strengthned him 2 Tim. 4.17 3. Turning them to good Like as the skill of the Physician turneth Poysons into Medicines Turning then to Good making a soveraign Treacle of the venomous Viper Thus doth God bring good out of evill Josephs Brethren thought and wrought evill against him but God turned it to good good to him and others Gen. 50.20 4. And lastly giving a seasonable issue and deliverance Working deliverance He will with the temptation make a way to escape saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will give an issue finde out an outlet for them one way or other When Gods people are beset on every side yet he can finde a dore or a window to let them out at As in a literall sense he did for David when his house was beset by Sauls Messengers 1 Sam. 19.12 and so for Paul when wait was laid for him at Damascus 2 Cor. 11. last they were both let down through a window and escaped So in a Metaphoricall sense be the strait never so great yet God hath a Window for his people at which he can and in his time will let them out working deliverance for them some way or other Such is the Providence of God which he exerciseth towards and upon his people in their sufferings Ordering of them he supplyeth strength for the bearing of them turneth them to good and giveth a seasonable Issue out of them All these besides many other Consolations may the true Believer fetch from the God of consolation for the bearing up of his spirit in the midst of whatever afflictions In the next place look we up unto Christ our Saviour In him considering what he hath done Look unto Christ our Saviour In whom Consider what he doth for us 1. What he hath done how among other things which he hath obtained for us by his death he hath overcome the World for us What he hath done for us overcomming the World That is the Consolation which he himself giveth unto his Disciples Joh. 16. last In the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good comfort I have overcome the World This hath Christ done for his Church and people he hath overcome whatever is in this world which might be hurtfull unto them Sin Satan his Temptations and Instruments Death with all its retinue whatever might hinder or endanger their salvation he hath conquered all which he did for those who believe on him that they may have the benefit thereof So that as Serpents which have lost their Stings they may now hisse but they cannot hurt Christ by drinking of this Cup as you have heard hath taken away the bitternesse of it the Curse belonging to afflictions he being made a Curse for us 2. What he doth How he sympathizeth with us and pleadeth for us 1. He sympathizeth and even suffereth with us being as the Head in the naturall Body is sonsible of all the aylments of his Members What he doth Sympathizing with us We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot sympathize with us in our afflictions and sufferings which he taketh notice of and is affected with as before was shewn Pleading for us 2. And sympathizing with us he pleadeth for us Sitting in heaven at the right hand of his Father he maketh continuall intercession for us He ever liveth to make intercession for those who come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 By which means he maketh peace for them in Heaven whilest there is war upon earth reconciling God to them when he seemeth to be offended with them This was his work when he was upon earth He made peace through the bloud of his Cross Col. 1.20 impetrating that Reconciliation for his Elect people which upon their believing on him is actually applied to them as the next verse there hath it And this work he still carrieth on being in Heaven where he maketh peace by his Intercession A sweet and comfortable meditation as at all times so specially in time of Affliction when God seemeth to be angry with his people frownes upon them le ts flye the showres of his displeasure at them yet then let them with Stephen lift up their eyes to to heaven and there shall they see this their High Priest the Lord Jesus sitting at the right hand of his Father soliciting a peace for them which being concluded in Heaven let them not be inordinately troubled about whatever wars they meet with upon earth And in the third place look we at the Holy Ghost our Comforter Look 〈◊〉 the Holy Gâ—â—â—st our Saviour So we find him often styled in Scripture a comforter the comforter and this comforter Gods people have still with them That is the promise which our Saviour maketh to his Disciples when he was to withdraw his Corporall presence from them Joh. 14.16 I will pray the Father saith he and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever And this promise will he make good to all who truly believe on him When he withdrawes outward Comforts from them let them but wait patiently for him and he will send them another Comforter even his Spirit which shall make a supply to them inwardly of what they want outwardly that shall refresh and cheer up their hearts and spirits with inward Consolations in the midst of all their afflictions And never so fit a time for this Comforter to come as when all others Comforters have left a man And if this Comforter be with us to support our spirits and strengthen our hearts what is it that should so discourage us as to cause us to faint under our sufferings To these soveraign Consolations I might yet â—x abundanti add many more The Minstery of Angels As the Ministrie of Angels who are as Guardians to Gods Saints Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1. Last So they were to our blessed Saviour in the Wildernesse he there wanting food and other accommodations The Angels came and ministred unto him Matth. 4.11 And so were they to Peter and other of the Apostles opening the Prison doors for them and setting them at liberty as we have the stories recorded Act. 5.19 and 12.7 And the like offices they are ready to doe to all Gods Saints many of which questionless they daily doe though in invisible waies so as they are not taken notice of being ever at hand ready to step in to them with timely succours in their greatest straits To which might be added what is not to be sleighted the Communion of Saints The Communion of Saints who as they bear a part with their brethren in their sufferings drawing with them in the same Yoke so they are ready to help them with the benefit of their prayers Which being a common stock every particular believer
