirements This a child of God knows and he would not have it otherwise Velleius Paterculus tells us a story of one Livius Drusus There comes an Artist to him and tells him if he pleased he would so contrive his house that do what he would none should see him Vt libera à conspectu immunis ab omnibus arbitriis esset No saith Drusus but rather shew your Art make my house so that all may see me for I am not ashamed to be seen Tu verò siquid in te artis est ita compone domum meam ut ab omnibus conspici possit I apply it to a child of God The Hypocrites torment is Gods Omnisciency and Omnipresency he would fain not be seen by God and men but the upright man he knows God sees him and he rejoyces at it Well you believe this live in the practical consideration of it what a world of sin would this prevent if men did but alwayes set God before them When Latimer heard the pen behind the curtain he answered very warily The Romanes when they would not do an undecent act they would fancy a Cato c. a Fabius in the room The Maid would not gratifie the lust of her unchaste suitor till he could find a room where God might not see them and so she escaped his wicked solicitations Atheisme is at the bottom of every sin and this is one great piece of it we think God doth not see us And therefore work this home upon your spirits and whenever a temptation comes crush it with this How shall I do this under the eye of God Psal 16.8 The eye of man would keep off much sin in the world and shall not the eye of God much more Walk thus and you shall not be greatly moved Secondly walk with God let your converse be with him Let others please themselves in their friends in their creature-enjoyments in their carnal converses do you delight your selves in God Assuesce cum eo Pagnin Let your fellowship be above Acquaint thy self with God and be at yeace Job 22.21 A man may as really by prayer and meditation and the Promises converse with God as one man converses with another in a civil way Why are you so much strangers to it Why so little with God doth not he usually give out that which fills the soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Psal 63.3 Are not his visits better then life Is not the heart ravished under the tastes of his love Is not the enjoyment of him infinitely above all comforts here Is he not willing to come to you and to give out of his Loves Why do you not walk with him why do you not converse with him here with whom it shall be your glory to converse hereafter Cry out Whom have I in heaeven but thee Psal 73.26 Psal 63.1 Psal 4.6 My soul thirsteth for thee Many say Who wil shew us any good Lord lift ' thou up the light of thy countenance upon me Thirdly Walk with God and live above this world This is a hard duty especially to you here in this City who have so much of the world but let me prevail with you to put it into practice Psal 17.14 Jer. 17.13 Luke 16.25 Phil. 3.19 Heb. 3.1 Tit. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.22 Mat. 6.20 2 Pet. 1.4 Gen. 17.1 7 Let those who have their portien here whose names are written in the earth who have all their good things here let them mind earthly things and take their fill of these dreggs But you the people of God who have the heavenly calling great and glorious hopes interest in Christ treasures in heaven precious promises an All sufficient God for your God
doctrine of the Saints Perseverance Heb. 3.12 Heb. 10.3 Mat. 10.22 Revel 3.11 2 Epist of Joh. 8. as now But there 's no disputing from the meteor to the fixed Star Hold on in your way do not depart from the living God If any man draw back my soule shall take no pleasure in him 'T is your perseverance that must crown all He that endureth to the end he shall be saved Recedente justitia recedat necesse es corona Cypr. de Unit. Eccl. 2 Pet. 2.21 Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Lose not that which ye have wrought but receive a full reward Better ye had never entred upon this walk then not to continue in it Can ye be better then in Gods wayes Are Egypts onions better then Canaans grapes Will you leave the joyes of holiness for the pleasures of sin Are you not within sight of the place of rest and will you now turn back Turpe est inextremo deficere Luk. 14.34 will you repent of your walking with God when you come to die if you leave him will you be any thing but salt that hath lâ—st its savour that 's good for nothing but to be thrown to the dunghill The Lord even God our Father so establish you that you may so walk and so run 1 Cor. 9.24 that ye may obtain I have done with the Directive part I now come to the Perswasive part to exhort and press you to this blessed walkking with God To prevail with you herein I might lay before you several Arguments drawn from the present state As First 't is the safest walking He that walks with God he 's under the Protection of Heaven nothing can hurt him He shal dwell on High his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks Isa 33.16 Psal 90.1 Iob. 5.24 He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty His Tabernacle shal be in peace Secondly as there is safe protection so there is abundant provision in this walking with God Here 's no danger to be feared here 's no good to be wanted Psal 34.10 The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Isa 33.16 Thirdly this is the sweetest walking What are all the joys of carnal men to the joyes and comforts which are to be found in an holy life Wisdoms wayes are wayes of pleasantness Prov. 3.16 Isa 64.5 and all her paths are peace Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy wayes Fourthly this is the most honourable and glorious walking It puts a glory upon the creature to walk with his Creatour as 't is an honour to the beggar to walk with a King Holy men are glory it selfe Vpon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 Faith puts a Glory upon the Person and Holiness upon the Life Fifthly this walking pleases God Enoch had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 1.5 His walking with God was pleasing God I might very much enlarge upon these and such other Arguments but I pass them by and shall onely insist upon the great Motive in the text Walk with God on Earth and live with God in Heaven And he was not for God took him And so I passe from Enochs Holiness to Enochs Happiness Here I might enter upon a very large discourse from this clause but I 'le onely open the sense of the words and then shew you what there is in them to stir you up to walk with God To all the rest it s said And he died And he died but here 's a variation of the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was not c. In the Hebrew 'tis And not he for God took him Some make the words to hold out Enochs death And not he that is he died God took him that is away by a sudden and untimely death And so 't is parallel to that Gen. 42.36 Joseph is not and Simeon is not and Jer. 31.15 Rachel weeping for her Children refused to be comforted because they were not viz. they were dead and so for the other expression saith Elijah 1 Kings 19.4 It is enough now Sumpsit eum Deus i. e. mortuus est Aben-Ezra O Lord take away my life And thus the Jewish Doctors do expound the words But this is directly contrary to what we have in the New Testament Heb. 11.5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death Oleaster sayes from hence 't is probable he did not dye and Drusius with his wit would enervate the strength of the place Drus in Praef. ad Henoch Perer. de trans Enoch quaest 1. Rivet Exercit. 