are but a weak man and I am persuaded that another Winter will set my Mother hard to it And as for you my Grand mother it will not be long till you will be with me Therefore make ready and settle your Concerments in the world assoon as you can that you may not be toyled in the world and then table your selves with Mr. Nicholson Then she calling to mind that Mr. Nicholson was sent for asked If he was come But he being gone upon a Visit of the like nature three Messengers were sent for him before he came which made her think the time exceeding long for his coming and often prayed and desired others to pray that she might live to see his face his precious face that had been so Instrumental for the good of her Soul Then she cried again This Death is hard to abide Pray pray that my Passage may be easy Then she called to their man Andrew saying Where is that Promise I even I will blot one thine iniquities for my Names sake and will not remember thy Sins Then he turned to the place Isa 43.25 And many a time did she go over these words I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my names sake and will not remember thy Sins Then pausing a little said Here will I rest for I have nothing else to rely upon but Christ in a Promise As for all my best Duties that ever I performed in all my life I quit them all as Physicians of no value and do freely cast my self at the feet of Christ And if I perish I 'le perish there This was unspeakable satisfaction to her Father that now those Sermons that sometimes with difficulty she had heard and those Duties she had performed and which had cost her many a Tear should now be all disowned by her as to Justification when she was going to look grim Death in the Face And this her father affirms of his own knowledg she was of such a broken frame of Spirit that seldom or never did she come from her private Retirements but with red Eyes and watery Cheeks And sometime upon particular occasion he hath joyned with her in Prayer when she would have poured out her Soul in such a melting frame of Spirit Heavenly language and powerful Arguments as would have caused him to have groaned in his Spirit and blessed the Lord for those eminent Endowments of Gifts and Graces he had endued her withal Presently she cries again Oh my Father this Death is hard to abide Pray pray that my Passage may be easie Then suddenly with much ardency of Spirit with Hands and Eyes lift up to Heaven said Lord Jesus put forth thine Arm and take me by the Hand and say Come up hither Then she enquiring again for Mr. Nicholson she was told he was not come She prayed again That if the Lord will she might live to see him Then beholding her Father she said How comes it that my Father is without a Cap Then she called for one and sat up and opened it with her own hands and then put it upon his Head who said It was the last that ever his dear would put him on Then she desired to be remembred to all her natural Relations leaving a word of Exhorto them all namely That they should come off from the world and make sure of Christ Then she desired to be remembred to all Christian Friends and named some of them saying Oh the Society of the Saints the Society of the Saints Were I to live again I would more highly value the Society of the Saints the least of Saints Then she asked her Father What day it was He told her Friday Then she said It will not be long till I shall be in Eternity of Felicity and I shall be interred upon the Lords day Then she asked If she might give them out her Grave-dress Which being referred to her liberty she called for her Desk and sat up and opened it with her own hand and laid aside her Shift and the rest of her Cloaths that she would carry with her to her Grave being all plain She desired her Aunt to put her Fore-headcloath low upon her Brow Then perceiving that this enflamed her Fatherwith Sorrow with the rest of her Relations she said Father Whether shall the Saints know one another in Heaven Who then gave her that satisfaction he could on the Affirmative and further called to mind that Mr. Bolton in his Joys of Heaven doth positively affirm the same by many Arguments as first That all Knowledg is desirable but to know one another in Heaven is most desireable 1 Corin 13.12 But then shall I know even as I am known Secondly The Disciples in the Transfiguration knew Moses and Elias whom they never saw before Ergo we shall know one another in Heaven with many more Arguments to that purpose which were so satisfactory to her that â—he blessed the Lord for that knowledg especially that she should know her dear Father again in Heaven She further enquired Whether the Sins of Saints should come into the Judgment of Discussion at the great Day of the Lord She then remembring Mr. Brooks in his Apples of Gold did speak fully to it and desired it might be read to her which accordingly was done And when she heard it she then blessed the Lord saying whom he loves once he loves to the end A Friend coming in and asking her how she did she said She was taking flight into another world Pray pray that my Passage may be easu Then said Come Lord Jesus take me to thy self hold me fast in thine Arms and let me not go Then she enquired again for Mr. Nicholson who presently came and after Salutation he fell down before the Lord to beg Mercy for her Soul After Prayer was done she desired that the Room might be spared that she might have a little private Converse with him He spent about half an hour with her which as he after told was mostly about some Doubts she had about the strength of her Corruptions and want of Assurance In the close of their Discourse she was still of that mind that she would die He told her others were fitter to judg in that Case than she And asked her how she knew it She then said She felt that that he did not feel So in the close of the Day she fell into a hoâ— Feaver and was violently in it for a season Dâ—ring which time the Tempter waited his opportunity knowing well he had but a little time tâ— do his work in so that through his Temptations and the violency of the Feaver for a smaâ—â— time she was under a damp Then in the close of the Evening the Doctoâ— came again who gave her some things that presently did loosen her Flegm and not looâ— after she fell upon a sweet sleep as the Doctoâ— and Mr. Wilkinson and others that sat with her said it was about two Hours she
