of worth did rest Her comely Carriage to all men might claim A perfect right to a beloved Name Her actions were so just that they may tell She liv'd uprightly and she dy'd-as well Her Love and sweet Society did call â—en thoosand tears t' attend her Funeral And now she 's gone I hope her Soul 's aspir'd so Heavens high Ralace where she sits attir'd With glorious Immortality and sings â—â—elodious Tunes unto the King of Kings Oh there she rests free from the rubs of earth Hugging no Shadow but a real Mirth Where still me thinks I hear her sweetly sing Grave where 's thy power Death where is thy sting Methinks I hear her warbling tongue declare How good her works how great her wonders are Methought I saw in what triumphing state Her soul was led to Heaven's refulgent Gate Where when she came disro'bd of all her Sin The Gates flew open and her Soul flew in There there the Alpha of her joys will never Know an Omega but endure for ever Perhaps some will conclude me wondrous bold When this Elegious Poem they behold It is an Error that my hasty Quill Too rashly stept into against my will I hope 't is venial for in former times Boldness in truths were pardonable crimes Her splendent vertues did importune me To calculate and write this Elegie Of her That now is taking sweet repose In Heaven's eternal bed where none but those Shall sleep that in their Life-times study'd still Their hungry Lamps with precious Oyl to fill Sith thus she liv'd sith thus she dy'd O then Let 's imitate so good a Life And when We hear the sweet Narration of her Death Let 's learn to die Let them that live by breath Examine her brave actions and they 'll find She had true zeal imprinted in her mind Reader As often as report shall send Unto thy ears the Death of such a Friend Wonder not that she 's dead that 's too much wrong But rather wonder that she liv'd so long For Life 's but like a Candle every wind May puff it out and leave a Snuff behind Liue we a Thousand years we do but run Indebt to Nature when those days are done This is most sure our earthen vessels must At last dissolve and turn again to Dust Sic voluere fata Her Epitaph Mortality may here survey A Grave within whose bosome lay Rare Vertue Zeal whilst she had breath Yet quickly was blockt up by death Wholesome streams of rare zeal did rest In the close Chamber of her Breast Like Dorcas she sought to fulfil Sound work for her Redeemer still O but Death came and said thou must Now go dissolve and turn to Dust She is the first that ever came Hither from Cross-field of that name Whose vertuoos Life none will deny Taught Death to live and Life to dye I hope the Alpha of her joys will never Omega know but last for ever Spes mihi magna subit By me Christopher Rickerby School-master of Lazonby For his invaluable Friend Mr. Richard Wilson at Crosfield My Dear and Well-beloved Brother IT shall not be my work at this time to set your wound a bleeding a fresh or to adde weight to your present Affliction But I hope I shall willingly endeavour to heal it and to bear a part of your burthen and to have you upon my heart when I make my Address to God for Mercy and Pardon for mine own Soul And shall beg of God to support your Soul and to be to you instead of all Relations and Comforts which this vain fading perishing and deceitful world can afford you and that Christ may be to you instead of ten Children and give you a Name better than that of Sons and Daughters yea That Christ may be your all in all And I hope the Lord hath taught you not to sorrow as one without hope for she whom you so dearly loved is gone to her dearly Beloved there to dwell for ever where she is freed from Satan Sin and Sorrow all tears being wipt away from her eyes yea she is gone to her Husband Lord and King where she reaps the fruit and comfort of all her Labours and is blessed for So are the dead that die in the Lord Yea She now enjoyes thâ—â— sweet of all her private Retirements in Prayer and Meditation wherein she kept her communion with God in Christ whilst here And she wâ—â— lately shined as a glor ous Star in this Church is now glorified in Heaven she is possessed oâ— those mansions of Glory purchased and prepared by Christ for her Joh. 14.2 and there she 〈◊〉 beholding the Face of God reconciled to heâ— Soul by Christ where she is singing Hallelujahs yea the pure Praises of God and this shall â—â— her work yea rather her delight to all Eternity And then My dear Brother why should noâ— you with David the Child being dead arise and come into the House of the Lord to worship 2 Sam. 12.20 Brother Let me tell you in some sense if I may adventure to speaâ— it you have as much yea more reason to be contented and thankful than David had for your Daughters name was Mary who hath chosen thâ— better part which cannot be taken from her's And O that you were prevailed with willingly and thankfully to bear the indignation of thâ— Lord and to walk humbly with him who killeth and maketh alive who bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up Deut. 32.34 I believe Faith will teach you to kiss a striking Lord and to acknowledg the Soveraignty of aâ—â— angry God in the Death of your only Daughter to be above the power of Mortals who â—lucks up a Flower in its prime and is not to be â—lamed by us for it Our Lord hathpluckt up â—ne of his Roses let us pray that his blessed Will may be done our Lord hath numbred man's months and set him his bounds which â—e cannot pass Job 14.5 I verily believe your Lord hath taught you to lay your hand upon your Mouth but I shall be far from desiring â—ny to make light of such great tryals and losses â—ut rather could wish that every cross were â—ook't in the face seven times and were read â—ver and over again It is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts and speaks something hath some â—â—and and the man of understanding will learn â—o hear and fear the Rod and him that appointed it O try what is the taste of the Lord's Cup and drink the Lord sanctifie it to you â—hat you may grow thereby I trust in God â—hat whatever speech it utter that that is one word in it for you in Job 5.17 Behold blessed the man whom the Lord correcteth and that it is safe for you you are from home while here you are not of this world as your Redeemer was not of this world there is somthing a keeping for you that is worth the looking after All that is here is condemned to dye and to pass away as a