49. in Gen. Non erat quia non mori eum fecit Deus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag by several evasions which he suggests but both are censured Pererius blames the one and Rivet the other In the general all the learned agree in this that Enoch did not die but that he was in an extraordinary manner translated hence so the Targum renders it God made him not to dye so the Septuagint just as you have it Heb 11.5 He was not found for God had translated him But if we come to particulars we shall find a difference betwixt the Protestant and the Popish Writers and that in two things 1. As to the Place whither he was translated 2. As to his unalterable permansion or continuance in that place whatever it is For the first the Papists say he was translated into Paradise where Adam and Eve were put in the state of their innocency There Enoch and Elias and some others are placed by God there to continue in a very happy state for some time Many of the Papists themselves do not greatly fancy this opinion for some of them do agree with us Rev. 2.7 as to Enochs Translation into to the Paradise of Heaven and others deny that that Paradise into which our first Parents were put is yet in continuance No 't was lost in the Vniversal Deluge Percr disp de Enoch But others of them are very hot upon it as Bellarmine Lessius Sextus Senensis c. And some of the Ancient Fathers are of their side Dicere Henoch Eliam non esse translatos in illum Para. disum terrestrem inibique versari est contra divinam Scripturam à fidei regulâ exorbitare Sixtus Sen. Bibl. l. 5. Annot. 36. Just Mart. Quaest resp ad Orthod in Resp ad Qu. 85. Dicunt Presbyteri qui sunt Apostolorum Discipuli eos qui translati sunt illuc translatos esse Iren. Adv. Haeres l. 5. c. 5. Justin Martyr speaks expresly the same so doth Irenaeus and some others and the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodor. Qu. in Gen. Inter. 45. rest of them generally speak modestly as being rather for a sober
through the prevalent Intercession of our Lord and Saviour in whom we are Thy Soul-Friends and Servants SIMEON ASHE EDMUND CALAMY March 10. 1655. All Mr. VINE's Sermons are newly collected into one Volume and printed for Abel Roper at the Sun against Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet ENOCH'S WALK AND CHANGE Opened in a SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of the Reverend Mr. RICHARD VINES GEN. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him THis Chapter is a short and yet a long History 't is called ver 1. The Book of the generations of Adam that is A Summary Description of the Genealogies Descents Life and Death of the old Patriarks who lived in the first Age or Period of the world Ushers Annal. de i. à mund aetat Nisbets Script Chronol from the Creation to the Flood which space of time consisted of 1656 years according to the general Computation of Chronologers so that the world was then just as old from the Creation to the Floud as now it is from he Incarnation of our Lord to this Age. Amongst these Ancients Enoch was one and one of the best too A Star of the first Magnitude for he stands here upon record commended for his walking with God In the Text you have him described 1. By his Holiness or good Conversation He walked with God 2 By his Happinesse or blessed Translation He was not for God took him I shall before I fall upon the matter it self premise a word or two concerning the Person For the Person Enoch know there were two of this name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joseph l. 1. c. 3. one was the son of Cain of whom you reade Gen. 4.17 And Cain knew c. and he builded a City and called the name of the City after the name of his Son Enoch which City Henochia haec conditarum urbium quotquot unquam fuerunt in or be terrarum prima antiquissima putatur Drus Enoch cap. 3. as Drusius observes was the first that ever was built in the world The other was the son of Jared of the line of Seth of whom you reade in this Chapter Gen. 5.18 And this is the Enoch the Text speaks of How long he lived the 23. verse tells us All the dayes of Enoch were 365 yeares How he lived the Text tells us as also what became of him after his thus living He walked with God and was not for God took him The New Testament also takes notice of him you have him in Lukes Genealogy Luke 3.37 Jude speaks of him in his Epistle Judas frater Jacobi parvam quidem quae de septem Catholicis est Epistolam reliquit quia de libro Henoch qui Apoeryphus est in ea assumit testimonia cum plerisque rejicitur Hier. Catal Script Eccl. the Divine Authority of which is not to be questioned because it mentions Enochs Prophesie concerning which there are so many disputes amongst the Learned no more then some of Pauls Epistles are to be questioned because therein he cites common Authors as Menander Aratus c. And Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied of these saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints Paul puts him amongst his Worthies as to faith Heb. 11.5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his Translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God By the way Where had hee this Testimony I answer in my Text for though in the Hebrew 'tis He walked with God yet the Greek Version reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. He pleased God and the Apostle partly to honour this Translation and partly for the great use of the Greek language in that Age doth here and in some other places Vid. Capel Crit. Sacr. l. 4. leave the Hebrew and follow it yet from hence we must not inferre that their Translation is Authentick Amam Antibarb Bibl. l. 1. Err. 1. and to be preferred before the Hebrew Text. But here I digresse Not to trouble you with the impertinent ridiculous fables of the Jewish Doctors concerning this Enoch this is clear of him He was a