vaine when we haue done all we are so weake and corrupt yea and ignorant of this way by Deaths doore to Heauen but if the Lord assist vs with his holy spirit wee shall not misse of a prosperous voyage for if God be with vs who can be against vs and questionlesse he will be with vs if wee carefully keepe this watch and though wee know not the way further then with our eyes we see it yet he knowes it and euery balke and temptation and stumbling stone and will both put in our hearts how to answere euery temptation and as Peter out of prison will lead vs safely that nothing shall let vs for his owne Names sake And therefore let vs confidently sticke vnto the Lord and he will sticke vnto vs for hee hath said I will not faile thee neyther forsake thee Iosh. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 5. Luk. 22. 43. The second Vse serues to put vs in minde of Death for seeing it is thus conuenient profitable for vs to watch against Death and so dangerous and pernitious to forget death vntill it sodainly taketh vs away vnprepared we must subscribe to the iudgement of the godly and also of Heathen writers who would haue mans life to be but a meditation of Death because it meeteth both young old at euery stile and for that nothing is more dangerous nor comfortlesse to any then at an vnawares full of sinne and full of the world to be arrested by Death for if thou look about thee thou shalt finde Death painted in euery place and worke thou doest And therefore thinke vpon it not as thou wouldest of a thing that were to come or some deuised figment but euen as Gods messenger now present and withall not as a thing appertaining onely to others but belonging to thy selfe The Indian Gymnosophists called Brachmanes were so carefull to make their liues a continuall meditation of Death that they had their graues alwaies open before the gates of their houses to the end that at their going out and comming in they might euer be mindfull of their passage to death and this house of earth to wit our graues is the schoole of true wisedome where God teacheth those that be his the misery and vanity of this life and whereas the world considereth no more but the painted face of Iezabel shining gaily at a window and not the miserable and extreame parts of her which after her body was eaten vp of dogges God would haue to remaine whole that thereby as in a figure vvee might see that the world is another manner of thing indeed then it appeareth in shew and that we should in such wise consider the face of it as also to be mindfull also of the extreame griefes sorrowes wherein the glory of it endeth 2. King 9. 30. 1. Let vs then preuent this misery and thinke on our death for this will first make the proudest Peacocke â—ay downe his fairer feathers so often as hee thinketh vpon it though hee pricke them vp againe when hee draweth his eye from this glasse 2. It will make vs serue God sincerely the feare of whom is the beginning of wisedome Marriners while they saile peaceably giue themselues to all riot and disordered excesse but when the tempest beateth into their shippe and death is before their eyes they cry mightily to God so we rocked in the cradle of security as in a ship glutte the forbidden fruit but stricken in aduersity loath this life and labor for a better 3. The memory of Death causeth vs to know that none of these things can be called ours which wee cannot carry with vs out of this world and therfore while we haue time wee should doe all good with them we can 4. In what calling soeuer a man bee hee cannot choose but deale vprightlie in most things if he doe but remember hee must die for what ambitious man would be proud of his honour and offices seeing he must die when all honor wealth and glory shall forsake him and another shall step in his roome as proud as he and when his glasse is runne out another shall succeed him c. vntill Death catch all as fish in his nette and to what purpose should I hoord money or purchase Lands c. seeing that Nakednesse shall be my last end Iob 1. 21. Of the want of this consideration arise all errors deceits for vvho vvouâ—d haue a sparke of presumption to sinne that knevv his end shortly to bee dust and ashes or would make his belly his God that were sure shortly his belly should become worms meat or would bestow one penny in building that were perswaded the graue should become his Pallace or braue himselfe in braueries considering hee shall be turned hee knowes not how soone out of all yea out of house and home in a poore winding sheet Therefore beloued let vs adhorre all vanities which doe but make vs vnwilling to die and open the gates of our soules to all our spirituall enemies a rule in policy it is to vvatch and ward that City which is beseeged round about and such as vvould keepe their cities in flourishing estate must euer be watchfull as if their enemies were at the gates so our Sauiour seeing that wee haue enemies on euery side and that Death the terriblest enemie knocketh at our gates foreseeing the danger might come of our sleepie security commendeth to his Church and commandeth watchfulnesse and therefore let vs not bee wanting to our own saluation but euer desire the Lord to grant vs this grace to number our daies aright and aboue all to perswade our faithlesse hearts that wee cannot heere long continue but must die The next Vse serues for comfort against the feare of Death for 1. If against the comming of Death wee be watchfull and euery way prepared as is aboue said then need wee not feare Death for then we shall die in the Lord and the Angell and Gods Spirit pronounceth from Heauen that such are blessed as is Reucl. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them If then it be a blessed thing to die in the Lord we need not feare it for all manner of seare presupposeth some euill and danger for we are not afraid of a good thing but affect it offered vs and receiue it cheerefully If then wee be not in danger of the second death as none that die in the Lord are it is folly to dread it seeing it is a blessed thing If a towne be well furnished with victualls as was Babilon which was prouided for twenty yeares as writ Xenophen and Herodotus though the towne be besieged the people within are secure but being vnstored quaketh for fear whence we may iudge of what importance it is to preuent dangers and be well prepared in time for that which astonisheth many at their death
more of heauen then any of vs yet the thinking of that country much encreaseth his sorrow and so will it be to the wicked in the midst of their iollities a sting in their soules as a tart sawce making their sweetest melodies sowre deadly If this meditation were holpen with the light of a liuely faith it would as Elishaes salt sweeten all the waters of Iericho and as Elias fiery Chariot soone lift vs vp to heauen and the vvhile make al the bitter pains of this life comfortable to vs for if the loue of Lands and desire of Riches cause the paines taken for them to seeme nothing vvhat should the loue of Heauen effect in our soules should vvee for this Countrey refuse any toyle vvee know how all condemne Esau for selling his birth-right for a messe of redde pottage and what are the very best things in this world but vanity and vexation of spirit and God forbid wee should loose our birth-right in heauen for the loue of vncertaine pleasures a wise pilgrime will forbeare all delights that hinder his return and reserue all pleasures vntill hee come home and so should we else we will not come thither in haste Abraham obeyed God calling him out of his country Heb. 11. 9. because he looked for a City whose maker was God and Paul vvas content to beare all afflictions because hee looked for things that were not seene 2. Cor. 4. 17. and 5. 1. 2. and vvhosoeuer assureth himselfe of heauen will little regard this sinfull life which one point should cause worldlings to looke about them The second Vse serues for thankefulnesse to our good God for redeeming vs from hell and all miseries whereunto by our sinnes and the sinnes of our sorefathers we had wretchedly plunged our selues and of his vnspeakeable loue and mercy made vs his elect children heyres of his kingdom and if thou take this to be but a slender benefit then coÌ„der what a damned soule would giue if he had wealth to be thus freed and do thou now the like for by nature thou wast the childe of wrath as well as hee Ephes. 2. 