Absalom to live in Jerusalem if he might not see the face of the King It is not enough to a Christian of Christs making to live in a Church if he does not see the face of a Christ Divine withdrawings are Soul-troubles now Soul-troubles are the saddest and the sorest Troubles Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled What loss next the loss of the Soul to the loss of the Face of God and Christ Hath God forgotten to be gracious will he be favourable no more A Christian thorough Grace knows in some measure how to bear other losses but he knows not how to bear this loss a loss of the Face of God Is not that a strange strain Wherefore hidest thou thy face Job 13.24 and holdest me for thine enemy Is not now a time of Desertion a time of Need and do not those who are Christs stand now in need of fresh and full supplies from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Duty is a time of Need. The chiefest and choicest Saints have no exemption from Duty Mercy exempts not from Duty Mercy is so far from giving a dispensation unto Duty as that it layeth under the greatest obligation for Duty Two things here fall under discussion the Duty to be performed and the indifferency of spirit to perform this Duty The Duty to be performed There are varieties of Duties incumbent upon those who are Christs there is meditating and mourning preaching and praying hearing and reading but I shall single out one Acts 9.11 and that is Prayer Go for behold he prayeth Prayer is natural worship and incumbent it is upon every creature to look unto the Creator Consider the indifferency of spirit to perform the duty Indifferency of spirit is a malignant disease a disease full of malignity where is the man or the woman that is not more or less at some time or other tainted with it The Church was not without this Plague-sore I have put off my coat Cant. 5.3 how shall I put it on I have washed my feet how shall I defile them Had she not then too great indifferency of spirit whether she should open to Christ or no whether she should maintain a converse with Christ or no whether she should be found in a way of Duty or no Ye have said it is vain to serve God Mal. 3.14 and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and that we walked in black before Jehovah of Hosts If persons be indifferent whether they meditate and pray or no whether they hear and read or no whether we keep up Family and Closet Duty or no it is very dangerous for if a person take leave of Duty he is like to take leave of Christ too The safety and mercy of a Soul are in a way of Duty Thy Safety is in a way of Duty He that hearkneth unto me shall dwell safely Prov. 1.33 and shall be quiet from fear of evil He shall not onely be quiet from the evil of fear but also quiet from the fear of evil Jonah was safe while he kept with God Thy Mercy is in a way of Duty Oh that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments what then Isa 48.18 what not then Then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea Then there had been more Peace and more Grace too There is a twofold Obedience Active and Passive now Grace for both is laid under promise There is a twofold Obedience Active and Passive now Grace for both is laid under promise Grace for Action is laid under promise Oh that I could do more for a Christ is the Cry of every Soul in Christ Oh I tremble to think least my day should be at an end before my work be done Oh saith the Soul my Glass is almost out and little of my work is done But Soul Grace to do is laid under promise Verily Verily John 14.12 I say unto you he that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto my Father Grace for Passion is also laid under promise As there must be doing so suffering according to the will of God Oh saith the Soul there may be a Storm at hand a Shower of Blood at hand and I know not how to weather it Oh saith the Soul for ought I see there may be a Rack for me a Stake for me and I know not how to weather these But Soul Grace to dye as well as do is laid under promise It is given unto you in the behalf of Christ Phi. 1.29 not onely to believe but also to suffer for his sake Are not now these times times of need and do not now those who are Christs stand in need of fresh and full supplies from the God of Grace of the Grace of God Thus of things present Those actually Christs are Heirs of things to come As Heirs of things present so there are things to come of which they shall be Heirs But Qu. what are those things to come of which those who are actually Christs shall be Heirs Those actually Christs Sol. 1. shall be indulged hereafter a perfect knowledge Knowledge is imperfect here it will be perfect hereafter Ignorance is so far from being a Virtue Multi multa sciunt se autem nome as that it is a Vice and so far from being the Mother of Devotion as that it is the Mother of Destruction whatever the blind and the bloody Papists say It was the usual Speech of Henry IV. That many know many things but no man himself It is deservedly accounted a piece of excellent knowledge to understand the Law of the Land and the Customs of a mans Countrey how much more to know the Statutes of Heaven and the Laws of Eternity It was the saying of One To know thy self is very difficult for as the Eye can see all things but it self Basil so some can discern all faults but their own We should be thankful for the little that we know and humble that we know so little We should use our knowledge as much as we can Nosce teipsum but know it as little as we can unless in the using of it To know for our Good is onely good knowledge To know God and our selves is the sum of all knowledge God doth not know him that knows not himself It is said of a holy and learned man that in the midst of his Learning Bishop Vsher he would still cry out of his ignorance of Christ. Empty Vessels sound most and shallow streams make the greatest noise in passage It was said by the Ancients That it is impossible to know God without God We must learn all that from God Ex puris negativis nihil concluditur which we know of God unless God be our Tutor we shall never be
ἜΣΧΑΤΟΣ ἘΧΘΡΟΣ OR THE DEATH of DEATH IN THE DEATH of CHRIST BEING A NARRATIVE of the First DEATH as the MISTRESS of MORTALS and EMPRESS of the UNIVERSE Consisting of various Sections and Directions as appears by the Index in order to a holy LIVING and happy DYING By R. MAYHEW Minister of the Gospel Author of Love to the Life and the Paternal Gift â—ob 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and â—o the house appointed for all living Cor. 15.26.55 The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death O Death where is thy sting Nil sic revocat a peccato quam assidua Mortis meditatio Bern. Quis intelligit se quotidie mori Sen. LONDON Printed by Thomas Snowden for the Author in the Year 1679. TO THE Candid and Cordial READER Reader A Reflection of four things the Immutability of God the Mutability of the World the Immortality of the Soul and the Mortality of the Body have been alaruming unto this Essay and alluring this Narrative of pale Death the Mistress of Mortals and Emperess of the Vniverse To these distinctly The Immutability of God Man is mutable but God is immutable Mal. 3.6 I am Jehovah I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed The most of Men are mutable as the Moon which scarcely abideth two daies in a shape but God is immutable Under all the Changes that are made by Man yea under all the Changes that are made by God there are no Changes made in God He is the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness Jam. 1.17 neither shadow of turning He is the Father of Lights not of Light God is compared to the Sun but his Light is much perfecter The Sun is the Body of Light but God is the Father of Lights of all Light Aethereal Natural Spiritual Coelestial The firmamental Sun hath its Turnings and annual Departures from us it rise and set may be clouded and eclipsed but God in some sense riseth not setteth not Psal 145.18 departeth not He is nigh unto all them that call upon him unto all them that call upon him in truth There is not only no turning in God but also not so much as the Shadow of it nor the least Imagination of a Shadow The Mutability of the World The World is a Mass of Mutabilities every Man every State every Thing is as it were a Planet whose spherical Revolutions are some of a longer and some of a shorter continuance That Cardinal was an Atheist Cardinal as well a Papist who preferred his part in Paris to his part in Paradise The World is a Fools Paradise and its Motto is This Something is Nothing Hoc aliquid nihil Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven Prov. 23.5 Luther The whole Turkish Empire saith one is but a crum that the Master of the Family casts to a Dog Who but the Alexanders and Caesars of the World the Nebuchadnezzars and Nimrods of the World the Pharoahs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 6.17 and Pompeys of the World that have been ordinarily the Lords of the World Riches are uncertain Trust not in uncertain Riches In the Vncertainty of Riches Eccl. 5.10 so the Greek Riches are unsatisfying He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied therewith Pro. 11.4 nor he that loveth abundance with increase Riches are unprofiting Riches Aut deserunt aut deseruntur profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousness delivereth from death Riches either leave us or are left by us They are not Food but Fewel to Desire They are like Salt-water the more we drink Dulce Venenum Bern. the drier we are Riches are like the Apples of Sodom more in shew than in substance and if touched they crumble to sulphur Riches saith one are a sweet poison The World and the Soul must part or Christ and the Soul will not meet The two Poles will sooner meet than the Love of Christ and the Love of the World The Immortality of the Soul In this World the Body was first and then the Soul but in Heaven the Soul is first and then the Body Origen If the World saith one be the Book of God then the Soul is the Image of God Plato Another calls the Soul the Glass of the Trinity The Soul is worth more Worlds than this world hath Souls in it The Soul is precious The precious Sons of Sion Precious Sons Lam. 4.2 having precious Souls And as the Soul is precious so the Redemption of the Soul is precious Psal 49.8 Oh how highly did Christ prize it when his Veins were breathed and his Vitals let out to redeem it He became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 The Soul is the Breath of God the Beauty of Man the Wonder of Angels the Envy of Devils The Body is but the Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel and this is immortal Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the Dust that is the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit that is the Soul unto God who gave it Christ and the converted Thief do go from Cross to Crown from Earth to Heaven To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 Mark 8.37 The loss of the Soul is a considerable loss a comprehensive loss an irreparable loss What can be given in Exchange for the Soul The Loss of the Soul is a kind of an infinite loss for it is the loss of an infinite God Psal 145.9 and this God a God of infinite Love The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity and hath a Stamp of Immortality Man hath a Soul Matth. 10.28 which Death it self despaireth how to kill Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul The Mortality of the Body Man is Mortal and not a Match for Death Zach. 1.5 Our Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever To be a Man is to be a Sinner and to be a Sinner is to be Mortal As it is true what Man is he that liveth and sinneth not It is as true what Man is he that sinneth and dieth not What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the power of the grave Man is but a Wink of Life Psal 89.48 Oculus apertus oculus clausus The Heathens Emblem for Life was an eye open and for Death an eye shut as if there were no material difference between the living and the dying Job 30.23 but the Twinkling of an Eye Death is the Circumference of the Vniverse and every mans Line meet in this Circumference May not every Individual say as He did I know that thou wilt bring me