In all the crosses and afflictions which befall us look upwards It was Eliphaz his speech to Job in that text forecited and it was a true one Job 5.6 Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground wherein he giveth him to know what he was not ignorant of that afflictions have a higher rise then men ordinarily look at They are not things which happen by chance neither do they depend meerly upon secondary causes they have God himself for their principal Efficient And therefore in all our Afflictions look upwards So must they doe who would finde out the Head of a River they must go upwards And the like course take we that we may finde out the head of every affliction look upwards look above and beyond all secondary causes Instruments means occasions look up unto God himself The thoughts of a Christian in his suffering concondition should never rest till they come at God Nay till then they will never rest The only way to quiet the spirit in Affliction to see God in it till they come to see God in every tryall take notice of his hand Whence is it that Impatiency so often surprizeth the hearts of Gods own people as it doth Surely from their looking so much at the Creature so little at the Creator as they doe When once a man cometh to see God in an affliction this quiets all Such effect it had upon David I was dumb saith he and opened not my mouth because thou Lord didst it Psal 39.9 In his affliction so long as he looked at secondary causes he could not be quiet No then as he tells us vers 3. his heart was hot within him while he was musing the fire burned and then he spake with his tongue venting his Passions in some unbecoming expressions But when once he came to see God in it seriously to consider that this was his doing this apprehension quieteth and silenceth him working in him that patience that quiet composure of Spirit which by all his reasoning he could not attain unto And the like effect it will have wherever it taketh place The soul coming to apprehend that it hath to deal with God that it is God who hath done what it feels this silenceth the Tongue So it did to Aaron Lev. 10.3 when his two sons were taken away by that strange and unheard of judgement devoured by fire from heaven Moses telling him what there he doth This is that which the Lord spake I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me it followeth And Aaron held his peace quietly and patiently submitting to the will of God And so it was with Job seeing God in all his Afflictions In all this saith the Text he sinned not in thought word or deed Job 1. last And such effect it will have upon a sanctified soul coming to see God seriously to consider that it hath to deal with him so as if it strive and contend it must contend with him the Pot-sheard with the Potter this silenceth the tongue and keepeth the heart in temper from rising up in inordinate Passion This it was which made our Blessed Saviour so patient in this his Passion insomuch that he was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearer is dumb so opened he not his mouth as the Prophet Isai describeth the manner of his suffering Isa 53.7 This it was that made him so willingly submit to the drinking of this Cup he saw his Fathers hand in it As for the Judas and the High-Priests and Souldiers c. they were but as the Apothecary by whom this Potion was brought and ministred unto him in the mean time he looked upon God his Father as the Physician who had prescribed and ordered it for him And herein looking upon God his Father he looketh upon him as a Father Christ looking upon God as his Father There is the second thing which I propounded here to be taken notice of The Cup which my Father hath given me Thus eying God in these his sufferings he looketh upon him under the notion of a Father And such is God to his people Obs God afflicting his people he is still their Father Signanter autem non dicit Deus aut Judex dedit sed Pater utsciamus Deum etiam quum flagellat Patrem esse Ferus Annot. in Text. even when he afflicts them he is still their Father Let that be a second Observation no lesse usefull then the former When God is most angry and dealeth most severely with his people yet even then they may call him Father So we finde the Church doing Isa 63.15 16. where expostulating with God about his alienating himself from her Where is thy zeal saith she thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me are they restrained God did not manifest himself in such conspicuous signs and tokens of his affection towards his people as in former times he had done which she sadly bewails But mark what followes Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father And the like again we finde in the Chapt. following cap. 64.7 8. where the Church taking up the like complaint concerning Gods dealing with her Thou hast hid thy face from us and hast consumed us because of our Iniquites yet in the next verse she subjoyns But now O Lord thou art our Father Thus in her saddest condition even then when God hid his face from her and dealt most severely with her yet still she layeth claim to her Relation calling him her Father And the like may all true Believers doe whatever their state or condition be yet still they may call God their Father Reas Reas For so he still is this Relation being an everlasting Relation This Relation everlasting Such is the Covenant betwixt God and his people I will make an everlasting Covenant with them Jer. 32.40 When God taketh a people into Covenant with himself the Covenant of grace giving himself to be their God and taking them to be his people this Covenant is an everlasting Covenant a Covenant that shall never be broke Betrothing them unto himself he doth it for ever So runs that promise which God maketh to his Church Hos 2.19 I will betrothe or marry thee to me for ever Thus is he an everlasting husband and so an everlasting Father to his people That is one of the Titles given to the Messiah to Christ Isai 9.6 The everlasting Father And so is God to his people Once a Father and ever a Father As it is with natural Parents though they fall out with their children and fall upon them are angry with them and make them feel their displeasure yet this doth not dissolve the Relation that is betwixt them no more doth it betwixt God and his children Vse 1. Applic. A comfortable meditation and so let it
