was Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest and therefore I now seeing my self weary with my own duties and heavy laden with my own Righteousness as well as with my sins which before I could not so clearly say oh how sweet how sweet how incomparably sweet was this word Come and so upon these accounts the Lord was pleased to enable me to see how then even then he was pleased to call as it were to my poor soul in particular to come unto him and submit to his grace and so with great hungrings and thirstings after Christ to cover my poor soul from the eye of a just and holy God through some fear and as I hope with great humiliation although not so great as I would have had it with some hope that the Lord would meet me and bless me I approached to the solemn banquet where I did not only taste and sip a little but obeyed as the Lord enabled me that great command when he said drink yea drink abundantly oh my beloved then oh then I did earnestly endeavour to make the eye of my soul so see him and my heart so embrace him that from thenceforth I might fully satisfie my soul with the enjoyment of him and him alone and not from any thing that self or the World presented to me and now me-thought I was much comforted and did endeavour from that time to this to own nothing for a comfort or cause of rejoycing but as it lead me to Christ who alone is the Author and I hope the finisher of my Faith and the Horn of my Salvation and with this Caution I will conclude this tedious discourse as I fear it may be to you although to me through Grace very pleasant not that hereby I mean to neglect any duty whatsoever I know to be my duty or think them indifferent whether they be performed or no oh no I say again God forbid but this I desire to do through grace but not self and the Lord of his infinite grace inable me that I may so far honour and respect them as I find them a means to carry me to Christ for which cause I think they were appointed with respect to the glorifying of God and such like and now if I know my own heart and for fear it should deceive me I will begg of the Lord that whenever I hear I may hear for Christ and whenever I pray I may more and more make clear my interest in Christ and whenever I perform any duty whatsoever I may more and more get into Christ and more out of my self And now you have heard all that the Lord hath out of his abundant grace enabled me from what I have found as I hope in great measure wrought in my own heart to declare unto you and for fear I should in this weighty matter be guilty of a lye and so delude my own soul I will with great humility acknowledge that every particular in this latter clause I mean in the Lords dealings with me since I first received the Sacrament I cannot so fully clear as I would I could but I hope I need not to fear but that I have felt all that I have spoken of working more or less upon my heart but whether just in order as I have declared them I cannot punctually say but do earnestly begg that the Lord Jesus Christ would be so pleased as to sprinkle what I have said with his own blood and that whatever sins of failings there may be in it through the pride or ignorance of my own heart oh I do earnestly again beg of God that for Christs sake he would look upon what I have done so as to pardon all that is amiss and that he would in his due time open my eyes to see my errours and to amend them and now I do earnestly beg your advice concerning these things for as I said before my heart doth mourn within me by reason of that interest self got in me and I now find it so very hard to be overcome but I have already told you my earnest desires concerning this and oh that I could prevail with you this once to allow me an interest in your Prayers and for what doubtless you will know better than I can tell you but especially for this that he who is the searcher of hearts and knows the state of every soul better than it doth it self would be pleased that if I be deceived for Christs sake to undeceive me and grant that if I have not true grace I may not think I have and so be in a Fools Paradice and that the Lord who is my heart maker would be my heart searcher and my heart discoverer and my heart reformer and that the Lord may so do I shall not cease to be an earnest suitor at the Throne of grace so long as I am on this side the grave But what because all is not so clear as I could wish they were shall I be cast 〈◊〉 and my soul disquieted within 〈…〉 if I was sorry that God hath been 〈…〉 at work in my soul or as if 〈…〉 Jehoâ—â—h was not able to finish 〈◊〉 he hath begun and so rob God 〈◊〉 glory 〈◊〉 my poor soul of comâ—â—◠〈…〉 my 〈◊〉 these things ought not so to be I fear-there is much of self in this who is somewhat troubled to see the glory of its Temple so much defaced and its treachery so much found out and so much out of Favour as never more to be embraced again And is it so is God indeed become my God and can I indeed say with Thomas My Lord and my God my Christ and my Saviour Oh I cannot forbear to say Lord who is a God like unto thee Oh God there is no God besides thee and oh what is man that God should be mindfull of him and what am I surely the worst of men that God should so regard me Oh that I could now even now this once from the bottom of my heart bless and admire him but oh what a dead and barren heart have I that cannot worthily praise him Oh my soul bless the Lord and all that is within me bless his holy name bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all nay not one of his benefits oh if I had the tongue of an Angel and all the Angels in Heaven to assist me in this great work yet I say we could never sufficiently utter my dear fathers praises and now shall my faith triumph and my heart be glad and my glory rejoyce but not in self or in any thing of my own but in him and him alone who is the God of my Salvation Wonder oh Heavens and be moved oh earth at this great thing which the Lord hath wought in my soul be astonished and even ravished with wonder for the infinite breach is in a way to be made up the offender to be appeased and God
full everlasting freedom from evil or any imperfection 2. It consists in a compleat perfect and eternal enjoyment of all the good that our natures are capable of First It consists in a full and everlasting freedom from evil or any imperfection And here I shall insist upon some of those evils and imperfections which a Child of God shall be freed from as soon as ever Death hath let the Soul out of the Body First The Saint is free from all sin The Bolts shall be knockt off the Prison walls broke down and the poor Captive set at liberty O blessed Jubilee How glad would Paul have been if when he cryed out in such an agony O wretched Man who shall deliver me if he had heard a voice from Heaven saying thy groans have pierced the Clouds thy Prayer hath reached the Heavens thy Petitions shall be granted immediately would not this have been grateful news When before a few days be at an end this shall be the condition of every one of God's People Now indeed if you lissen to their Closets you should hear how dolefully they bemoan their condition if you follow them into their Families what is it that they would most desire of God is it not freedom from sin what complaints do they make of themselves that there should be so great an unsutableness in them to God that their hearts are unsensible of the worth of divine things that they should have so little love to the Lord Christ and be so little taken with the kindness of the Redeemer How weak and faint how cold and dull in duty how ready to betray their Lord how cowardly in the cause of God But death will for ever silence these complaints death tares off Joshua's rags and presents him before the Lord without spot or wrinckle or any such thing sin indeed accompanyeth the ungodly into another World he rests from his pleasures and his wicked works follow him but it is far otherwise with the godly sin was his burden and Death shall unload â—im sin shall be confined to Hell Heaven enterâ—ains no such deformity This Tyrant shall no more inslave any of Christ's subjects The house of Saul and the house of David shall no longer â—ontend that bloody conflict between the flesh and spirit shall then be determined by a final Victory then the Soul will say farewell my hard heart farewell unbelief farewell ingratitude then thou shalt never entertain an unkind thought of God more the lame and the blinde and the Jâ—busites shall be smitten when King David comes to make his Palace in Zion thy sins must dye when the Lord cometh to take the full possession of this Fort Royal confession of sin shall shortly be needless no darkness shall cloud the understanding no perversness the will no disorderliness in the affections no treachery in the memory the Eyes shall be better employed than in beholding of vanity the Eares shall not be locked against truth the Hands far from violence the Tongue from deceit and the Feet from walking in ways of wickedness And seems this a light matter to you who have gone bowed all your dayes under the pressure of sin is it nothing to you to have all your iniquities done away as a Cloud and your transgressions as a thick Cloud Thus see what a kindness that formidable enemy doth to all the subjects of Christ's Kingdom what prayers teares and groans did gradually it doth at one blow Thus the oppressed is delivered the mourner made to rejoyce and the great make-bate between God and the Soul for ever discarded and turned out of Doors Eph. 5.27 Es 44.22 2. When a Christian ayâ—th he shall be freed from all the temptations of Sathan Death sets the Soul out of the Devils reach this Angel hath nothing to do in Heaven this Serpent shall not come into the higher Paradise nor Sathan creep into this Eden Now indeed he goes up and down like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour novv he sets his Ginnes every vvhere to catch the unvvary Christian he useth his stratagems to surprize them but then this adversary shall be trod under Foot his Fiery Darts shall be quenched and his