there be daies in the Year of the Sun was translated from Earth to Heaven next after Adams death seven Patriarchs remaining Witnesses of his Translation Elijah Elijah a strong Lord as the word signifies called also Elias who in prayer Jam. 5.17 18. 2 King 2.11 12. prayed so the Greek that it might not rain and it did not rain that it might rain and it did rain This Elijah had his Rapture and his Rapture was a Type of Christ's Ascension He went up by a whirlwind into Heaven Elisha seeing it cryed my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof All that do live shall die or be changed Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep That is 1 Cor. 15.51 52. we shall not all die Now that by sleep he means Death the whole Discourse of that Chapter makes evident What shall become of us then This is answered in the words following but we shall be changed There shall be a corporeal and numerical Resurrection if Job may be credited Though worms destroy his body Job 19.26 27. yet in the flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me Every man shall have a Resurection out of his own Dust The dead in Christ 1 Thes 4.16 1 Câ—â—â—5 53 54. shall rise first These shall be raised into a state of Incorruption This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Now those then living having Christ for their Life shall not die but be changed into the same state of Incorruption Col. 3.4 and Immortality of those that shall have a numerical Resurrection given them by the power of God and the God of power SECT IV. Why Natural or Corporal Death is the Circumference of the Vniverse THat Man is Mortal and not a match for Death hath appeared why Man is mortal and not a match for Death will appear by these following Reasons Reasons Man hath sinned therefore man is mortal and must die Sin is that wretched womb wherein Death lay Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death All sorts and kinds of Death whether violent natural spiritual or eternal they are the stipend of sin Sin is the most mischievous thing in the world for it begins in turning the Heart from God and ends in turning God from the Heart Psal 9.17 now is not this man like to be turned into Hell Sin is that unhappy womb that have been productive of all the penal Judgments that have been in the world the first and the second Death Fire and Famine Poverty and Prison Plague and Pestilence the Rack and the Stake binding and banishing bleeding and burning they are the products of sin Oh my soul Nil nisi peccata timeo Chrysostom So Anselm all thy cares and crosses all thy fears and frowns all thy sorrows and sufferings all thy tears and troubles all thy tryals and travels they are the monstrous and prodigious Births and Effects of sin Wonder not that one said I fear nothing but sin Sin is the Mother Death is the Daughter Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men in whom all have sinned Sin is like Pandora's box which being opened was full of all evils filling the Earth with Diseases and all other Calamities What is said of War Bellum est malum complexum may be said of Sin it is a complex and complicated Evil. Sin is Evil only Evil all Evil alway Evil altogether Evil. We cannot speak worse of Sin than it is nor of Man being a Sinner than he is As God is that Good in whom is all Good Bonum in quo omnia sunt bona and no Evil so Sin is that Evil wherein is all Evil and no Good Death is the product of Sin Let the great Doctor of the Gentiles speak who had a great command of Oratory 1 Cor. 15.21 Vorstius By Man Adam the first came death That is by the Sin of Man came the Death of man by the Sin of man came the first and the second death upon man By man came death Not only Mortality as one saith but also eternal Death When the Jews are under a severe stroke they say This is part of the Golden-Calf That is this suffering is for our sin The Mother of Nero concerning him and from our sin Is it not pity that any man should say of his sin as she did of her Son Let me die so He may live Dost thou say let my sin live though I die and be damned then I say thou seemest to me to be within a step of Death within a step of Damnation Dost thou say to thy sin as God did to Joshua I will not fail Thee Josh 1.5 nor forsake thee Then I say thou art in danger of Hell fire and it is mercy to a wonder yea mercy above wonder that thou art out of Hell All men that live must die and all that die are bound for the grave that is the next stage When sin came into the world and that came in by cating Death came in with it Well may we cry Ah Sin Sin Sin thou hast digged all the graves and made all the funerals that have been in the world It was once said of the goodly Buildings of Rome that the sins of the Germans meaning the money got by the Popes Factors for sin-pardons granted the Germans have built these Thus when we see those goodly Buildings the bodies of men cast unto the ground yea cast into the ground we may truly say the sins of men have unbuilt have pulled down their Bodies Man Reas 2. is formed out of the dust therefore man is mortal and must die As our Bodies dwell in houses of clay Job 4.19 the foundations whereof are laid in the dust so our Bodies are but Clay-builts and they cannot stand long We were reared at first our of the dust and we are making to our Center every moment Bodies are but Clay-builts though some be painted and decked and beautified more than others yet all are dust and that makes to its Center Soul as thy Original was so shall thy Conclusion be as thy beginning was so shall thy endiâ— be Though Man now seem to be somewhaâ— better than dust yet to dust shall he return Bodie alive are but living dust Man is dust while he lives returns to the Dust when he dies and 〈◊〉 turned into dust after Death It was said to Adam and in him to all Mankind not only as a curse but also as a command Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou returnest to the ground that is until thou diest for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return Phil. 3.21 As thy Alpha was so shall thy Omega
whom will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him To whom will ye compare Christ He is a Beauty without a spot Cant. 5.10 He is white and red the Armour-bearer among ten thousand White and red as they are the best Temperature of Man so they are the natural and the native Badges of Beauty Isa 49.6 Hos 13.4 I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the Earth Christ hath no Competitor in Salvation There is no Saviour besides me Christ is an invincible Saviour Oh say the soul I am weak weak as water But Soul 1 Sam. 15.29 Margent Christ is strong strength it self The strength of Israel will not lie nor repent The strength of Israel the Eternity or Victory of Israel Oh say the Soul I am not a match for those Temptations without nor for these Corruptions within But Soul Christ is a match for both Thou art Peter Mat. 16.18 and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Thou art Peter thou art but a Fisherman Super hanc Petram not super hunc Petrum 1 Cor. 10.4 at best but a Fisher of Men Not upon this Peter but upon this Rock It is not called a Rock of Peter but he is called Peter of a Rock as we call Christians from Christ The Church is not built upon Peter but upon Christ the Rock of Ages They all drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Upon this Rock will I build my Church 1 Cor. 1.24 and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it All the Power and Policy of Hell shall not prevail against it Christ is not only the Power of God but also the God of Power All Power in Heaven and Earth is devolved upon him But take a Tast of the Power of Christ Christ hath engaged the world and overcome Be of good cheer I have overcome the world Jo. 16.33 Christ hath engaged the Heart and overcome The Lord opened Lydia's heart Acts 16.14 that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul Paul was the Preacher but Christ was the Opener Paul preached to the Ear but Christ opened the Heart Christ hath engaged Hell and overcome I am he that was dead and am alive Rev. 1.18 and behold I live for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and of Death The Keys are an Emblem of Power a metaphor either taken from Stewards who have the Keys of the House to let in or keep out whom they please or from Conquerours who having entred a City have the Keys delivered up to them in token of Conquest Christ hath engaged Heaven and overcome Christ hath cancelled the Bond hath crossed the Book hath discharged the Debt hath given a plenary and perfect Satisfaction to Divine Justice by his active and passive Obedience Christ was Man that he might suffer and God that he might satisfie God being offended with Man He who was God and Man 1 Thes 1.10 satisfied God for Man And to wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Now did Alexander the Great say when his Army was low for how many do ye reckon Me May not Christ then say when Zion is reduced unto an astonishing Ebb for how many do you reckon Me Christ is so Many that he may well stand for All. No Arithmetick upon Earth will reach Christ he is a match for the Vniverse he is invincible Christ is a full Saviour Christ is a Fountain and that is full 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.9 alwaies full In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally really substantially Though the stream should be cut off yet the Fountain is full though the Chanel should be empty yet the Ocean is full There is in Christ for those that are Christs Joh. 1.14 Non Specie sed Gradu a fulness of Grace Christ is full of Grace and Truth Grace is such a pearl that the Vniverse is not able to weigh against and yet Christ is full of Grace Grace differs nothing from Glory but in name and in degree it is the same state in another stature Grace is Glory militant and Glory is Grace triumphant That there is a fulness of Grace in Christ is evident and that this fulness of grace in Christ is for those who are Christs Joh. 1.16 Plenitudo Abundantiae Redundantiae is as evident Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace There is in Christ not only a fulness of Abundance but also of Redundance there is an overflowing