Death free the Believer This gust shall blow away all those dark and gloomy Clouds which here intercepted the light of Gods countenance so as from thenceforth he shall never know what doubtings or fears mean but shall enjoy a constant Sunshine of Gods grace and favour to all Eternity Thus you see what evils Death freeth the Believer from Generally Universally from the sense and fear of all Evils both Temporall and Spirituall And thus freeing them from Evils Consid 2 it bringeth great Good to them The great good which Death brings the Believer to letting him into Paradise or them to it Letting them into Paradise This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise saith our dying Saviour to that penitent Thief Luk. 23.43 meaning the Celestial Paradise Heaven whereof the earthly Paradise was a Type and shadow so called from those transcendent pleasures delights and contentments which are there to be found Paul being caught up into this Paradise he heard as he tells his Corinthians unspeakable words such as himself could not utter 2 Cor. 12.4 And so shall the soul ascending thither see and enjoy unspeakable things such as the tongue of man cannot expresse Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 What things are layed up in heaven for them And these shall Death let the regenerate soul into the possession of letting it into life Mors Janua Vitae Temporall death is the dore which letteth into everlasting life Of this Tree shall he eat who hath overcome this his last Enemy To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Rev. 2.7 to partake of eternall life of those everlasting Joyes to which Death is the Entry Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord saith the Master having reckoned with his good and faithfull servant Matth. 25.23 Thus doth Christ reckon with all his servants at the day of death then giving to them according to their works This is the Evening wherein those who have laboured in his vineyard shall every one receive their Penny Matth. 20.9 The reward of all the service which here they have done unto him a superabundant recompense infinitely exceeding whatever they have deserved Even that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that eternall weight of glory as the Apostle calleth it 2 Cor. 4.17 Then shall the Crown be set upon the heads of all Gods Saints I have finished my course saith St Paul henceforth is layed up for me the Crown of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4.8 All true believers they are Kings while here upon earth made so by Christ who hath obtained that honour and dignity for them He hath made us Kings unto God and his Father Rev. 1.6 Spiritual Kings But they are as yet but Kings Elect heirs apparent to the Crown having a right to it but Crowned they cannot be til death Now what Prince would be unwilling to hear of his Coronation daies And such is the day of death to the true believer his Coronation day At which time being divested of his rags he shall have a Robe put upon him A white Robe He that overcommeth shall be cloathed in white rayment Rev. 3.4 Thus was Christ himself cloathed in his transfiguration on the Mount His rayment was white as the light Matth. 17.2 And so shall his Saints be cloathed after their departure hence having white rayment a garment of glory put upon them Then shall they be cloathed upon with that their house which is from Heaven when once they have laid down this earthly Tabernacle The consideration whereof made the blessed Apostle to groan so earnestly as he said he did 2 Cor. 5.1 2. desiring his dissolution upon that account Then shall they enter into their Glory So did our blessed Saviour by suffering of death he entred into his Glory Luk. 24.26 And so shall all they who follow his steps imitate his obedience death shall be to them Porta Gloriae The gate of glory letting in the soul to the beholding and injoying of that glory and happinesse which now cannot enter into it Letting it into the presence of God where it shall see him Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matth. 5.8 And see him as he is as Saint John tels us 1 Joh. 3.2 Have a full sight of him see him after another manner then here it doth Now we see through a glasse darkly saith the Apostle but then face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see God only in the glass of his word and works which do but darkly represent him But after death believers shall have a clear and full view of him The beholding of God a beatifical vision Then shall their Faith be turned into Vision Which shall be to them as the Schools call it a truely Beatificall vision making the beholders happy Happy in as much as hereby they shall be transformed into the Image of God made like him we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is saith St John there 1 Joh. 3.2 This Believers in part are here upon earth Whilest they behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord they are changed into the same Image from glory to glory As the Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 3.18 Beholding God in the glass of his word thereby they come by degrees to be transformed into his Image to be made like him in holinesse But when they shall come to see him face to face then shall they be made perfectly like unto him Death brings the Soul to perfection so far as their finite natures are capable of partaking of his infinite perfections Then shal they be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect Perfect with a perfection both of Grace and Glory 1. Of Grace Which is here imperfect Such is Knowledge and Love Of Grace and all other graces in the most sanctyfied soul But upon the dissolution of the Body the soul comming into the presence of God it shal attain a full perfection A perfection of Knowledge Now I know in part saith the Apostle but then I shall know even as I am known 1 Cor. 13.12 Of knowledg Many things there are which the most knowing men upon earth are ignorant of Many mysteries in Nature which by all their search they cannot find out the reason of Much more Celestiall Mysteries concerning God and Jesus Christ As the Trinity of Persons in the unity of Essence The Hypostaticall union of the two Natures The Godhead and Manhood in the person of Christ Mysteries too sublime for any of this side heaven to pry into so as to comprehend or yet apprehend them otherwise then by faith But these with whatever else may any waies conduce to the happinesse of the soul to know it shal have a clear knowledg of after death Seeing God as he is it shall