designes broken O happy Day vvhen will it come vvhen the Devil shall be as unlikely to tempt as our hearts to close vvhen vve are got once safe to rest the Devil shall as easily shake God's Throne as our happiness Death turns the Key Bolts and Bars this Enemy out then O then thou shalt see this Pharaoh cast dead on the shore and for ever disabled from making any resistance against thee or in the least disturbing thy peace Rev. 20.10 3. The blessedness of the People of God consisteth in their being freed from the frownes and flatteries of the World In life time thou art fain to fight thy way to peace to dispute every step thou goest and canst never have a quiet Hour vvhile thou hast such ill Neighbours There is an old quarrel between the Seed of the Woman and the Serpent and the enmity is radicated and the â—end can be cooled with nothing but Death Christian expect not as long as any of that Cainisâ— Generation breath that thou shouldest be long â—â—cure In the World you shall have tribulation â—ut be of good cheer Christ hath overcome the World Joh. 16.33 What though they speak â—â—eat words Prison Halters Faggot Thou shalt â—e long ride in state to glory and then let them 〈◊〉 their worst When thou art in Heaven they â—ay curse and increase their own misery but â—â—ey shall not in the least diminish thy tranquillity â—â—d as for their flatteries they shall signifie nothing thing the beauty of this inseriour World will be darkned by the brightness of that Light which Death leads thee into its excellencies will be quite eclipsed its allurements will lose their power Who can choose but contemn the Earth that knows what Heaven meaneth O how low an esteem have the most experienced Men here oâ— the World Honours and riches are accounted very inconsiderable things to them which understand the difference between finite and infinite the disproportion between time and Eternity Death bloweth the dust out of our eyes it pluckâ— off the Vail and shews one quickly the glory oâ— both Worlds and so it is not lest long to determine which is to be preferred dross or silver brass or gold a dunghil or a Palace there wiâ—â— be no thought of returning to Egypt or Gosheâ— either in them which know the fruitfulness of thâ— spiritual Canaan the accommodations of the neâ— Jerusalem the pleasure of the holy Court 4. At Death he shall rest from all his pains there is no fear of sickness sorrowes and achâ—â—â— The Stone Gout and Plague are Distempers thâ—â— none labour with there that Aire is clear anâ— sin which infecteth other places never got footing there they that scarce know what a Dayâ—â— ease now means shall then forget their sorrow their constitutions shall be mended their
you may do the Devils work as long as you can and that then God should reward you with Salvation no such matter You may more rationally expect that God should for your sake pull the Sun out of the Firmament than that he should remove holiness out of Heaven and bring Hell in its place If wicked Men will please themselves with their own Delusions and look for Glory still they must thank themselves when they see how infinitely they are disappointed but I leave these as despairing to convince them of their folly till Judgment and Flames make them to understand it 2. All that live upon the goodness of God here are not like to be blessed after Death There is a vast difference between common and special mercies many partake richly of God's common bounty that have not the least interesâ— in his love God gives this World often times to his greatest Enemies he gives Glory in an other World to none but his Friends and Children Nay let me speak it freely I am sure I have Christ and Scripture to warrant what I say That they which gain this World with their neglect of Heaven shall at their Death lose both Many receive temporal mercies that shall never enjoy Eternal Job 21.9 Luk. 16.25 O how greatly are they mistaken who think that Earl Lord Knight c. are words of any significancy after Death that hope that their honours here will procure them any real respect hereafter that reckon Gold and Silver will go currant in that Country Many that would be counted Persons of some depth and wisdome make a World of stir about trifles that drive a great Trade for that which is next to nothing and that lay in no better Provisions than Gravel Clay or Dung when they are bound for Eternity and yet how do they bless themselves and say I am rich and increased in Goods and have need of nothing Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry They think they make a very wise bargain when they sell their Conscience God and Heaven for a little of that which some call Riches not considering that a few Hours experience may make them know though it may be not cure this mistake O that I could but bring my hearers out of this Delusion O that their apprehensions were but rectified and that they might know the real worth of things and Persons O that I could but bring down the price of sublunary things and raise the things of that other World to their true worth Consider that that holiness as meanly as you think of it is the most excellent thing that that is the greatest Riches and Man's highest dignity God knows no difference between a Lord and a Beggar a Prince and a Subject He is no respecter of Persons If there be any difference it lies here that God hath more wrath in store for them that had greater ingagements and better advantages to serve him than other had I pitty the poor Lords of the World and I am confident he that knows the worth of Christ and the nature of his own Soul can't much envy them they swell like Bladders upon Water for a Moment and God blowes and where are they Now indeed they reckon themselves very secure and their houses are free from fear neither is the Rod of God upon them they take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ Job 21. They think them Fools that can spare their Riches and want their greatness so they may but have an estate in invisibles and secure an Inheritance that will last for ever These are the Men that hate seriousness and holiness which is the beauty of Earth and Heaven too is undervalued by them And how can they expect sanctity should be delightful to them hereafter when it is abhorred now how can they look for Heaven when they dye when they thought it not worth their minding while they lived No no verily they have their reward they have now their good things and much good may they do them O let me rather gain Christ at Death though I loose all besides than possess Ten Worlds here and after all lose my Soul Could the mighty ones of the World have but one Hours discourse with one of their Brethren in Hell I believe their Judgments would be hugely altered and they would soon tell them that Riches and Honours and whatsoever else most Men do pursue let it be what it will below Christ will yield them but little happiness and comfort in another world Riches profit not in the Day of wrath Do but read Luk. 16.19 25. I am the larger that if possible I might prevent mistakes in matters of Eternal consequence Thirdly There are Thousands that seem to have a far better title to this blessedness that will fall short of it and they are Professors that call themselves by the Name of the Lord. Not all that are called yea and esteemed Christians are like to have any great benefit by Death To be Christned and to be Christians are two things not every one that weareth Christ's Livery shall have his Wages O how many Millions are there that have no better shelter than a meer Name to themselves from the wrath of God! Is it not more than possible to hear read pray and to be esteemed a Saint and yet to miscarry everlastingly How many seeming Saints shall gain nothing at Death but a thorow knowledge of their own folly And if to know what God's anger is be an advantage when there is no escaping of it and if to have their hearts wounded when there is no Cure to be had be any profit and if to be quite freed of Conscience searching Ministers be a happiness when they are out of the reach of their help or pitty then such may be esteemed blessed but if all this will but make the Flame hotter then I leave any serious Person to judg whether it doth not concern Men and Women to look after better security than this amounts to Did you ever well study Mat. 7.21 I hope you will believe Christ though you will not me read that Scripture and what saith Christ O consider seriously that to be an Heir of Glory is no such light matter as most judge it to be To be born to a Crown and a Kingdome and to have a good title to it is a dignity indeed but a Mad-man in Chains and Rags may say he is a King or a Lord. O please not your selves with fansies Sickness and Death is coming and then you will know better whether I had not some reason to be earnest with you in this matter I am most afraid of the confident Pharisee that trusts in his poor sorry Prayers and his own righteousness O that I could but shake him and his hopes before Death and Judgment doth it O that I could but perswade him to maintain a jealousie over himself and to search and try his Heart and to bring himself to the