and they wouâ—â— whatever they pretend to the contrary petitâ—â— for a Respite like the poor man in the Faâ—â— that wished for Death when he was overbuy thened with his sticks but when Death aâ— peared the man gets up with his Burden and away goeth he Poor men whatever they think or pretend they would find their Affections lime-twig'd with something or other that they cannot yet be ready to meet the Lord Jesus â— Sixthly There is this also in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus and that is To have the Affections elevated and upon the wing â—o meet the Lord Jesus The Affections are truly â—aid to be Alae Animae The wings of the Soul for they are the wings that carry the Soul after as desired Object Now when the Soul is â—eady to take its Flight to meet the Lord Jesus and mounteth upwards to meet him in the â—ay as if it would prevent Christ of the pains to â—â—me and fetch it this is Actual Readiness with â—â— Accent or Preparedness in summo gradu in â—e highest degree that man is capable of to â—eet the Lord Jesus We read of Elijah's â—cending to Heaven in a fiery Chariot so when â—e Soul hath its Affections like so many fiery â—hariots to carry it swistly on to meet the Lord â—sus here is Readiness indeed So we find â— Paul thus setting forth his desire to be with thrist Phil. 1.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having a â—hement hot and flagrant Affection to be with â—hrist which is best of all Seventhly To be Actually ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus Is to have a suitable â—ame and temper of Spirit for a Dying Hour Thou art not prepared to meet Christ till thou art prepared to die Now I will shew you when a man is of a suitable frame of Spirit for a dying hour and take it in these Four Particulars First When a man is freely willing to bâ— disposed of by God this is a suitable frame 〈◊〉 Spirit for a Dying Hour When God sender his Messenger Death to summon a man to appear before the Lord and the man then is able to say Good is the Will of the Lord concerning me and let him do with me as seemeth good in hâ— sight Here is a man of a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying Hour and consequently ready in a good degree to meet the Lord Jesus Thus the Man Christ Jesus shewed his readineâ— for dying in this suitable frame when he said Not my Will but thine be done Mat. 26.39 43. And good old Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And Daviâ— 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him dâ—â— me as seemeth good unto him Secondly When a man can take complacence in God's so disposing of him this is to be of suitable frame of spirit for a Dying hour Thâ—â— is as I may say the highest pitch in this spiritual frame When a man cometh to this length as to take pleasure in God's taking him off bâ—â— Death this is to rise high in this Heavenâ— frame This I grant is rarely attained unto by those that are come up to some considerable legrees of Assurance that they are already passed from death to life Thus we find it was with Paul and those Saints of whom he speaketh 2 Cor. 5.1 We know saith he that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved â—e have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens here is his and their Assurance Now mark what followeth For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be â—â—athed upon with our house which is from Heaven Paul and the rest of these Saints with him â—ere so straitned in the Body as that they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summo amore complectentes emâ—acing with the greatest delight as an hungry â—an his food or a naked man his cloaths their â—use which they were waiting for from Heaven â—ut how were they to come to be cloathed upon â—ith their house from above No other way ordinarily but by being uncloathed of the â—uses of their Bodies But could they be â—eased to have their cloathing of Flesh stript off â—em Not simply as such for this was against â—e Law of Nature which is for the preservation â—â— it self but yet as the Bodies uncloathing was â—e way and means to bring them to be cloathed â—â—th Immortality so they could take pleasure â—â—d delight in it This is no more than what â—â—ul hath elsewhere expressed Phil. 1.23 Having desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here translated to depart signifieth properly to be dissolved or to have the cords of Nature loosened the bands between the Soul and Body untied Now St. Paul saith It is his desire or as thâ— word is his fervent desire to be dissolved No that he simply took pleasure in the dissolution 〈◊〉 his compositum or union between his Soul and Body but as his dissolution would be the waâ— to bring him to Christ which he so much longeâ— for so he took pleasure or as Beza expound it contended in his desire to be dissolved So those Martyrs we read of in Heb. 11.39 would not accept of deliverance though theâ— were tortured or as the word is stretched form upon the Rack that they might obtain a beâ—â—â— Resurrection They would not thank their Adversaries for saving their lives or be beholden to them for their sparing mercy but rathâ—â— took pleasure in so cruel a Death as ordered 〈◊〉 them by the Almighty that they might obtain better Resurrection It is said of Aaron thâ—â— he received a commandment from the Lord 〈◊〉 die in Mount Hor Numb 33.38 But hâ—â— did he die Did he take complacency in thâ—â— disposal of the Almighty Yes as appeared from Numb 20.23 24 25 26 27 28. where 〈◊〉 is said That Moses stripped Aaron of his Garments not against the will of Aaron but with the free consent of Aaron as appeareth by 〈◊〉 freeness and readiness without the least reluctancy intimated to go with Moses unto Mount Hor to die there Aaron as far as we can gather any thing from the letter of the Text made no more of dying than a man doth of putting off his cloaths to go to Bed or of having them taken off that he may go to his rest which ordinarily is an act of complacency and delight to a man after his weariness and toilsome labour The same may be gathered from Moses himself Deut. 32.48 49 50. with Deut. 34.5 compared which is in excellent frame of Spirit for a Dying-hour Thirdly When a man can hang loose from and freely part with all his worldly comforts and enjoyments this is an excellent frame of Spirit for a Dying hour For a man to set his earthly comforts at his back and have only Heaven before his face this is a blessed temper of Spirit It is said of