fulness in Christ Jesus Grace for Grace A cumulation of grace grace upon grace As the Paper from the Press receiveth Letter for Letter or as the Wax from the Seal receiveth Print for Print or as the Glass from the Image receiveth Face for Face so Christians receive from Christ Grace for Grace There is in Christians in some measure and proportion a grace answerable and agreeable to the same in Christ. Thus generally but now particularly There is in Christ for those who are Christs a fulness of Power All power in Heaven is given unto Christ He is the Object of the Angels adoration He hath the Angels at his Command and can send them forth as an heavenly Host to assist his people Mat. 26.53 Peter saith Christ thinkest thou not that I can now pray to my Father and he shall give me more than twelve Legions of Angels The Roman Army consisted ordinarily of twelve Legions such an Army of Angels could Christ have had and this had been a vast Army A Legion they say is six thousand armed Souldiers but here are more than twelve Legions it may be a definite number put for an indefinite more than twelve Legions of Angels seem to import an infinite number of Angels But as Christ hath power in Heaven so on Earth As he is the Object of the Angels adoration so of the Saints admiration Christ hath power over the Princes and Potentates of the Earth how magnificent and mighty soever they be in their own eyes or in the eyes of others Rev. 17.14 He is therefore stiled King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ also hath power over Hell That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.10 both things which are in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect and on Earth Saints and Sinners and under the Earth infernal spirits As Christ is the Object of the Angels Adoration and of the Saints Admiration so of the Devils Consternation There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of pardon Sin is evil all evil alway evil the pardon therefore of sin must needs be a singular and a signal mercy a precious Luk. 5.20 John
a way of mercy and thus it had in a way of Judgment Thus it had in a way of Mercy Elijah prayed and the Fire of the Lord fell 1 King 18.37 38. and consumed the burnt-sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench Thus also it had 〈◊〉 way of Judgment Elijah also prayed and fire came down from Heaven 2 King 1.10 11 12. consuming the two first Captains of fifties with their fifties Over the Earth Moses prayed and the earth opened swallowing up Korath Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.31 32. with all that appertained unto them Over the Water Moses also prayed and the Sea divided The Sea was made dry land Exod. 14.16 21. and the waters were divided Thus to the Elements Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the Prision Acts 12.4 5.7.10 When Peter was immured within Prison walls prayer without ceasing was made by the Church unto God for him so that his chains fell off and the Iron Gate opened of its own accord Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the great Luminaries the Sun Josh 10.12 13. and the Moon Joshua prayed Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon and they did so Prayer had an Influence upon Christ The Centurions prayer engaged Christ to heal his Servant Mat. 8.6 7 8 13. I will come and heal him But the Centurions faith occasioned Christs staying to heal his Servant without going Speak the word only and my Servant shall be healed Thou art God and needest not to go do but send yea do but speak speak the word only A word from a God will reach him and raise him Jesus said unto the Centurion go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee and his Servant was healed in the self same hour Gen. 32.28 What an Influence upon Christ had the prayer of Jacob Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel why for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed Jacob had power with God for he had power with Christ who is the Angel here and who is God manifested in the flesh He had also power with men for he had power with his Uncle Laban and his Brother Esau Prayer through Christ hath an Influence upon God himself the God of Gods Pure prayer will as it were fetch a God out of Heaven Act. 7.34 I have Jeen I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Aegypt and I have heard thâ—â—â— groaning and am come down to deliver them I have seen I have seen i. e. I have surely seen But what had God to see nothing but their Affliction Gospel-prayer hath as it were a shadow of Omnipotency instamped upon it Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons Isa 45.11 and concerning the work of my hands command ye me Though men cannot command the least thing of God yet upon the Entreaty of his people he is as ready to do as if he were at their command Command ye me If ye come unto me under this Notion that ye are my Sons and the work of my hands there is a Law upon me I cannot deny you Command ye me Oh what infinite Condescension is here As if God had said No Servant shall be so ready to serve his Master or Son to serve his Father as I will be ready to serve you it is but asking and having Command ye me Would ye prepare for Death Then through Christ imbitter sin Sin is a bitter thing and it will be bitterness in the End Ier. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord they God and that his fear is not in thee Evil and bitter evil in it self and bitter in its Issue Though sin should seem sweet in the palate stollen waters are sweet yet it is bitter in its Issue yea bitterness in the End May not I write concerning Sin 2 Sam. 2.26 as Abner spake to Joab concerning the Sword Shall the Sword devour for ever Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end Iniquity is grown from a Mist to a Mystery from Ignorance to Arrogance from Nescience to Negligence as if too much light had made men blind Sin is a Cup of poison drink not of this Cup. Look upon Sin as a Monster as a Mountebank look upon it as Deformity it self as Defilement it self I believe that Monk was very much out Isidore who vaunted that he had felt in himself no motion to sin forty years together If this be true then Sin and his Heart were great Strangers But I rather think that he was a great Seranger to his own Heart If ye would prepare for Death ye must through Christ imbitter Sin Pro. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Then God remembers Sin against a Person or against a People when he leaves that Person or that People without the remembrance of Sin Ah! what is yea what is not that Sin which had not a Being from God which cannot have a Being with God which also striketh at the Being of God But candidly suffer a distinct discussion of these things Sin had not a Being from God Sin is a mans own his own Birth his own Babe his own Brat Psa 94.23 He shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness Though Satan be the Father of Temptation yet the Heart is the Mother of Corruption Jam. 1.14 Posse peccare posse nòn peccare non posse non peccare Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and entised As there is Original Sin so there is the Original of Sin which may be a Possibility of Sinning a Potentiality to Sin There was a Possibility of Sinning and this was in a Paradisical state The woman gave unto me and I did eat There is a Possibilty of not Sinning and this is in a Spiritual state In all this Job sinned not Gen. 3.12 Job 1.22 There is an Impossibility of sinning and this is in a Coelestial state Those arrived at Heaven are arrived at perfection The Sprits of just men made perfect Every Man Heb. 12.23 and Woman may say to his or her Sin thou art mine and shall not this be imbittered Sin cannot have a Being with God There is no Sinner in Heaven no Sinning in Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 no Sin in Heaven The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The unrighteous as unrighteous the ünrighttous in a state of unrighteousness shall not inher it the Kingdom of God Heaven is sinless and all there are sinless As is the Place so are the People as is the City so are the Citizens sinless Sin also striketh
4.29 see a man that told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ He who is Omnipotent must be God but Christ is Omnipotent Matth. 28.18 therefore Christ is God All power in Heaven and in Earth is devolved upon Christ Christ is the power of God yea the God of power The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.6 This power can over-power all power He who is Omnipresent must be God Psa 139.7 Hic ubiquè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.10 but thus Christ is therefore Christ is God Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Christ as God is Here and every where He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all Heavens To what end That he might fill or fulfil all things for the Greek word signifieth both He is ascended far above all visible Heavens into that Heaven which is invisible to us on Earth But to what end In order to the filling of Heaven and Earth with his presence in order also to a fulfilling of all the Prophecies concerning Himself He who is All in All must be God but Christ is All in All therefore Christ is God Col. 3.11 Where there is neither Jew nor Greek Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but all things and in all things Christ. Thus Christ is the way from the Father and the way to the Father Christ is the way from God to the Soul I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 49.6 that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Christ is the way for the Soul to God I am the way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 no man cometh unto the Father but by me If Christ be thus then he is God He that shall come from Heaven waited by Angels 2 Thes 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whose Voice shall raise the dead must be God but thus Christ shall come and do at his comming He shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels The Angels of his power Greek And that his Voice shall raise the dead is as evident Marvel not at this Why Joh. 5.28 29. for the hour is comming and new is when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that dave done evil to the Resurrection of damnation He who is all Eye must be God but Christ is all Eye therefore Christ is God Christ is all Eye Bernardus non vidit emnia Joh. 1.48 Act. 9.11 and seeth all things as if he had but one thing to see When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee Man seeth not all things but Christ doth He is light of life and life of light As he saw Nathaniel under the Fig-tree so he saw Paul in the Closet Go for behold he prayeth Bernard had a film upon his Eye but Christ hath none he seeth all things at once He who is all Ear must be God but Christ is all Ear therefore Christ is God This poor man cryed Psal 34.6 and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Though Christ be in Heaven he can hear thee in a wood hear thee in a wilderness hear thee in the Church or in the Closet hear thee in the City or in the Country hear thee upon a Common or in a Cottage Psal 34.15 The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry Christ is all Ear and heareth all things as if he had but one thing to hear He that can forgive sin must be God but Christ can forgive sin Mark 2.5 therefore Christ is God Who can forgive sins but God only Pardon of sin is a singular mercy of the plural number Aug. Psa 103.3 to a convinced and converted soul to a desponding and despairing soul to a distressed and deserted soul Lord saith one here beat me or buffet me here break me or banish me here bleed me or burn me so thou wilt hereafter save me Who forgiveth all thine iniquities He that shall judge the world must be God but Christ shall judge the world therefore Christ is God The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Ah! how amazing and amusing how confounding and consternating will that Day be when He who is anothers Saviour shall be thy Judge He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also Joh. 5.27 because he is the Son of Man Christ is such a Judge as that the power of the powerfullest cannot daunt the wealth of the wealthiest cannot bribe the wit of the wittiest cannot delude Christ is such a Judge as that there is no appealing from his Sentence nor repealing of his Sentence I charge thee therefore before God 2 Tim. 4.1 and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Now He who is Judge is God but Christ is Judge therefore Christ is God Fear not Death for Christ is thine and he is a Guide Christ is a person of the greatest Conduct and those actually his are under his conduct from Earth to Heaven from Grace to Glory That Christ is the Leader of his Joh. 10.3 is evident He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out That Christ is the Leader of his from Earth to Heaven from grace to glory Rev. 7.17 is as evident The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes In Heaven there are Triumphs without Tears and Tunes of Joy without Tones of Sorrow Psa 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory But what manner of Guide is Christ Quest Sol. 1. Christ is an incomparable Guide Some have been excellent for conduct for conduct at Sea for conduct at Land but Christ exceeds and excels all No wonder now ye have that negative precept Trust ye not in a friend Mich. 7.5 put ye not confidence in a Guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom Christ is a careful Guide There was never any one so careful of Souls as Christ was Oh how careful was he of the Jews Why will ye die oh house of Israel Is it not enough that I die but will ye die also Let me die that ye may live let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be made a curse that ye may have a crown Why will ye die oh house of Israel Oh how careful was Christ of the man that fell among Theeves Luke 10.33 34 35. He bound up his wounds poured in Oil and Wine set him upon his own Beast brought him to an Inn paid his Reckoning took
Eternity then Grace shall go into Glory There is a twofold Perfection a Perfection of the Truth of Grace and a Perfection of the Growth of Grace but suffer a distinct discussion of these There is a Perfection of the Truth of Grace The wise Virgins Mat. 25.4 took oil in their vessels with their lamps Oil onely in the Lamp is onely aâ— blaze of Profession Oil in the Vessel is Truth oâ— Grace in the Heart This is a Perfection of parts Since the day ye heard it and knew the Grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 Thus a Child is a perfect Child having all the parts of a man The Soul which hath the Truth of Grace hath something of every Grace There is a Perfection of the Growth of Grace Till we all come into the unity of the faith Eph. 4.13 and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. This is a Perfection of degrees when Grace is swailowed up in Glory Heb. 12.23 To the spirits of just men made perfect Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Peace Pax Bello potior Nomen Pacis desiderabile Esto bellando pacisicus Aug. Greg. Nyssen Peace is better than War yea the very name of Peace is desirable Peace is a confluence of all good things the Jews therefore when they wish a man well salute him thus Peace be unto thee The effect of War is waste It is said of the Turkish-War that where the Grand Seigniors Horse sets his foot no more Grass will grow he makes havock of all Every Seat of War becomes a Seat of Wrath an Ire-land In War saith One seek Peace Another saith Both the name and nature of Peace is sweet Outward Peace is the chiefest of outward Blessings inward Peace is the chiefest of inward Blessings Peace upon Earth is imperfect but Peace in Heaven shall be perfect Heaven is called the Joy of the Lord Mat. 25.21 23. because there is Joy and nothing but Joy is there Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Vision Potter 's Compendious View p. 54. Vision on Earth is imperfect but Vision in Heaven is perfect In the most Northern part of Tartaria they have Day for six months together and Night also for the other six months together It is thus with some Souls if they have Day the shines of God for a considerable time they also have Night the Frowns 〈◊〉 God for a considerable time A Christian is â—â—ke the Marigold that opens with the shining and â—â—uts with the setting of the Sun God often leaves â—â—e brightest men in an Eclipse to shew That they â—rrow their light from his Reflection It is said Clark's Mirror p. 190. â—hat over the top of the mountain of Potosi there â—ways hangs a Cloud even in the clearest day Unâ—er the greatest Calm thou may'st be near a Storm â—nder the greatest Vision be near Desertion Aug. It was â—â—e desire of One to see three things 1. Rome in â—s Flower 2. Paul in the Pulpit 3. Christ in â—he Flesh Did Alexander lay up Homers Iliads in 〈◊〉 Cabinet embroidered with Gold and Pearls Certainly then a deserted Soul will lay up reciâ—us Promises in the Cabinet of his heart as choice Treasure The Saints on Earth cry out of Deâ—artures Eclipses c. but in Heaven there shall â—e Vision without Amission and Intermission In Heaven there shall be Vision without Amission There will be no loss of Vision in Heaven Here â—he Cry is Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Can. 3.3 Do you â—ee him for my part I have lost sight of him but â—o such Cry in Heaven as the loss of Vision In Heaven there shall be Vision without Intermission As it is the felicity of a Person upon Earth that God always beholds him so it is the felicity of this Person in Heaven that he always beholds God Upon Earth the Sun goes down upon thee and it is often Night to thy Soni but in Heaven it shall never go down upon thee but shall be always Day to thy Soul If once arrived at Heaven thou shalt never more lose sight of the Tree of Life when once there no Cloud will at any time interpose beeween thy Soul and thy Saviour Blessed Mat. 5.8 are the pure in heart for they shall see God The pure in heart here see God and then lose sight of him but the pure in heart hereafter shall so see God as never more to lose sight of him Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Freedom A threefold Freedom shall these have Those actually Christs shall be indulged here after a perfect Freedom from Satanical Suggestion Now Satan rages ranges roars for his time is short Who is able to enumerate now the temptations of those who are Christs Satan always goes about like a Lyon to devour or like a Serpent to deceive and delude Are not the best tempted most But Satan being once cast out of Heaven shall never come there more he is confined to the Aireal part Eph. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. He tempted in the terrestial but he cannot tempt in the celestial Paradise yea under the Personality of Christs Reign upon Earth the thousand years Rev. 20.3 according to the Greek Satan shall be chained up Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Communion The Cry of a Christian here is Wo to me that I live in Mesech Ps 120.5 with a barbarous People and dwell in the tents of Kedar with the Sons of Ishmael The Cry of Christians in this world may be like the complaint of the Prophet The Princes of the Nations are like the Princes of Sodom and the People of the Nations like the People of Gomorrah but there are no Nero's and Nebuchadnezzars in Heaven no Pharachs and Pilates in Heaven no Cains and Caligula's in Heaven no person living 1 Cor. 6.9 Heb. 12.22 23 24. and dying in his sin shall inherit the kingdom of God There is in Heaven a holy God and a holy Christ there are in Heaven holy Angels and holy Saints but not an unholy Soul there Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Corruption I know none save those that are perfect strangers to their own hearts but complain of Sin some of one Sin some of another Oh how fain would the Soul which is actually Christs lay down this body of Sin and Death Oh says the Soul when shall I go home when shall I go to my Fathers house where I shall never sin more He that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 5.12 Death came in by Sin and Sin goeth out by Death the Death of the Body freeth us from the Body of Death Art actually in Christ Cordial VII
Christ can But with the precious Blood of Christ. There is the positive part What Silver and Gold cannot do the Blood of Christ can do for that is precious Christs Blood is pure Blood Though to be sinless cannot be asserted of man yet it may be asserted of God-man Heb. 4.15 In all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Though Christ was tempted to sin yet not into sin 1 Pet. 1.19 Christ is called a Lamb and so he is for harmlesness for meekness for silence for sacrifice He is a Lamb without blemish and without spot Aquinas Free saith one from all sin original and actual He is without blemish sound within and without spot right without The Apostle here alludes to the Paschal Lamb and to the Lamb for the daily sacrifice both which were to be without blemish and without spot The Paschal Lamb. Your Lamb shall be without blemish Ex. 12.5 Joh. 1.29 a male of the first year Now this Lamb was a Type of Christ Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world The Lamb for the daily Sacrifice This is the offering made by fire Num. 28.3 which ye shall offer unto the Lord two Lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering This Lamb also was a Type of Christ Purge out therefore the old leaven 1 Cor. 5.7 that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened For even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Was it thus with the Type then it was thus with the Antitype Christs Blood is purifying Blood It is the Blood of Jesus Heb. 9.14 that purgeth the conscience from dead works It is Christs Blood that purgeth from dead works in a state of death and from liveless works in a state of life Joh. 13.8 Rev. 1.5 It is Christ must wash If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Yea it is Christ must wash from sin in his own blood As the merit of Christs Blood Balnaeum coeleste doth pacifie God so the virtue of Christs Blood doth purifie man Christs Blood is the Bath of the King of Heaven Christs Blood is a Laver to wash in it washeth a crimson-sinner milk-white The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin The word of Christ is a Looking-Glass to shew us our sins the blood of