Touchstone and not to be satisfied till he findes that he hath got more than ever any Hypocrite yet had or can have The best of God's Children are most suspicious of themselves and afraid of their own deceitful hearts Do but see how David carrieth it in Psal 139. What is his great request that he must have granted or he can't be satisfied Is it not that God would deliver him from mistakes in matters of everlasting consequence so Psal 119.80 Pardon this tediousness upon these things if most of the Professors of the World did not split upon these Rocks I should pass these things over with silence Fourthly All that dye quietly are not happy after Death It 's no unusual thing for the wicked to carry their false peace with them to the Grave I have heard indeed many poor People boasting of their deceased Friends and pleasing themselves to think how happy they were Because they dyed like Lambs to use their own expression Alas alas how many thousands are there that dye like Lambs that are but Swine and have the Devil 's Brand upon their Foreheads It 's dangerous arguing from peoples carriage upon a Death-bed what their state is in another World such is the hardness of Mens hearts so dreadful the searedness of their Consciences and so great the subtilty of Satan that many are carried very quietly to Hell and fear nothing till they feel and are not brought to their senses till unspeakable horror and anguish doth it And on the other side how many of the precious Sons of Zion have seat in a Cloud how many of the dear Children of God may go out of the World thorow a painful Death are not their intellectuals sometimes impaired their reason Clouded and their Bodyes upon the Rack and yet in a moment they feel themselves swallowed up of that Glory and the doleful antecedents of their happiness did but make their rest more sweet and welcome and put an accent upon their bliss The truth of it is it hath not a little puzled some as well as David to construe God's dispensations to see the wicked dye quietly Psal 73.4 and the godly to have a strange Death but God will shortly resolve this Riddle and I think it were no very difficult thing for a serious understanding Man to give himself considerable satisfaction in this business May not the wicked dye quietly because his Conscience is quite seared and he may perswade himself that he hath made an agreement with Death and Hell may he not hope that there is no such place as Hell or if there is that it is tolerable may he not make himself believe that the Word of God is not true and invisibles are all but fansies or that God is so merciful as that he will not damn him and many such things the Devil helps his Servants with that so his service may not be disparaged and that he may have the better advantage to tempt others There is much also in the nature of the Disease and it may be God may try his own Children with acute pains and let Sathan buffer them to manifest the excellency of his Power and their Grace to try others of his Children whether for all this they will serve him and some Persons of admirable attainments and great experiences while in health may have some considerable Tryals upon a Death-bed that poor Christians which were ready to fear because they had not their enjoyments that therefore they had nothing at all might see that great Saints have their Tryals as well as they but I shall be far briefer in other things I come now to shew you who they are that are blessed at their Death and to give them a brief Description of those which dye in the Lord. First They are such who are made thorowly to understand that they were sometimes quite dead in sins and trespasses that they were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant of Grace Secondly They are Persons which are convinced of that misery of such a state and made to know that if they dye in their sins they must be buried in Flames Thirdly Vpon this they are out of love with their most beloved sins and count that which was their life joy and pleasure to be a very Death misery and Hell whereupon they set themselves in good earnest against sin as the greatest evil in the World they believe now That if they live after the Flesh they shall dye but if through the Spirit they mortifie the deeds of the Flesh they shall live Upon this account they use all the means that they can to get their corruptions weakned an inward principle Divine Life Now he begins to act them which is as contrary to Sin as Heaven to Hell a Spirit of ingenuity restrains them How shall they do this and sin against God They now see sin in its colours as it is contrary to the best good God they can see its killing and damning Nature in the Agonies and Sufferings of Christ and they feel the doleful effects of sin in their Soul and body both and upon this account they can say what have I to do with Vanity any more Shall I still hug this Serpent shall I still Sail with this Jonah in my Vessel and shall I after all this keep this Dalilah in my Bosom No but O that I could hate it Ten Thousand times more than I do There is an enmity raised in the Soul against sin which can't be satisfied till it see the Death of Sin now this is a Person that is fit for Death and Death it will as you shall hear afterwards do him a World of kindness in shewing him the Heads of all his Enemies 4. An other quality of this Person which is like to make such a blessed end is this he is one that is dead to the World Faith hath discovered a better Country to him it hath spyed that new Jerusalem and those blessed Regions and now the Soul thinks the World scarce worthy of a serious thought or look he takes himself to be a kind of Prisoner here and the whole World but a Dungeon if compared with that state of liberty and glory he now joyns with David and says Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I can desire beside thee This is the Man that is like to be a gainer by Death he who contemns Earth and makes Heaven his choice shall never finde himself a loser 5. Another property of the Man which shall be blessed at Death is this he is one that takes Christ for life and happiness Time was indeed he was of an other mind sin was his delight and none so despicable in his Eye as Christ but God in free and rich grace hath taken away the Scales from his Eyes and healed him of his miserable blindness and let him see such a loveliness in the Lord Christ as that now he is able to say
none but Christ none but Christ He is altogether lovely He is now quite out of love with himself neither his righteousness nor any thing is lovely now but Christ and will not that Soul be blessed when it comes to have its desires accomplished he that counts nothing worth the having except Christ and for Christ can't be miserable when he is lodged safe in his imbraces 6. He that makes it his business to live to Christ to him to dye shall be gain God is often times better but never worse than his word And hath he not made many promises to them that diligently seek him Hath he not said that their labours shall not be in vain in the Lord The Christian is running and he shall at last obtain the Prize the Crown he fights for he shall have fear not Christian quit thy self bravely win it and wear it what though it be wrapped up in Cypress its beauty shall not be Vailed long What though Death with his cold and dirty hand set it upon thy head it will sit as neat and as fast as an Almighty hand can make it What though the Vessel be tost and broke it shall come safe with its Rich Lading to the desired Haâ—bâ—ur Condemn not O you foolish World these spiritual Merchants till you know what their returns are when their burden is deliver'd but imitate them till you can finde a more glorious Prize than Heaven a better happiness than God can give and a Kingdom that will last longer than Eternity Psal 63.8 Psal 90.14 7. They which are willing if called to it to do or suffer any thing for Christ shall inherit this blessedness He that is willing to dye for Christ shall live as long as Christ lives in happiness and rest 't is not for nothing that Paul makes no great matter of bonds scorns at threatnings and triumpheth in danger the finishing his course with joy makes all go down sweetly Acts 20.24 The Primitive Christians were no Stoicks and yet with what patience gratitude and joy did they suffer what the malice and wit of Men and Devils could inflict and now they enjoy the fruit of their labours the salvation of their Souls and that is not all but they receive their Palms Robes and Crowns ye more peculiar badges of God's Champions Loe thus shall it be done to the Persons whom the Lord delighteth to honour This 't is to be imprisoned banished or dye for Christ Rejoyce O ye suffering Saints and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven to you it is given not only to believe but also to suffer this Fire is but to purifie and to make you Vessels more fit for your Masters use this dirt cast upon you is but to scower and make you more clean this knocking rubbing and hewing is but to furbish and polish you that you may be more stately Pillars in the Temple of your God Fear not Men nor Devils the greatest hurt that they do you is to fill your Sailes and to bring you more speedily to your Port. 8. They which long for the coming of Christ and their being with him that can say I have waited for thy salvation O God now let thy Servant depart in peace In a word that can bear their absence from Christ only upon those terms that they may bring honour to him in this life and perswade Souls to be in love with him and may be instrumental for the setting up his Kingdom shaking the Kingdom of Sathan and weakning the interest of Hell in the World These O these are your brave Souls that are out of Gun-shot Death can neyer surprize them they stand always with their Loines girt and their Lamps burning And if the Bridegroom should make the Mountains to quake with the ratling of his Charriots and the Hills to tremble at the presence of his Majesty and the Heavens themselves to shrivel into nothing by the glory of his coming yet they O blessed Souls and they only would break forth into a Song of Triumph and Eternal Hallelujâ—hs Who would not be a Saint sure none but a mad-man or a fool Do the World understand what these things mean Do they indeed believe how much the highest of them all are below the meanest and lowest Childe of God Thus I have shown you who are the Subjects of this blessedness I know I forget time but it goes well may you and I get but this blessedness secured and spend a happy Eternity The second thing that I proposed to speak to was to prove that such as these are in spight of Hell shall be blessed and because in the fore going discourse this hath been touched upon I shall but very briefly run over these things First God saith they shall be blessed and therefore they shall when the great Persecutors have been hunting for their prey and hope to roast what they have got and seed themselves with the hopes of the content and pleasure that they shall enjoy nay when