to Grace â— mean of one Grace unto another but of degrees of Grace to the same Grace that is already received The former is plain from 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. Add to your Faith vertue c. The latter is as plain from those Scriptures that enjoin the increase of particular Graces upon us 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude v. 20. But ye Beloved Building up your selves in your most holy Faith 1 Thes 4.10 We beseech yeâ— Brethren that ye increase more and more that is in love Jam. 1.4 But let patience have he perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing And many more such instances might be given Now till this be done thou art not actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus There is a certain measure of Grace assigned and the period of time fixed for every Saint to come up to it in Ephes 4.13 and tâ—â— this be done we are not compleatly ready Thirdly Actual Readiness consisteth in this To have your Evidences clear for Heaven Tâ— be able to prove to your own Souls that you are in a state of Grace Till you be come up tâ— this length you are not so ready as you should be The Apostle enjoineth Saints To give â—â— diligence to make their Calling and Election sunâ— 2 Pet. 1.10 that is sure to themselves And when you have done this then are you ready for the Bridegroom 's coming When you can say with Paul and the other Apostles 2 Corinth 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens then are you actually ready and prepared for the Coming of the Lord. O then try your own selves your states and conditions to see whether Christ be in you or not Never think that you can be ready in any good measure till you understand something of this Can a man be ready to meet Christ that knoweth not whether he belongeth to Heaven or Hell to Salvation or Destruction Alas Such an one is yet short of that degree of readiness that should be attained in order to Christ's coming Fourthly There is also this in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus viz. A compleating of the work that God hath given us to do Every man hath his Generation-work set him of God to do and finish and till this be done no man is ready for the coming of the Lord. It is said of David Act. 13.46 That after he had served his Generation he fell asleep When a man hath done all his Generation-work he is then fit for Death and ready for Christ St. Paul foreseeing his Death hath these Expressions 2 Tim. 4.6 7. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Mark Paul saith he is ready to be offered as our Translation hath it though I know the Greek word may be translated otherwise But how proves St. Paul that he is ready Why For saith he I have finished my course c. As if he had said I have done all my Generation-work and therefore I am ready O Souls then and not till then are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus till you have done all the work which God hath given you to do in the world Most men God knoweth spend their time for very Vanity not considering that they have their task to do yet they think when they have lived as long as they can then there is no more but dying and entring into Glory Poor mistaken Soul Thou hast thy Generation-work to mind and also to compleat And if thou hast not set about it and brought it to its period thou art far from the Kingdom of God and consequently very unfit to die and unready to meet the Lord Jesus Be not deceived There is much to do before thou canst be ready for Christ Try then what thou hast done this way Hast thou wrought out thine own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Hast thou filled up thy time with Duty Hast thou done all the work of thy Place Condition and Relation If not thou art not yet ready enough to meet the Lord Jesus Fifthly This Actual Readiness lies also in this viz. To have the Affections in subjection and under command and as it were brought under ones feet That when the Lord Jesus cometh with a Summons for the Souls appearance then the Soul to have so much power over it self as to say Arise let me go hence So that there needeth no more but Christ's Call and the Soul is ready to set forward and to take sits march to meet him this now is actual Readiness It is said of Abraham that when he was called to go into a place that he should afterwards receive for an Inheritance he obeyed Heb. 11.8 So when Christ giveth the Soul a Call to go from hence for the Soul then to have its Affections so subdued and so under command as forthwith to obey the Lord's Call this â—s Readiness indeed It is also said That the Witnesses upon a voice crying from Heaven to them Come up hither ascended to Heaven in a Cloud Rev. 11.12 So when Christ's voice from Heaven biddeth the Soul come up hither and the Soul upon the call ascendeth to Heaven this is Readiness in multis gradibus in many legrees to meet the Lord Jesus We read that when the Lord shall give the poor Jews a Call to return that they shall be so ready in their Affections to make answer to their Call as that they shall forthwith make this Reply Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Jer. 3.22 So when Christ saith Return ye Children of Men and we answer Behold we come unto thee then are we in a proportionable measure prepared to meet the Lord Jesus The Centurion told Christ That his Servants were so under his Authority that if he bid one of them go he goeth and if another come he cometh and if he bid the third do this he doth it Mat. 8.9 So if our Affections like the Centurion's Servants be so under Christ's and our Authority that if they be bid go they gp or come they come or do this they do it This is to be fitted for the coming of Christ Bâ—â— on the other hand now If the Affections be â—â— unruly unsubdued and masterful as that theâ— will not bend to the Call of Christ when eveâ— he summoneth any of us to appear before Hâ—â— we are not yet ready to meet the Lord Jesus Many Souls I know will pretend that if thâ—â— be to be ready then they are already prepared for they are as they pretend willing to depaâ—â— from hence when ever the Lord shall call theâ— But alas How far are such mistaken for let bâ— Christ Call for their Souls
Abraham That when he went to sacrifice up his Son Isaac to God he left his Young men with the Ass behind him Gen. 22.5 to when a man sacrificeth up his life to God for him then to leave all at the foot of the hill this â—â— a suitable frame of spirit for a dying hour It â—â— said of those Worthies in Heb. 11.15 That â—hey were not mindful of the Countrey from whence they came out They did not like Israel in the Wilderness think of Egypt or look â—ack like Lot's wife towards Sodom but they hung loose from the world and only fixed and fastened their Affections upon Heaven How did several of our famous English Martyrs in Q. Maries daies hang loose from their dearest comforts and Relations That when they were set before them sometimes for a Temptation or Aggravation of their sorrows and torments could easily overlook them and go on in their Suffering down to the Valley and Shadow of Death with the greatest chearfulness imaginable O blessed frame when a man is so dead to his Life Relations and all other worldly enjoyments as that he is not captivated in his Affections with it but hath in a holy manner so forgot it as that he is got above it here is a person indeed of a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour How many are there that have the world set in their heart as the expression is Eccles 3.11 That have the very Essigies or Scheme of the world drawn upon their hearts as Calice was upon the heart of Q. Mary as she her self expressed it Alas such are like to have as sorrowful a parting with and from it as we may imagine the rich Fool had from his Goods laid up for many years in that night when his Soul was required of him Luke 12.19 20. Poor men These are far from this suitable frame of spirit for a Dying hour Fourthly When a man hath a rellish of Heaven upon his Spirit a taste and fore-taste of the fruit of the Vine that is drunk in that eternal Canaan this is