His unchangeable Counsels The unchangeablenesse of his purpose His counsels are immutable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The immutability of his Counsel Heb. 6.7 My Counsel shall stand saith the Lord and I will do all my pleasure Isa 46.10 The councel of the Lord standeth for ever Psal 33.11 Surely as I have thought shall it come to pass and as I have purposed so shall it stand Isa 14.24 Such are all the counsels and purposes of God all like himself unchangeable What do we then by our murmurings and repinings against the pleasure of his will but even dash our selves against a Rock which may break us but we cannot move it To change or alter what he hath purposed and determined concerning us as a thing which we cannot doe 3. Consider the Irresistablenâ—sse of his power upon this account it is that the wise man saith that against a King there is no reising up His irresistable power Prov. 30.31 viz in regard of the prevalency of his power So he elsewhere explaineth himself Eccles 8.4 Where the word of a King is there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou It is not for a Subject to contest with his Soveraign who as he hath Authority over him so he is armed with power to execute his pleasure upon him Much less then for Man to contest with his God whom he cannot stop or hinder in his course Behold he taketh away saith Job who can hinder him who shall say unto him what doest thou Job 9.12 Never did man get any thing by striving and strugling with God Wâ— be to him that striveth with his maker Let the Potsheard strive with the Potsheards of the earth saith the Prophet Isai 45.9 If frail man who is but like a Potsheard a peâ—ce of brittle earth will needs contend let him cope with his equall with man like himself but take heed of contesting with his maker how he entereth the lists with him who is infinitely stronger then himself able to consume him with the breath of his nostrils No striving with God To repine at murmure at him at his dealing with our selves is no less foolish then impious his Soveraignty being absolute his Decrees immutable his Power irresistable 2ly Dir. 2 From God reflect upon our selves Where consider Look upon our selves 1. What we are How base how vile how contemptible creatures in comparison of that God with whom we have to do What we are Poor wormes creeping and crawling upon earth Man that is a worme and the son of man which is a worm Job 25.6 And what are we then that we should lift up a hand a tongue a heart against the great God of Heaven and earth who is able as I said to consume us with a touch of his finger with the breath of his mouth 2ly What we have deserved Lay our sins and sufferings together What we deserve and see how infinitely the one weighteth down the other All the sufferings which here we meet with all are but temporall the punishment due unto the least sin is eternal Our Crosses may be many but our sins more So as looking upon our deservings we shall find that which may well stop our mouths and cause us quickly to submit to whatsoever chastisements God shall please to exercise us with I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him saith the Church Mic. 7.9 Whatever the affliction be yet murmure not at it taking notice of what the Church acknowledgeth Lam. 3.22 What at Mercies we do still injoy It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed And 3ly What mercies we do yet enjoy in the midst of all our miseries Be our sufferings what they will yet if we cast up our accounts aright we shal find cause of thanksgiving rather then of repining It is two usuall a thing with men to have their eys wholly fixed upon what they want and would have and that maketh them to overlook what they have Lord God saith Abraham what wilt thou give me seeing I go childlesse Gen. 15.2 And so is it with others So long as they want some one mercy which they would have all others which they injoy are as nothing But this is no other but high ingratitude Whatever our condition be yet if we look about us we shall see some temporall mercies or others which we have cause to bless God for However the spiritual blessings wherewith he hath blessed us in Christ I speak it to believers these are of that worth and value that they may well weigh down all our temporall sufferings So they did in the Apostles ballance who had duely weighed them I reckon saith he that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Thus looking upon our selves what we are what our deserts what our injoyments and hopes are we shall see that which may keep down all murmurings 3ly Look upon others Dir. 3 what ever our Cup be yet we shall find some others whose cups are far greater and bitterer whatever our affliction be Look upon others who deserve better but fare worse then our selves we shall see or hear of some others who though haply they deserve far better yet they fare worse having an equal nay a larger share of sufferings then our selves What is it that we complain of Is it a scantnesse in estate look upon Lazarus lying at Dives gate begging his bread whilst the dogs being more compassionate then their Master licked his sores Luk. 16. Is it the loss of a Child one or more Look upon Job who lost all at once Is it bodily sicknesse and weaknesse look upon David whom we may hear sadly bemoaning his condition unto God as elsewhere so Psal 38. Thyne arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore v. 2. There is no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin v. 3. My wounds stink and corrupt because of my foolishnesse v. 5. My loines are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my flesh v. 7. And so upon others who are cast upon their beds of languishing lying it may be under most exquisite torments in the mean time wanting many of the creature comforts which we enjoy The like I may say in other cases Be our condition what it will still we shall find some or other with whom if we compare our selves we shall see little cause to repine and murmure An errour it is and a usuall one in comparing our selves with others If it be in spirituals then we are ready to look at them who are beneath us If in temporals then at those which are above us and so the former of these breedeth in us contentation where there should be a holy impatience and the latter breeds impatience where there should be a holy contentation
they cannot help upon the grounds aforesaid meerly out of the Principles of Reason See we that our Patience exceed theirs What our Saviour said to the Jewes concerning the Righteousnesse of she Scribes and Pharisees Maâ— 5.20 Except your righteousnesse exceed theirs ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven I may say the like concerning the Patience of meer Marall Civill men Except our Patience exceed theirs it shall never finde such acceptance with God so as to obtain the promised reward See we that ours be true Christian patience Q. But wherein doth Christian patience exceed theirs A. Wherein Christian Patience differs from morall Why as in some other particulars so principally in these two It is Obedientiall And Voluntary Thus doth the true Christian suffer obediently and willingly which the Morallist doth not And thus see that we suffer when God calleth us to it Which are the two other branches of this part of the Exhortation yet behinde Of which briefly Suffering Patiently suffer Obediently in obedience unto God Christians to suffer Obediently So did not those Heathens which knew not God No more do meer Civil men who regard him not But thus let us suffer So did our heavenly pattern here the Lord Jesus What he suffered it was in obedience to his Father The Cup which my Father hath given me He humbled himself and became obedient Phil. 2.8 He learned obedience by the things which he suffered Hâ—b 5.8 This was the principle which carried him on to and through that work And so let it be with us whatever we suffer looking upon it as a Cup coming from the hand of our heavenly Father drink it in obedience to him Thus are Christians to perform all duties both to God and Man As obedient Children as St. Peter hath it 1 Pet. 