they shall beg with tears for the blessing they shall be frustrated denyed cursed and hear that heart-rending reply they have gotten the blessing before you came 't is now too late yea and they shall be blessed Might I not heap up a World of promises the least of which clear a Saints title to this blessed inheritance time would fail me if I should but read one in Forty what is the meaning of that Es 57.2 Phil. 1.21 2 Cor. 5.1 Job 3.17 2. They feel somewhat of this happiness in this World therefore they shall have it compleated in another How oft do the Saints feel their Souls transported with the sense of divine pleasures How many earnests do they receive of the purchased possessions How many warm refreshing Raies of Divine love break in upon their Soul so that they would not exchange one Hours comfort for all the joys that ever the wicked enjoyed could they all be united in one and their duration be Eternal Have I not with much comfort seen some of those triumphing Saints rejoycing when others would have mourned Have I not heard them talk of their sweet experiences the very mention of which is more reviving to a spiritual hearer than the highest pleasures that the sensualist is capable of Sometimes in prayer their souls even get into the bosom of God and the great God and Man have a blessed intercourse the Soul lets out it self to God and God lets out his love to the Soul Sometimes in a meditation the Heart is glowing and the Fire burns and ere it is aware it is lifted above the World yea and above it self too What else is this but the clear demonstration of the reality of invisibles Can meer fancies thus transport Men Must they not believe their own experiences Can that joy which is the result of faith and love and comes in from the promises and that in a way of duty and close walking with God Can that be a delusion Will the spirit of truth
witness to a lye Will goodness it self put a cheat upon poor Creatures and that in a matter of such vast consequence as Eternity Can we conceive that he which commands us not to deceive our Neighbour should deceive us Shall any that calls himself a Christian entertain such blasphemous apprehensions of the blessed Jehovah Well then if it be so that Children of God love solid and unexpressible joys many times even on this side Glory Doth not this then prove that hereatter they shall be happy and that beyond the apprehensions of Men and Tongue of Angels For the Saint in his greatest dimensions fullest enjoyments and tallest stature on this side the Grace is but a Childe a Dwarf a Worm in comparison of what he will be the next moment after his dissolution For the proof of this you may read over these and other Scriptures Psal 16.11 Psal 42.5 Luk. 16.22 2 Cor. 4.7 Revel 13.14 3. May I not bring in the wicked themselves as witnesses of the Saints happiness and their own misery the Saints wisdom and their folly what else is the meaning of Balaam's wish Why should he be so desirous to dye the death of the Saint and to have his latter end like his if he were not thorowly convinced of this that holiness were no madness piety no fancy and religion no delusion What is it that makes those in Mat. 26.8 to cry out so importunately Give us of your Oyl for our Lamps are gone out I am perswaded that all the Reprobates in Hell will one Day justifie the Children of God for their seriousness and wish a thousand times that they had had their scornes losses torments It is no unusual thing for them which have to do with dying Persons to hear them crying out with anguish when their time is spent and their sands are run out O you are happy O that I were but in the condition of the poorest and miserablest Saint upon Earth O that I had but prayed with fervency heard with seriousness and minded my Soul in good earnest Happy are they that have not all their work to do in a dying Hour O happy are they that have some Cordial to comfort them in a time of such distress O a Christ a Christ ten thousand Worlds now for that Christ which I despised These are things we are acquainted with Well then our Enemies themselves being Judges an Israelite indeed is a Person of true worth and without controversie his estate is and shall be comfortable blessed and glorious 4. How great are the absurdities that else would follow Would not the Devil boast that he hath done more for his followers than Christ hath done for his Would it not follow that Saints are the most miserable fools in the World then it would be to no purpose to deny ones self to fight with Beasts at Ephesus to bear the contradiction of sinners then Christ dyed for nothing or hath done his work by the halves then there is no credit to be given to the Bible God is worse than his word and the Scripture promises are false then Paul's confidence was madness and his boasting made void then all preaching is a cheat and the Ministers of Christ are Impostorâ— and the wicked are in the right then David would have better reason to say he hath cleansed his hands in vain and that his frequent devotions were to no purpose and his Songs at Mid-night but the dotages of an extravagant fansie and hours which were spent in Prayer and Meditation were purely lost What saist thou to this O Christian Would not this be sad news indeed if all thy hope should come to this But be of good cheer this is the doctrine which the Devil and his Ministers do preach as long as God is true you shall not be deceived as long as he is happy you shall not be miserable and till Hell hath got above Heaven you are well enough Go on therefore resolutely and let nothing daunt thee 't is but yet a little while and you shall see all this and more than this a thousand times made good to thee Fear not 't is God who hath spoken it and he commanded his Servant John to write and Jeave it upon Record That they which dye in the Lord are blessed and they shall rest from their labours and their works do follow them 3. The next thing which I promised to speak to was to shew wherein the blessedness of departed Saints doth consist But what work am I now about Who is sufficient for these things What Tongue can utter the least part of that Glory What Heart imagine its transcendent excellency And what Ears can bear it should such a one as Moses Enoch or Elias come sparkling in his Robes in the habit of a glorified Saint and should he but tell you what a sight he hath seen what melody he hears what imployment he is ingaged in what possessions he enjoys where would he endure it I am perswaded if in this mortal state God should let in the Soul the hundreth thousandth part of that Glory which Saints enjoy in Heaven it would in a moment sink a Man and make such Bodies as ours now are wither to dust I have seen a great many fine things in my time I have heard of more but I can easily imagine more than ever all the Princes of the Earth in their greatest splendour enjoyed and yet here I am at a loss and no wonder For it is beyond the reach of Saints and Angels in Heaven fully to conceive what their own happiness is and I believe it is no small part of their joy that they serve a Master who loveth to out-doe not only deserts and expectations but even the imaginations of his Creatures How then can such a poor Worm as I am mannage such a work as this is because I can't say all must I say nothing and pass this over with silence and admiration because this is a great deep which our Plummet can't fathom an Ocean that hath no shoar shall we therefore never sail in it God forbid O may it be my work in time and to Eternity to praise that infinite boundless excellency that is in my God Though these are matters which one would think should command attention and affection both yet if we consult the lives of all yea the highest experiences of the best notwithstanding these things are so frequently inculcated and so passionately recommended to our consideration yet where is the Man or Woman to be found that lies under the lively impressions of these things And therefore I shall think it not impertinent if I dwell upon that an Hour which will be the subject of your Meditation and Foundation of your comfort if ever you understand what Christianity in the life of it means This only by the by a little to quicken your attention I come now to my business to shew you wherein the Saints happiness after death consists 1. It consists in a
defilements and taken out her stains and have decked her with his Jewels and put on her Wedding Garment That Day is coming O my soul when will the shaddows flee away when will Days and Nights be all at an end when will time be spent when shall the Curtain be drawn O that that 's the place thou shalt then love that precious Jesus with a Seraphick and Angel-like love thou wilt then as much delight and rejoyce in him as Abraham David and Paul did Thy drowsie Soul shall be as nimble and active in the service of thy great Maker as Enoch and Elias thou shalt praise him Day and Night and be no more weary than the Angels themselves thou shalt perfectly understand the vvill of God and readily obey it thou shalt be holy as God is holy And what vvould you now give for such a frame hovv glad vvould you be to feel a connaturality to divine imployments hovv happy vvould you think your selves if your heart vvere alvvayes as God vvould have it Is it not for this that you fast and pray Is it not for this that you hear read and meditate Is not this the end of Sacraments Well be of good cheer in Mount Zion there shall be deliverance and holiness Obed. 17. And is all this nothing seemeth it still a small priviledge to be a Child of God and like our Father vvho that understands this vvould not bid Death vvelcome and say novv Grave do thy vvorst Ask Paul and he vvill tell you that upon this account he groans enquire of David and he vvill let you understand that he never expects satisfaction till he avvake vvith God's likeness Psal 17. 