a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour A man is never fitter for Dying â—hen when his heart is in Heaven and his spirit â—lipt in the honey of Canaan When the grapes of Eshcol and Pomegranats and Figs of Canaan are tasted and leave such a tang upon the spirit behind them as sharpen the appetite and scent the Soul with the sweet odours and perfumes of Heaven here is a glorious frame of Spirit for a Dying hour When good Simeon that had waited for the Consolation of Israel had got Christ in his Arms He tasted so sweet to the spiritual Palate of the good man as that he is forward for dying Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine tyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.28 29 30. Heaven dropt into the spirit of a man and the scent thereof retained puts a man into a right and suitable frame of heart for a dying Hour All the Pains Aches Troubles and Tortures that attend such cannot unframe them while Heaven and their Souls are thus incorporated together Nihil crus sentit in nervo cum animus â—est in coelo Tertul. And thus much shall serve for the opening of the first Particular viz. Wherein this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus doth consist Secondly Now it followeth next in order to shew you Why it is the great Concern of all that would be saved to make ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus GROUNDS First Because of the great hazard that all men run into that make not ready for the coming of Christ Let me explain this a little to you and that in Two Particulars First In reference to the wicked The hazard they run in not preparing and making ready for Christ's coming is most dreadful and dangerous They do inevitably expose their Soul to everlasting Ruine and Destruction It hath been shown you already that there is a Fundamental Readiness which positively lyeth in Regeneration and if the work of Regeneration pass not upon you before the coming of the Lord Jesus you are undone to all Eternity What is more plain from the infallible Scriptures than that unless a man be born again he cannot seâ— the Kingdom of God Doth not the Scripture tell you That no unclean thing shall enter into that Holy City of Heaven nor any thing whatsoever that worketh Abomination or maketh a Lie Rev. 21. last And what then will become of such Now see what the Scripture saith in this particular Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13.3 5. Now consider his all ye that forget God lest he tear you in â—ieces and there be none to deliver And you Hypocrites Though you have cleaner faces than he profaner sort in the world yet your hearts â—â—e as black as theirs and the hazard you run is â—â—ost dreadful Read at your leasure Mat. 25. â— 8 10 11 12. Were not the Five foolish Virgins shut out of the Bridegrooms Chamber â—h consider it seriously Is it nothing to venture â—our Souls and to expose them to so great a â—azard as you certainly do while you neglect regarding this Fundamental Readiness Secondly In reference to the Godly themselves â—â—en they expose themselves to hazard for want of Actual Preparation Though their Souls be â—â—fe in the main through their habitual Readiness so that they cannot finally miscarry yet â—ere are hazards they run through their Defectiveness in actual Readiness I will shew you in Four Particulars 1. They make their passage through this vally of Bacha exceeding difficult and dark their salvation at last is a surprizal to them And their fears at present cannot but be great upon them especially upon occasions when Eternity â—â— before them and they see themselves before â—e very face of it It cannot be otherwise but â—ose Souls that have had no due regard to actual Preparation for the coming of Christ unless they have lost all sense of their Souls and Eternity to come must have doleful Fears and inward pinching Perplexities especially when Death stareth them in the face When a man hath been lamentably off from the exercise of Grace and putting on the Wedding-garment and making out his title to everlasting life â—â— his conscience be awakened he must needs walth sorrowfully thorow the Valley of the shadow â—â— Death This is apparent from the Five was Virgins they were not actually ready when thâ—â— Bridegroom came upon them and then in what an hurry were they Mat. 25.7 then all thâ—â— Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps Theâ— arose with a fright like men that are suddenâ— alarmed out of their sleep at Midnight Nâ— question they were startled to purpose through the greatness of those fears that were upon then and were surprized with their Salvation And is it nothing to you O Saints to run this hazard or to bring upon your selves all this trouble and perplexity Assuredly you will be â—â— danger of
that come under the lash of this Point First There is the Carnal Professour thaâ— justly falleth under Conviction who deceiveth himself with his fair pretences and meer shaâ—â— dows he looketh like one that is making ready for Christ and yet really and in good earneâ—â— he never endeavoureth to get his Soul furnisheâ— with those Preparations that would fit him sâ—â— Christ This poor man like the five fooliâ—â— Virgins hath his lamp but he hath no oyâ—â— it His heart is graceless and yet he goes oâ—â— till he see himself deceived when it is too lateâ— My Friends believe it for a truth It is not whâ—â—â— you appear to be by your Profession but whaâ—â— you really and actually are by powerful impressions within you and spiritual actions done bâ—â— you that will make you to be ready for tâ—â— Coming of the Lord Christ Do you think thaâ— the Lord Jesus will look upon your outward Profession to be all the Preparation he required when he shall come and call for your Souls Be not mistaken Whatever you think or judg in this Case the Lord Christ will be of another mind yea and will disown such to be ready for him Mark his own words Math. 7.21 22. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord â—hall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven But he â—hat doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and 〈◊〉 thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name one many marvellous works But maâ—k what answer he returneth them And then will I proâ—ss unto them I never knew you Depare from â—eye that work iniquity Secondly There is the earthly Miser whose â—art is eaten out and devoured with the ca es â— the world This silly Muckworm cometh â—â—der the whip Alas This covetous Wretch â—â—ndeth at the widest distance from Preparaâ—â—n for the coming of Christ It is true he is â—â—king himself ready but what is it for onâ—â—for his Incomes from the world There is no â—â—n of greater Contrivance Care and Action â—â—n this wretch but all is spent and laid out â—ut his earthly Concerns His Thoughts â—ections Head Heart and Hand are all â—aged but still about his carnal Contemements Though he sometimes talk of Heaven and the Coming of Christ yet is he not at leisure to think leriously of either He cannot spare time from the world to prepare for Heaven and Christ See his Emblem or Portraicture to the life in the Parable of the Rich man recorded in Luk 12.16 17 18. where we have hiâ— Thoughtfulness Care Contrivance and Activeness set forth about his earthly Profits And tâ— speak the truth A worldly man looketh upon the world and his concerns in it to be 〈◊〉 greatest concerns As for Heaven and going to it he is willing to run the hazard this shall not trouble either his head or heart at presenâ— But if he must think of Heaven and the comâ— of Christ he will defer that till he hath do with all his concerns in the world and that when he cometh to die then he will cry 〈◊〉 mercy and ask forgiveness and this is all 〈◊〉 Readiness in his judgment that will be requisite to be minded Adde to these your Jovial Sirs that spâ—â—â— their days in mirth and in a moment go doâ—â— to the Grave That live as if their lives were be sacrificed to their lusts Poor men Tâ—â—â— put far from them the evil Day and all thouâ—â— of the coming of Christ Amos 6.3 4 5 6. 