3. And therefore if Noah escaping the Deluge wherein millions were drowned and Israell deliuered from Pharaohs tyranny and Dauid from Saul forgat not due thankefulnesse much more ought wee deliuered from the flouds of Gods wrath tyranny of Sathan and cruelty of all enemies yea and from the euerlasting paines of hell be euer thankefull in this and the life to come for this most gracious deliuerance and blessed aduancement to his holy kingdome in heauen The third Vse serues for comfort to the Elect which goe to euerlasting life and to heauen and that in three respects 1. Of the ends why eternall life was ordained 1. that God might manifest the riches of his grace to his Elect 2. that the godly might enioy the full fruits of Christs death and the promised rewards of their labours and indignities in this life sustained 3. that they might magnifie the great vvorkes and mercies of God wrought for them 2. In regard of the effects of eternall life 1. that they may be as the Angells of God Math. 22. 30. not in substance but in conditions 2. that wee may be made partakers of the dignity of Christ in his three offices as Kings Priests and Prophets though not in the same excellency 3. In regard of certaine degrees of heauenly ioyes vvhereof the first degree of our comfort and ioy shall be in respect of the generall resurrection 1. For it shall bee a ioyfull day to vs. 1. For the Angells will awake and comfort vs in the Lord. 2. Ioyfull it shall be for that our soules and bodies separated by death shal now againe be ioyned together and glorified together eternally 3. Ioyfull shall it be in respect of the holy communion of Saints whereunto we shall be ioyned to praise the Lord. 2. A second degree of glory will this he that wee shall appeare before Christ our Sauiour be absolued and sit vvith him to iudge the wicked enter vpon his sweet promises of eternall life 3. A third degree of glory is that he will iustifie and saue vs from our sinnes 4. The fourth degree of ioy is in that wee shall be honoured with the dignity of Iudges 5. A fift degree is after we haue thus triumphed and troden our enemies all vnder feet in most glorious and triumphant manner we shall with Christ our head and all his Angells and Saints goe to life eternall which is the end of all our wishes and desires where for euer we shall enioy the presence of the holy Trinity where the inhabitants of the heauenly Ierusalem bee all Angells and Saints for Nobility all the Sonnes of God for vnity brethren for wisedome and knowledge all taught of God for experience they al ouercame the world for multitude they cannot be numbred for amity they liue in coÌ„tinuall peace their work praising seruing the Lord for piety they keep a perpetual sabbath euery day an holy day to the Lord. 6. The 6. degree is in regard of our continuance in heauen which is euerlasting without end but if these ioyes had had an end then had it not been an heauen but it is eternall without end greefe wearinesse oldage or any corruption for vvhen Death is swallowed vp in victory how possibly can wee die our Sauiour being life it selfe 7. The seauenth degree is that the Lord will poure into our soules and bodies all the communicable graces of his Spirit for when we are vnited to Christ our head and then by vertue of this vnion and communion mysticall wee be in all created gifts and graces belonging vnto all and euery part of our soules and bodies like him but not in the same degree 8. The eight degree of ioy is a freedome from all miseries whatsoeuer belonging to body and soule and in stead thereof be enriched with the contrary blessings which the Lord grant vs. And thus farre of the thirteene Motiues for watchfulnesse against the day of iudgement and of the timely vses wee are to make thereof Hauing dwelt thus long vpon these Motiues I will now draw in my sailes and hasten to the shore exhorting euery man in the Lord that as this triple watchfulnesse is necessary and concerneth euery man that euery Christian particularly watch and prepare himselfe accordingly for while the arrows of the Lords wrath flie ouer euery mans head and are not yet fallen euery man may see and prouide for himselfe and escape were it proclaimed that for some priuy fault onely known to himselfe the King whole life the Lord long preserue would execcute in euery town some 100. â—0 or 10. persons nay but two in euery towne whom pleased him all would feare and by all meanes labour to exempt and secure themselues least he should be one of that number but we know that the fewer number in euery Towne or Hamlet shall bee saued Mat. 7.
of religion executed by his Minister for his saluation shall become distastfull and loathsome vnto him for which contempt the Lord will bring an heauy curse vpon him for treading vnderfoot his ordinance and who wil then absolue him and therefore to preuent all mischiefes and Apostacie or Atheisme let him instantly pray the Lord against this rupture and straine himselfe against all dislikes or reports to loue his pastour as his father to honour him as Gods seruant to reuerence him as his guide to eternall life and thinke nothing he possesseth to good for him no more then did the Galatians who receiued Paul as an Angel of God yea as Christ Iesus and if it had beene possible would haue plucked out their own eyes and haue giuen them to him Gal. 4. 14. 15. And sure it is that neuer was their godly man that hated his owne Minister but euer his feete were beautifull to him neuer was bad man that loued him and therefore deserued the dust of their feete to be shaken against him and so let my watchman preferre his owne Pastour and in heart sincerely as a chast matrone her husband embrace him abone all other how learned or godly soeuer and neuer depart from him to heare any whiles he teacheth let him haue his due honour and desert for deseruing best meete it is he should be best respected it is meete it is that he that hath the wintering of them should haue the summering for in time of plague or greatest troubles when the flatterers forsake thee yea and in death it selfe he must sticke vnto them and that the gifts which his parishioners in a pharisaâ—call spirit bestow vpon strangers who doe them lâ—tle good be giuen as an ouerplussadge vnto him to cheere vp his heart and encourage him in his vocation and so euer in all his meetings let him haue the chiefest place and acceptance and so should you winne the Pastours heart and cause him cheerefully watch ouer you for your good and be carefull with all his cunning and power to direct you in your priuate watchings so that if you slept in sinne hee would awake you whereas your strange teacher will rocke you on in the cradle of securitie if you strayed from Christs fold he would turne you home and not runne with you if he followed noysome lusts hee would sharpely reprooue you and not winke thereat or glaunce a farre of that you should not perceiue it if you sinned of ignorance he would instruct you if of negligence he would call vpon you if of infirmitie he would direct you if of malice hee would rebuke you and so meete you at euery style that you should not depart from the Lord if he conferred with you it should be about our sinnes if he aduised and perswaded you any way it should be to your saluation where you did well he would commend you if amisse be sorry with you if things fell out crossely with you he would aduise you he would reioice at our prosperity in your aduersitie he would comfort you in your sicknesse and deepest disdresse he would be our faithfull phisition if ye mourned hee would weepe with you if ye liued he would liue with you if yee died to doe you good hee would die with you and would euer as well by night as day pray God for your peace and praise the Lord for appointing him watchman ouer so gracious and thankfull a people when as by forsaking and contemning him and his Ministery and following strangers you shall cause him neglect you and the rest of his flocke eate vp his heart with sorrow leaue you open to all assaults of Satan the world and sinne and finally draw Gods iudgements vpon him and you But of this more else-where But to draw to an end for endlesse would it be to me to recite all the helps the Lord prouideth to assist and vphold vs in this holy watch for who seeth not how God watcheth ouer vs in euery good worke to prosper vs therein then his Angels attend vpon vs all his creatures in heauen and earth fauour and to their power helpe vs the law directeth vs the Gospel comforts vs the Magistrate whose life the Lord preserue shieldeth vs the Ministers instruct vs the godly conferre with vs all Gods Saints pray for vs the time inuiteth vs being peaceable so that we may safely repaire vnto the house of the Lord and euery of vs in these halcion daies the Lord be highly praised for it are freed from all lets and perturbations so that we neede not goe in feare of the enemy nor reade in feare nor pray in feare as in the Marrian daies when none could reade a good booke but still at euery period they must be looking about to spie if any came to looke and to accuse them so that their state was not vnlike the Iewes returning from captiuitie Who were faine to build with their trowels in the one hand and their swords in the other as is in Neh. 4. 