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Children of Obedience doing what they do in an obedientiall way to God their Father And thus also are they to suffer so approving themselves the children of God as by their Active so by their Passive Obedience And suffering obediently suffer also willingly Willingly So also did our blessed Saviour suffer as you have heard The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it He drinks this his Cup as patiently and obediently so willingly And so drink we these Cups which God our heavenly Father giveth unto us thus suffer we those afflictions which his Providence layeth out for us not only patiently and obediently but willingly Herein again true Christian patience differs from that of the meer Morall Civill man whose patience is patience per force he suffereth what he cannot help This being the Principle which he goeth upon Feras non culpes quod vitari non potest Sence What you cannot shift rather hear then quarrell with as that great Moralist hath it But such patience how commendable soever it may be with Man it is not so with God who accepteth no service but what is willingly performed That which St. Peter requires of Ministers in speciall that they should do their work their Ministerial service feeding the flock of God not by constraint but willingly 1 Pet. 5.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God requireth it generally at the hands of all his people whatever service we do unto him doe it not by constraint but willingly And so in our sufferings be we willing to submit to his will This is their Reasonable service which St. Paul calls for Rom. 12.1 I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a service not like that of the unreasonable creatures under the Law as Theodoret and Erasmus and some other Expositors interpret those words and that truely though not fully Those bruit Creatures Sheep and Oxen c. they came to the Altar but they were either drawn or driven thither And there they suffered the sacrificing Knife to be put to their throats but they were first tied and bound Binde the Sacrifice with Cords even unto the horns of the Altar Psal 118.27 Now in opposition to this the Christians sacrifice must be a reasonable service As his Active so his Passive Obedience must be not constrained and compelled but willing Which if it be not he cannot expect his reward If I do these things willingly I have a reward saith Paul speaking of his Ministerial service but if against my will this dispensation is committed unto me what is my reward then 1 Cor. 9.17 18. And what he saith of his acting Two questions resolved a Christian may say the like of his suffering submitting willingly to the hand of God he may expect a reward Q. 1 which otherwise he cannot look for Whether Christians may not pray against sufferings Q. But what then it may be said may not a Christian pray against these evils And may he not use means to be freed and delivered from them A. A. The latter of these Questions I started before and returned some answer to it let me now speak a little more fully to it and to the former 1. Pray against evils Temptations Tryals This they may doe we may For this we have our Saviours practise to warrant us who in the Garden as you have heard thrice put up this Request O my Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me Which also he had done before Joh. 12.27 Father save me from this hour And what himself there did he hath taught us to doe the like putting in this for one of those six Petitions in that his form and pattern of Prayer which he hath left us Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill This a Christian may doe pray against temptations Evils as of Sin so of punishment that he may be either kept from them or delivered out of them But take it with this Proviso this Caution Not Absolutely but conditionally It must be not Absolutely but Conditionally with submission to the will of God So we finde it in our Pattern Christ prayeth that this Cup might passe from him but his request herein is not Absolute but Conditionall If it be possible let this Cup passe from me Math. 26.39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If possible not simply and absolutely so for so all things are possible with God which he elsewhere taketh notice of Matth. 19.26 Mark 14.36 but if it were consistent with Gods decree Si tua decreta ferunt ut alio modo tuae gloriae homirum saluti aequè consulatur Grot. Annor ad loc and might not be prejudiciall to his Glory or the salvation of his Church and people as Grotius well explains it Or if it might stand with the will of God his Father So he there explains himself where to the aforesaid Petition he subjoyns this Retraction or rather Limitation Nevertheless not as I will but as
all is gone Hope the Christians sheat-anchor This is the sheate anchor which Christ is to ride by in whatever stormes or stresses come down upon him It is the Apostles own similitude in that known text Heb 6.19 Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast If the Anchor be let slip or come home the Ship is exposed to the hazard of Rocks and Shelves from which before she was safe And so is the Soul of a Christian if once his Hope his Faith and confidence in God through Jesus Christ faile now it is in eminent danger which before it was not And therefore having once cast this Auchor within the vaile fixed our faith in heaven now whatever stormes come down upon the outward or inward man upon Body or soul still ride by it holding fast this our confidence and hope unto the end as the Apostle minds us once and again Heb. 3.6.14 Thus however the Lord pleaseth to deal with us let us only turn unto him and then hope in him Even as the Ship in a stress turns to the Anchor and rides by it So do we in these soul-stresses Turn to the Lord and trust in him That is the advise which the Prophet Hosea giveth to the people of the Jewes when God had a Controversie with them and was turned enemy to them Hos 12.6 Turn thou