good man and that too * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. which adds much to his worth hee was good when the times were bad R. Salomon ait Enoch justum quidem fuisse sed mente instabili ac ad impiè agendum propensâ ac propterea Dcum celeriter ac praematuraÌ„ morte eum abstulisse Cartwr in Gen. Vixit dum vixit laudabiliter quanquam sunt qui eum insimulant levitatis inconstantiae Drus Exibilandi Hebraei qui tradunt Henoch ante tempus raptum quòd levis lubricus esset adeò non pudet eos tam aperta mendacia divinare Mâ—lvend He was like a fish that keeps his freshnesse in falt-water like a found body that 's healthfull in a pest-house the world was now overflown with a deluge of sin and was shortly to be overflown with a deluge of waters but now Enoch walked with God and he lost nothing by it for he was not God tooke him There is a future state for man distinct from this present state This is so great a truth that God would have it known in all Ages and therefore till the Word was written to reveal it God will give some visible specimens of it In the times before the flood Enoch shall be thus translated as obses testis utrinsque vitae so Tertullian in the times after the Flood Elijah shal go to Heaven in a fiery Chariot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodorus Quaest in Genes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Datâ sententiâ mortis voluit Dominus ducere homines in spem vitae quod fecit in patribus utriusque statûs scilicet Naturae Legis Gratiae Vnde in primo statu dedit spem evadendi necessitatem mortis hoc est in Henoch in Lege in Heliâ in tempore Gratiae in Christo Aquin. Videntes Habelem justum à Caino interfici potuerunt aliquâ tentatione vexari sed cum posteà pro suâ fide pietate ita Henochum assumi viderent statim judicare licuit sanctos crucem gaudia haec obituros cum utrumque haec exempla ostenderent Pet. Martyr and so both Ages are instructed in this weighty and fund amental Truth This notion I had at first from a Divine of our own But since I find others before him did touch upon it But I come to the matter here laid down Hee walked with God c. Here is the summe of mans duty and the zenith of Gods mercy Here is the morning of Grace and the mid-day of Glory Here is the work of Earth and the wages of Heaven Here is a Christians walk and rest and both with God There are two General Propositions or Doctrinal Observations that offer themselves to us from the Text. 1. Propos A true Christians
life He doth not only lay up the Word of life in hearing but he doth hold forth the Word of life in squaring all his actions to it Fourthly A Christians life is a walking His obedience is free and ingenuous Walking 't is mot us spontaneus voluntarius The truly regenerate Christian whatever he doth in the service of God he doth it freely not by force and compulsion or a base mercenary spirit but from an inward principle of life and love 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of God constraineth us Oh blessed constraint sweet is the violence of love Amor meus pondus meum eo feror quocunque feror August Love is the golden weight that hangs upon the gracious soul and this makes every wheel in it to move Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power in the Hebrew 'tis in the Abstract willingnesses Christs people are very willing in their whole compliance with the will of God Xenocrates being asked What he could do more for his Scholars then others did for theirs made this answer This I can do saith he Vt id voluntate faciant Serv in Virg. Aeneid 7. quod alii jure coguntur My Scholars shall do that willingly which others shall do only by compulsion This is truly applicable to Christ he makes his people a willing peopleâ— they are all Voluntiers in his service 't is not because they caâ—â—ot help it no 't is their choice their delight Psal 40.8 't is not their necessity but their option Psal 119.30 I have chosen the way of Truth Fifthly A Christians life is a walking his obedience is even and uniform Walking 't is motus aequabilis 't is not a motion by girds and starts but an equal uniforme motion Thus the child of God may be said to walk hee is one that holds on with an even foot with an equall and constant pace in the way of holinesse Psalm 119.112 I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes alway even unto the end Mark these two expressions alway and even unto the end The hypocrite runs fast at first but 't is too swift to hold long and therefore he gives out in a little time Job 27.10 His Religion is soon out of breath Will he alwayes call upon God The young man makes much haste to Christ but it lasts not He runs away as fast from him as ever he runned to him Hos 6.4 Some mens goodnesse is but as the morning cloud and as the early dew which is soon gone away Here lies the excellency of the upright Christian he is one that holds out he perseveres with an even tread till he come to glory where you had him some years ago there you have him still alwayes pressing after perfection but never changing so as to leave the good ways of God 'T is Cajetans observation here upon Enoch 't is twice said of him Bis de Enoch dicitur ambulavit cum Deo ad explicandum quod ab ineunte aetate profecit in viâ Dei perseveravit proficiendo in eâdem semper Cajet He walked with God ver 22. and ver 24. To hold forth this saith he He began at first so to walk with God and he continued to the end in that walking with God I have shewn you in what respects a Christians life may be said to be a Walk I now come to shew you in what respects it may be said to be a Walk with God And that I shall also do in five things First A Christian Life is a Walk with God because he alwayes walks as in the presence of God To walk with God is as much as to walk before God This was Gods charge to Abraham Gen. 17.1 I am God All-sufficient walk before me and be thou perfect This was Abrahams practice The Lord before whom 〈◊〉 walk Gen. 24.40 will send his Angels with thee c. This was Davids 〈◊〉 solution Psal 116.9 I will walk before the Lord in the 〈◊〉 of the living in the Hebrew 'tis before the face of the Lord. The real Saint lives as in the sight of God doth all as in the sight of God thinks as in the sight of God trades as in the sight of God prayes as in the sight of God walks when he is most private as in the sight of God As the Apostles in the execution of their ministerial Function they did all as in the sight of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 2.17 He hopes to see God hereafter he knowes God sees him here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimè patientia Vid. Metaph. Explicatam in Beza in loc and he doth all as knowing there