〈◊〉 men in the world are more unready for a dâ—â— hour than these And God many times coâ—â—â— upon these on a sudden and sweepeth them to the Grave in the midst of their Jollity read and tremble at those words of Christ Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee If you mark it was that very night after the poor Miser had been pleasing himself with the thoughts of what stores of Wealth and Pleasure he had laid up for his Soul against the time to come v. 19. I will say to my soul Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry But this poor Fool is cut off in the midst of his pleasing thoughts before the morning The like you have in Belshazzar who in the midst of his Cups is fairly presented with the Finger of Death to cut him off Dan. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. Thirdly There is the Secure Sinner that is fast asleep upon his Pillow of ease who is not â—t all awakened either by the Threatnings of the Word or other Providential Alarms that â—â—e hath He hath many Spectacles of Mortaâ—ity before his eyes yet is he not at all startled â—â—r awakened by any of these to consider his ways these also are far from this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus Poor secure Sinners what will you do in the Day when the Lord shall â—ome forth against you Do you think that then â—e shall be able to sit quiet and remain secure 〈◊〉 trow not When God shall arise and comâ—â—â—pon you he will awaken you to purpâ—â—â— When there was a cry made at Midnight 〈◊〉 hold the Bridegroom cometh the slumbering Virgins could sleep no longer They had been secure and sleepy under Ordinances and Prâ—â—dences before but when Christ cometh upon them they rouse up to purpose Matth. 25 â—â— will it be done to you There is not the secâ—â—â— rest Soul among you but when the Lord Chriâ—â— alarms you shall rise up with trembling yoâ—â— will be made to quake for fear at his appearance O then to prevent this awake your selves bâ—â—â— times and get ready that Christ may not coâ—â—â— upon you at unawares Fourthly The Presumptuous Sinner fallen under Reproof by this Doctrine who hardened himself in his Wickedness and sinneth with aâ— high hand and yet concludeth he shall haâ—â— peace though he walketh after the Imaginations of his own evil heart to adde Drunkenneâ—â— to Thirst But what saith the Scripture about this sort of men The Text is terrible Deut. 29â— 19 20. The Lord will not spare that man but bâ—â— anger and jealousie shall smoak against him 〈◊〉 then be not so foolishly mad as to hope for Mercy at the coming of Christ whilst ye go on aâ— so round a rate in Sin Though ye have made 〈◊〉 Covenant with Death and with Hell are at agreement yet because ye have made lies your refugâ—â— and hid your selves under falshood your Covenant with Death shall be disannulled and your agreement with Hell shall not stand The Hail shâ—â— sweep away your refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow your hiding place and when the overflowing scourge shall pass thorow then shall â—e be troden down by it Isa 28.15 16 17 18. Fifthly To add no more There is the languishing Professour that falleth under the rebuke of this Doctrine who though his condition be safe because of his
habitual Readiness the grace of Regeneration being found within him yet may he sadly smart for his Relapses before â—e give up the Ghost Hast thou not heard before what hazards even the Godly do run for want of actual Preparation Is it a small thing in thine account to be under the Trounâ—ings of Satan the hidings of God's Face the â—remblings of Conscience and the terrors of Death Remember therefore from whence thou â—â—rt fallen and repent and do the first works or â—â—se the Lord Christ will come unto thee quickly â—nd remove thee out of thy place except thou reâ—ent Be watchful and strengthen the things â—hat are ready to die which yet remain for thy works are not found perfect before God Rememâ—er therefore how thou hast received and heard â—nd hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt â—ot watch the Lord Christ will come on thee as Thief and thou shalt not know what hour he will â—ome upon thee Rev. 2.5 and 3.2 3. Use 2. Secondly Is it the great concernment â—f all that look to be saved to make ready against the coming of Christ Then it is thâ— greatest Folly imaginable to neglect making ready for Christ's Coming That man lies aâ—â— waies under the imputation of extreme Folly that neglecteth his principal Concerns Is 〈◊〉 not an arrant Fool that will not mind his moâ—â— necessary Concernments wherein his very lâ—â—â— and welfare is wrapt up Quae te dementia cepit That you may see the extreme folly and maâ—ness of men herein I will shew you it a litâ—â—â— more particularly and that very briefly First That man that neglecteth making reâ—dy for Christ's coming he hath no regard 〈◊〉 or care of his great Soul His Carelessness about making due Preparation to meet the Lâ—â—â— Jesus doth plainly speak forth thus much That whether his Soul sink or swim be saâ—â— or damned he mattereth it not He willâ—â—â— so much as trouble either his Head or Heart about it And is not this the greatest pieceâ—â— Folly that can be What man more madâ—â— foolish than he that setteth his Soul aside 〈◊〉 forgetteth or else careth not to do any thâ—â— about it that may tend to save it Our 〈◊〉 Jesus telleth us That the Soul of man is beâ—â—â—â— than the whole world for so much his woâ—â—â— do sound Math. 16.26 What is a man profâ—â—â— â—f he gain the whole world and lose his own Soul â—r what shall he give in exchange for his soul Now is that man any other than a simple Fool that neglecteth his Soul which the whole world cannot equalize the worth of or repair the loss of if he could enjoy it all to himself Secondly That man that neglecteth Preparation for the Coming of Christ he doth but treasure up wrath unto himself against the day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God And is not he a Fool that provideth Instruments of Cruelty for himself And thus doth every one though they think it not that neglecteth to make ready for Christ's appearance I speak to such as never mind the work of Repentance but go on in a course of Sin these of all others are the greatest Fools in that they do all the while store up plagues for themselves Rom. 2.4 5 6. Thirdly The Folly of him that mindeth not making ready for the coming of Christ appeares in this That he doth but harden himself