3. Another thing vvherein the blessedness of a Christian at Death lyes is this the sight of Christ What can be more desired by a Child of God than to behold and enjoy him by vvhom all the mercies we have and all that we expect slow in to us Eph. 1.11 That good old Saint Luk. 2.30 thought it a Heaven upon Earth to see him though his Majesty was vailed and the brightness of his glory wrapped up and covered by his humanity he doth sing a Requiem to his Soul and say Now let thy Servant depart in peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation How were Peter James and John affected at his transfiguration Mat. 17 2. What an admirable frame doth the Spouse seem to be in when she saw only the shadow and back-parts of this beloved one Cant. 5.16 She can't tell when to have done commending of him But all this is but a small thing compared to the sight which they shall see when their graces shall be compleat and their Soul like him and then shall they behold the King in his beauty no longer the contempt and scorn of the World no longer in poverty and want no longer crucified and rejected but Jesus the express Image of his Father and the brightness of his glory accompanyed with Millions of Angels all at his command and yet for all this casting a gracious Eye upon them then shall the Soul behold him face to face who did and suffered such wonderful things for it 't was he that came out of his Fathers bosome 't was he that stept out of his Throne and put off his Robes that came leaping over the Mountains and skipping over the Hills running thorow a thousand difficulties that he might pluck thee out of thy misery and deliver thee out of the paw of the Lyon and the Bear that he might redeem thee from the power of Sin Death and Hell How will the Heavens eccho with Songs of joy when the Bride the Lamb's Wife shall come to dwell with her Husband for ever Isay 33.17 Christ is the desire of Nations the joy of Angels the delight of the Father and he in whom he is well pleased What solace then must that Soul be filled with that hath the possession of him to all Eternity Is not his love better than wine and a look of his countenance to be preferred before Corn and Oyl Is not his kindness to be valued above life it self What meanest thou then O my Soul that thou dost so dread his coming Why art thou so loath to be with him Why art thou afraid of the enjoyment of him Will thy Redeemer make thee a slave hath Heaven changed his Nature and made him less desirable Will thy Saviour make thee miserable Awake then O ye Saints and stand a tip-toe wait watch and long till thou see him who alone can fill thy Soul fight strive and run till you enjoy One smile of his one look of his love is worth the pleasures of ten Worlds where is thy heart where are thy desires what 's become of thy love if Christ doth not affect draw and fire thee what will but when thou shalt see Christ indeed his very looks will so warm thy Soul that thou shalt in a moment feel a divine flame which shall never be extinguished as long as Christ the object of thy love shall live the sight of Christ will put new life into thy Soul and make thy love and joy fresh for ever this is he O my Soul that was wounded that thou mightest be healed this is he who was Crowned vvith Thorns that thou mightest be Crovvned vvith Glory this this is he that dyed that thou mightest live Is not all the Glory of Heaven vvrapped up in him Are not the Treasures of divine kindness which vvere sometimes hid in him novv opened Tell me now O my soul is there any in tvvo Worlds comparable to him Was not that he that sheltered thee from the storms of God's vvrath Was not that precious Body the Shield vvhich blunted the Svvord of Justice and kept the Arrovves of the Almighty from doing dreadful execution upon thee an Enemy Traytor and Rebel Was it not he that laid dovvn the price that bought thy pardon that purchased this Inheritance vvas it not he that fed thee vvith his Body that broached his heart blood to quench the thirst of thy Soul the lusts of thy heart and the flames of God's indignation Look upon him is he not made up of love I see now it is not for nothing that the Virgins did love him it was not vvithout good reason that the Spouse vvas sick it vvas not vvithout very good cause that the Saints did so long to be vvith him to be with him did I say vvho that hears of him can choose but vvish to see him vvho that sees him can live without him who that lives vvith him can leave him What mean the World Sure they are dead blind or mad but vvhere am I now This is a subject so svveet that I can't tell hovv to make an end O that I might see knovv and enjoy look dear Jesus upon me and let me go and tell the World thy beauties let me every day have a little sight of thee that I may commend thee a thousand times more feelingly and that I may
command the affections of all that hear of thee that nothing but thy love may serve their turns Pardon me that this admirable one hath dravvn out my thoughts so largely If you can but love after all this and see him when you dye with comfort you will say I were too short in his praises and too superficial in his commendations and that the half was not told you 4. The blessedness of departed Saints lies in this that they shall meet with all the Children of God and have communion with the spirits of the just made perfect Thou shalt then meet thy best friends whose company was so warming whose words were so incouraging whose lives did so much command Religion their Faces did then shine their conversation was in Heaven but O what an alteration is there in them for the better their Souls are now like Christ nothing but grace love and praise no difference in judgment no pride or passion nothing that offends And how vvill they vvelcome you to their Fathers House you that took sweet counsel together that went to the House of God that talk'd of that glory how glad will you be when you meet in it Nay Death will bring you acquainted with all these famous Worthies of whom the World was not worthy the noble Champions of Christ which thought not their lives dear to them so they might but finish their course with joy this Porter opens the Door and lets the Saints Soul into that Palace where all the Favourites of that great Prince reside and thou shalt stand also with them upon Mount Zion in the presence of that Mighty King and shalt behold and live in his glory for ever And is all this inconsiderable What would I give to see Enoch that walked with God How glad should I be to be acquainted with Elias how joyful if I might have some discourse with Paul Would it not make one couragious in the cause of God if one could hear Daniel or the Three Children tell the story of their deliverance How should one be pleased to have it from the Mouth of Moses Joshuah and Caleb what God did for Israel in the Fields of Ham the Red-Sea and the Wilderness and how he brought them into the Land of Canaan hovv do you think you should be affected at such things as these vvhy as formidable as Death looks it 's he that brings us to the speech of all these How loath are we novv to part when a knot of us have got together to talk about the things of another World are not the Saints the excellent ones in whom is our delight is not the empty discourse of the unexperienced World tedious and their Company a burden Why Heaven hath in it none but Saints and Angels and the blessed God Is not that Company indeed and all their work will be to admire praise and love God and to take infinite delight and complacency in him to all Eternity O what acclamations of joy vvill there be vvhen all the Children of God shall meet together vvithout fear of being disturbed by the Antichristian and Cainish brood when they meet and never part but joyn in Hallelujahs for ever That that 's the melody vvhen a Quire of ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels shall sing an Eternal Song and the hundred and forty and four thousand and that innumerable Company out of all Nations Tongues and Kindreds shall ansvver saying Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 Luk. 13.28 29. Heb. 11.22 Eph. 2.19 5. An other thing wherein the blessedness of the Saints departed consists is that then all their Prayers shall be sully answered their desires satisfied and hopes enjoyed They now oft with sorrow hear the reproaches of the wicked who are ready to ask them vvhere is their God vvhat is become of their sasts tears and groans to vvhat purpose do they afflict themselves what profit is it for them to call upon God what benefit is there in serving the Almighty The wicked boast of their hearts desire and are ready to sleight Religion as a useless and contemptible thing But is there not a time a coming vvhen the godly may ask them vvhat profit they have novv in their pleasures vvhat comfort in their greatness what fruit of all their labours and with unspeakable satisfaction produce their Crown and say This this was the prize that we contended for this was the reward that vve had in our Eye this was the glory and honour which we so highly valued This is our God in whom we have trusted Es 25.9 The Saints shall then see that it was not in vain to seek knock and wait then they shall understand that nothing was lost which was spent for their Souls and Heaven they shall shortly know that the poorest hearty groan was heard the quickest ejaculations were not unobserved and that the vveakest sincere Prayers were able to pierce the Heavens O who would not serve such a Master who can't forget any of his nay the Lord will infinitely out-do their requests and give them more than their Tongue could ask and mindes conceive This is the portion of them that seek thee that seek thy face O Jacob. 6. At Death the Believer shall be possessed of God and know what the beatifical Vision means and if you would be better satisfied what this is my request is that you would live holily and go and see And if after a sight and sense of this incomprehensible glory you finde that I have deceived you by making you to over-value it I am contented to bear the blame of an Impostor I am here but brief because I must confess my Meditations are now at a loss and silence and astonishment must speak the rest 7. That which is no small addition to a Saints happiness is this that there is no fear of losing of it his Enemies can't rob him for they are all safe enough and his Treasure is locked up there where neither Moth nor Rust can corrupt nor Thieves break thorow and steal the Christian may then rejoyce over his Enemy and say vvho shall separate me from the love of God they that are safe in Heaven need not to entertain any fears of losing their Inheritance If God that made Heaven and brought them to it can secure them if Christ that bought it for them can make good his purchase if all challenges are laid aside they are vvell enough thy house shall not be shaken thy comforts are durable and the lease of thy Inheritance runs parallel with the life of God and must not expire till Eternity be spent Rom. 8.33 Heb. 13.5 If. 54 10. Is 35. last 8. The last thing that I shall mention wherein the happiness of the Dead that dye in the Lord consists is in the full and joyful assurance of a glorious Resurrection and acquaittance at the day of Judgment Their Bodies are the sacred Temples