is an All-seeing eye over him that is a God to observe him who is totus oculus as the Father calls him in whose sight every creature is manifest all things being naked and opened unto him Hebrewes 4.13 Secondly A Christians life is a walking with God in respect of that fellowship and converse that he hath with God Walking is a posture of converse When two walk together there is a familiar intercourse a mutual breathing out of love betwixt them Psal 55.14 We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company Thus 't is with God and the believing soul there is not a bare reconciliation betwixt them though that there must be too for Can two walk together unlesse they be agreed Amos 3.3 but a friendly familiar reciprocal converse God converses with the believers He spake to Moses as a man speaks to his friend Exodus 33.11 Abraham was the friend of God Isai 41.8 Jam. 2.23 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Psal 25.14 Prov. 3.33 what converse more intimate and carries more of friendship then the imparting of secrets John 15.15 Christ promises to come to such and to sup with them Rev. 3.21 John lay in his bosome 'T is a gracious Promise that John 14.23 My Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Abode for what surely for soul-ravishing communion On the other side Believers converse with God Truly our fellowship is with the Father and the Son 1 John 1.3 This is better felt then exprest To the people of God holy Ordinances are as so many Fields and Galleries wherein they walk with God How do they in prayer unbosome themselves to God! Here are secret sins wilt thou not subdue them here are secret doubts wilt thou not resolve them here are secret wants wilt thou not supply them when they cannot go to a friend on earth they can go to God their friend in Heaven and tell him their concernments where 't is well where 't is ill what pleases what pinches and the Lord makes real returnes of love and mercy to them they are least alone when they are most alone they aw the presence of God and they enjoy the presence of God And this is as the
morning of glory the lower room of heaven the praelibation of the future joy the everlasting Sabbath per Prolepsin as some would have our Sabbath to be Vid. Gomâ—r de Orig Sabb. in the institution of it before the fall of man Gen. 2.3 Thirdly A Christians life is a walking with God because his life is a raised spiritual heavenly life He walks with God because he lives above this world this vain world this deceitful world this troublesome world this defiling world I do not wrong it it deserves all these Epithetes 'T is a vain world vain in point of duration it passes away 1 Cor. 7.31 vaine in point of satisfaction it cannot fill and satisfie an immortal soul the banks are too big to be filled up with a few drops Isai 28.20 The bed is too short and the covering is too narrow a Gyant cannot lye upon it As nothing but Christ could satisfie God so nothing but Christ can satisfie the soul In the fulnesse of this sufficiency they shall be in straits Job 20.22 Solomon had as much of worldly enjoyments as ever any had and was as able to passe a right judgement upon them and he tells us The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing Eccles 1.8 No Vanity of vanities all is vanity vers 14. 'T is also a deceitful world it promises much it performes but little Matth. 13.22 1 Cor. 7.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fallit Stapul God out-does his Promises the world is short of its promises there 's lesse in the performance then there was in the promise 't is the best when we have it not for 't is big in hope little in hand 't is like Sodoms Apples beautiful to the eye at a distance but when you touch them they crumble to ashes The mistaken Traveller when he is in the valley and sees the high Hill he thinks it touches the very skye and if he was but at the top of it he should be able also to touch it with his little finger but alas when he comes there he 's as far from the Heavens as he was in the valley Many in a low condition if they might be thus and thus so noble so rich Sublimi feriam c. Oh how contented should they be God lets them have that which they did desire and they are as farre from what they promised to themselves as they were before 'T is a troublesome world ' Its gall is more then its honey it pierces men through with many sorrows 't is not only vanity but vexation have all 't is but vanity want but a little 1 Tim. 6.10 't is vexation Ahab is sick because he hath not poor Naboths vineyard Haman wants but a knee from Mordecai 1 Kings 21.4 Esth 3.5 and this imbitters all Nay Lastly which is worst of all 't is a defiling world It does but little good to the body and much hurt to the soul 'T is the root of all evil you cannot tell your mony 1 Tim. 6.10 Beatus qui post illa non abiit quae possessa onerant amata inquinant amissa cruciant Bern. but there 's a filth a soil left upon the fingers The great defiling is the heart-defiling if the world be there it certainly defiles it with vile affections sinful lusts excesses in carnal delights And therefore Christ that loves to dwel in a pure heart when the world comes in he goes out Now I say a child of God walks with God because he lives above this world He is crucified to it and it is crucified to him Gal. 6.14 It sees but little in him and he sees as little in it and therefore the Christian and the world are well-met for they scorn each other he is dead to these sublunary things Col. 3.3 he doth not so much as look at them further then as they are necessary supports fruits of love engagements to duty objects of lawful care and joy and ladders by which a man may ascend to God 2 Cor 4.18 He keeps them all under his feet Rev. 12.1 that 's right Christ in the heart the world under the feet not the world in the heart and Christ under the feet not laying Christ in the manger and the world in the best room all are to him but as a shadow a kickshaw a pageant I comical shew 1 Cor. 7.31 and therefore he joyes as though he joyed not weeps as though he wept not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uses the world as not using it doth all to it with a carelesse hand but serves God with all his might I might here much enlarge Take the man I am speaking of see what a raised elevated life he lives The judgment of the world doth not trouble him the frowns of the world do not sink him the smiles of the world do not flatter him the cares of the world do not burden him the snares of the world do not entangle him the pleasures of the world do not bewitch him Pil. 3.20 Matth. 