Christ is a Fountain to wash them away Christ's blood is purchasing blood Christ hath bought his out of the hands of Justice of Sin of Satan Ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. be ye not the servants of men Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price There was little paid for the Saviour there was much paid for the Sinner Christ was sold did not Covetousness set him to sale But for what was he sold for 30 pieces of silver the price that a Slave was valued at The Prophet stands as it were amazed and amused at this price A goodly price Zech. 11.13 that I was prized at of them And I took the 30 pieces of silver and cast them to the Potter in the house of the Lord. There was little paid for the Saviour but there was much paid for the Sinner The Saviour was bought with silver but the Sinner is bought with blood yea with the blood of Christ. Feed the Church of God Acts 20.28 which he hath purchased with his own blood Christ's blood is pardoning blood It is by the blood of Christ that we have a lasting yea an everlasting pardon of all our sins If Christ had never dyed Sin had never been pardoned Heb. 9.22 for without shedding of blood there is no remission Art a believing Soul then thou art a pardoned Soul Christ doth not onely give Pardon to him that believeth but also giveth Faith to believe that Pardon Art a repenting Soul then thou art a pardoned Soul Christ doth not onely give remission of sin to those that repent but also repentance for remission of sin and gives them repentance of the sins remitted Art in the Church and in Christ too thou art then a pardoned Soul though the tears of Repentance stand in thine eyes that thou canst not read thy Pardon Luther Lord saith One now do what thou wilt with me for thou hast pardoned me The pardon of sin is such a mercy that a man cannot be happy hereafter nor yet happy here without it Though a Soul may have Grace yet he cannot have Peace that is without a sight and sense of Pardon Now Pardon of sin is an effect of Christs blood Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption thorough his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Pardon of sin is a complicated mercy Christ's blood is pleading blood Satan the Law and Conscience plead against us cry to God against us and as it were say this man and woman have commiteed multiplied forbidden Iniquities and omitted multiplied imposed Duties these Persons have so many vain Thoughts so many dead Prayers have neglected so many precious Ordinances sinned after so many signal deliverances c. But no sooner can these Indictments be put in against those who are Christs but they are cast out of the Court of Heaven by Christ for his blood is pleading blood The Cry of Sin is a loud Cry grievous Sins make great Cryes Jehovah said because the cry of Sodom Gen. 18.20 21. and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is grievous I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me and if not I will know There is a loud voice in the Cry of Sin but there is a louder voice in the Cry of Blood And to the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel It is called the blood of sprinkling in allusion to the Passeover where the bloods saith One of the Paschal Lamb was sprinkled on the posts of the door M. Hildersam to save the house from the stroke of the revenging Angel The blood of Abel did plead against the Offender but the blood of Christ doth plead for the Believer Abel's blood cryed for vengeance Christ's blood cryeth for mercy Christ's blood is procuring blood The holy place the holy of holiest and the holiest of all are one and the same Into the holy place was the High-Priest only to go and that not without blood Aaron Lev. 16.3 was to come into the holy place with a young Bullock for a sin-offering and with a Ram for a burnt-offering Into the second Tabernacle went the High Priest alone once a year not without blood which he offered for himself and for the errors of the People Now the holy place and the holy of holiest were a Type of Heaven and the blood the High-Priest went with was a Type of Christs blood Christs blood was Christs way to
object but of the Churches desire is evident beyond all modest contradiction For He is not thus in the eyes Of infernal Spirits Their cry was What have we to do with thee Mat. 8.29 Jesus of Nazareth Art thou come to torment us before the time Nor Of graceless persons Their cry was Depart from us Job 21.14 for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes But that Christ is without compare in a Christians eye and the object of the desire of the Church of the first-born Heb. 12.23 whose names are written in Heaven will appear to a believing and unprejudiced Reader by a reflection of his Person and of his Affection but of these suffer a distinct though concise discussion Reflect the Person of Christ. Was it said of a Joseph Gen. 41.38 Is there such a Man as this Man in whom the Spirit of God is What then may be said of a Jesus Was it said also of a Job there is none like him in all the earth Job 1.8 What then may be said of a Jesus Was it said of David Thou art worth ten thousand of us 2 Sam. 18.3 Marg. 1. or as ten thousand of us What then may be said of a Christ my Soul reflect his Person as Man and as God-Man Reflect his Person as Man Was there ever such a Narration of Genealogie as Christ hath It ends thus Luk. 3.38 Who was the Son of Adam who was the Son of God Now this Christ was the beloved and begotten Son of God Christ was the beloved Son of God This is my beloved Son Mark 9.7 in whom I acquiesoe Christ is so beloved of the Father that he loves none out of him Christ is the begotten Son of God He that believeth on him is not condemned Joh. 3.18 but he that believeth not is condemned already why because he believeth not in the Name of the onely begotten Son of God Here is the Son of God the begotten Son of God the onely begotten Son of God All the Sons of Men are the Sons of God by Creation some of the Sons of Men are the Sons of God by Grace but Christ is the Son of God by Nature Christ is so the Son of God as there never was any nor ever will be any Is not this Christ now a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of the Churches desire Reflect the Person of Christ as God-Man Though Christ was true yet not meer Man Verus non merus Homo but God and Man God manifest in the flesh There have been many things wonderful in the world but the hypostatical Vnion the Vnion of Natures in Christ is the Wonder of Wonders 1 Tim. 3. ult That he who was with God that was from God yea that was God should be made flesh is the wonder of wonders That he who had eternity for his mansion and eternity for his measure should be an Infant of a day old is the Wonder of Wonders but thus it was Joh. 1.1 14. for the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us Is not this Christ now a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of a Christians desire Reflect the Affection of Christ No person ever lived as Christ lived for he lived to love and no person ever loved as Christ loved for he loved to dye and dyed out of love But suffer me to reflect his Affection in the freeness of it in the fulness of it in the firmness of it To these distinctly Reflect the Affection of Christ in the freeness of it Christ is free in love is first in love 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us Had not Christ first fallen in love with Vs we had never fallen in love with Him Had not Christ first fired our hearts with love we had never bestowed a spark of spiritual Affection upon Him Not that we loved God but that he loved us That is not that we loved God until we were loved of God The motive for Christs love to Vs was not in Vs but in Himself for we were in our blood I will heal their backsliding Hos 14.4 I will love them freely Reflect the Affection of Christ in the fulness of it As it is free so it is full love Is the Sun full of light Christ is fuller of love It pleased both the Father Col. 1.19 and the Spirit that in the Son should all fulness dwell Is the Ocean full of water Christ is fuller of love Christ must needs be fuller of love than these of light and of water for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally Col. 2.9 If thou beest a beloved one a believing one then Christ loves thee more than others can hate thee Doth the God of this world which now lieth in wickedness hate thee Do the Gods of this world given up to a judicial hardness hate thee And do the men of this world who appear like armed Furies and act like incarnate Devils hate thee yet Christ loves thee more than these can hate thee Reflect the Affection of Christ in the firmness of it As it is free and full so it is firm love The love will last as long as the loved or the lover Peter denies Christ but Christ doth not deny Peter Though Peter hath been denying yet Christ is loving Mark 16.7 Go tell the Disciples and Peter Peter is particularly and especially named not in point of superiority according to the ambition of the proud Pope as if he were above the rest but he is named after all the rest in point of inferiority as if he were below all the rest forsaking Christ yea denying Christ with cursing and swearing Though Peter hath been denying yet Christ will be looking Luk. 22.61 62. will be loving The Lord turned and looked upon Peter And Peter went out and wept bitterly As if Peter's tears had fallen first from Christ's eyes Shall not now this Christ be a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of a Christians desire But suffer a superadding of four things in order to a greater endearing of Christ and crying up him as a Person without compare and the Object of a Christians desire Christ is the Churches mercy Christ is the Being of Beings as God the Beauty of Beauties as Man the Blessing of Blessings as God-Man There had been no mercy but misery without Christ All the Churches blessings and benefits come along with Christ he is the mercy of mercies God in giving Christ giveth all things Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son c. how shall he not with him also freely give unto us all things There had been no Glory but Wrath without Christ no Mercy but Misery without Christ no Heaven but Hell without Christ Every mercy enters in at this door The Law and the voice from Mount Sinai came along with Moses but