against â—he coming of Christ And is he not a grand Fool think ye that thus setteth himself against Christ Whoever hardened himself against God and prospered I do not think that every one that mindeth not to make himself ready to meet â—he Lord Jesus doth intentionally and resolredly harden himself against Christ for these â—re only that Atheistical and debanched Crew that are void of all Fear and Conscience that bid open defiance against Heaven Psal 73 9â— But my Friends after you have heard it to be your Duty to make ready against that time when you shall be called to appear before Christ iâ— you then neglect to do it it will be interpreted of Christ to be a hardening your selves against him Because you know it to be your Duty and yet will not do it And what a Madman 〈◊〉 he that will put himself into such a posture aâ— will bespeak him to be hardening himself against Christ Can their hearts endure or their hands be strong in the day that God shall deal with them Ezek. 22.14 Will ye provoke the Lord to jealousie are ye stronger than he Remember it was Israels overthrow in the Wilderness that they hardened themselves against God this made their Carkases fall there so that they never came to Canaan Psal 95.8 9 10 11. Heb. 3.8 9 10 11. I shall leave but that one place further with you and then consider of it Revel 6.14 15 16 17. And the Heaven departed at a Scroll when it is rolled together and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places And the Kings of the earth and the great Men and the Rich men and the Chief Captains and the Mighty men and every Bondman and every Freeman hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the Mountains And said to the mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand You see that Christ will make the stoutest of men to tremble that harden themselves against him Fourthly Their folly appeareth by this who neglect to prepare and make ready for Christ Jesus his Coming in that so doing they undervalue Heaven And is he not to be reckoned a prosane Fool that makes no reckoning of Heaven The poor Indians folly was seen in this That they were so willing to part with their Gold for some pieces of Brass or for other Toys and Trifles that were of no great value Now that man that taketh no care to make himself ready to come before the Lord Jesus his neglect doth plainly declare That Heaven beareth to price with him For there is no man that â—ometh within the sound of the Gospel â—ut he heareth That without Repentance no salvation and that without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Now after the declaration â—â— all this in the ears of such a person If he shall sive in the neglect of looking after Repentance â—r the work of Holiness he doth evidently maâ—ifest That Heaven signifieth not much to him for he that will not carefully look after the heans and also use them that relate to such an â—nd his very neglecting of the means doth bespeak him to have no great regard to the end especially when he knoweth that it is not possible in an ordinary way to come to enjoy such an end without making use of such means And will not this prove a man to be a Fool Remember that Esau is called a profane person or as the
and they wouâ—â— whatever they pretend to the contrary petitâ—â— for a Respite like the poor man in the Faâ—â— that wished for Death when he was overbuy thened with his sticks but when Death aâ— peared the man gets up with his Burden and away goeth he Poor men whatever they think or pretend they would find their Affections lime-twig'd with something or other that they cannot yet be ready to meet the Lord Jesus â— Sixthly There is this also in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus and that is To have the Affections elevated and upon the wing â—o meet the Lord Jesus The Affections are truly â—aid to be Alae Animae The wings of the Soul for they are the wings that carry the Soul after as desired Object Now when the Soul is â—eady to take its Flight to meet the Lord Jesus and mounteth upwards to meet him in the â—ay as if it would prevent Christ of the pains to â—â—me and fetch it this is Actual Readiness with â—â— Accent or Preparedness in summo gradu in â—e highest degree that man is capable of to â—eet the Lord Jesus We read of Elijah's â—cending to Heaven in a fiery Chariot so when â—e Soul hath its Affections like so many fiery â—hariots to carry it swistly on to meet the Lord â—sus here is Readiness indeed So we find â— Paul thus setting forth his desire to be with thrist Phil. 1.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having a â—hement hot and flagrant Affection to be with â—hrist which is best of all Seventhly To be Actually ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus Is to have a suitable â—ame and temper of Spirit for a Dying Hour Thou art not prepared to meet Christ till thou art prepared to die Now I will shew you when a man is of a suitable frame of Spirit for a dying hour and take it in these Four Particulars First When a man is freely willing to bâ— disposed of by God this is a suitable frame 〈◊〉 Spirit for a Dying Hour When God sender his Messenger Death to summon a man to appear before the Lord and the man then is able to say Good is the Will of the Lord concerning me and let him do with me as seemeth good in hâ— sight Here is a man of a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying Hour and consequently ready in a good degree to meet the Lord Jesus Thus the Man Christ Jesus shewed his readineâ— for dying in this suitable frame when he said Not my Will but thine be done Mat. 26.39 43. And good old Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And Daviâ— 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him dâ—â— me as seemeth good unto him Secondly When a man can take complacence in God's so disposing of him this is to be of suitable frame of spirit for a Dying hour Thâ—â— is as I may say the highest pitch in this spiritual frame When a man cometh to this length as to take pleasure in God's taking him off bâ—â— Death this is to rise high in this Heavenâ— frame This I grant is rarely attained unto by those that are come up to some considerable legrees of Assurance that they are already passed from death to life Thus we find it was with Paul and those Saints of whom he speaketh 2 Cor. 5.1 We know saith he that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved â—e have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens here is his and their Assurance Now mark what followeth For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be â—â—athed upon with our house which is from Heaven Paul and the rest of these Saints with him â—ere so straitned in the Body as that they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summo amore complectentes emâ—acing with the greatest delight as an hungry â—an his food or a naked man his cloaths their â—use which they were waiting for from Heaven â—ut how were they to come to be cloathed upon â—ith their house from above No other way ordinarily but by being uncloathed of the â—uses of their Bodies But could they be â—eased to have their cloathing of Flesh stript off â—em Not simply as such for this was against â—e Law of Nature which is for the preservation