keep any guard over your self will you wrestle for this blessing O what courage and comfort should you be endowed with with what a chearful countenance may you meet death and how quietly lie down in your grave being supported with the hopes of a blessed Eternity and a glorious Resurrection But I shall a little alter my discourse and turn my self to the careless ones of the world which think little of death and less of eternity I had occasion before to bewail your condition and now I might renew my lamentations as fearing that what I have spoke or may speak will have very little operation upon you but however I cannot leave you thus but I must try once more how a plain compassionate exhortation will prevail O hat I could tell what words to speak that might each your heart O that I could express my self in such melting words that might break the very stones O that you may feel this exhortation Men Brethren and Fathers give me leave to lâ—t you understand how dearly I love you and to shew my affections in the most real demonstrations that may be Sirs I am come to bâ—g of you for Gods sake to be willing to live I beseech you despise not the blessing but accept Christ and salvation while they are offered Were it a thing possible to be happy any other way but by Christ and a holy life I should spare my labour If Glory could be obtained upon easier terms than the Gospel speaks of I should ease my self and you of this trouble And if any were like to be blessed after death but such as die in the Lord I should be the more indifferent in this matter but since that cannot be methinks those three weighty words Life death eternity should have a mighty influence upon you O let not a day pass without a few serious thoughts of this I need hot perswade you to love your lives nature teacheth you to do that but there is another life which is hid from the world which most forget O think of that that 's a life indeed a life of joy happiness and pleasure Death sounds oft in the ears every passing bell tells you that your breath is going and that your turn is coming and all the Coslins that are carried by your doors say prepare do your work quickly 〈◊〉 will shortly be too late But who understands the meaning of this Preacher who takes any thought of another life makes ready for death and looks into eternity O Eternity Eternity how rarely do men think of Eternity O that now some would begin to be wise Do you think your Sun will never set will your sands be never ran out and do you know what dying is then the keepers of the house will tremble the windows shall be â—hut and instead of the Daughters of Musick the voice of groaning lamentation and weeping It may be death will lay his cold hand first upon thy feet and bind them and they are as cold as the earth and what a damp doth this put upon thy spirit and then you cry once more send for the Doctor and he comes in haste O Sir a world for breath half my estate to preserve my life a day or two longer and what answer doth he make Sir 't is but a folly to flatter you all the art in the world will not keep you alive two hours longer what did you send for me for to a dead man and so he flings away in a rage and how doth the fainting Patient hear such tidings O what shall I do what will all forsake me can no body help me well send for a Minister and what saith he Sir how have you lived did you pray in your family do you know experimentally what Regeneration is what do you say Sir I do not understand that word What did you never hear a Sermon in your life were you born in England To be regenerated is to be born again do you know what that is O no that 's impossible Why then Sir you are in a lamentable condition indeed you cannot live an hour longer and if you die in this state you must go to Hell as sure as God is in Heaven O how doth that word strike the man to the heart and what a flame hath he within and what horrour is his soul filled with It cannot be imagined what Agonies the soul as well as the body now labours under O that I might die the death of the Righteous and are all my hopes come to this woe woe woe to me poor wretch whither am I now going where shall I now dwell who shall be my companions for ever O that I had but now a little of that grace which I despised in others but it 's now too late O my heart I am pained at my heart O my breath it is going it is just a going O what shall I do O 't is too late O what shall And thus his breath goes and his friends come round about him and one lifts up his hand and that falls down again like a log and others feel upon his nose and there 's no breath and then they say he is gone and so one closeth his eyes and others strip him and lay him out and two daies after he is put into the grave but where where is the soul And thus one goes after another and shortly all this generation will be served thus And thou O careless soul as little as thou mindest all this it may be thou mayest be the next and what will become of thee if death take thee unprovided Now Sirs what will you do will you go on just as you did will you put far from you the thoughts of the evil day will you shake off the sense of this as soon as you can I believe that this is none of the pleasantest discourses to some of you But I would have you to know that my business is not to please your fancy but to save your souls and to wake you out of your dead sleep and if I do but this I have enough Once more therefore I must ask you what you intend to do will you indeavour to live to Christ that you may die in the Lord or will you do as others do put off the thoughts of these things till it be too late Is this a question so hard to be answered Well methinks the very looks of some of you speak you to be persons resolved and by this time you are ready to ask how you shall do to be of this number that shall die in the Lord and be blessed how you may trade so as to get the most durable riches and how you may live so as to gain by death In general I answer If you would have death gain you must live to Christ make it your work and business to secure an interest in Christ let Religion run thorow all you do but for your fuller information in this matter I shall refer you to
the latter end of my Book of Acquaintance with God which is now reprinted at present my advice shall be that you would follow them who thorow faith and patience are the inheriters of the promise and propose to your selves the examples of the most eminent Christians such as this precious young mans whose Funeral Rites we are now solemnizing and because examples are very cogent and affect most more than precepts I shall present you with an account of some of this holy young mans practices and experiences Take them therefore as I have gathered them by my own experience and intimate knowledge of him and as I have collected them out of many sheets of his own writings But let it not be thought I beseech you that out of custom or flattery I speak such Funeral Commendations were he but a Common Christian I would have sorbâ—rn speaking any thing of this nature for sear of hardening sinners I must deal plainly I abho that cursed flattery in commending all that are buried as if to die and to go to Heaven were all one I know many rotten posts are guilded many Sepulchres that are full of bones and putrified flesh are painted and many Professors are extolled at their death who did no good whâ—le they lived except it were the giving some pitâ—ful pittance to the poor when they could keep it no longer I question not but that thousands are praised upon earth that are condemned in Heaven and many applauded for Saints that will be found among the Devils and damned Expect it not therefore as a thing like to be usual with me to commend dead persons As I would judge none so I dare commend but few This only by way of Apology I shall come to the thing promised to propose some imitable passages of the life of T. M. 1. First He began to â—ook Heaven ward betimes he was made to remember his Creatour in the daies of his youth his first convâ—ctions were at about twelve years old but they had no abiding impression upon him the great work was begun to purpose between sevenâ—een and eighteen I shall be the more brief here because you have the account more full from his own hand The change that was wrought upon him did express more of the power of God and the riches of his grace than ordinary The Lord made his work upon him very clear and distinct for he broke in upon his soul like an armed man and shook him terribly â—veâ— Hell and the â—â—rrâ—urs of God set themselves â—n array against him and the poison of his arrows drank up his spirits sin did appear in its colour to him â—s ugly as the devil and as dreadful as Hell it self so that the foundation was laid in very deep huâ—â—â—lity O then how frightful a thing was sin yea his beloved sin the sin of gaming was made most loathsome and abominable so that for that he loathed himself in dust ashes and looked upon himself as unworthy to tread upon Gods ground and had not God ordered it so as that the first Sermon he heard after this great