to thy God saith he Keep Mercy and Judgment and wait on thy God continually Fide deo tuo wait on him by faith trusting in him And so let it be said to the distressed soul that labours under this saddest of tryals Only turn thou to thy God indeavouring to walk closesly with him and then wait upon him trust in him That is Davids counsell which out of his own experience he giveth to others Psal 27.13.14 I had fainted saith he unless I had believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart wait I say on the Lord Many and sweet are the promises which God hath made to those who thus wait They that wait upon the Lord saith the Prophet Isai Shall renew their strength through a secret supply of the spirit of grace the inward man shall be strengthened they shall mount up with wings as Eagles their souls being carried up aloft above all difficulties and discouragements they shall run and not be wearied they shall walk and not faint Noe such way to keep the soul from fainting as this to wait upon God in all Estates Which who so do the same Prophet speaks them blessed Blessed are they that wait for him Isai 30.18 Whilest they wait for their God he waiteth that he may be gratious unto them as the former part of that verse hath it only expecting a seasonable time to shew himself unto them in a way of mercy And therefore to close up this Direction however the Lord please to deal with us though he seeme to withdraw himself from us yet with patience wait for him by faith resting upon the word of promise staying our souls upon him That is the advice which the same Prophet holdeth forth in that obvious but excellent Text Isai 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay himself upon his God And this let the Lords people doe such as unfeignedly fear God yeilding obedience to his word as in all other distresses so in this let them trust in the name of the Lord and stay themselves upon their God by faith resting upon him that so their souls may be kept from fainting Thus much for the former of these tryals Soul-suffering Passe we to the second The suffering of death This is the other Ingredient which we find in the bottome of this Cup The Suffering of death the last Act in this Tragedie the last thing that Christ was to suffer his pouring forth his soul unto death A bitter potion The bitterness of death is past saith Agag 1 Sam. 15.32 The fear of death which of all other things he looked upon as most bitter More bitter then death saith the Preacher of the wherish woman Eccles 7.26 Intimating death of all things which can befall the outward man to be the bitterest And yet see with what Patience with what Resolution our blessed Saviour here submits hereunto This was the Gup which his Father had given him He had appointed him to dye to dye that painfull shamefull accursed death upon the Crosse And this our Saviour was privy to having before acquainted his Disciples with it Mat. 20.18.19 Yet see how he submitteth to the will of his Father herein as Obediently he was obedient to the death Phil. 2.8 So willingly The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it And herein again let all his Disciples follow his steps Which Christians are to do Patiently and willingly shewing themselves in like manner Obedient to and in death submitting to the will of their heavenly Father in drinking this Cup. when he shall give it them and that not only Patiently but Willingly A great and a difficult work my brethren A work above the strength of nature A work passing the strength of Nature which of it self is not able to look this enemy in the face noe more then the Isralites were Goliah who when he shewed himself and made that challenge of a single combate to whomsoever should dare to incounter him it is said that when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine they were dismayed and greatly afraid 1 Sam. 17.11 And again v. 24. And all the men of Israel when they saw the man fled from him and were sore afraid Such an enemy is death being as Bildad calleth it The King of terrours Job 18.14 So it is to flesh and bloud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Philosopher saith of it of all terribles the most terrible And great Reason for it being so unconquerable an enemy that never was there any that encountred with it but have beene overcome by it save only this our David the Lord Jesus And how shall nature ever work the heart to such a resolution to embrace that which is so destructive to it self Nature cannot do it Noe Yeâ— above an ordinary measure of gâ—race nor yet an ordinary measure of grace How have some of the stourest cedars in Lebanon been shaken with this gust Some of the most eminent Saints of God how have their hearts even fainted when they have seen this Cup comming towards them David a man after Gods own heart then whom none more daring in battell yet in his cold bloud he tels us of the sorrows and terrours of death which took hold upon him The sorrows of death compassed me about Psa 18.4 The sorrows of Hell of the
see all in him see all things after another manner then here it doth When that which is perfect is come then that which is imperfect shall be done away 1 Cor. 13.10 And as perfect knowledge so perfect Love Love Seeing God as he is it cannot be but the soul must be inflamed with Love to him And so perfect Holinesse This Christians are here called upon to endeavour after Holinesse Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holynesse in the fear of God so the Apostle exhorts 2 Cor. 7.1 But this while we are here we shall never attain unto But comming to see God now shall we be like him holy as he is holy being perfectly restored to that Image of God wherein man at the first was created consisting in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse Such is the perfection of Grace which the soul attaines by this beatificall vision 2. And as Grace so of Glory Like as silver or gold being set against the Sun Of glory by the beames thereof cast upon it it becommeth radiant and shining So shall it be with the soul by beholding the glory of God it shall it self be made glorious Such a glory had Moses put upon his face when he beheld the glory of the Lord having so near a communion with him upon Mount Sina the skin of his face did shine saith the story so as Aaron and the rest of the Children of Israel were not able to behold him Exod. 34.29.30 Such shall be the glory of the glorified soul having communion with God in Heaven and there beholding his glory it shall be made glorious This office doth death perform unto the believer it letteth in his soul into the presence of God whereby it becommeth perfect with perfection of Grace and Glory 2. The believer