6.21 Omnia praeter Christum ingenti laborant parvitate Nieremb In short His conversation is in Heaven his life is where his heart is and his heart is where his treasure is as to earth persons and things all but loss but dung to Christ Phil. 3.8 Thus he lives above the world even whiles he lives in the world and this is to walke with God Fourthly a Christians life is a walk with God for he is one that duly observes God in all the discoveries which he makes of himself Enoch walked with God he took notice of God and made due observation of him So that as the Christian walks with God in Gods observing of him so he walks with God in his observing of God To open this you may know that God hath made a fourfold discovery of himself 1. In the Light of nature that inbred light which every man brings into the world with him All saving knowledg of God was lost in Adams fall but there is a general knowledg of God Eph. 4.18 that he is that he is thus and thus which is engraven in every man upon the Law of his being for though he hath quite lost his Grace yet he hath not quite lost his Reason Take him in puris naturalibus he is not rasa Tabula a meer vacuum a white-sheet of paper wherein nothing is written something yet remains both in matters of knowledge and in matters of practice Vera est sententia nibil est in intellectu quin prius fuerit in sensu tametsi quaedam notitiae nascuntur nobiscum quas vocant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Meâ—anct vol. 4. in disp Non est muta rerum Natura sed undique loquax Erasm hee hath some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in matters of knowledg and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.15 in matters of practice and to these things he is not institutus but natus not doctus but factus as the Orator speaks if
you must live a higher life If you be worldly you debase God and Christ the most excellent things of grace and glory nay your own selve for that Saint which doth not live above the world lives much beneath himself The Lapwing hath a Crowne upon her head and yet she feeds upon excrements The childe is heire to a Kingdome and yet he lies tumbling in the ashes The true believer is highly-advanced through grace he 's an heire nay a co-heire with Jesus Christ Rom. 8.17 for him to stoop to these beggerly enjoyments 't is much below him Christians you have the Ocean care not for the drop the fountaine is yours Jerem. 2.13 away with broken cisternes you have the pearle get above the dirt for so the world is but a cabul a dirty thing 1 Kings 9.13 Minde it you may in its proper place and sphere keeping it under a due subordination but be sure of this that you live above it Let your thoughts be above it What from morning to night all the day long thinking upon this businesse and that businesse this comfort and that comfort no room for heavenly meditation the thoughts are the spirits of the soule as it were must all be spent in the worlds service The thoughts are the wings of the soule will you never by them take a flight to heaven and heavenly objects Let your love be above it Miser est omnis animus vinctus amiciti â rerum mortalium Aug. conf l. 4. c. 6. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2.15 Let your desires be above it Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they flie away as an Eagle towards Heaven Prov. 23.5 Let your comforts be above it your hopes be above it your satisfaction be above it be content with the worst of the world be not satisfied with the best of the world be thankful for the crumbs of the world but do not take up with the crownes of the world In a word let your life be above it Be not conformed to this world Rom. 12.2 You live above it when you do not live according to it and 't is as hard not to live according to it in the customes of it as to live above it in the comforts of it Thus I beseech you walk with God get your hearts loosened from all things here and live where you must die I mean live upon that now which if you would have peace and comfort you must live upon when you come to die say not of things as that profane man once did of persons Cum ist is mallem vivere cum illis mallemmori With riches I had rather live with grace I had rather die Fourthly walk with God that is carefully and diligently observe God and inke notice of him in all the discoveries which he makes of himself Study God in his Word in his Works in his Son in every thing and by every thing rise up to a reverential humble practical acknowledgment of God Trace him in all his steps and go as far as you can and when you can go no further then fall upon the admiring of him Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33 In the Doctrinal opening of this particular I laid down some practical Hints about the due observance of God to which I referre you and shall not here further enlarge upon it The last thing is this walk with God by being holy I say Be holy 1 Pet. 1.15 as he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy and that too in all manner of conversation in all your relations in every condition in your callings at all times in all companies in every turn of your life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in your whole carriage and deportment by ye holy What Argument shall I use to enforce this advice Be holy for your God is * Sanctitas Dei est universalis illius justitia seu infinita ac simplex Dei virtus qua sese ut summum bonum omnisque boni fontem ali áque rectae suae rationi ac voluntati consentanea amat dissentanea aversatur Gomar holy Will you not be like your God All people whatever they pitched upon for their God were they never so ignorant they would labour to be like their god nay some would be (*) Adulterio delectatur quis respicit Jovem c. Vid. Jul. Firm. de er Prof. Relig. Isai 6.3 vitious because their gods were so What a shame is it to us Christians that we are so unlike to our God the holy and true God! Let us resolve in a blessed imitation of God All people will walk every one in the name of God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Micah 4.5 Be holy for Holiness is the very glory of God Glorious in holinesse Exod. 15.11 'T is the glory of Christ Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts This is spoken of Christ for saith John John 12.41 These things said Esaias when he saw his glory and spake of him that is of Christ Holinesse is the glory of the Gospel by this you do adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour Tit. 2.10 Holinesse is your own glory here and hereafter 'T is your glory here it puts a beauty and excellency upon you 'T is called Psal 110.3 The Beauty of Holinesse 'T is your glory hereafter it certainly ends in glory No seeing of God without it Hebr. 12.14 a certainty of seeing God with it They that