the Gospel and the voice from Mount Sion came along with Christ Joh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Christ is the Churches merit Death is a Stipend Life is a Donative a free Gift Martyrology p. 126 Lord Gray Duke of Suffolk Person p. 99. Bernard not a due Debt The mercy of Christ is the merit of the Christian One at the place of Execution said I trust to be saved by the merits of Christ alone and by no other Trumpery A Maryan-Martyr at the Stake said In the merits of Christ alone I trust this day to enter into his joy My merit saith one is the mercy of my God so long as God is not poor in mercy I cannot be poor of merit if he be great in mercy I also am great in merit Luther himself confesseth Luth. in Gal. p. 90. That when he prayed or said Mass he used to add this in the end oh Lord Jesus I come unto thee and I pray thee that these Burdens together with the straitness of my Rule and Religion may be a full recompence for all my sins But this he also saith Before I would admit of the blasphemy of the merit of Congruence before Grace to obtain Grace and works in the merit of worthiness after Grace I would not onely that the holiness of all the Papists and Merit-mongers but also of all the Saints and Angels should be thrown into the bottom of Hell and condemned with the Devil Christ is the Churches merit for the Church is Christ's purchase Feed the Church of God Acts 20.28 which he hath purchased with his own blood Man was sold sold under sin a Slave to Sin a Slave to Satan but Christ hath bought him 1 Cor. 6.20 and paid dear for him Ye are bought with a price Here was a valuable price for it was invaluable blood the blood of a sinless Jesus Christ is the Churches Mine The people of Brazile in America Clark 's Mirror Part II. p. 170. call Gold the God of the Christians Gold hath devotions paid it as to a Goddess In some places of America if the Historian do not hyperbolize there is such abundance of Gold that in some Mines there is more Gold than Earth p. 77. So Potter in his compendious view saith That in some of the American-Mines they can hardly find so much Earth Basil Marq. of Vico. Clark's 2d Part. Ecclesiast History p. 104. Joh. 1.14 16. as Gold When one was tempted with Gold he answered Give me Gold that will last for ever Luther would not be put off with Gold without Grace and Glory Galeacius being proffered a vast Sum of money to return said Let his money perish with him that accounts all the Gold in the world worth one days communion with Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit There are Mines of Gold but Christ is a Mine of Grace He is full of Grace and Truth He is an Ore indeed that is able to enrich a Beggar yea a Bankrupt Of his fulness have all we received Col. 2.3 and Grace for Grace All the treasures of Grace are hid in this Christ for this Church Christ is the Churches Mirror As he is the Churches Mercy and Merit and Mine so Mirror In this Glasâ— ye may take a Pisgah-Prospect of the Holy Land The King would not be seen without his youngest Son The Father will not be seen without his eldest Son No man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1.18 the onely begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him The bosom is the seat of amity and secresiâ— who is so intirely loved as she that lieth in the bosom Men admit those into their bosoms to whom they impart all their secresies Calvin The breast saith One is the place of counsels Now Christ is the Mirror he being in the bosom of the Father discovers and declares the Father unmasks and unveils the Father The firmamental Sun is not seen out of his own light The Father and the Son are so great lights that they are not seen out of their own light In thy light Joh. 14.9 we shall see light The Father is seen in the Son He that hath seen me hath seen the Father Oh my Soul in this Christ thou mayst see God see Glory see Heaven and thy name written there Moses must stand upon a Mount to receive from God the Tables of Stone and the Law As Moses must have a Mount to converse with God so thou must have a Mirror to see God to see the reconciled face of God If ever thou seest God to be thy God to be thine in Covenant thine in Christ then Christ must be thy mirror wherein thou takest a prospect of him If Christ be thus how then should he be endeared and cryed up as a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of a Christians desire Now the desires that will have the ear of Christ and an answer from Christ they are the desires of the heart all other desires are but as Ships without Sails Clouds without Water Trees without Fruit Bodies without Souls But what manner of desires are cordial desires Quest Cordial desires are good desires Sol. 1. If the desire be from the heart then good is the object of that desire I am writing of a person that makes Christ the object of his soul-delight now the object of his desire which is from his heart must be good The desire of the righteous is onely good Prov. 11.23 but the expectation of the wicked is wrath It is a Maxim in Philosophy that all things desire good The desires of the righteous as righteous are onely good alwayes good for as they desire Christ above all so they desire Christ in all and after all in whom is all good and nothing but good Cant. 5.8 I charge you oh daughters of Jerusalem if ye see my beloved that ye tell him I am sick of love Oh! if ye see him be sure to tell him whatever ye forget to tell him do not forget to tell him this that I am sick of love for him Oh tell him that I know not how to live another day without him another duty without him Oh tell him that my head akes that my Heart akes that my very heart-strings are ready to break for a Sight of him for a Smile from him for inward and intimate Converse and Communion with him Cordial desires are lawful desires They must be things lawful that are desired or our desires are unlawful We must not desire as the Mother of Zebedees children did Matth. 20.20 21 22. concerning which Christ said Ye know not what ye ask What wilt thou saith Christ She said Grant that these my two Sons James and John who themselves are said to put up this Petition to the Lord Mark 10.35 for they said Doe for us whatsoever we
as he loves himself yea he seems to love them above himself for he loves them and lays down his life for them Who loved us Ezek. 18.31 32. and washed us from our sins in his own blood Why will ye dye O house of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith Jehovah God Why will ye dye will ye not onely kill your selves but also me Let me dye that ye may live let me have a Cross that ye may have a Crown let me be betrayed that ye may be blessed let me be buffeted that ye may be beautified let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be sacrificed that ye may be sanctified and saved Thus Joh. 13.1 a Christ loveth and who but a Christ thus loveth His are loved rather than Himself if not above Himself And having once loved he ever loveth Christ is a living yea ever-living Physician Physicians below may dye must dye yea Rom. 6.10 often dye before the Cure is made but Christ having once dyed dyeth no more but lives for evermore The Physician of the Body is mortal as well as the Patient and may dye before the Patient but Christ the Physician of the Soul having once dyed no more dyeth death Joh. 5.26 hath no more domiaion over him As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Christ is a valuable Physician Job speaking of his Visicors calls them Job 13.4 Physicians of no value but Christ is of value of great value of greatest value Col. 2.9 In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally Christ is rarely skilled infinitely qualified he knoweth every Cause to him therefore is easie every Cure Nullus effectus dature sine causa effectus sequitur virtutem causae Causa est prior essecto Faelix qui â—otuit rerum cognoscere causas 1 Kings 4.32 33. Prov. 8.14 Effects cannot be produced without Causes It is a Maxim That where sufficient Causes are in Act there of necessity the Effect must follow The Effect cannot be existent before its Cause Effects must depend upon their Cause as their Base and Principle It is an approved Aphorism That the Cause precedes the Effect in order of Nature and Time and Both every thing resolves into its principle It is usually said They are happy who know the causes of things And in respect of corporal diseases they say That a disease is half cured when the cause of it is discovered Christ knows the cause and therefore can make a cure Solomon was a great Philosopher his Parables prove his divine wisdom He was prodigiously parted greatly read in Trees and Pants in Beasts and Birds in creeping things and Fishes which manifest his humane wisdom But a greater than Solomon is here under discussion One that is not onely understanding in all things but also understanding it self I am understanding Christ is a sudden Physician Some Physicians of the Body are long in curing As some persons are long diseased palsical Eneas kept his Bed eight years The woman whom Christ called a daughter of Abraham had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years There lay also at the Pool of Bethesda a man which had an infirmity thirty and eight years Now as some persons have been long diseased so some Physicians are long in curing such diseases They are long in curing if there be money coming Their Cures are like Chancery-Suits depending several years Isai 107.20 but Christ is quick at curing He sent his word and healed them It is enough to the Centurion if he can but get a word from Christ Speak the word onely Matth. 8.8 13. and my Servant shall be healed And Jesus said unto the Centurion Go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee And his Servant was healed in the self-same hour Christ is a seasonable Physician The season of a mercy does greatly accent the mercy For a person to be sinking in the Thames and for another to rescue him from those merciless waves is not this in season Mark 5.23 24 c. For the daughter of Jairus who was at the point of death and the woman with her issue of blood of twelve years time to be both healed was not this in season For a person to be arrived near the Gates of Hell by his Sin and for Christ to give him check by his Grace is not this in season Zech. 3.1.2 For Joshua to stand before the Angel of the Lord for Satan also to stand at his right hand to resist him to be his Adversary margent and for God to rescue Joshua being a Brand plucked out of the Fire is not this in season Christ is a sutable Physician All Cures they say are by Sympathy or by Antipathy Both these ways Christ cureth Christ cureth by Sympathy In all their afflictions he was afflicted An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth Isa 63.9 1 Cor. 15.21 for a Tooth Blood for Blood By man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Christ cureth by Antipathy There is Good for Evil Light for Darkness Life for Death Heaven for Hell God hath not appointed us unto wrath 1 Thess 5.9 Non cur atur pars nisi curetur totum 2 Pet. 3.18 but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ Physicians say If ye would cure any unsound part ye must cleanse the whole Body Christ cures by Sympathy and by Antipathy he must needs universally cure that every way cures Christ hath once suffered the just for the unjust A Physician asking a Lacedemonian How he did answered The better that 〈◊〉 meddle not with Thee nor take of thy Physick Certainly no Soul unto whom Christ hath been a Physician will say so of his Physick Christ is an incomparable Physician Christ is incomparably qualified and under an incomparable qualification It is said of a good Chyrurgion or Physician that he must have an Eagles Eye a Lyons Heart and a Ladies Hand Christ with the greatest Reverence be it written hath all these A good Physician must have an Eagles Eye He that is good at healing had need be good at seeing that he may discover where the fault and the failing is Thus Christ is incomparably qualified He is excellent at seeing excelling in seeing so good at seeing Joh. 9.6 7 that he gave sight unto one that was born blind A good Physician must have a Lyons heart He that is a Physician must be strong and stout-hearted for if the Physician fail how will the Patient bear up his courage A Physician must deal freely and plainly with the Patient telling him the disease and the danger if he take not this or that he is a dead man c. Thus Christ deals freely and plainly with the souls of men and women telling them If ye believe not that I am he ye