17. But now if thou be not afraid of thine owne shadow thou maiest securely sit vnder thy vine and picke vp the foode of thy soule in peace and worke leisurely with both hands because the Lord himselfe protecteth and watcheth ouer thee so that no sooner art thou tempted by Satan or alluréd to sinne by his members to leaue or forsake thy watch but forthwith the Lord of Hosts sendeth forth his spirit his Angels his graces and all his creatures as troopes of souldiours and an armie royall to aide and assist thee yea with vnited forces to fight for thee and so to compasse and keepe thee that thou shalt not giue ouer thy watch nor disgrace thy holy profession And to giue instance in some on temptation as for example in whooredome If as was Ioseph thou be sollicited to adultery and so to cut thy selfe from the Lord 1. Cor. 6. 15. And depart from thy watch and to open the gates of thy soule for sinne and Satan to enter in and robbe thee of thy chastitie and all other graces and so make thy soule an habitation for diuels Matth. 12. 45. Thy danger is great and heare as a virgin in danger to be defloured Deut. 22. 24. 27. must thou mightily crie to the Lord for present help else thou art vndone now the Lord hearing thy prayer forth-with sendeth out his armie royall to rescue thee as thus Before thou yeeld to the temptation he granteth thee time sufficient to deliberate whether to yeeld or not In which time steppeth in Gods law as thy chiefe counsellour to disswade thee condemning adultery to hell and commending marriage as honorable next in the necke thereof all to minde Gods plague the executioners of the sinne threatning Gods curses in this life death and eternall damnation in the life to come this past Gods feare frighteth and terrifieth thy very soule and spirit which causeth the soule with all the powers thereof to quake and mourne within thee
kill vs neither booteth it vs to waste our goods on Physitians to keepe vs froÌ„ it for albeit they promise faire yet they their babes die as soon as others our Lawers cannot in this book-case plead no not for their owne liues no King so welthy no Sampson so stout no horse so swift no spear so long no armor of proof so sure but as the Behemoth Leuiathan he scorneth all Therefore to preuent all the hurts harms that accoÌ„pany Death such as die vnprepared I gather this doctrine All Gods children must whilest they liue heere seeing they know they must die bee exceeding carefull to watch and wake for Deaths comming whensoeuer it be least it come suddenly vpon them and so surprise and take them away vnawares and vnprepared the proofes be in Isa. 38. 1. The Lord said to Hezekiah by Isaiah Put thine house in order for thou shalt die and not liue And this did all the godly Fathers before their death as Abraham disposed and prouided for his children before his death Gen 25. 5. 6. Isaak Iacob blessed their children Gen. 27. and 48. and 49. so did Moses blesse the twelue Tribes exhorting them also to serue the Lord and the like did Ioshua Deutr. 33. Iosh 23. and 24. and Dauid did the like prouiding further for the Temple and the functions thereof 1. Chron. 22. to the end of that booke that God might bee serued after his death better then while he liued Abraham Iacob and Ioseph had an holy care for their buriall Gen. 23. and 49. and 50. Simon and Paul desired to die in peace and bee with Christ our Sauiour and Steuen commended their soules to God forgaue and prayed for their enemies c. Then Moses desired God to teach him to number his dayes that he might apply his heart to wisedome Psal. 90. 12â— This also by a voyce from heauen is confirmed to be a blessed thing as Reu. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which hereafter die in the Lord euen so saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors and their works follow them And contrarily how fearefull it is to die vnprepared we see in that Corne hoorder who when hee made most account to eat drinke take his ease and be merry that night his soule was taken from him Luk. 12. 15. to 23. Reasons ratifie this truth likewise 1. All our former watchings ouer all our life is lost labour if in this point we become sleepy and secure 2. To die is one of the greatest works and most dangerous roâ—kes mans life is subiect vnto if heere wee make shippewracke wee are vndone for euer for what auaileth it to liue godly and die wickedly not one iot as Ezech. 18. 24. 3. At our death time Satan is most subtle busie and fierce to ouerthrow our faith for if now hee preuaileth against vs he hath gotten his wished desire but if now he be vanquished he is out of hope euer to preuaile and so layeth downe the bucklers at our feete for euer therefore stands it vs much on hand to watch and for want hereof many goe meerely to the pit of perdition 4. Death by this premeditation and preparation will be more welcome vnto vs for dangers foreseene are lesse greeuous 5. I shall more easily contemne this world by often thinking that I am a stranger in it and abstaine from many sinnes which otherwise I would commit and will repent of all my sins committed and omitted and the rather because all Gods Elect did so and were saued and so shall I. 6. God commands vs to watch for commanding vs to watch for the day of iudgement he will haue vs make a godly death for as wee die so shall wee be iudged and therefore must bee watchfull and pray much for a godly end 7. If we performe this duty many commodities accompany it if not vndoubted damnation to all that die in sin vnrepented for death in it selfe is the way to hell to the wicked but to the godly a portall by which the soule passeth out of the fraile body to heauen or is as the Angell that guided Peter out of prison and sets them at liberty Acts 12. 8. 9. whereas to the wicked it is a cruell Sergeant to arest and cast them into prison The first vse serues for instruction for my vigilant Christian how hee is to watch generall and speciall for death The first generall care whereof is in leading a godly life and then shall hee be sure of a godly and blessed death for eternall life hath three degrees one in this life when a man leades a new sanctified heauenly life and can say truely that now hee liues not but Christ liueth in him Galath 2. 20. and this all such can say as doe vnfainedly repent beleeue and obey iustified from and sanctified against their sinnes and haue the peace of Conscience with other good gifts graces of the holy spirit which are the earnest penny of their saluation The second degree is in the end of this life at our death when the body goeth to the earth and soule to God the third at the last iudgement when body and soule revnited doe ioyntly enter into eternall blisse and of this first watch I haue spoken in the first part before Then secondly we must watch and be in readinesse for the second degree of eternall life euen for death for man goeth to the house of his age as Eccles. 12. 5. that is towards his graue and therefore must prepare for it and labour to pluck out of our hearts that erroneous imagination wherewith euery man naturally blesseth himselfe thinking so highly of himselfe that though hee had one foot in the graue yet beleeues hee shall not yet die and what a folly is it for man to stumble thus at the threshold ere they be aware of the house many charge and chide olde age to come vpon them vnexpected but who compelleth them thus falsly to conclude So if any complaine of Deaths vnlooked-for approach wee may answer Who bade them bee so foolish as not to looke for him Cruell and vnmercifull Death makes league with no man though as Isai saith chap. 28. 15. 18. The wicked make a league with Death that is in the fond imagination thinking that Death will not come neere them though all the world should be destroyed and seeing this naturall corruption is in euery mans heart we must daily fight against it and expell it out for so long as it preuailes we shall be vtterly vnfit to make any preparation for death but will bee like the foolish debtor that keepes no account of his debt and then maruells how the Creditor should remember to demand it thou hast owed this debt euer since thou wast borne and before thou wast borne and is it strange that now after some yeares past thou art called vpon for it what if the day of payment be not