have their fruit to holinesse shal have in the end everlasting life Rom. 7.22 So much for the matter of your walking I come to the second thing to lay down some Directions concerning the manner of your walking with God In the first place you must walk humbly with God 'T is not thousands of Rams or ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl c. These are not the things that God looks for He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy Micah 6.8 and to walk humbly with thy God God loves the humble Walker He Himself loves to walk with such an one nay to dwell with him Isa 57.15 The proud man God sees him a far off Psal 138.6 He keeps at a distance from him and when he doth draw near him 't is not as a friend to walk with him but as an enemy he marches against him in battel array to break him in peeces so the word imports God resisteth the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex-adverso quasi aciem instruit Gerhard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word hard to be opened Be ye
therefore clothed with humility Humility is the great Grace Augustine being ask'd what was the first Grace answered Humility What 's the second Humility What the third Humility 'T is all in all 't is a prime and choice grace 't is the crown the ornament the varnish of every grace 't is that which makes every grace to thrive nothing brings into the soul so much joy as Humility for God loves to lay his wines in the lowest Cellars Oh! labour to act this grace and to walk humbly What is man that he should be proud what are the best of men that they should be pufft up what are you a little dust Cum humilimus cur non humilimus Bern. a little well-complexion'd dust poor piles of grasse things of nothing finite drops creatures and sinful creatures too meditate much upon this and upon the glorious Majesty of God your infinite distance from him this will make you humble this will draw out self-debasing God exalting grace-admiring thoughts Gen. 31.10 and there 's humility this will make you with Jacob to say you are lesse then the least of all Gods mercies Job 42.6 Isaiah 6.5 Ephes 3.8 1 Tim. 1.13 with Job to abhor your selves in dust and ashes with Isaiah to cry out unclean with Paul the least of Saints and the greatest of sinners and this is rare walking Secondly walk uprightly be upright and straight in your walking Gen. 7.1 I am God All-sufficient saith God to Abraham walk before me and be thou perfect that is upright for sincerity is all the perfection that here we can arrive at He that walketh uprightly Prov. 10.9 Eph. 6.5 Acts 2.46 2 Chro. 6.14 Hos 10.2 1 King 18.21 walketh surely What is it to walk uprightly To have a single heart for God to walk with him in singlenesse of heart with all the heart as the Scripture expresses it A divided heart is a naughty heart when men halt betwixt God and Baal betwixt Heaven and Earth Grace and Sin Christ hath something and the Divel hath something here 's hypocrisie Take heed of this God hates it he can pity a child though he stumbles and falls but he abhors an halting hypocrite Let God have all devote the whole man to him have but * Psal 86.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag An hypocrite is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a double hearted man James 1.8 Psalm 101.2 Prov. 10.29 Isa 38.3 one heart for his service and glory thus walk and this shall be your advantage you shall have much of Gods presence I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me You shall find the influences of grace to strengthen you to hold out in your walking The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Upright walking will sweeten every affliction See 2 Corinth 1.12 will sweeten death it self to you It did so to good Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart In a word thus walk and God will deny you nothing The Lord will give grace and glory Psalm 84.11 no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Thirdly Walk with God closely I might here lament the loose walking of many Professors in our age What 's become of our close walking the people of God in former times how strict were they how circumspect we have found out a broader way to Heaven then what they walked in We may sadly complain as to the Power of Godlinesse there is a mighty forsaking in this Nation Remember from whence you are fallen and repent Revel 2.5 set up again close walking with God allow not your selves in the practice of the least sin flee from the very appearance of evil 2 Thess 5.22 omit not any duty be it never so difficult comply with every command Luke 1.6 let no temptations cause you so much as to step aside from God thus do you keep close to God and he will keep close to you 2 Chron. 15.2 but if you forsake him he will forsake you And let me tell you this every departure from God will end in bitternesse Psalm 51.8 if you leave him to gratifie corruption look for broken bones God will either make you walk closely or mournfully which of the two is the better do you judge Fourthly walk watchfully Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lâ—st he walk naked and they see his shame Revel 16.15 Matth. 13. ult What I say unto you I say unto all Watch saith Christ In your walking see you be thus watchfull Your way is slippery you may soon lose it the heart like Balaams Asse Numb 22. â—3 will be flying out of the path the Divel laies snares for you many en miâ—s lie waiting for you you had need look about you and be carefull what you do Keep thy heart with all diligence Prov. 4.13 saith Solomon Keep it as a Jailor keeps his close Prisoner with a watchful eye for fear he give him the slip where ever you are there is a deceitful heart within a tempting Divel and a flattering world without look to your selves and keep your feet when you go into the House of God Eccl. 5.1 when you go into your own houses every place is full of snares and therefore in all places and in all things watch The heeedful Walker is the sure Walker David neglecting this duty 2 Tim. 4.5 Psalm 73.2 his feet were almost gone nay in three or four eminent cases they were quite gone Fifthly walk with God unweariedly take heed of tyring in the way of Holinesse The Heavenly Orbs are in perpetual motion and yet unwearied The Sun hath run his course for some thousands of years 't is as fresh as ever it was Oh that Grace might imitate Nature Be not weary in well-doing Gal. 6.9 2 Thess 3.13 you shal reap if ye faint not What a shame is it to us Wicked men are never weary in the service of their lusts and how soon are we weary in the service of our God We cannot spend a little time in prayer but the duty grows irksome Mal. 1.13 and in the general course of our obedience we are ready to sit down almost as soon as we have set out Away with this slothfulnesse hold out vigorously though work be difficult though God doth exercise you with much waiting yet be not weary Sixthly Walk with God believingly We walk by faith in opposition to sight Oh! that we did walk by faith in opposition to carnal reason to sinfull dependancies to distrustfull faintings 2 Cor. 5.7 In your resting I mean upon Christ is the act of faith in your walking is the life of faith Paul tels us Gal. 2.20 the life which he lived in the flesh he lived by the faith of the Son of God The life of faith is a brave life no life goes beyond it but the life of