Remedies for all Diseases found But Death He dyes and dying did assure No Drug or Dose of Death could make a Cure Let Nature now most fortifie that can Health's highest sphere a Crisis proves to Man One way to come into the World had all But to go out a thousand and to fall A Nail kills Sisera but by a Stone Goliah falls for he would stand alone This Giant now meets with a mortal Blow Right goes an Arrow out of Heavens Bow One wound Goliah kills but twenty three Great Caesar had and then departed he Strong Samson enters now of whom 't is said He Rubbish made and under Rubbish laid Thus Men and Means disputing Con and Pro Do act their Parts and off the Stage do go III. Of Honour and Policy CAN Honour No the tallest Pines are shaken By smallest winds and may not this awaken Sure footing Soul hath not Magnificence This may be in the Preterperfect Tense This Bucket-like now up now down is She But down the mot'on swiftest seems to me Could I prefer such have Preferment should Not that would Places but that Places would All worldly Grandeur in the Dust is laid As Caesar took so Caesar Tribute paid Thus ROMAN Honour passeth as a Blast Though Pompey slew slain Pompey was at last High Haman staged is making uproar Next to the King does now this Abject soar As to Design in Jewish blood he wallows As to Desert ascendeth He the Gallows CAN Policy No MAZIRINI may Strike Sail to Death and go this common way Ah where 's Pythagoras with prudent Cato Where 's Seneca with Socrates and Plato Where 's Cicero with Athen's Legislators And where 's Apollo with the Commentators But where is that admired Aristotle Yet Euripus would not into his Bottle So often ebb and flow this Deep that He Unsatisfied would the Bottom see But where 's Achitophel accursed may Such Policy be to the latter Day An ORACLE was He within his Age But hangs himself and falleth off the Stage Where 's Solomon more wise than any other That côuld detect the true from feigned Mother Ah turbid Death He was a mortal Sage And being mortal goeth off the STAGE IV. Of Wealth CAN Riches No or Truth is made a Lye But Wealth 's a gilded lying VANITY The World saith One to Man is God's Epistle But often proves to Man a vexing Thistle The World 's a Labyrinth my Soul beware And Michal-like is given as a Snare Ah bitter-sweet and that but for an hour Sweet is the Promise but the Payment sowre The World 's a Cheat the things thereof decay And Laban-like for Rachel Leah pay A Syrens Song and unto Whoredom pander Which causeth many Dinah-like to wander Ah England mourn and grow into a Passion The Spanish Mode is now an English Fashion Most vainly Mortals worldly things aspire These are not Food but Fewel to Desire Shall Hearts be set on that where onely Feet Should standing be hence bearing but a Sheet Job staged is and not for Wealth the least But greater than the greatest of the East His Substance winged is the Blow was such But Jah Jehovah gives him twice as much No Object for the Eye is Wealth and can This Object be unto the Heart of Man But worldly Men make for themselves a Rod Below a Soul is all below a GOD. Where 's Crassus Croesus Crates Aristippus Or Cyrus Xerzes Dives and Philippus Left by the World are they where living find them And dying they do leave the World behind them Where 's He that had so vast a Territory Who Ruler was according to the Story Of Provinces an Hundred twenty seven The Man is dead and gone to Hell or Heaven V. Of Fortitude CAn Fortitude This Mortals rarely deck A rare but rich Gem 't is about the neck Of Potentates refute it if ye can Son unto Caesar Valor makes a Man Great Alexander would immortal be Unwounded wounded mortal proved he Where 's little David yet hath little Fear Who killed both the Lyon and the Bear Philistine-foreskins hanged up may be As signal Trophies for a Saul to see Yea Gath-Goliah dreadful in his motion Had native Blood prescribed for a Potion Ah but he dyes as Scripture hath averred And in the Royal City was interred Stout Hannibal Rome's Terror where is He Or those stout Scipio's that would not flee Where 's Saladine that Oriental Victor Or where should I dig for puissant Hector Huniades doth next ascend the STAGE Who all his Race did war with Turcists wage In Battels many stoutly he engage And thorough Valor Turky did enrage To this vast Empire dreadful was his name Their crying Babes were stilled with the same Jobs iron Pen take to engrave his Fame My Narrative defective is and lame That to Posterity transmitted may His Valor and his Conquest be I say Where 's Scanderbeg who was so valorous And with his Valor so victoricus In more than twenty Battels he engage Proud Saracens whose right Arm did presage His Valor and his Conquest in his Age This matchless Valor goeth off the Stage VI. Of Learning CAn Learning This to Tully doth allye Knots-Gordian this thorough Art untye Which one no way but by his Sword espie But did not Tully and his Nephew dye Keep Learning in her native Orb and thus Shall due Respect be for Philologus Wher 's Homer Horace Zeno and Prochorus Or Xenophon Tertullus Theodorus Wher 's Plato Plautus Plutarch Theophrastus Or Memucan Alvarez and Erastus Wher 's Austin with his Tract of Recantation Or Ambrose modest in his Meditation Though Ignorance to Learning giveth check Yet surely this the Sons of Adam deck Thus Learning in a Lord as was of old Assimilates a DIAMOND in Gold Wher 's Origen so full of Allegories Or Moderators in the Consistories Wher 's Jewel who the Truth defended well Or Bolton on Death Judgment Heaven Hell Wher 's Chrysippus his Study might have bled him For ought I see had not Melissa fed him Wher 's Hilary for Stile so greatly eyed Or Gregory that was so mortified Wher 's Basil Beda too so preaching then If one speaks Truth the stones did cry Amen Where are those prying Ones of Issachar And wher 's Erasmus learnings morning Star Wher 's CYPRIAN so worthy Martyrdom With very many more but here 's no room Wher 's Moses mighty both in Words and Deeds Death unto Death the man in Moab bleeds Wher 's Cranmer Ridley Lambert and the rest Ah dead are these and dying are the best II. Of Terror ART out of Christ On Ebal stand I must And Lectures now not onely read of Dust But also Wrath that 's blown into a flame Almighty Breath is kindler of the same To Souls in Christ Death is most amiable Most terrible of all things formidable To Christless Ones yea this appears to me Of HELL the very Suburbs for to be Ah mortal Man If I may speak my Sense Infernal Dregs are in the future Tense 'T is pity
that an ENOSH is deterred From dying Thoughts for Bildad hath averred That Death the King of Terrors is to thee If Christless dying and thus unto me Lend but an Ear to what the Romists say Rome unto Heaven is the onely way Ah but my Soul go not so far about A Papal-Toe may sometimes have the Gout Rome's Monster goeth wrong and will not suffer A going right this Candle wants a Snuffer Yea an Extinguisher that lighted may A better be and light a better way Ah needs must Hell a dismal Dung'on be Where Heavens Sun shall never shine to thee Sin hath no Mean but not at all to be Sin is the Means for to endanger thee Prepare for Death let this appear to thee Certain uncertain is the Time to me Death if no Children did a Rachel cry Ah crying be a Christ or else I dye Doth Death arrest and find thee without Grace With Judas then go to thy proper place If true Grace here shall not implanted be Then Woe Woe Woe hereafter unto thee III. Of Triumph A Scend my Soul on Mount Gerizim stand A taking Prospect is the Holy LAND 〈◊〉 joyous Saint no Corrosive to thee â—f stingless Death can a Memento be â—ot fuller is of light the Worlds bright eye â—or yet the Sea with water never dry â—i en that mans Heart with joy who truly see â—he Death of Christ the Death of Death to be â—ad Heaven Sin thus Anselm speaks about it â—uch rather would He be in Hell without it 〈◊〉 drop of Sin doth unto Mortals bring â—ore evil than a Sea of Suffering â—here may be Sorrow without Sin but can â—n without Sorrow be unto the man â—eath's an Eclipse to man this happen may 〈◊〉 in a clear so on a cloudy day â—one until Dearth were blest in Solon's eye â—hey blessed are that in a JESUS dye 〈◊〉 moment Man be winged like a Dove â—nd restless too till Arked with thy Love â—lace thy self with Loves If Christ be thine â—ALL into Honey WATER into Wine â—nverted are Now Marah tasteth sweet â—nd lovely will appear a winding sheet â—ake Death familiar this welcome thus â—ome Life come Death with good Ignatius â—he presence of all Good is Heaven and â—he absence of all Evil Here 's a Land 〈◊〉 then my Soul suck sweetly here and crave it 〈◊〉 Heaven 't is to hope it what to have it â—hus Time 's a Space lent from Eternity Globe that rolls with slie Celerity 〈◊〉 it is true Alpha it is that lends it 〈◊〉 is as true Omega 't is that ends it VI. The Epilogue FAith thorough Grace make now of Sacred Truth Must NESTOR dye so may the Shumem-Youth T is true Life is the Triumph of each Stature T is true Death is the Tribute due to Nature All Ages Statures Sexes Sifes must This payment make and bedded be in dust And he dyed this Epitaph must have Each individual upon his Grave Death ingress had by Sin this sadly woundeth Sin egress hath by Death this gladly soundeth Reader the Bodies-death doth perfectly From Deaths-body the Saint indempnifie Death a Dilemma is non-plust are All Who enter Lists and so resign the Wall The Fear of Deáth the Soul with Terror fill Death killeth once but Fear doth often kill A Creature with the Ephemera may Be as to Life a Creature of a Day Tears unto One the God of Nature gives Another not a Day in Nature lives View Nature now and in this Glass descry Art a Day old then old enough to dye The best of Men they are but Men at best The worst of Men dye sooner than the rest In hearing hear in saying also say In trying try in praying also pray In doing do in giving also give In living dye in dying also live Are grace-ful Veins found running thorough Thee All Glory then be given unto THREE FINIS