to render vp to the Lord our speciall callings and talents with their well-occupied encrease And lastâ—y as to the best keeper our bodies life and soules beseech his Grace as he in mercy and of his vnspeakeable loue gaue them vs and all temporall and spirituall good things with them hee will now in like fauour and mercy receiue them againe and keepe them safe for vs vntill the day of iudgement and then bestow them and himseâ—fe vpon vs grant we may euer be with him and he with vs. 8. In the last agony of death we must draw vnto vs al strength of body and soule now in this â—ast combat quit vs like men As 1. we are to rest by faith vpon the preseÌ„t fauour mercy of God in Christ perswading our hearts soules that now Neyther death nor life nor Angells nor Principâ—lities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be abie to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Râ—m 8. 38. 39. and so plucking vp â—â—r broken hearts shew our selues to be that which long we laboured for viz. to be true Christians 2. Then let heart tongue and voyce bee imployed onely in prayer to God for patience in our anguish for comfort in this our greatest distress for strength in our temptations and for wished and victorious deliuerance from them for a godly end and a ioyfull receiuing and conducting of vs by his holy Angels vnto Abrahams bosome yea endeauour to dye praying for now our weapons be but prayers teares sighes and groanes misery must caâ—l for mercy and let our last words be Lord be mercifull to me a sinnâ—r Lord Iesu receiue my soule Come Lord Iesu come quickly And thus with our â—iues let vs breake vp our watch And thus farre of our watch against Death yet there bee that for better keeping of a true watch and performing of this most necessary necessity thoroughly contriue this preparation vnto a weekes worke or weekely Diarie sorting for euery day of the weeke vnto themselues certaine deuout exercises and meditations so as though they were to die presently that day as thus The first day of the weeke they wholly spend in this meditation that they are mortaâ—l and must die and therefore they so vse and dispose of the commodities of this life and their callings as though before night they must hence labouring to obey that coÌ„mandement of Christ Luk. 12. 35. 36. Let your loynes be gâ—rt about your lights burning And ye your selues like vnto men that wait for their Master when he will returne from the wedding that when he commeth and knocketh they may open vnto him immediately Blessed are those seruants whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking c. and so set their house in good order for they must die The second day they spend in meditating vpon death the precedents and horror thereof to whom they willingly yeeld yet so that by faith in Christ true repentance and renued obedience they sweeten the taâ—t sharpnesse thereof whereby they shall be able they doubt not cheerefuâ—ly comfortably to drinke of this cup Math. 20. 22. 23. The third day they thinke vpon their sins and with broken and contrite hearts confesse them to the Lord. Psal. 32. 5. 6. 7. and that with such vehement feruency of spirit earnest sweating agonie in soule as if within that day or houre they shuld by death be attached The fourth day with their greatest deuotion and most careful preparation they come to the holy Communion which they call viaticum and so victuall themselues therewith for reliefe in their iourney to heauen ioyning therevnto the reading and preaching of Gods sacred word applying the same to the present purpose so nye as may be suting and agreeing with Christs last Sermon in the Chamber before his death Iohn 13. and 14. 15. and 16. not without prayer and praise to the holy Trinity I he fift day they spend in meditation and prayer for the more liuely and effectuall working of Gods holy Spirit in their harts the better entertainment of Gods sacred word in their soules and opening of their eyes to see their weakenes wickednesse and accursednesse and for wished power to ouercome all temptations assaulting their soules specially at their death-time The sixth day in all humblenesse of heart and feruentnesse of deuotion they pray for a spirituall death wholly heauenly free from all doubtings greefe temptations or fears with an infallible sight of the Sonne of God in some though small manner most comfortable feeling apprehension of the ioyes of heauen contempt of this world with the perfect fulfilling to them of all Gods promises made to them for the life to come and that whatsoeuer holy duty is in them wanting by ignorance or weakenesse the holy spirit of God would suggest vnto them and supply that so the whole glory might be the Lords and to them in life and in death Christ should be aduantage Phil. 1. 21 and that walking through the valley of the shadow of death they should feare nothing for the Lord would be with them and his Angels safely conduct them to Paradise The seuenth day they giue hearty thanks to Almighty God for the innumerable benefits bestowed vpon them spiritually and temporally beseeching his maiesty to continue the same so far forth as hee seeth expedient for them vowing to make the rest of their life if any part be remaining a perpetuall Sabbath vnto the Lord vntill they bee translated to his kingdome where with all his Angels and Saints they shall solemnize an euerlasting Iubilie then this day they vse a deepe meditation and repetition of all the exercises of the sixe daies going before and to euery of these dayes they select certaine fit Psalmes and praiers c. And thus according to my skill haue I charged my watch-man in the best manner I could deuise to prepare for death and when I haue done all I find my selfe vnable to finde the depth of this principle for want of experience which I cannot learne vntill I dye my selfe Onely this I know that albeit this watch be vnreprooueable and necessary for all Christians yet as we see in a Master of Fence if a strong champion set vpon him he will soone set him out of all his fence and make a foole of him so if Death assaile vs aboue our nature and strength wee will soone forget all these instructions and fall to cursing blaspheming and no man woteth with what violence death will assault him therefore would I wish him euer to lead a godly life and keepe a carefull watch annexing to the first obseruations this weekely Diary and that circularly that is weeke after weeke to renew it to our dying day and then to both to desire the Lord himselfe to watch ouer vs else all will be in
though it seeme vnpossible for vs to know at the instant Christs sudden comming yet if wee bee wiâ—e wee will watch and pray and set all things in as good order as if now hee were comming and at the doore And so farre of this third Motiue The fourth Motiue to watchfulnesse is to consider the manner how they shall rise to iudgement and to meet the Lord in the clouds which the holy Scriptures teach vs to be thus The Iudge will send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather together his Elect from the foure â—â—indes and from the one end of the heauen vnto the other Math. 24. 31. Ioh. 5. 28. 29. and 1. Cor. 15. 52. and 1. Thes. 4. 16. for as God now in his Church by his Ministers who cry aloud lifting vp their voyce like a trumpet Isa. 58. 1. and speake to them to liâ—â— and raise them vp from the deadnesse of sinne and gather them to Christ so in the last day will he speake vnto them in the voyce of the Archangel and in the trumpet of God to gather them to himselfe that such as had part in the first resurrection Reuel 20. 6. might haue now their part in the second The Vse heereof â—â—rues to forewarne and fore-arme aâ—l men in the feare of God to make a carefull conscience of their waies for though they dâ—e once rot in their graues yet must they rise to iudgement and then shall it be our only comfort to heare the voice of the Arch-Angell awaking vs out of our beds to come before our Sauiour and with him to enter into his glory for now shall the body bee released from the prison of the corrupt graue and as Ioseph to appeare before Pharaoh Gen 41 14 be newly attired in robes of glory and ioyned againe to his soule ioyfully appeare before the Lord whereas the wicked as those tares bound in bundles to be burnt shall be drawne and haâ—â—d as theeues and malefactors to the barre to be arraigned and condemned to hell fire Math. 13. 30. And so farre of this fourth Motiue The fift Motiue to watchfulnesse is the generality of this iudgement for all shall appeare before the iudgement sâ—at of God Math. 25. 32. Ioh. 5. 28. 9. Rom 14. 10 2. Cor. 5. 10. Acts 24. 15. Reu. 20. 1. 13 and 1. 7. and is figured in Ezech. 37. 2. 3. rich and poore olde and young none shall bee priuiledged the Priests shall not claime sanctuary nor the people begge exemptions nor the bidden ghuests coyne excuses no bribing of the Angells and Summoners no answering by Proctor no appearing by Atturney the Iudges themselues must this day stand below to be iudged the Lawyers are put out of Plea the Popes who absolued prodigally all others must now begge for pardons for themselves no demurres admitted nor appealing to Generall Councells or higher Courts this being the highest of all others the husband shall not answere for his wife nor the father for his son nor the mother for her daughter nor the nurce for her babe in the swathes all must personallie appeare yea euen those which were burned to dust ashes and after their ashes were scattered abroad with the winde and part spread vpon the waters that they should neuer rise again as Euseb. Eccles. lib. 5. c. 1. yet all shall rise and that day onely Adam shall see all his posterity And if but one had beene exempted from this appearance thou mightest conceiue some hope to bee absent but seeing all must appeare prepare to meete thy God O Israell Amâ—s 4. 