conviction was upon that Scripture 1 Tim. 1.15 he had even fallen into despair but the thoughts of Gods having mercy upon the chiefest of sinners did a little support his soul and gave him hopes of a possibility of being saved 2. This put him upon strong groans and prayers that the Lord would pitty him as ever he would pitty any poor creature in the World O that he would pitty him hast thou not a blessing for me O God even for me what shall I do now I am without God Christ or Grace my condition is such I cannot bear it who can be contented to be damned O pitty me pitty me dear Lord I cannot tell what in the world to do mercy mercy mercy or I am lost mercy speedily or I am lost for ever And so he continued in a way of duty reading and praying and inquiring and resolving thus to do all his dayes and now farewell wicked company farewell sports and vanity and idleness the great business of minding his soul now swallows him up and after a while he hath a little more peace than he had but upon further enquiry and waiting upon the means he was convinced thaâ— all this would not do without the Righteousness oâ— Christ And this brings me to the next thing 3. He was deeply convinced of the absolute necessity and excellency of Christ and brought oâ— from his own righteousness to high prizingâ— and admirings of Christ take his own words And is it true indeed hath Christ done and suffered such things for thee O my poor sinful vile odious polluted soul and what wilt not thou love him now Oh think a little what put him upon aâ— this was it any self interest is he any gainer by thee he got nothing but grief pain and death O my soul it was free pure and undeniable love that caused him to do and suffer what he did consider again O my soul what cause was there that he should make thee a partaker of the benefit of his blood what wast thou Oh a motâ— loathsome sinner and what wilt thou not yet love him O Lord I am ashamed of my own heart that I cannot raise it to the highest pitch oâ— admiration of that infinite boundless love Oâ— love love love O that I could love thee O Lord I would fain be sick of love O that I could dyâ— sick of love to thee O that I could feel thee warming my heart with that quickning blood which thou sheddedst upon the Cross O what love is like to that O my soul it was shed for thee who was an enemy a rebel a despiser of Christ awake O blessed spirit and blow upon my soul and kindle a fire which may burn with love to Christ to all Eternity Amen Amen 4. He did upon this in a serious and solemn manner give up himself to the Lord in a Covenant I shall not repeat the words of this Covenant because they are taken verbatim out of my book of Acquaintance with God and he subâ—cribed his name to it and kept it as a witness before the Lord and to quicken his own soul to a â—ore close walking with God according to the Arâ—â—cles of that Covenant 5. After he was gone thus far his bowels began â—o yern over his Christless friends some of which I perceive by his letters began to abuse him for his seriousness and to deride his strictness and jeer at his holiness shall I give you a taste of his spirit I cannot do it in warmer words than his own which are as followeth Yours I received but whether I dare to thank you for it I know not for truly I cannot express the trouble that hath since seised upon my spirit Oh poor soul what shall I say unto thee Oh my bowels my bowels they yern towards thee I am pained yea I am pained while I think upon thy condition what shall I
do for thee what shall I say unto thee I could be contented that these lines were writ with my very heart blood so that they might affect thee O I had rather dye than receive another such letter from you I could not relish it it was bitter I could not see the name of dear Jesus in it how can I think of your blind superstition and not mourn and lament over a dead soul you say you are sorry and you are troubled What is the matter are you sorry that I should concern my self about my soul and about yours you would not trouble your self about these things now if not now I pray when will you at the hour of death at the day oâ— Judgement O then it will be too late O now oâ— never delayes are dangerous O Eternity Eternity O where shall yours and my soul dwell tâ— all Eternity Oh either in heaven or in hell either with Christ or devils the soul that siâ— shall dye your debt is great the justice of God must be satisfied and nothing can do it but thâ— blood of Jesus O for this precious Jesus make not light of Christ he is precious he is altogether lovely I would not for ten thousand world quit my share in him and in that which is the matter of your fear you complain that I have leâ—â— the wayes of our fore-fathers I seâ—â— you take the shadow for the substance what 〈◊〉 the Cross in Baptism without the Baptisme 〈◊〉 the spirit what good will the bowing at thâ— name of Jesus do them which persecute him iâ— his members and have him not formed in their hearts O that God would cut asunder your false hopes if Christ were in you yoâ— would rejoyce to think that he hath been aâ— work in my soul was I born with these principles which you read in my last Letters I am surâ— I was once of an other mind than now I am but blessed yea admired be free grace which hath made me to differ from my self and others 〈◊〉 am afraid you understand not my meaning wheâ— I speak of love to God and Regeneration as long as I only concerned my self about the World anâ— not my soul you kindly entertained my letters but no sooner did I speak of repentance and thâ— affairs of our poor never-dying souls but then you are troubled and cannot bear it I tell you I lay dead almost eighteen years and then I had a gracious wound from my dear God which made me cry out where am I I am undone I am undone my sin will damn me O what shall I do for a Christ And at this rate he goes on writing many letters which did all breath a divine spirit 6. He was very spiritual in his discourse and by that he put life into most of them that conversed with him how helpful was he to young Christians how ready to hearten them up in the wayes of God and how able to discover to them the policies of Satan he was scarce in his element but when he was doing or receiving of good he studied Mr. Herbert Palmer's little Book about making Religion ones business and he did in a great measure put it into practice To use his own expressions I did saith he labour to spiritualize common action and to serve God in serving my master with diligence cheerfulness and faithfulness O what resort was there of young ones to him for direction and advice in things which they did not think it so fit to trouble their Pastor with and how did he endeavour to season his fellow servants with grace When he went to any of his Masters Patients how diligent in using of means for their recovery and how careful to drop something that might tend to the health of their souls and as he had opportunity amongst the weaker and poorer sort he would pray with them and O with what vehemency of spirit with what fluency of expression and with what mighty affections would he do it I need not tell some of you how helpfull he hath been to the bodies and souls of the sick and upon this account he looked upon it as a great mercy that the Lord had called him to such an employment wherein he had such singular advantages to deal with poor souls about the affairs of Eternity I question noâ— but there are some standing here that have cause to bless God that ever they saw his face and I believe that some of you that are young and poor will quickly dearly miss him 7. He was exceedingly raised in duty and one that injoyed rare communion intimacy and acquaintance with God and for about five moneths as his own papers shew together he rarely came into the presence of God but he went away with some special tokens of his love so that he said he could have been contented to have left the world at a quarter of an hours warning Hear how his Papers speak My soul continued if my heart do not mightily deceive me in a thriving condition for five moneths O the comforts that I then had they are unspeakable I seldome went to duty but carryed my dear Saviour and brought him away with me every Ordinance was a visit of love my love to Jesus Christ and his members whereever I saw them was not to be expressed what hatred to sin what zeal for Gods glory what yerning of bowels towards poor souls in the state of nature how beautiful were the feet of the Embassadors of peace what a fulness and sweetness did I then see and feel in Christ ever hungring after him and ever satisfied with him and him alone what affections God-ward what despising of visibles what deep apprehensions of the Majesty and Attributes of God how did I walk unweariedly with him how did I rejoyce before him with fear and trust filially in him with trembling O what watchfulness over my thoughts words and actions Indeed I was often assaulted but I had a faithful Centinel which would give warning and admit of none but such as were friends to the Lord Jesus what low thoughts had I of my self and high prizings of a naked Christ Oh Sir in one word I made Religion my business and was taken up with that which concerned the glory of God every grace was at strife which should excell other in its actings I could never go to market but I could experience returns of Grace and Mercy In this I have not varied two words from his own writings in a letter that he gave me wherein he did grievously bewail the least departures of his heart from God as you shall hear in the next 8. He took special notice of his own heart and did mightily bewail any declinings from that vigour that sometimes he had and here I shall again use his words as they follow But this did not continue long it was as a calm before a storm for soon after my time being almost out I began to have some thoughts of my setting up and