Abraham That when he went to sacrifice up his Son Isaac to God he left his Young men with the Ass behind him Gen. 22.5 to when a man sacrificeth up his life to God for him then to leave all at the foot of the hill this â—â— a suitable frame of spirit for a dying hour It â—â— said of those Worthies in Heb. 11.15 That â—hey were not mindful of the Countrey from whence they came out They did not like Israel in the Wilderness think of Egypt or look â—ack like Lot's wife towards Sodom but they hung loose from the world and only fixed and fastened their Affections upon Heaven How did several of our famous English Martyrs in Q. Maries daies hang loose from their dearest comforts and Relations That when they were set before them sometimes for a Temptation or Aggravation of their sorrows and torments could easily overlook them and go on in their Suffering down to the Valley and Shadow of Death with the greatest chearfulness imaginable O blessed frame when a man is so dead to his Life Relations and all other worldly enjoyments as that he is not captivated in his Affections with it but hath in a holy manner so forgot it as that he is got above it here is a person indeed of a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour How many are there that have the world set in their heart as the expression is Eccles 3.11 That have the very Essigies or Scheme of the world drawn upon their hearts as Calice was upon the heart of Q. Mary as she her self expressed it Alas such are like to have as sorrowful a parting with and from it as we may imagine the rich Fool had from his Goods laid up for many years in that night when his Soul was required of him Luke 12.19 20. Poor men These are far from this suitable frame of spirit for a Dying hour Fourthly When a man hath a rellish of Heaven upon his Spirit a taste and fore-taste of the fruit of the Vine that is drunk in that eternal Canaan this is a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour A man is never fitter for Dying â—hen when his heart is in Heaven and his spirit â—lipt in the honey of Canaan When the grapes of Eshcol and Pomegranats and Figs of Canaan are tasted and leave such a tang upon the spirit behind them as sharpen the appetite and scent the Soul with the sweet odours and perfumes of Heaven here is a glorious frame of Spirit for a Dying hour When good Simeon that had waited for the Consolation of Israel had got Christ in his Arms He tasted so sweet to the spiritual Palate of the good man as that he is forward for dying Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine tyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.28 29 30. Heaven dropt into the spirit of a man and the scent thereof retained puts a man into a right and suitable frame of heart for a dying Hour All the Pains Aches Troubles and Tortures that attend such cannot unframe them while Heaven and their Souls are thus incorporated together Nihil crus sentit in nervo cum animus â—est in coelo Tertul. And thus much shall serve for the opening of the first Particular viz. Wherein this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus doth consist Secondly Now it followeth next in order to shew you Why it is the great Concern of all that would be saved to make ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus GROUNDS First Because of the great hazard that all men run into that make not ready for the coming of Christ Let me explain this a little to you and that in Two Particulars First In reference to the wicked The hazard they run in not preparing and making ready for Christ's coming is most dreadful and dangerous They do inevitably expose their Soul to everlasting Ruine and Destruction It hath been shown you already that there is a Fundamental Readiness which positively lyeth in Regeneration and if the work of Regeneration pass not upon you before the coming of the Lord Jesus you are undone to all Eternity What is more plain from the infallible Scriptures than that unless a man be born again he cannot seâ— the Kingdom of God Doth not the Scripture tell you That no unclean thing shall enter into that Holy City of Heaven nor any thing whatsoever that worketh Abomination or maketh a Lie Rev. 21. last And what then will become of such Now see what the Scripture saith in this particular Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13.3 5. Now consider his all ye that forget God lest he tear you in â—ieces and there be none to deliver And you Hypocrites Though you have cleaner faces than he profaner sort in the world yet your hearts â—â—e as black as theirs and the hazard you run is â—â—ost dreadful Read at your leasure Mat. 25. â— 8 10 11 12. Were not the Five foolish Virgins shut out of the Bridegrooms Chamber â—h consider it seriously Is it nothing to venture â—our Souls and to expose them to so great a â—azard as you certainly do while you neglect regarding this Fundamental Readiness Secondly In reference to the Godly themselves â—â—en they expose themselves to hazard for want of Actual Preparation Though their Souls be â—â—fe in the main through their habitual Readiness so that they cannot finally miscarry yet â—ere are hazards they run through their Defectiveness in actual Readiness I will shew you in Four Particulars 1. They make their passage through this vally of Bacha exceeding difficult and dark their salvation at last is a surprizal to them And their fears at present cannot but be great upon them especially upon occasions when Eternity â—â— before them and they see themselves before â—e very face of it It cannot be otherwise but â—ose Souls that have had no due regard to actual Preparation for the coming of Christ unless they have lost all sense of their Souls and Eternity to come must have doleful Fears and inward pinching Perplexities especially when Death stareth them in the face When a man hath been lamentably off from the exercise of Grace and putting on the Wedding-garment and making out his title to everlasting life â—â— his conscience be awakened he must needs walth sorrowfully thorow the Valley of the shadow â—â— Death This is apparent from the Five was Virgins they were not actually ready when thâ—â— Bridegroom came upon them and then in what an hurry were they Mat. 25.7 then all thâ—â— Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps Theâ— arose with a fright like men that are suddenâ— alarmed out of their sleep at Midnight Nâ— question they were startled to purpose through the greatness of those fears that were upon then and were surprized with their Salvation And is it nothing to you O Saints to run this hazard or to bring upon your selves all this trouble and perplexity Assuredly you will be â—â— danger of