by death brought into the presence of Jesus Christ to have a full communion with him To this add It brings him also into the presence of Jesus Christ from whom while he is here he is absent While we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord. 2 Cor. 5.6 But now death brings the soul into his presence to have a sweet communion with him A consideration which made the Apostle not only averse to death but desirous of it I desire to depart and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 This it was that made him so confident and resolute as he was not to regard life or fear death as he there telleth his Corinthians 2 Cor. 5 6.8 Therefore we are alwaies confident knowing that whilest we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord Which elswhere he concludes to be far better for him then to live here Phil 1.23 To see Christ to be with him to injoy him to have a full communion with him what happinesse shall this be to the soul And this doth death bring the believer to 3. As also to Communion and Fellowship with blessed Saints and Angels Also to Communion with Saints and Angels With them the believer hath Vnion whilest here upon earth Ye are come unto mount Sion saith the Apostle to his believing Hebâ—ews and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.22 23. Being true believers they were now made members of the Mystical body the Church whereof the one part is upon earth the other in heaven they had union with Saints and Angels being united to them by faith and Love which all Believers are But now by death they come to have a full Communion with them to see them to injoy them to have converse and society with them joyning with that heavenly Quire in singing Halelujahs to him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb for Ever and Ever Here is now the good which death bringeth the believer to and putteth him in possession of The thought whereof being seriously set on upon the soul it cannot but work it to a willing receiving and imbracing of such a messenger as bringeth tidings of so great good unto it Anticonsiderations or Objections answered I but it may be said though it be thus with the Soul yet in the mean time what becomes of the poor Body Obj. 1 Though the soul gain by death yet the body looseth Though the soul he a gainer by death yet the Body is a looser by it Though that return to God that gave it yet this goeth to the grave where it is subject to Corruption Which maketh our Saviours case and ours far different As for him he knew that though his Body being severed from his Soul for a time should lye under the power of death yet it should not see corruption So David had foretold it Psal 16.10 Where personating of Christ as Peter expounds it Act. 2.31 He foretelleth what manner of death his should be Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell nor suffer thine Holy one to see corruption And this our Saviour himself well knew who foretold his Disciples how though he were killed yet he should rise again the third day Mat. 16.21 And upon this account he might be more willing to dye But it is otherwise with other of the sons of men That which Paul saith of David that he saw Corruption Act. 13.36 is noe less true of others Be their Bodies never so richly embalmed yet will not that preserve them from putrefaction So much the Psalmist willeth the great men of the world to take notice of Psal 49.6 7. They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches None of them saith he can by any meanes redeeme his brother and so not themselves that he should still live for ever and not see corruption Such is the common fate None but must expect to have their bodies lye rotting in the grave in that land of forgetfulnesse as the Psalmist calleth it Psal 88.12 Where as they forget all that was done upon earth so they are forgotten by those they leave behind them Being laid up in the earth there the worm feedeth sweetly on them and they shall be no more remembred as Job faith of the cruell Oppressours Job 24.20 Now this is a thing which flesh and bloud cannot but look upon with great reluctancy the thought whereof may well make it loath to lay down the body upon such tearms To return an answer to this and some other Anticonsiderations or Objections of like nature which men are ready to take up and make use of in this way as discouragements hindring them that they cannot so willingly drink this Cup submit to the stroake of death as
it is day Joh. 9.4 And the like do we whilest the day of life lasteth be we working the works of God that so we may have finished our work before the night of death cometh The labourer having wrought hard in the day and finished his work this maketh the night welcome to him and his rest sweet and comfortable And so will the night of death be to the soul that hath been working for God it will now be to it a quiet rest This made our blessed Saviour so willing now to dye he had finished his Fathers work I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do Joh. 17.4 And this made the Apostle so confident as not to fear his departure when he apprehended it at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith 2 Tim 4.7 He had been faithful to his Lord and Mâ—ster in doing the work which he had committed unto him And thence he concludes that he should now receive his Crown that Crown of righteousnesse as he there cals it an ample reward which the righteous God would give him for all his service Whereupon he is not unwilling to think of his departure O that every of us may indeavour thus to approve our selves to God and Jesus Christ thus to work his work whilest our day lasteth Then when the evening of death cometh we shall be sure to have our Peny Which being assured of it will make us not unwilling to go to receive it 4. Be frequent in casting up our accounts Dir. 4 Be frequent in casting up our accounts betwixt God and our souls The day of death is the reckoning day wherein every one must give up his account unto God Give an account of thy Stewardship for thou mayest be no longer Steward saith the Master ' in the parable to his Servant Luk. 16.2 In this life we are all Gods Stewards being betrusted by him with many Talents which we are to improve for him And hereof at the day of death we must give an account to him O that the thought of that day may not be terible to us make up our account aforehand And this do we often They who are frequent in casting up their accounts are not unwilling to be called to a general reckoning which they who have bin remiss careless herein would be Surely this is one thing which maketh men so unwilling to hear of death when it cometh they have then all their accounts to cast up Take heed it be not so with us Be we strict and constant observers of our own hearts and lives Often calling our selves to an account making it our daily work Every night reflecting upon the day past call we to mind according to that trite direction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. wherein we have transgressed what evil we have committed what good we have done or left undone So making even betwixt God and our souls by suing forth our discharge in the name and upon the account of Jesus Christ This exercise being conscientiously performed it will be of speciall use to make this great reckoning day not unwelcome to us when it shall come 5. Dir. 5 That we may not be unwilling to depart hence Lay up a stock in heaven and to leave this world send somewhat afore us into that other world Laying up a stock in heaven 1. A stock for our selves That is our Saviours counsel For our selves a flock of good works Matth. 