and my poor soul to be reconciled and oh my soul what if these be so already or what if one had told thee of these things some five years agone certainly they would then have been too great for thy belief but what shall they now be so small as not to be worth thy praise oh disingenious soul Oh Lord pardon my unthankfulness oh that all the Angels in Heaven should rejoyce and bless God for what he hath done for thee even for thee for my poor soul And what canst not thou find in heart to endeavour to set forth his praises as much as thou art able that so it may be known that at least thou desirest to give all the glory to God and not to dare to take any to thy self oh my soul what sayest thou What say I oh I say again not unto me not unto me but unto the great and glorious Jehovah be all the glory given And because I hope thy desires are greater than thy expressions therefore fail not my soul to shew forth thy love and praises by giving up thy self wholly to serve and love fear and admire that God who hath done such great and wonderful things for thy soul that passeth thy understanding My Beloved is mine and I am his oh how art thou sure of that What is the peace concluded oh happy Conclusion oh blessed Conjunction shall the Stars dwell with the dust or the wide distant Poles be brought to mutual embraces and co-habitation but oh my soul here the distance is infinitely greater And now Rejoyce O Angels shout O Seraphims and all the friends of the Bridegroom prepare an Epithalamium be ready with the Marriage Song loe here is the wonder of wonders For Jehovah hath or is about to betroth himself for ever to his poor Captive my poor soul And is he so indeed as I hope he is then he owns the Marriage before all the World and is become one with me and I with him And now O my Lord and my God cauâ—â— thy face to shine on the soul of thy â—â—â—vant and shew him more and more 〈◊〉 vileness that he may lye very low even in the Dust and be humbled at thy feet and let the work which thou hast begun in the heart of thy poor Servant be established for ever and do more for me than I can require that thy name may be Magnified for ever and that all that hear of this may say The Lord of Hosts is the God of Israel Amen Hallelujah FINIS These Books with several others are Printed for and to be sold by Dorman Newman at the Chirurgions Arms in Little-Brittain near the Hospital-Gate Folio A Relation in form of a Journal of the Voyage and Residence of Charles the Second King of Great Brittain c. in Holland By Sir William Lower Knight Memoires of the Lives Actions Sufferings and Deaths of those noble Reverend Personages that suffered by Death Sequestration Decimation or otherwise for the Protestant Religion and the Great Principle thereof By David Lloyd A. M. sometime of Oriel Colledge in Oxon. Mr. Knox his History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland A Treatise of Justification By George Downam Doctor of Divinity Spencers History of Ireland Brathwaits English Gentleman and Gentlewoman Austins Meditations Review of the Council of Trent Babingtons Works Jermin on the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Quarto THat Excellent Piece of Mr. George Swinnocks Christian-mans Calling in three Volumns Directing the Christian how to make Religion his Business in all Relations Conditions and Occurrences that may fall out in his whole life Faiths Universal Usefulness with the Excellency of a Spiritual Life By that famous man of God Master Matthew Lawrence of Ipswich Mr. Elborough's Sermon on the Fire There is now extant that much expected Book of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs Entituled Gospel Remission Wherein is discovered First the many and great Gospel-Mysteries therein contained Secondly the glorious effects proceeding from it Thirdly the mistakes that are made about it Fourthly the true Signs and Symptomes of it Fifthly the way and means how to obtain it The Virtue and Value of Baptism Catechetically propounded as Antidote against all Baptism-despising Dicrates By Mr. Zach. Crofâ—on That much expected Piece of Mr. Durham Minister in Scotland his Exposition upon the whole Book of Canticles or Song of solomon is now Printed with Dr. Owens Preface and Mr. Durhams Epistle Dr. Hamptons Sermon before King James Lesley's Sermon tending to Unity Hampton's Three-fold State of man A Sermon before King James History of the Gentle Craft Dod and Clever on the Commandments Souls Sentinels Spicers Elogie on Sir Arthur Chester A Discourse upon Prodigious Abstinence Occasioned by the Twelve Moneths Fasting of Martha Taylor the Famed Derbyshire Damosel Proving that without any Miracle the Texture of Humane Bodies may be so altered that Life may be long Continued without the supplies of Meat and Drink With an Account of the Heart and how far it is interessed in the Business of Fermentation Humbly offered to the Royal Society By John Reynolds The Quakers Spiritual Court Proclaim'd Being an exact Narrative of two several Tryals had before that New-High-Court of Justice at the Pcele in St. John's Street Together with the Names of the Judges that sate in Judgement and of the Parties concerned in the said Tryals Also sundry Errors and Corruptions in Principle and Practice among the Quakers which were never till now made known to the World Also a Direction to attain to be a Quaker and Profit by it All which with many new matters and things of Remark among those Men are faithfully declared and testified By Nathaniel Smith Student in Physick who was himself a Quaker and conversant among them for the space of about XIV Years Octavo THe Life of Cardinal Woolsey that famous Lord Chancellour of England c. With the Remarks upon those Times not unworthy the perusal of ours The Excellency of the Pen and Pensil exemplifying the Uses of them in the most Exquisite and Mysterious Arts of Drawing Etching Engraving Limbning Painting in Oyl washing Maps and Pictures Also the way to cleanse any old Painting and preserve the Colours Furnished with divers Copper Cuts A guide to Ladies Gentlewomen and Maids how to behave themselves in all Estates Relations and Conditions By Hannah Wolley A guide to the True Religion Directing how to make a wise Choice of the Religion men Venture their Salvation upon By J. Clapham M.A. The Christians great Interest or a short Treatise divided into two Parts The first whereof containeth the Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ The second pointeth forth plainly the way how to obtain it wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of Express Covenanting with God By W. Guthry late Minister of the Gospel in Scotland The Fifth Impression Justification only upon a Satisfaction or the Necessity and Verity of the Satisfaction of Christ as the alone ground of Remission of sin asserted and opened against the Socinians By Robert Fergirson Minister of the Gospel in London The Pastors Love to a Loving People By Mr. William Thompson Minister of the Gospel in London A Synopsis of Quakarisme or a Collection of the Fundamental Errors of the Quakers With a brief Refutation of their most Material Arguments and particularly W. Pen's in his late Sandy Foundation shaken and an Essay toward the Establishment of private Christians in the Truth opposed by those Errors By Thomas Danson sometime Minister of the Gospel in Sandwich in Kent The Laws and Canons drawn up and agreed upon by the General Assembly or Meeting of the Head of the Quakers from all parts of the Kingdom Phanatick Primer for the Instruction of Little Ones in order to perfect reading By H. Adis Rebukes for sin by Gods Burning Anger by the burning of the City the burning of World and the burning of the Wicked with a Discourse of Heart-fixedness By Thomas Doolittel Minister of the Gospel The Life of Dr. James Usher late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland A most Comfortable and Christian Dialogue By Mr. William Cooper Spare Minutes Or Resolved Meditations and premeditated Resolutions By Arthur Warwick Clarissimi Viri Adriani Heerchoordi Philosophiae professoris Ordinarii Disputationum de Concursu Examen a Johanne Stearne M.D. Institutum ad Amicum suum Johannem Rawlineum An Excellent Oration of that late famously Learned John Raynolds D. D. and Lecturer of the Greek Tongue in Oxford very useful for all such as affect the Studies of Logick and Philosophy and admire Profane Learning Archers Jests Heaths Transubstantiation Sejanus Owen's Epigrams King James meditations None but Christ Four Select Sermons upon several Texts of Scripture wherein the Idolatry and Will-worship of the Church of Rome is laid open and confuted By Mr. Will. Fennar of Rochsord never before published Mr. James Maltons twenty Sermons preached on several Texts viz. Mans Petition and Gods Compassion shewed on Psalm 138.3 Mercy despised and God provoked thereby on Psalm 106.24 Christs Pretiousness on 1 Pet. 2.7 The necessity of Humiliation on Acts 16.29 30. Christ the Bread of Life on John 6.35 Christs two Disciples doers of Gods will on John 7.17 Fear of losing Salvation and the way to obtain it on Heb. 4.1 The Persevering Saint shall be crowned Saint on Rev. 3.11 Walking in Christ a sign of our right receiving of Christ on Col. 2.6 Light Discovered and Man Recovered on 1 Tim. 1.10 Christs Temptation the Saints Supportation on Heb. 2. and the last Verse Christs provision for mans Direction on Isa 40.11 Heaven upon Earth or the Best Friend in the Worst Times By James Janeway Unhappy Prosperity expressed in the History of Aâ—lius Sejanus and Philippa the Catamian The Practice of Quietness directing a Christian how to live quietly in this troublesome World The CHURCH MILITANT Historically continued from the Year 33. to the Year 1640. By Sir William Vaughan Knight A most Comfortable and Christian DIALOGUE between the Lord and the Soul By William Cooper Lord Bishop of Galloway The Vertue Vigour and Efficacy of the Promises Displayed in their Strength and Glory Duly methodised and fitly applyed to every Christians particular Case and Condition In a Soliloquy wholly Scriptural between the Soul and the Comforter With a Divine Rapture of the Soul now resting satisfied by the Spirit of the Holy Promise By Thâ— Henderson Hollingworths Justification In Duodecimo FINIS