is described amongst other Qualifications by this also that He is a man that honours them that fear the Lord Psal 15.4 They honour them while living and when dead by an honourable Interment and after Death by honourable Thoughts of them by honourable Speech in the mention of them and by the Imitation of their Vertues and Graces and thus the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10.7 When persons in After-ages shall remember them and the things memorable in them they shall bless them and highly esteem them they shall not be so much as mentioned or spokeâ— without praise or benediction This is Honour to their Memories The end therefore of the following Narrative of the holy Life of Mary Wilson next to the Glory of God the Edification of the Church iâ— general the use and benefit of that Body where of she was a Member and the profit and comfort of her Parents and other near and deaâ— Relations surviving is the advancement of heâ— Memory and an encouragement for others imitation who often follow Patterns more thaâ— Precepts And to present as exemplary thâ—â— the Piety and Holiness of her that is deceased for that end When persons that dye are persons of known worth and usefulness 't is not fit that their Graces should die with them and that Vertue should be defrauded of its publique honour And because God honours them that honour him the Church has been alwaies careful to preserve and embalm their Memories And so is that Promise made good and the Will of God served therein whose mind it is That the Memory of the Jusâ— should be blessed Prov. 10.7 and kept from rotting whereas the Name of the wicked roâ—â— together with their Carcases And if the Authors of the ensuing Narrative with its adjuncts had only designed in the Publication thereof to continue the Memory and Christian Example of that precious Saint and â—ervant of Christ whose Death gave occasion to â—hem nothing had been done unworthy a Chriâ—tian aim Praise and Publick honour being a Debt that is owed to the righteous a debt saith Nazianzen in one of his Funeral Orations that of all debts is most just And as the antient Church was wont to preserve the Memory of the Saints â—â— those famous Dyptichs So might they seek â—â— continue the Memory of her Graces in this â—ublick Record that though being dead she â—ight yet speak She really deserves both glory raise and honour Glory that she be accounted vertuous and gracious Praise an honorable â—ention of her for her vertues and Honour viz. a â—estification of the former good opinion by some â—utward signs as Commendation erecting of â—tatues or Pillars c. It 's said of Abâ—lom that in his life-time he had taken and reared â—p for himself a Pillar and called it after his own â—ame because he had no son to keep his name in â—emembrance 2 Sam. 18.18 Yet that Remembrance of his as Job saith proved like ashes The â—ollowing Narrative will be a far better Monument to preserve the Memory of her Name and â—he name of her Parents It hath ever been the custome of the Church â—â— God to write the story of the Lives of eminent and well-deserving persons and it's pity thâ— such Memorials should be lost and condemnâ— to an obscure privacy both for their own usefulness and for her sake that was the occasion â—â— them Certainly God 's Worthies deserve soâ—â— publique Monument to continue their Memoâ—â— and Example for the imitation of the Good anâ— the reproof of the Bad. The Apostle tells uâ—â— That dead Saints may yet speak Hebr. 11.4 thâ—â— is Preach by their Example But then theâ— must be some to continue the memory of thâ—â— example or else how should it speak ought oâ—â— instruction to future Ages Therefore the Apostle observes of Abel in thâ—â— forenamed place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He obtained witness that he was righteous which may be referred to the publick witness and testimony of the written Word where his usual titâ—â— and stile is righteous Abel Matt. 23.35 And â—â— had said before of all the Patriarchs v. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They obtained a good report to wit â—â— the Church by the Scriptures Now since thâ— Canon of Faith was closed up there is no reason that the Memory of the Saints should be lost anâ— therefore God hath in every Age stirr'd up some that can handle the pen of the Writer by some publick Record to consign their Example to the use of the Church though 't is true it 's confesseâ— that many have been forgotten who were otherâ—wise famous in their generations for want of â—are in this kind Besides the Lord hath not only given us his Word for a Rule but he hath given us Examples also as a Rule to walk by he hath given us his own Example to imitate Ephes 5.1 1 Pet. 1.15 16. And his Sons Example 1 John 2.6 Heb. 12.2 3. 1 Pet. 2.21 Mat. 11.24 Learn of me But besides these leading unerring Examples the Examples of the Saints are to be commended to our Imitation both in Doing and Suffering Whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our Learning Rom. 15.4 And Examples are written we are bidden To go forth by the footsteps of the Flock Cant. 1.8 Why hath the Holy Ghost set the Pens of so many on work to write the Lives of the Saints Why hath he kept a Record of them in his own Book but for Instruction and Direction of his People in after-time The Lord hath not registred one act of the Saints but it is useful for us The acts of the Saints are full of Practical Divinity and their sufferings and troubles are full of Pathetical Divinity as the Exhortation of St. James doth more than intimate Jam. 5.10 Hence those antient Saints and Believers in Hebr. 12.1 are called a cloud of Witnesses because there is a directive and leading vertue in them As there was a Cloud that went before the Children of Israel in the Day to lead them So this cloud of witnessâ— leads us up and down the wilderness of our Sorrows and in the dark night of our Sufferings That the gracious pious and holy actings â—â— the fornamed deceased Saint may be an addition to this Cloud for your direction and conduct â—â— in part the design of the following Narrative with the Additionals Read it and imitate Live as she in the Fear of God and Faith â—â— Christ and you shall dye as she in his favour and everlastingly partake of that Felicity which she is now possessing in Heaven A brief Narrative of the holy and pious Life and patient peaceful and Christian Death of MARY WILSON MAry Wilson was born at Crosfield in the Parish of Kirkoswold in Cumberland the nineteenth Day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Two Her Fathers name is Richard Wilson a person of exemplary Piety and of singular Sincerity and Integrity and a very useful Instrument