12. for vvho that day hath oyle enough for himselfe or is so iust that he may entreat for others this vvere not only supererogation but superarrogancy and what place dare habour a Shebâ— against Dauid a traitor against his King a runnagate from his Master and a Ionah from the Lord if the Angels be iudged shall men looke to escape nay as Iael Sisera euery creature is ready to take part with the Lord of Hosts against his enemies insomuch that the graue sea death and hell vvill that day deliuer vp their dead and conceale not any from him and which is worse and mark it O thou wicked man thou must rise and when thou appearest in iudgement thou shalt shew thy selfe as sinfull and wicked a man in the presence of God and all the world as presently thou liuest here shalt be at the time of thy death shalt bring with thee al the abhominations of thy sinfull life and death to iudgement so that all that shall behold thee shall pointing at thy filthinesse say behold the man and his workes for thy body dying shall rise an vngâ—orious base and shamefull bodie full of corruption yet immortall and thy wretched soule as it departed out of thy body full of sinne and shame so shall it rise againe and therfore consider if thou wouldest now bee loth to be rapt thus in thy ragges of sinne and in the case thou presently standest to iudgement then fall not now to amend thy life else thy abhominations all as a dogge his Master will trace yea goe before thy face to Gods tribunall for it is not the graue nor any fire but onely the bloud of Christ that shall clense thee from thy sinnes and make thee accepted of God 1. Ioh. 1. 7. now is the acceptable time now is the day of saluation now is ife eternall by thee eyther gotten or quite lost thinke vpon it and watch for it But here against the reprobate cauilleth and saith â—ush this is a tale the case is not so hard but a man may make some shift I am but low of stature I will couch downe and hide me and how then can I be seene or missed in such a throng and multitude and in so busie a time Yet consider thou Gods word in Psal. 139. 1 6 7. Ierem. 23. 24. Obad. 6. 3. 4. Amos 9 1. 2. 3. Reuel 6. 15. 16. 17. and 20. 13. Ecclus 16. 17. and thou shalt finde this fancie vnpossible and that nothing will nor can hide thee from the all-seeing eye of the Lord and seeing nothing workes thee this dayes shame and sorrow but thy sinnes then amend now whiles thou art here in this life by true repentance faith and new obedience and he will both cure couer all thy sinnes for Christ alone is the place to hide thee in he will preserue thee from trouble he will informe and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt goe and he wil guide thee with his eye and thus shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto him in a time when he may be found but in the great water-flouds they shall not come nye him Psalm 32. 1. to 10. this is the onely place to hide thee in euen vnder the wings of Christs merits and mercies there and no where else shalt thou bee full secure But the Gauiller
whooredome drunkennesse or the like and in other things are vnreprooueable for this on sinne they will with your Siran 2. King 5. Pray Gods mercie else to be damned they will not forsake it as Cain for his hatred to his brother Herod for his brothers wise Elie for correcting his children c. And deserued they not worthily to be damned who when Christ did all things for them to the spilling of his heart bloud will stand with him for on thing a worldly a transitorie a sinne a shame a damnable and a cursed thing in the iudgement of God man and Angels But to the question first I must say with Salomon It is a snare or a destruction for a man to deuoure holy things and after the vowes to enquire Prou. 20. 25. That is very fearefull it is for men to make againe and game or sport of robbing the Church vexing and abusing the Ministers ouer-mastering them with all reuilings and indignities as if they were the greatest theeues and robbers liuing vnworthie to breath vpon earth and after to enquire if it be impietie or how for this transgression to breake the snare of Gods eternall curse and torments in hell truly the snare is soone broken by restitution Numb 5. 7. Leuit. 5. 16. Ezech. 33. 15. This point not I but Austin thus explaneth saying Those kinde of people be worst of all others who desire to bee released from the punishment of their hainous offences and yet will still possesse the stollen thing to such the medicine of repentance is not auaileable at all for if other mens goods for which the transgression was committed bee not restored when it may be surrendered his repentance is not true but counterfeit but if hee deale truly in the matter let him know that the sinne is not remitted except the theâ—â— be restored c. Oh will the Church-robber say Wee will repent and will not that serue God requires no more of any and are we alone debarred from the generall conditions of all the world Answ. No God forbid and farre be it from me to encrease any mans sinne more then the Lord doth or to cast vnnecessarie and false scruples into any mans conscience but this I say none can repent without faith where faith is their must needs be new obedience if then there be no amendment of life and detesting of the sinne it cannot be called true but counterfeit repentance For who can say that a fornicatour abhors whooredome so long as the harlot lieth in his bosome Isai willeth the transgressour wash his hands from bloud and then come and not before and talke with God Isa. 1. 16. to 19. and so is it in this case and this is euident in Mich. 6. 10. Where hee shewes a reason that hee cannot but smite them saying Are yet the treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked c. For as the taking of the tythes doth begin so the detaining of them continue the sinne and so long as they continue with thee thy sinne is vnpardoned Most woefull and lamentable it is to see what a world of iniquitie the subtiltie of the serpent hath breathed and suggested to intangle and snare poore soules at vnawares wee make Queries and put cases and beate our braines to deceiue our selues against the day of the Lord were it not faire easier omitting this patching at once and for altogether to forsake sinne and to discharge our soules and without all Queries or doubts to be sure of Gods blessing in this life and saluation in the life to come and not to sell our soules to Sathan for the loane of stollen goods for a moment and seeing there is but on thing that hindreth thee from thy God why wilt thou comming so nigh the land of the liuing as foolish Hobab for on sinne renounce thy God forfeit thy selfe and thy family to perdition which God forbid on sinne made the Angels diuels on sinne expelled our progenitors from paradise on sin kept Moses and on sinne kept all Israel aboue 20. yeere old from possessing the holy land two only excepted and will God aboue these dispence with your one sin of sinnes more hainous in humane iudgement then any of the former and which is more for the losse of this one capitall sinne you shall finde treasures in heauen Oh stand not nor sticke for one sinne what greater infidelitie then to distrust our God willing vs to prooue him if he bring our tyth to his store-house if he will not open the windowes of heauen vnto vs and powre a blessing without measure Mal. 3. 10. Else a contrary curse and what will be the end but bitternesse Wherefore beloued in feare and reuerence put thy case to triall and prooue the Lord if he will not open the windowes of heauen to thee c. Proue him if he will not multiply thy little vnto much and blesse the nine parts more for this tythe tenne times then before and that litle thou now hast remaining more then all thy former vnlawfull and vngodly tythes prooue him if he will not send a learned Minister to all parishes in the land men able and willing to stand in the gappe betweene vs and Gods wrath and prooue him if with a crowne of glory he will not honour them that honour him in heauen eternally But oh will on say this counsell is harsh for a man vpon a sudden to strip himselfe of so sweet a portion few or none can abide it Answ. So said Hushai in another matter This counsell is good but not now yet know what our Sauiour said with men this is vnpossible but with God all things are possible Matth. 19. 26. Gen. 22. verse 14. Ezech. 37. 1. c. If thou cannot suddenly doe it then doe it by degrees As thus first consider that thou and thy predecessours haue gotten your money you laid out to buy these Abbeyes and appropriations with encrease ten times or twentie times more 2. Consider the iniurie and harmes you did to the Ministers and people defrauding the on of his bodily allowance and comfortable fruits of his calling and labours and the other of the foode of their soules for both which thou must answer if amends preuent not in faith and new obedience 3. Desire God to incline thy heart to his testimonies and not to couetousnesse and to worke in thee a detestation of the price of bloud 4. Confesse thy sinnes to God and vse all meanes to be reconciled to the Minister and true owner of thy wealth and as oft as thou canst and neede requires let him gather the crummes of his owne liuing which otherwise thou giuest to dogges and hogges vnder thy table euer comforting him and renuing thy heauy case thus encroaching vpon Gods Church and tribute 5. Lay vp and purchase of the ouerplus a farme else where and giue to God what is Gods 6. Or if that will not be become a tenant to God and his Church