fruition and that 's Heaven Christians this life of faith should be twisted into your walking with God That which in the Text is called walking with God Paul calls faith for however 't is expressed in the Old Testament in the New Paul will set it forth by faith for so excellent was this Grace in his eye that he 'l set the Crown of all upon the head of faith Heb. 11.5 By faith Enoch was translated that is upon his faith so then Enoch walked in faith imitate him I beseech you in this walk in faith or you 'l never walk steadily Sincerity keeps us from halting Watchfulnesse keeps us from stumbling Holinesse keeps us from wandring Resolution keeps us from tyring but 't is faith that keeps us from fainting Psalm 27.3 I had fainted but that I verily beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living Isaiah 26.3 Are you weak faith will reach you a staffe and that is God himself upon whom the sinking soul may stay it self Are you scorched with heat in your walking faith wil fetch cooling vertue from the Fountain Christ to refresh you Doth the difficulty and the tediousness of the way discourage See Hebr. 11.26 saith faith There 's the recompence of reward you will be at it presently Ephes 6.16 hold out Are you afraid of enemies faith will shield you Do you want necessaries for your journy in your wildernesse-way faith will go to Christ and fetch food raiment counsel gold c. 't will bring in all provision that 's necessary Are you troubled because you are alone faith will bring Christ the promises to bear you company Are you sometimes stung by the way John 3.14 saith faith there 's the brazen Serpent to heal you Admirable is the use of faith in a Christians journey make it your Vade mecum and all is well Faith wil do strange things 't will lay you low and at that same time 't wil lift you up 't will make your condition good and bad by the same breath bad as to weak worthlesse self good as to God to rich and free grace faith will by the same hand empty and fill faith will make the Sun to shine even when cloude and darknesse are round about you faith will like the Philosophers stone turn all into Gold But I am got into an excellent subject and I forget my self Seventhly walk with God nimbly quicken your pace and go fast in the way of God strive who should go the fastest to be as the Disciple that out-ran Peter to the Sepulcher John 20.4 I will run the way of thy Commandments John 20.4 Psal 119.32 David would not creep to Heaven but he would run to Heaven What a shame is it many run to Hell and we do but creep to Heaven some make haste to get wealth Prov. 28 22. and we are slow in getting glory Let me tell you this the faster you walk the sooner you 'l come to your journeys end But if we go so fast we fear we shall be weary and faint You have an excellent Promise to prevent this objection Isa 40.30.31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall but they that wait upon the Lord shal renew their strength they shal mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Natural motion spends strength but spiritual motion increases strength here the way to do much is to do much But they that would go apace Magno viatico breve iter vitae non instruitur sed oneratur Min Foelix Heb. 12.1 must not burden themselvs with any weighty things the world is a weight sin is a weight Let us therefore lay aside every weight and let us run with patience the race that is set before us There must be patience because sometimes the way is bad and there must be running or nimbleness because the way is long Eighthly walk with God cheerfully Rejoyce in God alwayes and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 The gemination of the command argues the difficulty of the duty and the excellency of the duty God loves a cheerful giver and he also loves a cheerful liver 2 Cor. 9.7 Nothing doth more honour Religion then the cheerfulness of them that possess it Spiritus Calvinisticus est Spiritus Melancholicus Is not this one of the reproaches that wicked men cast upon the people of God they are heavy sad drooping melancholly men there 's no mirth amongst them wipe off this reproach by a cheerful walking I do not press upon you the foolish frothy carnal mirth of the world but that which is holy and comely Lift up your heads give not way to dejectedness The joy of the Lord is your strength Nehem. 8.10 Prov. 15.1.3 By sorrow of heart the spirit is broken it breaks the countenance it enfeebles the spirit who should be cheerful if not you Why art thou so sad from day to day seeing thou art the Kings Son 2 Sam. 13.5 said Jonadab to Amnon Is God your Father Christ your Saviour Heaven your inheritance Everlasting Joy your portion notwithstanding all this will you be sad But we are thus and thus afflicted Be it so Yet rejoyce your sin is pardoned this makes affliction to be no affliction And the inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity sa 33.24 But we are often under the sad withdrawing of God Be it so yet rejoyce For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee But we are to mourn for sin sa 54.7 True but one duty must not justle out another Even in this sorrow there is matter of joy and this sorrow is very well consistent with spiritual rejoycing Verus poeniteâ—s de peccatis 〈◊〉 de doâ—â—re gauder I might instance in other things pray labour to be cheerful 't is not onely your priviledge but your duty which if you will discharge not from the constitution or temper of the body but from Gospel-Principles and motives it will be highly pleasing to God and much to the creduit of your profession Daniel with his pulse to look so well Dan. 1.15 surely there 's something in it when wicked men shall see you though under afflictions to bear up cheerful surely they will say There 's something excellent in Religion Ninthly and lastly Walk with God constantly and persveeringly Indesinenter ambulavit Jun. Thus Enoch walked as hath been already hinted 't is not a turne or two that will do the businesse you must persevere in the way of Holiness I beseech you take heed of Apostasie a sin never more common then in this Age that indeed if the Scripture was not very clear as to this point never was there so much cause to question the truth of that comfortable