â—â— it self but yet as the Bodies uncloathing was â—e way and means to bring them to be cloathed â—â—th Immortality so they could take pleasure â—â—d delight in it This is no more than what â—â—ul hath elsewhere expressed Phil. 1.23 Having desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here translated to depart signifieth properly to be dissolved or to have the cords of Nature loosened the bands between the Soul and Body untied Now St. Paul saith It is his desire or as thâ— word is his fervent desire to be dissolved No that he simply took pleasure in the dissolution 〈◊〉 his compositum or union between his Soul and Body but as his dissolution would be the waâ— to bring him to Christ which he so much longeâ— for so he took pleasure or as Beza expound it contended in his desire to be dissolved So those Martyrs we read of in Heb. 11.39 would not accept of deliverance though theâ— were tortured or as the word is stretched form upon the Rack that they might obtain a beâ—â—â— Resurrection They would not thank their Adversaries for saving their lives or be beholden to them for their sparing mercy but rathâ—â— took pleasure in so cruel a Death as ordered 〈◊〉 them by the Almighty that they might obtain better Resurrection It is said of Aaron thâ—â— he received a commandment from the Lord 〈◊〉 die in Mount Hor Numb 33.38 But hâ—â— did he die Did he take complacency in thâ—â— disposal of the Almighty Yes as appeared from Numb 20.23 24 25 26 27 28. where 〈◊〉 is said That Moses stripped Aaron of his Garments not against the will of Aaron but with the free consent of Aaron as appeareth by 〈◊〉 freeness and readiness without the least reluctancy intimated to go with Moses unto Mount Hor to die there Aaron as far as we can gather any thing from the letter of the Text made no more of dying than a man doth of putting off his cloaths to go to Bed or of having them taken off that he may go to his rest which ordinarily is an act of complacency and delight to a man after his weariness and toilsome labour The same may be gathered from Moses himself Deut. 32.48 49 50. with Deut. 34.5 compared which is in excellent frame of Spirit for a Dying-hour Thirdly When a man can hang loose from and freely part with all his worldly comforts and enjoyments this is an excellent frame of Spirit for a Dying hour For a man to set his earthly comforts at his back and have only Heaven before his face this is a blessed temper of Spirit It is said of
falling under many Pannick fear and griping pangs of trouble if you do not â—â—riously mind the work of actual Preparation 〈◊〉 the coming of Christ even to you will death â—â— as Bildad speaketh The King of Terre Job 18.14 2. Even such as are Godly in the main â—â— run this hazard through their Defective-actâ—â—â— Readiness or want of actual Preparation They really for ought I know or can gather from â—he Scriptures lessen that glory that should otherwise be conferred upon them in Heaven And is not this a great hazard to run and danger â—o incur viz. to expose your selves to the loss of â—o many degrees of Glory Are you so careful â—o avoid hazards in your estates in this world and will you make nothing of losing such a measure of Glory Surely if a little of Heaven be â—etter than much of the world then the loss of a little of Heaven is greater than the loss of much â—f the world nay than all the world it self Now it is concluded by many worthy Divines That â—here are Degrees in Glory and if so Then it will strongly follow that where there is the least Grace there will be the least Glory And where there is the least of Actual Readiness for Heaven there is the least measure of Grace For â—â— the Exercise of Grace be the means of encreaing of Grace as undoubtedly it is and this Actual Readiness lye in the exercise of it as â—ath been already shewed then it clearly follows That where there is the least of Actual Preparation for the coming of Christ there must â—eeds be the least measure of Grace because the â—ast exercise of Grace and so consequently the â—ast degree of Glory But let us see what the â—cripture saith in this point and for this consult that place in Luke 19.16 17 18 19. where we find the two Servants that had traded with their Masters money to have received a proportionable reward to their improvement of it The first that had made his Masters pound ten pounds is made Ruler over ten Cities And the second that had made his pound five pounds is made Ruler over five Cities The scope of the Parable seemeth to be this that according to the improvement of Grace received so answerably shall the reward be They that make the greatest improvement of Grace shall have the greatest reward of Glory and they that make a lesser improvement thereof shall have lesser degree of Glory See for this also 1 Cor. 15.41 42. So that from hence to me it is clear that there are different degrees of Glory as well as different degrees of Grace And those Saints that concern themselves the least about Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus shall have the least share in Heavens Glory And is it a small thing my Brethren to deprive your selves through your remisness and negligence of the weight of Glory Would you do thus by your selves about the things of the world There are none of you that would hinder your external Prosperity through your neglect Be but as wise and careful for your Souls and you cannot then but be making ready for the Coming of Christ 3. They expose themselves to this hazard also of falling into an hour of desertion I grant the Almighty sometimes may and doth hide himself from his gracious ones that have made great Conscience of making Preparation for the Coming of their Lord. But ordinarily those Souls that are the most remiss and careless about the work of Actual Preparation for the meeting of the Lord Jesus are mostly left and forsaken of him as to actual favour in times of trial and especially in a dying hour And this is no more but a just Punishment upon them for their Neglect It being most equal that they that have not cared to fit themselves for Him should not find Him friendly to them when they stand in most need of his favour Then God sheweth them his back and not his face as he did to the Jews in their troubles I grant to dispense favours this way belongeth to the Divine Prerogative and therefore he both can and may deal them forth as he pleaseth and to whom he pleaseth And possibly sometimes he may let some Souls sip of this Cup that have not every way carried suitably to this favour Isa 57.18 I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners And this is done notwithstanding his going on frowardly in the way of his heart v. 17. Now this he doth when he seeth it will make for the advancement of his Grace and Glory But ordinarily he suffereth not these to see his Smiles that have not been fitting themselves for him But they must now be as if they were cast out of Favour and must apprehend his Frowns to make them sensible of theâ— great neglects about the concerns of their Souls And hence it is that many Souls though otherwise honest in the main do go mourning without the Sun as the Phrase is Job 30.28 through the black entry of death and perhaps never see Gods face in peace again till they find him to