is that they are suddenly taken at vnawares and vnprouided and this makes them vnpatient and to cry for some respit to make them ready for Death that is the Lord must stay for them stil but let them watchfully prepare for Death and wait for the Lord as is meet and say Come Lord Iesu come quickly 2. The vnprepared want faith for had they neuer so little faith it would free them from this feare and would animate them against all terrors as Psal. 46. 1. c. for as the body so long as the soule remaineth therein liueth so man so long as Faith abides in his soule needeth not feare Death no more then we feare sickenesse whiles wee enioy perfect health or pouerty while wee abound in wealth 3. There is no feare of death where there is no sinne for sinne is the cause that God depriueth vs of life but the vigilant and godly in time pull out the stings of Death and in Christ their sins are couered and not imputed vnto them Psal 32. 1. 2. Rom. 4. 7. and they sinne not 1. Iohn 3. 9. yea now to them death it selfe is slaine and swallowed vp in victory by the death of Christ 1. Cor. 15. 54. 55. 56. foreseeing that the prick or sharpnesse of Death is sinne and the power of sinne is death Iesus Christ hath accomplished the Law for vs and thereby taken away the sting of Death so that it shall neuer hurt vs any more and so to vs death now is no death but an entrance to life 4. God is euer with the Elect in their troubles and will not for sake them and though they walke in the valley of the shadow of death they will feare nothing Psal. 23. 1. 4. Gen. 46. 4. Luke 22. 43. hee being with them how can they feare to say nothing that he is in league and couenant with them to doe them all good and to remooue from them all harmes and hurts as Isa. 43. 1. c. Feare not I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neyther shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. 5. Death is but a passage or vvay to life which now is so broad and smooth beaten by all Gods Saints that a man may blindly in the darke tread it without stumbling 6. Such as die in the Lord rest from their labors and their workes follow them and what labouring man after his dayes toyle and trauell would not rest from his labours and betake him to his bed and sleep so we by death shall rest from all the miseries whereunto this life is subiect and shall sleepe as in our beds and what a blisse is this specially to the godly who of all others in this life bee most miserable for they are subiect not onely to the common calamities of this life as of sicknesse pouerty losses c. but also besides these the world doth hate reuile persecute them that so bitterly and extreamely that many of them be imprisoned racked and tormented and cruelly put to death as Heb 11. 36. c. and 2. Cor. 11. 23. c. So that to them it is a great happinesse to rest from their labours and yet to rest from their labors by Death is but a part and not perfect blisse or happines for then a labouring Oxe or trauelling Horse were happy when they died yet they loath tremble to die but they that die in Christ haue another increase of happinesse for they enter into glory and their workes that is the reward of their workes follow them for they shall bee in euerlasting ioy why then should Gods children feare death seeing it is an end of present euills and a beginning of felicitie eternall 7. Death bringeth vs in glory to see God our Father and Iesus Christ our sweet Sauiour and the Holy Ghost our sanctifier of whom wee haue seene nothing hitherto but his pourtrait described by the Prophets Apostles which one thing ought to moue vs more then any thing to desire our dissolution for if the Queen of Saba came so farre to see Salomon and to heare his Wisedome how farre should wee goe to heare a greater then Salomon Luke 11. 31. Saint Austin wished he had liued to see Roman triumphantem Paulum praedicantem Christum in carne but those sights were nothing to these in the highest Heauens wher Christ with all his Angels Saints triumph in glory for now shall that blessing of our Sauiour in Luke 10. 23. be perfectly in vs fulfilled viz. Blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see for I tell you that many Prophets and Kings haue desired to see these things which ye see and haue not seene them c. the only contemplation of whom will make vs fully content and will dampe and take from vs the remembrance and sense of all other profits and pleasures whatsoeuer Then with him wee shall see all the Angells Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Saints of God who haue in all ages excelled in vertue and godlinesse with all the holy Preachers who shine as the Sunne and Starres in the firmament of Heauen a sight surpassing that which Socrates hoped after his death to see to wit the Noble Heathens that liued before him as Agamemnon Aiax Vlisses c. 8. By Death our soules shall be separated from our bodies and made more free and capable of the profound mysteries of Gods Hierarchy and Heauenly Kingdome for then the vaile being remoued from our eyes and as Nazianzen writeth Our heauenly soules no longer pressed downe by our earthly bodies wee shall see the Lord face to face and know him as wee are knowne 1. Cor. 13. 2. and plainely behold that which we now worship for them shall we enter into the sanctuary of our God euen to the Holy of Holies there will God shew vnto vs as to his intire friends the whole glory and riches of his house and blessed kingdome and keepe nothing backe from vs. Blessed Death wilt thou not make hast to come and conduct vs thither for thou art the wholesome Physicke which curest vs of all diseases and afflictions and by casting vs into and vnder the earth liftest vs to the highest heauens to liue with God for euer 9. Death is to vs the beginning of life which Epaminondas a Heathen at his Death could see saying to his frends Be merry for now I begin to liue and so Ignatius Now I begin to be Christs Disciple so then in truth death is life and the life wee heere lead is but a limping death onely the one and the other are masked vnder false visages for as writes Chrysostome Our life which is full of misery hath a faire visour on which causeth fooles to loue it and Death which is the beginning
for husbands and parents impiety separated from God and stand in the same transgression If to thy Minister he it is whom thou hast euer hated robbed persecuted and which is another vexation hee shall anon sit in iudgement vpon thee If to the Saints they haue not oyle enough for themselues If to thine own good workes they as smoake vanish being all done in hypocrisie and for vaine-glory and from an vnregenerate heart If to thy former life behold a blacke cloud of trecherous inditements against thee If to Satan thy suggester he now stands in the like condemnation If to the Angells they are the haruest-men sent to gather the tares and to cast them into the fiery furnace If to the Iudge himselfe he calls thee to surrender thy talents and stewardship If to carnall shifts and helpes the Iudge will not be corrupted with bribes nor mooued with flattery nor deluded any longer with promises nor terrified with threats nor touched with pitty thy threats will not bee respected wringing of hands pulling of hayre tearing of thy flesh weeping howling and endlesse lamenting will not be regarded praiers be but babling vowes past date no truce no sureties no appeale no repriuing no delay no repentance a wicked life calleth for iustice sin for death contempt of God for finall damnation turne thee what way thou wilt there is no cōfort euery creature proclaims that the mighty must be mightily tormented and woe is to the wicked for now it shall goe euill vvith him for the reward of his hands shall bee giuen him What shalt thou doe looke vp to heauen it is shut against thee to the Iudge hee commeth to denounce the sentence vnder thy feete hell gapeth for thee within thee is a condemning conscience without thee the bookes opened about thee the reprobates mourning to goe forward is vnpossible to goe backward is not permitted to stand still thou canst not to runne away is bootlesse no remedy but miserably to sustaine and vndergoe all torments and extremities of this fearefull day and place vnlesse now thou repent ioyne with Gods Church forsake thy former wickednesse and that thou maist die the death of the iust liue the life of the godly and if thou vvilt haue a wished place in iudgement and after in heauen with Gods Elect get thee a place heere vpon earth with Gods Church bee not now separated from them in the exercises of religion and holy communion of Saints and thou shalt not be diuided from them in the enioyments of the fruits thereof both in death iudgement and glory eternall in heauen for looke what place and profession thou choosest heere now among the godly or wicked and the like place shalt thou find with the like company in iudgement and euer after Behold I set before thee life and death good and euill c. as in Deut. 30. 