Therefore we must necessarily understand it 〈◊〉 his Coming to the particular Day of Judgment to judg every Person when he dieth At least it cannot but be included herein The words offer two Points of Doctrine fairly to our Consideration Doct. 1. That it is the great concern of all Men that would be saved to make ready against the coming of Christ Doct. 2. That the uncertain time of Christ's certain coming should make all men to prepare and get ready for his coming The first Doctrine is that which we shall mainly insist upon as suiting the present sad occasion and the condition of all our Souls For the prosecution whereof three things shall be done First I shall shew you what it is to make ready against the coming of Christ or wherein this readiness doth consist Secondly Why it is the great concern of all that would be saved to make ready for the coming of Christ Thirdly Make Application of the Point First What it is to be ready against the coming of Christ or Wherein this Readiness doth consist I know that men generally think â—t no great business to get ready for Christ's â—oming Some think it is easily done And others think it is already done And a Third think that it matters not whether it be done or not for Mercy will save them whether they be ready or not But let all these consider That there is a Twofold Readiness that all must be found in that look for Salvation First There is a Fundamental Readiness Secondly There is an Actual Readiness First There is a Fundamental Readiness and this is also twofold First Negative Secondly Positive First There is a Negative-Fundamental Readiness and this lieth in putting off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Ephes 4.22 The Scripture phraseth it several waies as To deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts Tit. 2.12 former part To put away the evil of your doings To cease to do evil Isa 1.16 17. To lay aside every weight and that Sin which doth so easily beset us Heb. 12.1 To pluck out the right Eye and cast it from us to cut off the right hand and cast it from us Mat. 5.29 30. And many more such Phrases are to be found scattered up and down the Scriptures But these may suffice to teach us thus much That all that must be done before any man can be fundamentally prepared to meet the Lord Jesus I know there are many men in the world that make Gods Mercy the only pillow to bolstâ—â— themselves up in their wickedness that think they shall have peace though they add Drunkenness to Thirst that is Though they make provision for the flesh to fulfil it in the Lusts of it But let such know That if ever they be saved they must look to this Negative-fundamental Readiness that is Cast away all their Iniquities for bear to walk in the forbidden path of Sin for the Scripture assureth us That such as walk in crooked paths shall be led forth with the Workers of Iniquity that is They shall be â—ed to the place of Execution with such ungodly Sinners Psal 125.5 Secondly There is a Positive-fundamental Readiness which lyeth in being born again Joh. 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again be cannot see the Kingdom of God The Scripture also phraseth this several waies as To put on the new man which of to God is created in Righteousness and true Hosiness Ephes 4.24 To be renewed in the Spirit of our mind Ephes 4.23 To be born of the Water and of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 To be begotten again 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 To be â—onverted Math. 18.3 To repent Luk. 13.3 â— Act. 2.38 and 3.19 To believe in the Lord Jesus Act. 16.31 To be a new Creature 2 Cor. â— 17 To learn to do well Isa 1.17 To rash and make clean Isa 1.16 To make you a â—ew heart and a new spirit Ezek. 18.31 To â—â—ve godly righteously and soberly in this present â—vil world Tit. 2.12 And several other waies his Positive-fundamental Readiness is expressed in the Scriptures But I have given you these to let you see that all this you must be and do before you can be said to be ready to meet the Lord Jesus What ever the mad doting world dreameth of yet must men be brought to see That if ever they inherit Eternal Life they must go thorow this Regeneration-work They must become new Creatures and all old things must be done away and all things must become new Look to this all you that talk of Heaven and say you are marching up through the wilderness of this World to the eternal good Land of Canaan If you be deceived herein you are undone eternally Secondly There is an Actual Readiness that all must endeavour after that expect Salvation and this consisteth in these Seven Particulars First This Actual Readiness lyeth in the exercise of that Grace that is already wrought iâ— the heart of any man and this supposeth a fundamental or habitual Readiness of which we have but now spoken If once the Habit 〈◊〉 Grace be infused and seated in the Soul there must be the acting of it which is the drawing oâ— it forth into exercise If a man hath Faith hâ—â— must live by Faith if he hath the root of Holiness within him it must blossom and bud There is no Actual fitness for meeting of the Lord Jesus where there is no exerting and putting forth of the acts of Grace Luk. 12.35 Let â—our loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord v. 36. where it is implied That â—hose Souls are not in a fit posture for Christ's â—oming that have not their loins girded and their lights burning that is That are not actually applying themselves to the exercise of Grace or trimming their lamps as the Phrase is Mat. 25.6 7. Believe it Christian Thou art â—ot actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus if thou â—rt not living by Faith and labouring to keep live the breathings of the Holy Ghost in thy â—oul The Apostle Peter sheweth us what Posture men should be in that are looking for salvation by Jesus Christ they should be actually bent to the acting of Grace 1 Pet. 1.13 â—herefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be â—rought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus â—hrist Secondly This Actual Readiness lies in makâ—ng new Additions of Grace to that Grace that â— already received To be coming forward in â—oliness and increasing with the increase of God To sit down with the Grace that thou â—ast already received is to remain under great â—efects and gross Neglects which is nothing â—se but plain and down-right actual Unpreparedness to meet the Lord Jesus The Scriptures tell us of Additions of Grace to be made to out Grace not only additions of Grace