night And as we are to reflect on the Certainty of Death this being a Tribute due to Nature and a Debt to be paid by every Individual so we are to reflect the Vncertainty of the Time of Death which comes to many persons as a Thief in the night suddenly silently unexpectedly SECT VIII The Impartiality of Death DEATH is common to All. Pallida mors pulsar Regum turres pauperumque tabernas Zach. 1.5 Death when she marches her Rounds knocks at a Palace as well as at a Cottage at the Princes Palace as well as at the Peasants Cottage The King as well as the Beggar may die must die The persecuting as well as the persecuted may die must die The man in his Robes as well as the man in his Rags may die must die Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever The Hebrew Proverb is That in Golgotha are Skulls of all sizes as well as of all sexes Death knows no difference no distance Death is like the Sword of Alexander the Great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11.13 that knew not how to make a Difference The Apostle in the Book of Martyrs epitomized speaking of those Worthies of whom the world was not worthy saith These all died in Faith or according to the Greek according to Faith All these died naturally though they died believingly There is not a man in the Charter of man-kind but he is obnoxious to the common and equal Law of Death There are no Sons of Zerviah too hard for Death though a Sampson this great Leviathan Death account him but a straw One being asked by another where he had been answered Diogenes to Alexander the Great Job 3.19 I have been comparing the Skulls of Princes with the Skulls of Peasants the Skulls of the mightiest with the Skulls of the meanest the Skulls of the richest with the Skulls of the poorest the Skulls of the highest with the Skulls of the lowest and I find no difference The small and the great are there and the Servant is free from his Master The small cannot escape the Hands or slip through the Fingers of Death because they are little the great cannot rescue themselves from the power or break out of the hands of Death because they are big Death is impartial from the Threshold to the Throne SECT IX Directions concerning Death the Tribute of Nature and Law of Mortals This Section hath a double Aspect and looks to a Soul out of Christ and to a Soul in Christ Chap. 1. To the Soul out of Christ ARt out of Christ Take heed then of puting far away the day of Death Directions There is a wicked Proverb I thought no more of it than I did of my dying day As if a man should not concern himself with the Thoughts of Death What became of that French King when he died Lewis the 11th that would not think of Death while he lived He prohibited upon pain of Death to speak of Death in the Court There is Deaths day Non putaram and this is not to be put far away This is the Fools motto I never thought of it The Master say to the Servant Is this done Is that done The Servant say to the Master I never thought of it Mark 16.16 Luk. 13.3 Oh say Christ to the Soul why didst thou not believe and repent for He or She that believeth not shall be damned and except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Oh say the Soul to Christ I never thought of it Oh say Christ why didst not thou love me 1 Cor. 16.22 for If any man love me not let him be Anathema Maran-atha a curse to the coming of the Lord to pass the definitive Sentence Oh say the Soul I never thought of it Oh say Christ why didst thou not Ark in me and Anchor upon me Joh. 14.6 when I am the Way the Truth and the Life Oh say the Soul I never thought of it Oh say Christ why didst thou not get Oil in thy Vessel against a dying hour and a wedding-garment against a judging hour Oh say the Soul I never thought of it Oh Soul if thou hastary love to thy self love to thy Soul take heed that â—â—ou dost not lay under that black Brand as to Death that they did as to Judgment Yâ— Amos 6.3 that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near Oh Soul take heed thou speakest not of Death as one did of Hell Demonax who being asked what Hell was profanely said stay until I come there and I will send thee word from thence Hell is not a place to be sported with There are many that have not only a name to live but also the nature of life that sometimes tremble at the Thoughts of shooting this Gulf. That saying Isa 56.12 had too great a Tincture of Atheism To morrow shall be as this day and much more abundantly Art out of Christ Direct 2. Take heed also of taking Gods work out of Gods hand God who giveth life may call for it when he pleaseth but man must not Gen. 22.2 God imposed upon Abraham an Oblation of Isaac it had been Murder for the Father to have killed the Son had not God imposed it God is the Being of Beings and doth all things well Some Romish Parasites have flattered the Pope into this divine priviledge which is peculiar to God and the prerogative of God God is so high that he cannot look above himself but looks below himself and hath none to whom he is to give an Account of his Actions Behold he taketh away Job 9.12 who shall turn him away who may say unto him what dost thou yet the blind and the bloody Papists have slattered the Pope into this divine priviledge no man must question him do what he will if he carry thousands to Hell with him no man must say unto him what dost thou I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand is a Dialect becoming a God but unbecoming a man Gods work is not to be taken out of Gods hand Might not the consent of Paul to the Death of Stephen lay near Pauls heart so long as he lived Act. 22.20 When the blood of thy Martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by consenting to his death and kept the rayment of them that slew him Oh Soul take heed of breathing their Veins and letting out their Vitals unto whom Death is stingless Take heed of having a hand in their Death who through grace see the Death of Death in the Death of Christ If those who are actually Christs die a natural Death God takes notice of it Moses my servant is dead Josh 1.2 Psal 116.15 But if they die a violent Death God takes especial notice of it Precious in the eyes of Jehovah is the
death of his Saints If a Christian of Christs making goes bleeding to Heaven or burning to Heaven if he lays down his Blood on this side the Grave this goes near the heart of God Art out of Christ Direct 3. tremble then for in a moment thou mayest die and be damned too They spend their time in mirth Job 21.13 Anxius vixi dubius morior Oh ens entium miserere mihi Sed c. Arist Job 18.14 Caryl in loc and in a momeut go down to the grave Death by the Philosopher is called of all formidable things the most terrible These were some of the last words of that great Philosopher I have lived anxiously I die doubtfully Oh Being of Beings have mercy upon me but now it is too late for me to call for mercy Death is called by Bildad the King of Terrors This is a very strange Title We have read of many Titles which have been given the Kings of the Earth as most Serene most Christian most Sacred c. but if at all rarely of such a Title as this King of Terrors For a man to be brought to the King of Terrors is for a man to be brought to death or to his last end The Philosopher in this sense called Death the King of Terrors when he called it the most terrible of terrible things Death is terrible upon a threefold consideration Antecedents Nature Consequents Death is terrible if we consider the Antecedents of it 2 King 4.18 19 20. The Forerunners or Harbingers of Death are Pains Diseases Sicknesses and these are terrible The Shunamites Son was taken sick when he was with the Reapers crying to his Father My Head my Head being carried home he sate on his Mothers knees until noon and then died Death is terrible if we consider the Nature of it Death Mors Sceptra Ligonibus aequa is a Disunion All Disunions are troublesom but some are terrible Death according to the Poet is the greatest Leveller in the world Death levels Scepters and Plow-shares it makes all alike The Disunion that Death makes between Husband and Wife is terrible but Death makes a Disunion between them that are nearer than Husband and Wife even between Soul and Body Eccl. 12.7 Husband and Wife are one flesh but Soul and Body are one person Then shall the Dust the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit the Soul unto God Death is terrible if we reflect the consequents of it I have said to corruption thou art my Father Job 17.14 Nativitas mala Vita pejor mors pessima and to the Worm thou art my Mother and my Sister Now soul art out of Christ what is thy Death then like to be It may be said of a person living and dying out of Christ that his Birth is bad his Life is worse his Death is worst of all Some are so sick that they cannot live and yet so sinful that they cannot die their Cry is Oh Lord we cannot die Oh Lord we must not die O Lord we dare not die Oh Lord we will not die Rev. 9.6 We read of some that shall seek death but shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them Others there are that Death seek but they would not be found and that Death desire to have but they flee from it A great person hearing the Verdict which the Physicians brought in against him that he must die cryed out Let me live though it be the Life of a Toad under a Threshold Art out of Christ tremble then and realize a state of Death Do not only read of Death but also realize Death Do not look upon Death as a Physical Notion and a Mathematical Conclusion be much in the reflection of this Text and Truth Luk. 16.22 23. It came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the Rich man also died and was buried and in Hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment Here is Death and Damnation too Thou mayest die and be damned too Art out of Christ go then to Christ Direct 4. in whose Death is the Death of Death To be Christless is to be Godless to be Graceless to be Gloryless go then to Christ Art in a state of Sin go then to Christ for Grace Art in a state of Darkness go then to Christ for Light Art in a state of Death go then to Christ for Life Art in a state of Damnation go then to Christ for Salvation Isa 53.3 Encline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live Paul was a great Orator a great part of his Oratory was to perswade men to come to Christ and be saved He that winneth souls is wise Art Christless and Godless Graceless and Spiritless May not I say to thee with the Alteration of a word Acts 13.36 as was said to the stock of Abraham To thee is the word of this salvation sent But there is a Lion in the way an Adder in the path But what is this comming to Christ Quest 1. this going to Christ A comming Sol. Joh. 6.40 or going to Christ is a believing in Christ As Faith is the Souls Eye He that seeth the Son and believeth on him hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls mouth Joh. 6.54 Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls Ear Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me And as Faith is the Souls Hand Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name So Faith is the Souls Foot Joh. 6.35 He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst But Quest 2. is there an indispensible Necessity of going to Christ for Salvation Can Salvation be had no where else Is he not only a Saviour but also the Saviour That Christ is a Saviour Sol. Luk. 2.11 is evident Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. That Christ also is the Saviour is as evident Now we believe not because of thy words Joh. 4.42 for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world I remember the time when if I could have gone to Heaven by my Education Civility Forms of Prayer of mine own making or by my Fathers Copy I would not have made use of Christ but at last I found that there was Salvation in no other Act. 4.12 Isa 51.12 and sailing by the gates of Hell in my apprehension I also found that no Voice but the Voice of Christ would still the Voice of Desperation There is no Paradise without this Tree no Light without this Sun no God no