15. to the end And thus farre of the second Motiue The eight Motiue to watchfulnesse is the consideration of the glorious comming of the Son of God to iudgement immediately after the whole world is assembled to the appointed place but so that first two euident signes shall goe before the one immediately before his comming or as I may say at his setting forth which is this 1. There shall be signes in the Sun c. as in Luk. 21. 25. The Sea and the Waters shall rore and mens hearts shall faile in them for feare for the powers of Heauen shall be shaken Luke 21. 25. 26. As for the signes in the Sunne Moone and Starres Math. 24. 29. saith they shall be darkened that is to say as the learned expound it Christs comming vnto iudgement shall be with such resplendant and vnspeakeable glory that euen the most excellent creatures shall bee thereat astonied so that the Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened and the starres as if they fell from heauen giue no light that is these most glorious and bright-shining creatures shall be clouded obscured and damped by the vnconceiuable brightnesse of Christs comming to iudgement whereat the wicked shall despaire for feare as Reuel 6. 12. to the end which place is an euident fore-running figure hereof as that also in Exod. 19. 16. to 20. Then the sea and waters shall for feare roare least now they shall bee turned to nothing such as dwell by the Sea side obserue that against tempestuous weather the Sea roareth but this being a most fearefull day in respect of Gods inquisition for sinne and sinners and all other accessaries therevnto and no storme to the tempest of Gods wrath they not onely roare but as it were set out their feare with all the strength and power they can that so the Lord might respect and preserue the miserable sencelesse creatures abused by mans sinfulnesse and the powers of heauen shall be shaken as threatning a downefall by reason of mans sinne and the Lords indignation and punishing of all sinners As when the Father of a family punisheth and whippeth in his anger any one of the seruants all the house as the very children and seruants will feare and so is it heere when the Lord in his vvrath commeth to punish all workers of iniquity the Angells the Heauens and Saints of God all subiect and guilty of their infirmities compared vvith Gods holinesse and perfection cannot but tremble and quake as we read the Prophets did in all their visions much more in this So likewise when the Master of a great family dieth the whole house is troubled the wife taketh on the children weep the seruants lament the retainers mourne the house is turned vpside-downe hospitality giuen ouer and all come to ruine and desolation so heere when man the center and glory of this world draweth to his end and triall and is like to bee vtterly confounded in hell fire Oh Lord What shall become or to vvhat vse serues this world the heauens the earth the sea and all the powers thereof but vvith man to be turned to nothing or set vpon a light fire to bee consumed to dust and ashes if the Lord in mercy do not otherwise determine and dispose of them and is it any maruell that they tremble quake and roare for feare and how much-more should man the cause hereof seeing and knowing all these things tremble weepe and howle for his sinnes now while time serueth and he may be heard but in these great water-flouds of misery they shall not come nigh him nor be heard Wee see that onely an earth-quake if it bee any thing vehement is exceeding fearefull the least extraordinary inundation of waters very terrible but now when the vvhole massie globe of this world shal thus totter and shake the mightiest seas and waters rore and rage for feare and the glorious heauens become darke and dusky how shall the hearts of men be appalled with dread and terror to behold the same and the cause thereof wise men preuent dangerous diseases lest they take away their colour and kill them
the faithfull or deceifulness of sinne the warnings of the zealous Ministers or the damnable wiles of Sathan But now what remedy it is too late to be wise there was a time vvhen they might escape hell but now shall be no time for euermore Yet to vs that as yet liue there is remedy enough if vve will accept of the acceptable time these frights and feares shall not touch vs. 1. If first we will euery man betimes watch and wake to God and seriously with mature sad deliberation consider in what a dolefull case mans sinfull soule shall that day stand and what paines endlesse pittilesse and remedilesse are ordained for all prouokers of Gods wrath and vengeance and therefore now let vs preuent his iudgements embrace his mercies be thankefull for this timely warnings and not delay amendment of life 2. Consider how hartily thou wouldest wish then that in this world thou hadst reformed and framed the whole course of thy life according to Gods reuealed will in all points and doe so now speedily and no longer heape to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath but yeeld vnto the Lord the honour due vnto his name Rom. 2. 4. and 2. Cor. 7. 1. else thou shalt wish in vaine that thou hadst abated thy haughty stomacke and humbled thy selfe vnder the mighty hand of God obeyed his Ministers watched for this day but all too late 3. Looke what paine and penance thou wouldst then gladly vndergoe to obtaine saluation if in that dreadfull day it should bee granted thee and doe it now voluntarily assay labour and liue so now in such sort as thou wouldest wish then thou hadst liued in that thou need not heereafter take vp the fooles prouerbe I neuer thought of it else be sure the Iudge will ouer-turne all thy stuffe more throughly then Laban did Iacobs search all the corners of Ierusalem as with a cādle thou shalt be vnable to hide the least thought from him much lesse the originall as actual impieties abhominations of thy sinful life 4 Cōsider that as his promises be most free to all that in due time will accept therof so in that daywil he in iustice most seuerely punish the contemners therof 5. Marke here with me the superexcellent purity and diuine sincerity of Christian religion and the vpright integrity it requireth in euery man and with what exquisite precisenesse it exacteth the same purity in daily practise and therefore see that against the day of death and of iudgement thy croppe be answerable to thy seede sowne Galat. 6. 7. 8. Ier. 12. 13. and therefore setting now and for euer aside all prophanenesse and vnion or communion with the wicked and all wickednesse addresse thy selfe if thou wilt then escape this punishment to lead a pure sincere vpright life according to the contents of the fifteenth Psalme and to the purity and sole sincerity of the religion thou professest for thou now seest that the vngodly shall not stand in iudgement nor the sinners in the assembly of the righteous Psal. 1. 5. therefore approue now thy selfe a wise man striue for this heauenly prize and looke not backe to Sodom with Lots wife when thou mayest escape hell fire the difference betweene a wise man and a foole is a wise man wil foresee a mischiefe ere it come and auoid it but a foole will doe neyther Heere first wee may see what shall bee done vnto the men whom the King of Kings will honour they shall be preferred farre aboue the honour King Assuerus bestowed vpon Mordecai Ester 6. 9. and 8. 15. and 9. 4. for as in great Assises Noble men and men of worth are for honour sake made to sit on the bench with the chiefe Iudge so the Elect as standing below in a place too low for them are now called to sit vpon the seat of iudgement with the chiefe Iudge to iudge the wicked as Luke 22. 