to Grace â— mean of one Grace unto another but of degrees of Grace to the same Grace that is already received The former is plain from 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. Add to your Faith vertue c. The latter is as plain from those Scriptures that enjoin the increase of particular Graces upon us 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude v. 20. But ye Beloved Building up your selves in your most holy Faith 1 Thes 4.10 We beseech yeâ— Brethren that ye increase more and more that is in love Jam. 1.4 But let patience have he perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing And many more such instances might be given Now till this be done thou art not actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus There is a certain measure of Grace assigned and the period of time fixed for every Saint to come up to it in Ephes 4.13 and tâ—â— this be done we are not compleatly ready Thirdly Actual Readiness consisteth in this To have your Evidences clear for Heaven Tâ— be able to prove to your own Souls that you are in a state of Grace Till you be come up tâ— this length you are not so ready as you should be The Apostle enjoineth Saints To give â—â— diligence to make their Calling and Election sunâ— 2 Pet. 1.10 that is sure to themselves And when you have done this then are you ready for the Bridegroom 's coming When you can say with Paul and the other Apostles 2 Corinth 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens then are you actually ready and prepared for the Coming of the Lord. O then try your own selves your states and conditions to see whether Christ be in you or not Never think that you can be ready in any good measure till you understand something of this Can a man be ready to meet Christ that knoweth not whether he belongeth to Heaven or Hell to Salvation or Destruction Alas Such an one is yet short of that degree of readiness that should be attained in order to Christ's coming Fourthly There is also this in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus viz. A compleating of the work that God hath given us to do Every man hath his Generation-work set him of God to do and finish and till this be done no man is ready for the coming of the Lord. It is said of David Act. 13.46 That after he had served his Generation he fell asleep When a man hath done all his Generation-work he is then fit for Death and ready for Christ St. Paul foreseeing his Death hath these Expressions 2 Tim. 4.6 7. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Mark Paul saith he is ready to be offered as our Translation hath it though I know the Greek word may be translated otherwise But how proves St. Paul that he is ready Why For saith he I have finished my course c. As if he had said I have done all my Generation-work and therefore I am ready O Souls then and not till then are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus till you have done all the work which God hath given you to do in the world Most men God knoweth spend their time for very Vanity not considering that they have their task to do yet they think when they have lived as long as they can then there is no more but dying and entring into Glory Poor mistaken Soul Thou hast thy Generation-work to mind and also to compleat And if thou hast not set about it and brought it to its period thou art far from the Kingdom of God and consequently very unfit to die and unready to meet the Lord Jesus Be not deceived There is much to do before thou canst be ready for Christ Try then what thou hast done this way Hast thou wrought out thine own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Hast thou filled up thy time with Duty Hast thou done all the work of thy Place Condition and Relation If not thou art not yet ready enough to meet the Lord Jesus Fifthly This Actual Readiness lies also in this viz. To have the Affections in subjection and under command and as it were brought under ones feet That when the Lord Jesus cometh with a Summons for the Souls appearance then the Soul to have so much power over it self as to say Arise let me go hence So that there needeth no more but Christ's Call and the Soul is ready to set forward and to take sits march to meet him this now is actual Readiness It is said of Abraham that when he was called to go into a place that he should afterwards receive for an Inheritance he obeyed Heb. 11.8 So when Christ giveth the Soul a Call to go from hence for the Soul then to have its Affections so subdued and so under command as forthwith to obey the Lord's Call this â—s Readiness indeed It is also said That the Witnesses upon a voice crying from Heaven to them Come up hither ascended to Heaven in a Cloud Rev. 11.12 So when Christ's voice from Heaven biddeth the Soul come up hither and the Soul upon the call ascendeth to Heaven this is Readiness in multis gradibus in many legrees to meet the Lord Jesus We read that when the Lord shall give the poor Jews a Call to return that they shall be so ready in their Affections to make answer to their Call as that they shall forthwith make this Reply Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Jer. 3.22 So when Christ saith Return ye Children of Men and we answer Behold we come unto thee then are we in a proportionable measure prepared to meet the Lord Jesus The Centurion told Christ That his Servants were so under his Authority that if he bid one of them go he goeth and if another come he cometh and if he bid the third do this he doth it Mat. 8.9 So if our Affections like the Centurion's Servants be so under Christ's and our Authority that if they be bid go they gp or come they come or do this they do it This is to be fitted for the coming of Christ Bâ—â— on the other hand now If the Affections be â—â— unruly unsubdued and masterful as that theâ— will not bend to the Call of Christ when eveâ— he summoneth any of us to appear before Hâ—â— we are not yet ready to meet the Lord Jesus Many Souls I know will pretend that if thâ—â— be to be ready then they are already prepared for they are as they pretend willing to depaâ—â— from hence when ever the Lord shall call theâ— But alas How far are such mistaken for let bâ— Christ Call for their Souls