be their friend in the other world 4. They run the hazard also of entring into great Temptations Though Satan when let loose by the Almighty will trouble the best of Saints and fill their Spirits with great perplexing Fears especially in times of Trial and mostly in a Dying Hour when they are left to be tried by him yet most commonly the secure slothful and careless Saints are most perplexed with his Temptations at such times and seasons Now if ever he will endeavour to unsaint them And this he laboureth to do by setting before the eye of their Conscience and charging upon them all their former carelesness and remisness in and about their actual Preparation for the Coming of Christ as not consisting with a state of Grace Though before he did secretly yet strongly perswade them to the contrary when he did tempt them to slacken the reins and grow remiss in the Duties of Preparation yet now he appeareth openly to the Conscience and chargeth it home upon it as that which can no way comport with the spirit of a Saint Hence it is that so many when brought to their dying hour are ready to cast away all their hopes of the life to come though peradventure some time before they were groundedly persuaded that their state was good and that they had a Right through Faith in Christ to the purchased Inheritance You secure Saints that please your selves at present in your Remisness take heed lest the Devil have a field with you before you die Though you may have your quiet at present through his lulling you asleep yet you may come to be awakened and your Consciences filled with many black hellish fears And reckon you it nothing to fall into the hands of a merciless Devil that will not spare you a blow I warrant you O
word may be rendered a profane Fool for despising his Birth-right which showed his undervaluing of Heaven and preferring the earth before it Heb. 12.16 with Gen. 25.34 Use 3. Thirdly Is it the grand Concernment of all that would be saved to make ready for Christ's coming Then let it serve for Exhortation to press you all seriously and earnestly to make your selves ready Entertain the Lord Christ's advice in the Text Be ye therefore ready also I shall enforce the Duty upon you with two or three Considerations because I must hasten Considerations First Consider that your sasety lyeth in making ready for Christ I would think That there is not a person among you this day but would give something to know that his Soul is safe and shall be secured against all future hazards of miscarrying eternally Why my Friends I can tell you how you may have them secure enough Do but you get and make sure of that â—undamental-Readiness you were told of and abour still after Actual Preparation and your Souls will be safe and past the peril of miscarrying eternally Though you may dash sometimes against some Rocks before you get over â—â—e troublesome Sea of this world yet shall not â—he Vessel of your Soul be split upon any of these â—ocks but shall come safely in into the Harbour 〈◊〉 Heaven Secondly Consider that Christ may come upon 〈◊〉 at unawares The time of his coming may â—ove a surprizal to you O then get ready my â—riends There is none of you that knoweth â—ow soon you may have a call to go from hence â—hich of your Funerals may be the next neither 〈◊〉 nor I know But this I know That few 〈◊〉 us thought that we should have seen this â—ournful day on such a sudden Was it not a â—â—prizal to the most Though not to the party â—â—eceased for she had strong impressions of â—â—eath when others had no fear of it at all â—atch therefore for ye neither know the day nor 〈◊〉 hour wherein the Son of man cometh Mat. â— 13 Thirdly Consider what comfort it will be to 〈◊〉 in a Dying hour to know that you are ready though Death is and will be the King of Terâ—â—urs to others yet it will be a welcome Mesâ—ger to you Then shall ye be able to reckon up for one of your Priviledges yea your last Priviledg in this world according to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours Fourthly Consider how readily ye shall be entertained and received of Christ if you do but get ready for him There shall no stop be made but forthwith ye shall enter into Glory Mat. 25.10 And they that were ready went in with him unto the Marriage So soon as Lazarus was dead his Soul was carried into Abraham's bosome Luk. 16.22 Do but you mind to make you ready the Lord Christ will quickly pass the Sentence for your entrance into his Eternal Kingdome The Fourth Use Fourthly Is it the great Concern of all that would be saved to prepare for the Coming of Christ Then this Use may serve for Consolation to all such as have in some good measure been fitting themselves for the appearance of Christ and are still making it their business to be compleating their Readiness for his Coming It speaketh Comfort to such in two or three Particulars First Take this for your Comfort at present That you shall certainly sit down with Christ in Glory The Marriage-Supper is prepared for you and you shall be Guests at the Bridegrooms Table All the attendance that can be expected you shall have Christ himself will gird himself and come forth and serve you Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them And what an honourable attendance is this for the Master of the house â—o wait on his Servants Secondly It speaks this comfort to them That when ever Christ cometh it shall not be a surprisal to them If you continue your preparation for Christ his Coming and do not fall asleep or grow secure again Christ will not come on you unawares you shall then speak of Christ's Coming eternally to save you as the Church peaketh of the Lord 's coming eternally to save â—er Isa 25.9 And it shall be said in that day Lo his is our God we have waited for him and he â—ill save us This is the Lord we have waited or him we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation They are only the sleepy and slumbering Virgins that are surprized with his Coming such â—s are making ready for him and expecting him â—hall not be taken at unawares Though they â—now not the time of his Coming yet because â—hey are looking and waiting for his Coming â—hey shall not be surprized when ever he cometh â—urely I come quickly saith Christ Amen â—ith the prepared Soul Even so come Lord Iesus Rev. 22.20 Thirdly There is this further comfort also in it That such prepared Souls shall ordinarily have some comfortable foretasts of glory to come Such shall eat of the Grapes of Eshcol while they are in the way to Heaven before they come into the Land of Canaan it self I do not say that it is alwaies thus with prepared Souls a for some possibly that have diligently endeavoured to prepared themselves for the Coming oâ— Christ may yet notwithstanding feel nothing buâ— bitterness in their spirits in their way to glory aâ— the case seemeth to have been with precious Heman Psal 88. throughout And the 15 versâ— thereof tells us That this was his case from hiâ— youth up I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is translated from my youth up signifieth Childhood and cometh from a root that signifieth to shake-out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he had said I am afflicted an ready to die from my very shaking out of the Womb Nay possibly such Souls may some times go away in a Cloud without the leaâ— taste of that Glory which immediatly after Death they do fully possess and enjoy But yeâ— ordinarily they do more generally taste 〈◊〉 those pleasures that are at Gods right hand forevermore while they are in their way to Heaven They depart in peace as the Phrase â—â— Luke 2.29 that is They die with satisfaction and comfort nay with joy and gladness Revel 19.7 Let us be glad ond rejoice and give honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready And the reason is Because they have the Testimony of their Consciences according to that of Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by â—he grace of God we have had our conversation â—â— the world