6.2 Laye up for your selves treasures in Heaven This do we by doing of good works as works of Piety so of Charity Sell that you have and give almes provide for your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not saith that parallel Text Luk. 12 33. A man that hath his chief estate in another Country which he hath made over by bils of exchange or put into the banck there he will not be unwilling upon a just occasion to follow it Now such are acts of charity and mercy being done for Gods sake they are as so many bils of exchange made over for heaven a stock put into the banck where he who hath so put it out shal at his coming thither receive it again with abundant increase He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given he will pay him again Prov. 19.17 O that rich men to whom God hath given abundance of this worlds goods and whose care it is to make the best improvement of what they have would but take this Course thus to make themselves friends of their Mammon as our Saviour adviseth them Luk. 16.9 that so when they fail when they dye they may receive them into everlasting habitations This would make them not so unwilling to dye as for the most part they are and that upon this account because they must leave what they have in this world and have no stock layed up in another 2. For others a stock of prayers And thus laying up a stock in heaven for our selves do the like also for others laying up a Stock a Stock of prayer for them Which whilest we do for all Gods people whom we leave behind us do it in a special manner for our near and dear Relations So did our heavenly pattern here The Lord Jesus whom in the Chapter before the text we find upon his knees putting up a devout prayer unto God his Father as for his Church in general so for his Apostles in speciall I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me Joh. 17.9 And the like let them do who are to leave near and dear Relations behind them Wives Husbands Children kinred friends lay up a stock of prayers for them in Heaven whereof they may reap the benefit when themselves have left them This will make them the lesse unwilling to leave those whom they have thus provided for In the sixth place Dir. 6 having thus laid up our best treasure in heaven Set the house in order now set we our houses in order upon earth That is the Counsel and charge which the Lord giveth to Hezekiah when he sent him those tidings that he must dye he bids him set his house in order Isai 38.2 Set thine house in order for thou must dye and not live A thing of great use as in reference to the living who shal be left behind so also to him who is to depart hence who having thus setled his temporal concernments in this world will be more ready for his removal into another when God shall call him to it And therefore let not this be neglected by those who have ought to dispose of Let them be careful to make their Wills and Testaments before hand So also did this our heavenly pattern the Lord Jesus who at his last Supper having ordered other things before he then finished his Will and Testament setting his Seal to it Of such use was that Sacrament then and there instituted the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being as a seal set by Christ to his Testament for the confirming of all his former grants and assuring of whatever he had promised Now what he did as to Spirituals let those who would be ready to dye when God will have them doe as to Temporals Setling them aforehand Not putting off this work as too many do to the death bed which as it is attended with many other inconveniences so it often proves no small disquietment to the spirit of the dying person making him loath to leave this world in so unsetled a condition as through this his former neglect in reference to his own relations and concernments he is like to do Set thy house in order Which being done Dir. 7 now in the last place to close up all what remains but to commit the Soul unto God Commit the soul to God Which that we may do quietly and comfortably in death as our blessed Saviour did who breathed out his Soul in those words Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Luk. 23.46 do we it before do it in Life So did David Psal 31.4 Into thy hands I commit my spirit So did the Apostle who making a confession of his faith to his Son Timothy 2 Tim 1.12 there tels him I know saith he whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day His precious soul this was his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Depositum that which he had committed to the custody of God and Jesus Christ And the like do we that we may be willing to depart hence as he was commit we our souls unto God aforehand Which do we first by Faith believing on him which the Apostle there saith he did casting our selves into the armes of his free grace and mercy through Jesus Christ Then by obedience committing the keeping of our souls unto him in well doing as unto a faithful Creatour as St. Peter exhorts 1 Pet. 4. last indevouring carefully and conscientiously to walk before him in all wel-pleasing all the daies of our life So doing now as we shall have comfort in life so when death cometh we shall have no cause to be afraid of it And thus have I now through a gracious assistance preached this doctrine unto you which I look upon as the hardest lesson in Christs school Now what remaineth but that we all beg it of our great Lord Master that he would so effectually teach it us that as occasion is we may practise what we have heard shewing our selves conformable to this our heavenly Pattern as in his Active so in his Passive Obedience being obedient to our heavenly Father as in doing so in suffering his Will even Obedient to death For which let us now pray FINIS