30. which passeth all the glory of this world by infinite degrees and yet such honour haue all his Saints and after thence goe to greater euen to life eternall the excellency whereof the wit of man in this life is vncapable and therefore as I haue no tongue to describe it no more haue ye eares to heare it onely let vs beleeue it and neuer cease to pray for it vntill wee come and enioy it and in the meane while seeing the Scriptures as of purpose be sparing in describing these celestiall ioyes I will not be copious in relating them but contain my selfe within my measure and labour to bee wise with sobriety which the Lord grant me to doe The second vse we are to make heereof is this that seeing the ioyes of the Elect and the glory of the Kingdom prepared for them is vnspeakeable glorious and blissefull It stands all men and women vpon to long for it and by all meanes whatsoeuer it cost them to labour to obtaine it and no longer to fixe their hearts vpon this life and world so decoitfull and transitory and if Cleombrotus an Heathen man reading but a booke of Plato concerning the immortality of the soule and the felicity thereof was so rauished with the desire of that estate that to enioy it speedily hee cast himselfe headlong into the Sea and yet Plato beeing a Pagan writ of that subiect but plain naturally blindly vncertainly but we haue a sure Word are taught heereof in Christs owne Schoole not blindely but plainely diuinely and most truly and that not by Plato but by the Iudge himselfe who will not deceiue nor be deceiued and yet are for all that still lumpish at the report hereof and as it were dead our hearts as is to be feared testifying vnto vs that we haue no part in that heauenly Country specially because wee be so desirous and eagre of this life as if soule and body liued and died together without hope of resurrection or eternall life else surely we would as that Marchant and Ieweller in the Gospell sell all to procure it not as Esau resigne our birth-right and all title to Heauen for a messe of redde broath or for a trifling pleasure or profit lose an inestimable good and what are the best things in this world but vanity and vexation of spirit and God forbid that we for such should lose an vnvaluable prize a wise Pilgrime will forbeare all delights that hinder his returne home and reserue all pleasure vntill he come to his owne country and so should wee poore pilgrimes in this strange country cast vp our eyes to heauen our country and iourneyes wished end and be much greeued when by the least meanes wee are out of our way thither and be sure euer to vse the things of this life as a Pilgrime doth his staffe who makes much of it while it furthers him in his way but if it trouble him he flings it away and questionlesse whosoeuer desireth earnestly and perswades himselfe of saluation will little
him according to his former promise and couenant made with them in Mat. 19. 28. 29. Luk. 22. 30. and 1. Cor. 6 2. 3. not that they shal simply iudge the world for all iudgement is by God the Father committed vnto the Sonne Iohn 5. 22. but because they shal sit as assistants and witnesses and approouers of his iust iudgement against the wicked for it fareth heere with the Lord as vvith a Noble King when he commeth to sit in iudgement vpon a matter of importaÌ„ce hee being set vpon his Throne will call as assistants his next and best beloued kindred of the bloud royall and nobility to sit next him then the inferior Iudges and Iustices to iudge with him not that they manadge the businesse and giue iudgement as they vvill but because by their presence they witnesse approue the equity of the Iudges sentence and so shall it be here on that day This sentence shall first be pronounced vpon the Elect to absolue iustifie them and to call them to him to iudge together with him that is to witness approoue his proceedings against the wicked not only because hee is most inclined to mercy and slow to wrath but 1. First Because hee is to honor them with this dignity to iudge the world 2. For that this is the Elects long expected day of triumph ouer the wicked their afflicters persocutors therfore meete it is that before their eyes they should be aduanced to this glory according to Wis. 5. 1. 2. to their great sorrow 3. The Apostles Ministers and all Gods Saints are members of Christs mysticall body and therefore meet they should sit with him as a fulnesse of his perfection and glory the head and body conioyned together as one person 4. Christ this day will haue his aduersaries all stand and stoop before himselfe and his whole Church whom they sometimes abused and iudged wrongfully 5. They shall iudge the wicked by testifying against them for contemning their doctrine and examples of an holy life and so make the wicked excuselesse Math. 25. 26. Luke 11. 31. and such honour haue all his Saints Psal. 149. 9. farre aboue the honour done Mordecai by Assuerus Est. 6. 9. and 8. 15. and 10. 23. or by any King to his Subiects But heereâ—t may be demanded how the Elect then are iudged according to their workes as is said they shall be in Rom. 2. 6. and 2. Cor. 5. 10. and 11. 15. and 1. Pet. 1. 17. Reuel 2. 23. and 20. 12. 13. and 22. 12. when they themselues confesse acknowledge that they did no good workes Math. 25. 37. 38. 39. I answer Our Sauiour taketh better notice of the good workes of the faithfull then they doe themselues for they good men euer eyed their sinnes and the corruptions of their nature and heeded not their good workes according to Math. 6. 4. 5. but our Sauiour did and calleth them good workes Math. 25. 35. 36. 2. We see also the godly themselues when they be accused and traduced as workers of iniquity they to cleare themselues appeale to Gods iudgements Psa. 26. 1. c. and then can make large Catalogues of their good workes as Iob 29. and 30. and 31. and Dauid in many of his Psalmes and so many others and therfore did good workes to testifie of their iustifying faith 3. Admit they all did not good works but some were sinners yet God according to his Election imputed not their sinnes to them but forgaue them all and with the Ysope of Christs merits washed them in this life and world from all their sinnes as Psal. 32. 1. and 51. 2. c. and 1. Cor. 1. 30. 31. and 6. 9. Heb. 9. 13. Reuel 7. 9. 14. and being in his couenant and thus purified and washed they shall this day appeare as cleane as if they had neuer beene defiled with any staine of sinne and so are wee saued by Christs merits as Iacob was blessed in Esaus apparell 4. They were elected before all worlds to saluation and to the meanes thereof and they by their holy life and innocent conuersation serued Gods Election and so their names being in the booke of life could not be blotted out nor they misse of saluation 5. Heauen was their inheritance and so nothing except fellony or treason can defeat a man of his inheritance nor that neyther if the King doe pardon it and all other his offences and transgressions and so did Christ heere as Psal. 103. 1. 2 3. c. 6. They euer beleeue faithfully in Christ and so were iustified by faith and Christ tooke away and bore in his owne body the curse due for their sinnes Rom. 5. 1. c. and 8. 1 c. Galat. 3. 13. and so cannot iustly be condemned this day And therefore Christ will vse no partiality but doe true and strict Iustice in absoluing and receiuing the godly to mercy according to his gratious couenant Let the wicked repent and doe the like and they shall with all loue and fauour receiue the like sentence and bee aduanced to the like honour and glory then and euer after But if you obiect that this is contrary to the proceeding in all Courts terrene to haue a mans enemies to be his Iudge as the Ministers be to their persecutors may they not except against them as selons vse here on earth no for this is iust that as vpon earth the iudged the Saints to death spoyled iniured reuiled and vniustly persecuted them that they this day should doe them the like measure for measure by the Law of retallion Exod. 21. 24. Iudg. 1. 7. and 1. Sam. 15. 33. Luke 19. 25. but if thou wilt escape this Iiry abuse them not loue and do them all good and aboue all procure the fauour of Christ the chiefe Iudge then all the Court of Heauen will intreat them kindely The second part of Christs defintiue sentence shall bee directly against the Reprobate and is already registred in Math. 25. vers 41. Depart from me ye cursed into the euerlasting fire c. The reason is set downe in verse 42. for I was an hungred and ye gaue me no meat c. and the same sentence is ratified in vers 45. In as much as ye did it not to one of the least c. And this is the sentence of condemnation because our Sauior condemneth them to hell fire for that they in their life time heere would not repent of their sinnes originall nor actuall but daily more and more prouoked the Lord to wrath with their inuentions neyther would they conuert and turne vnto the Lord take him for their God nor belieue in his name nor by any meanes be perswaded to walke before the Lord in new obedience and therefore refusing God and his word and couenant and being ashamed of him before men hee now refuseth them and is ashamed of them before his Father his Angels and Saints and cuts them from