that come under the lash of this Point First There is the Carnal Professour thaâ— justly falleth under Conviction who deceiveth himself with his fair pretences and meer shaâ—â— dows he looketh like one that is making ready for Christ and yet really and in good earneâ—â— he never endeavoureth to get his Soul furnisheâ— with those Preparations that would fit him sâ—â— Christ This poor man like the five fooliâ—â— Virgins hath his lamp but he hath no oyâ—â— it His heart is graceless and yet he goes oâ—â— till he see himself deceived when it is too lateâ— My Friends believe it for a truth It is not whâ—â—â— you appear to be by your Profession but whaâ—â— you really and actually are by powerful impressions within you and spiritual actions done bâ—â— you that will make you to be ready for tâ—â— Coming of the Lord Christ Do you think thaâ— the Lord Jesus will look upon your outward Profession to be all the Preparation he required when he shall come and call for your Souls Be not mistaken Whatever you think or judg in this Case the Lord Christ will be of another mind yea and will disown such to be ready for him Mark his own words Math. 7.21 22. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord â—hall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven But he â—hat doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and 〈◊〉 thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name one many marvellous works But maâ—k what answer he returneth them And then will I proâ—ss unto them I never knew you Depare from â—eye that work iniquity Secondly There is the earthly Miser whose â—art is eaten out and devoured with the ca es â— the world This silly Muckworm cometh â—â—der the whip Alas This covetous Wretch â—â—ndeth at the widest distance from Preparaâ—â—n for the coming of Christ It is true he is â—â—king himself ready but what is it for onâ—â—for his Incomes from the world There is no â—â—n of greater Contrivance Care and Action â—â—n this wretch but all is spent and laid out â—ut his earthly Concerns His Thoughts â—ections Head Heart and Hand are all â—aged but still about his carnal Contemements Though he sometimes talk of Heaven and the Coming of Christ yet is he not at leisure to think leriously of either He cannot spare time from the world to prepare for Heaven and Christ See his Emblem or Portraicture to the life in the Parable of the Rich man recorded in Luk 12.16 17 18. where we have hiâ— Thoughtfulness Care Contrivance and Activeness set forth about his earthly Profits And tâ— speak the truth A worldly man looketh upon the world and his concerns in it to be 〈◊〉 greatest concerns As for Heaven and going to it he is willing to run the hazard this shall not trouble either his head or heart at presenâ— But if he must think of Heaven and the comâ— of Christ he will defer that till he hath do with all his concerns in the world and that when he cometh to die then he will cry 〈◊〉 mercy and ask forgiveness and this is all 〈◊〉 Readiness in his judgment that will be requisite to be minded Adde to these your Jovial Sirs that spâ—â—â— their days in mirth and in a moment go doâ—â— to the Grave That live as if their lives were be sacrificed to their lusts Poor men Tâ—â—â— put far from them the evil Day and all thouâ—â— of the coming of Christ Amos 6.3 4 5 6. 〈◊〉 men in the world are more unready for a dâ—â— hour than these And God many times coâ—â—â— upon these on a sudden and sweepeth them to the Grave in the midst of their Jollity read and tremble at those words of Christ Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee If you mark it was that very night after the poor Miser had been pleasing himself with the thoughts of what stores of Wealth and Pleasure he had laid up for his Soul against the time to come v. 19. I will say to my soul Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry But this poor Fool is cut off in the midst of his pleasing thoughts before the morning The like you have in Belshazzar who in the midst of his Cups is fairly presented with the Finger of Death to cut him off Dan. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. Thirdly There is the Secure Sinner that is fast asleep upon his Pillow of ease who is not â—t all awakened either by the Threatnings of the Word or other Providential Alarms that â—â—e hath He hath many Spectacles of Mortaâ—ity before his eyes yet is he not at all startled â—â—r awakened by any of these to consider his ways these also are far from this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus Poor secure Sinners what will you do in the Day when the Lord shall â—ome forth against you Do you think that then â—e shall be able to sit quiet and remain secure 〈◊〉 trow not When God shall arise and comâ—â—â—pon you he will awaken you to purpâ—â—â— When there was a cry made at Midnight 〈◊〉 hold the Bridegroom cometh the slumbering Virgins could sleep no longer They had been secure and sleepy under Ordinances and Prâ—â—dences before but when Christ cometh upon them they rouse up to purpose Matth. 25 â—â— will it be done to you There is not the secâ—â—â— rest Soul among you but when the Lord Chriâ—â— alarms you shall rise up with trembling yoâ—â— will be made to quake for fear at his appearance O then to prevent this awake your selves bâ—â—â— times and get ready that Christ may not coâ—â—â— upon you at unawares Fourthly The Presumptuous Sinner fallen under Reproof by this Doctrine who hardened himself in his Wickedness and sinneth with aâ— high hand and yet concludeth he shall haâ—â— peace though he walketh after the Imaginations of his own evil heart to adde Drunkenneâ—â— to Thirst But what saith the Scripture about this sort of men The Text is terrible Deut. 29â— 19 20. The Lord will not spare that man but bâ—â— anger and jealousie shall smoak against him 〈◊〉 then be not so foolishly mad as to hope for Mercy at the coming of Christ whilst ye go on aâ— so round a rate in Sin Though ye have made 〈◊〉 Covenant with Death and with Hell are at agreement yet because ye have made lies your refugâ—â— and hid your selves under falshood your Covenant with Death shall be disannulled and your agreement with Hell shall not stand The Hail shâ—â— sweep away your refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow your hiding place and when the overflowing scourge shall pass thorow then shall â—e be troden down by it Isa 28.15 16 17 18. Fifthly To add no more There is the languishing Professour that falleth under the rebuke of this Doctrine who though his condition be safe because of his