snow-ball before a Summers Sun And since Death took possession of somthing of yours it hath been and dayly is creeping neare your self Howbeit with no noise of feet your Husbandman and Lord hath lopped off one branch already the tree it self is to be removed into the higher Garden the Lord fit you for your change and help you to bear these crosses for indeed they are great and many and give you a sanctified use of them and to make you white and ripe for the Lord's Harvest-hook by them I have seen the Lord weaning you from this world and its vanities it was never his mind that it should be your portion and let the Lord be praised that it is so you look the liker one of the Heirs of Glory let the moveables go why not They are not yours but fasthold on the Heritage Even our Lord Christ make your interest sure and give you to grow as a Palm tree upon Mount Zion howbeit shaken with winds and many sore blasts yet the root is fast I pray Him whose you are to supply your wants another way for though we cannot see the Lords design in this his wise Providence who ruleth all yet I verily believe this is not only good but best of all For wise Solomon saith Better is the end of a thing than the begiuning Yea Christ calls from Heaven and bids Write Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord they rest from their labours and their works follow them And after Paul had seriously debated the Case whether to live or dye was better for him he concludes that of the two To die and to be with Christ was best of all And therefore my dear Brother this should teach us and work in us a careful Preparation for Death and vehement longings after it and chearfulness in entertaining it and moderation in our sorrowing for her that 's dead Mourning only for our own loss and that especially because the Death and removal of the Godly is a sad if not a sure presage of ensuing Evil. When Noah was entered into the Ark then the Flood came Gen. 7.12 When Lot was gone out of Sodome then it must be burnt When the Lord resolved to destroy Jeroboam house he took away the Child in whom there was some good thing found 1 Kin. 14.10 11 13. Thus when the Lord in ended to bring evil upon Jerusalem good Josiah must first be brought to his grave in peace Because his heart was tender and he humbled himelf at the hearing of the Law of God 2 Kin. 22.16 17 18 19 20. Wo is me therefore considering that even amongst us the righteous are taken away that in four or five Months time almost the tenth man on this side Hartside should be removed yet not considering at least not as they ought to do That The righteous are taken away from the evil to come Isa 57. When our Jacob for wrestling our Caleb and Joshuah for following the Lord and our Nathaniel and besides our Mary is removed How should this awaken us and the very thoughts of it make us tremble and our knees to smite one against another It s true they are beyond the Storm But the presence of the Godly in all Ages hath drawn the love and favour of God to the places where they were For they are dear to God As the apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 And he will be a wall of ire round about the place where they are v. 5. Yea many a time doth God spare the wicked for the godly as the husbandman doth the tares for the wheat 's sake Matth. 13. As God would have spared Sodome and Gomorrah if there had been but ten nay five righteous persons Gen. 18.32 Act. 27.24 Besides the Prayers of the Godly in all Ages have been mighty prevalent with God both for the obtaining Mercies and also for the preventing miseries and keeping of judgments from the places where they liveâ— Psal 106.23 He would saith the Psalmist have destroyed them had not Moses his Servant stoeâ— before him in the breach to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them Besides they are 〈◊〉 great force for the vanquishing and overcoming of Enemies Moses prevailed more by hâ—â— Prayers than Joshua with all his Soldiers againt the Amalekites Exod. 17.11 One godly man Prayers saith one can do more than a great soâ— of Sinners 〈◊〉 do with fighting So that as Nâ—hal's servants said of David's men so we may â—y of our dear friends that are removed from us they have been very good to us and we have had no hurt whilst we have been conversant with them They have been a wall unto us both by day and by night What cause have we then to fear that may follow the removal of them And then alas What have we lost that have lost â—uch good Examples as most of them were and 〈◊〉 particular your Daughter she one of a thouâ—â—d Her counsel her wisdome her blameless talking was of great use to restrain some from â—in and to allure and draw others at least to be outward performance of many good Duties â—â—d I think I may say that she exceeded most â—â—at ever I knew except Mrs. Catherine Rea of â—â—â—ma in her constant care to please God and â—qual respect to the keeping of all Gods Commandments and in her holy diligence to imâ—ove all opportunities for her Souls profit as 〈◊〉 Meditating Praying Reading Hearing and Conferring And then her Seriousness in Duties and great delight in both First and Second Table Duties What shall I say Her â—â—avity Chastity and Humility and her orâ—ering her self every way so holily so meekly â—â—d blamelesly So that to my knowledg it was a great Conviction to those that were in a great measure strangers to Godliness or any â—trictness and I 'le assure you I often wished that her Conversation had been better known to some and that it might have so been I did fully purpose to have sued for your Consent having gotten hers that we might have had heâ— a while amongst us That our Professors chieflâ— of her Sex whose Carriages and Conversation were not so answerable to the Gospel as they should be might have been convinced of thâ— evil of them and by her Gospel-conversation might have become more wise solid sober serious grave and more careful to provide so their eternal Welfare But alas it 's now to late the time is past and gone which maâ— make us mourn upon our own account But uâ— on their account this may not only reason 〈◊〉 into a Moderation of Sorrow but also cause 〈◊〉 to rejoice in that they are landed safe in Heaâ—ven where she also is even with Christ which is best of all she is now set at liberty and freâ— dome Who is not comforted to see and know that his Friend is brought out of Prison to 〈◊〉 his Friend set free from all Persecutions Siâ— Sorrow and Death and to live and rejoice wiâ—â— Christ 2 Tim. 2.11 12. And may