His people sure had stopt him with their Cry My blear-ey'd Muse 't is tears have made her so Must wash his Marble too before she go Upon the much to be lamented Death of the Reverend Mr. Vines ARt thou gone too thou great and gallant minde And must such Sneaks as I be left behinde If thus our Horsemen and Commanders die What can the Infantry do then but flie Oh divine Vines Tell us why would'st thou go Vnlesse thou could'st have left thy parts below If there 's a Metempseuchosis indeed Tell us where we may finde thee at our need Who hath thy Memory thy Brain thy Heart Whom didst thou leave thy tongue for every part Of thee can make a man What if we finde As I 'le not swear this Age wo'nt change her minde Prelacy though her lands are sold revive Or Independency who hopes to thrive No where suit 's Trump should dare dispute at length Where hast thou left thy Presbyterian strength With which thou got'st the Game i' th' Isle of Wight Where the King cri'd that Vines was in the right When Essex di'd the Honour of our Nation Thou gav'st him a new life in thy Oration An expression in Mr. Vines Sermon on my Lord of Essex But when great Fairfax to his Fate shall yield Whom hast thou left to fetch from Naisby field Th' Immortal Turfe and dresse it with a story That shall perpetuate his name and glory Where 's thy rich Fancy man To whom beneath Did'st thou thy lofty and high strain bequeath Tell us for thy own sake for none but he That hath thy wit can write thy Elegy Till he be found let this suffice which I Leave on thy stone Here lies the Ministry R. Wylde Minister of Aynhoe In obitum Viri Doctissimi pariter pientissimi RICHARDI VINES Summi Theologi QUae tenerum quondam solita est inutile gramen Et flores agri carpere falce levi Robora sublimes CEDROS VITESque securi Fatal Nunc Mors Improba sternit humi Atque uno ut miseros per compendia reddat Ict u Stravit totum hoc genus arboreum En cui Robur erat QVERCVS CEDRIque perennis Durities VIT IS Laetificae Bonitas Hunc celeri caeco succidit Vulnere Casum Flebit Posteritas Nos satis haud fuimus In English thus DEath that was wont the tender grasse to mowe And crop with gentle Sithe the flowers that growe In broidered fields now fells our stoutest OAKES Tall CEDARS CHOICEST VINES with fatal stroaks And to compleat our misery at one blow ALL these in ONE fierce Death did overthrow For Him in whom the STRENGTH of OAKES did rest BEAUTY of CEDARS and of VINES the BEST By a swift secret stroke too envious Death Out of our sacred Grove removed hath Thus VINES cut down and ' cause we for his fall Cannot lament enough our children shall M.N. Epitaphium In Disputatorem acutissimum Concionatorem foelicissimum Theologum Eximium Dominum RICHARDVM VINES QUo disputante Nemo Nervosior Et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strophas solvere Atque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 capistrare potis magè Quo perorante Nemo facundior Doctior aut Coelum effundere in Mortaleis Sinus aut Mortalia in Coelum Pectora Quo vivente Nemo charior Aut suis aut Amicis veritatis Quo moriente Ah Desiderantur plurima Posuit Mat. Newcomen Upon the much lamemed Death of that eminently accomplished Man of God Mr. Richard Vines late Pastor of Lawrence-Jury London Jer. 24.3 OF figs two baskets and two sorts of Vines Some good some bad I reade unlike their wines Deut. 32 32. The Vine of Sodom poisonous grapes which beares The Vine of Sibmah bleeding briny teares Esa 16 8. Jer 48.32 2 Kings 4.39 Hos 101. Job 15.33 Esa 5.2 Ezek. 17.6.7 The wilde Vine which the Prophets Pot did taint An empty Vine the foule self-seeking Saint A blasted Vine which unripe fruits did cast A soure grap'd Vine unpleasing to the taste A bending Vine constant to no one side But changing Lords and Faiths with every tide Such were the old false prophets cursed souies Which poisoned their times with Hell-brew'd Boules Such Hypocrites such the Apostate Race Foul Covenant-breakers Men of no heart All-face Ezek 17 15. None such was this our Vines A better kinde Then those forenam'd you do in Scripture finde Jer. 2.21 Gen. 49.11 Judg. 9.13 Psal 128.3 1 Kings 4.25 Psal 80.15 Ezek 17.8 John 15. A noble Vine I meet with a Vine choice A fruitful Vine best Embleme of Increase A shady Vine Ensigne of publike peace A Vine of Gods own planting Goodly Vine Branches implanted in a Vine Divine Such was our Vines whose noble fruit choice shade The gracious heart and spirit chearful made A Branch of the True Vine ingraffed drest By th' Fathers hand purged made fruitful blest Joh. 15.1 2 5. With many Clusters full of such rich wine As did Braines Hearts and Lives of men refine Oh Noble Plant Oh Plant of much renown Loaden with so much fruit as well might crown A◠many Ministers where such variety Of Learning Wisdom Courage Grace and Piety Were manag'd with that skill and so improved As made him honour'd awed reverend loved England consider Thy Vineyard fast declines Thy hedge is broke wall fallen thy choicest Vines Transplanted are now like an Heath forlorne With stones thou cover'd art o're run with thorne Esa 5. Psal 80.13 Cant. 2.15 Psal 80.14 Pester'd with briars the Beast Fox and wilde Bore Do all assault thee and will more and more But look down Lord from Heaven and visit thou This Vineyard 't is thine own in danger now Esa 5. The stones and thornes pick out the hedge and wall Restore tower build but above all Esa 27.3 Let thy eye be upon it night and day Whatever may it hurt chase thou away To the Honourable Memory of Mr. Richard Vines BUt why so soon why make such haste away Could'st thou not brook a little more delay And give some warning of so sad a blow No private but a common overthrow As when the Fabrick of some stately Towre Comes near the period of its fatal houre Here shrinks a rafter there a pillar groanes And all the parts breath out their farewel moanes That so some just and seasonable feare May the indwellers for the stroke prepare And was it thine intent to verifie What we thought false that Seraphims may die Sure could they die just so they 'd lose their breath Nor would they pray against a sudden death What was the cause thou wast so hurried hence Nor with a moments stay would death dispence Was it because that restlesse hellish crew Did with good Angels their dispute renew 'Bout Moses body and th' Archangel chose Thee for his Second to confute his foes Or did those blessed spirits who use to pry And search into the Gospel-mystery Come to a riddle and resolved thus To send