you 〈◊〉 be glad that she is now in a full peaceable yâ—â— gloâ—â—ous condition and state in Heaven Yâ—â— have great cause of rejoycing sith her joy 〈◊〉 begun which shall never end Now the Loâ—â— hath betrothed her to himself in Righteousneâ—â— and that for ever Hos 2.19 I cannot remeâ—ber that you were ever absolutely against her Marriage no nor that you were against it at all provided that she got a good Husband She hath now gotten a good Match indeed the Marriage betwixt Christ and her Soul is compleated and consummated 2 Cor. 11.2 Rev. 19.7 8. Let us be glad and rejoice in him sith she is now married to Christ and will you not rejoice at least a little with your Daughter on â—her Wedding-day She hath sown in Tears and now is reaping in Joy Psal 126.6 And let this also a little prevail with you God gave you your Daughter but during pleasure He might have taken her away the very first day he gave her and have done you no wrong We are Tenants at Will God may when his pleasure is put us out of Possession and therefore we should learn with Job to submit our selves and bless his Name when he giveth or when he taketh away You shall shortly go to her she shall not return to you It 's but a little while and you shall for ever have her company Wherefore comfort your self with these words 1 Thes 4.13 14-17 18. This is all that I can further do to recommend your Case to your Lord who hath engraven you upon the Palms of his Hands If I were able to do more you may believe me that I gladly would Now the God of all Grace confirm and stablish your heart in Truth and Peace till the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God be obtained and I pray that God may be to your Soul the God of all Consolation I pray remember my Love to your Wife and to all our Christian Friends with you My Wife hath her Love remembred to you and begs your Prayers Blacklough Aug. 27. 1672. Your unworthy Brother J. H. The Copies of two Letters written to Mr. Rich. Wilson that tender and sorrowful Father which lately buried his dear and hopeful Daughter Dear Friend I Was informed of the sad tidings of the Death of your Daughter and yesterday yours of â—ugust 10. came to my hand and the Relation 〈◊〉 the manner of her Death did somewhat allay â—â—e sorrow and since the Lord hath dealt bounâ—fully with her in giving her Grace and Gloâ—y you may sing I confess if you respect your â—ss it is so great that you may mourn and â—efuse to be comforted because she is not But â—nsider she was a Loan lent of the Lord. All 〈◊〉 Comforts are but lent Comforts and we are not to repine when God calls for them again but â—â—tiently to submit to Gods holy Will Seing it 〈◊〉 the Lord who hath done it who hath absoâ—â—ute Soveraignty over all his Creatures We â—â—st be dumb and say nothing and as Aaron â—â—ld our peace She is taken away in the flowâ—â— of her Age but God knew it the best time to â—op her and haply she is taken away from â—e Evil to come She is entered into peace â—ou may account your self more happy that once you did enjoy her than now miserable that she is so suddenly removed for she is not lost but gone before us We shall go to her she will not return to us The Lord hath delivered her from Sin and Sorrow and you froâ—â— Fear and Care concerning her How happy would you have esteemed youâ— self if she had been match'd to one who haâ— all desired Accommodations and to a Person who had been endowed with all possible Aâ—â— complishments both Sacred and Civil youâ— eyes seeing it Thus it hath been done to beâ— whom the King of Heaven had a delight to â—â—nour He hath betrothed her to Himself for eveâ— and this day of her Espousals may be the Day 〈◊〉 the gladness of your Heart For this hath in the bowels of it many glorrous Mercies God hath done it and that is enough to satisfie any Souâ—â— and he hath done it for ever His heart is so 〈◊〉 it that there shall never be any breach of 〈◊〉 Conjugal Love and Communion Yâ—â— have heard of the Patience of Job and haâ—â— seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is veâ—â— pittiful and of tender mercy and happily 〈◊〉 end of the Lord in this is for to draw you heart Heaven-ward Where not only youâ— Child but your best and chrefest Love is Be now more frequent in Heavenly Visiâ— and have your Conversation in Heaven aâ—â— where your Treasure is there let your Heart also Mourn not that you go Childless but rejoice that you do not go Christless Neither â—â—y I am bereft of the comfort of my life when â—â—e God of all comforts is yours David at â—â—glag comforted himself in the Lord his God â—o and do likewise for God is All-sufficient to apply all our wants and the Earth is never so â—â—id of Comfort but there is Comfort enough â—â—the God of Heaven in whom Wives Children â—nd every good thing are lodged You could not be assured though you say â—our Daughter never grieved you in all her â—â—me that you should alway have comfort in â—â—er But in the Lord Jehovah there is constant â—â—msort and constant joy Psal 37.4 You â—now the Comforts of the world are but cisterns and may fail Therefore wipe away all Tears and go to the Fountain God whose Favour is â—â—ter than Life and better than all in this life â—â—n whose Light we shall see light However sorrow not like them that have no â—ope The Egyptians bewailed Jacob Seventy Daies Joseph his son mourned but seven Daies Which teacheth Christians to keep a mean in Mourning we may sorrow but it must be with sobriety and in measure When David's Child was dead he arose from the Earth and went into the House of the Lord and worshipped And Job when his Children were dead he blessed the Name of the Lord. And indeed the People of God turn all their Afflictions and Crosses into Prayers and Praises Grace makes every condition work Glory to God as God makes every condition work together for good to them that love him And if we bless God in our Afflictions then our Afflictions are Blessings to us Unto the Righteous saith David there arise Light in Darkness Comfort in Troubles and Deliverances out of all Distresses are the fruit of Gods Grace therefore wait on God in the way of his Judgments and you shall yâ—â— find that he is good and can do you goodâ— Though others dye yet God lives and eveâ— lives to do good When therefore you look oâ— the right hand and see your Dearly-Beloveâ— gone then cry to the Lord and say Thou 〈◊〉 my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the â—â—ving And ever remember that of the Apostâ—â— Christ is all and in all