11. 3. He gives preserves and continues our Health But yet what is corruptible and weak will wax old and decay Health consists in such an exact disposition of Humours which is easily disturbed by Violence from without Defect or Excess from within The Goodness and Wisdom above doth ordain Strength out of Weakness and continuance from tottering things otherwise it were to be admired that we are not Sick always instead of being so sometimes A Sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the Will of our heavenly Father Nor any Chastisment light upon the Sons and Daughters of Men without his Permission or Order He suffers such an one to fall under the harm of a second Cause or adverse Accident If we would search and examine to the utmost then confess and give Glory unto God we might many times find our Disease to be the natural effect of some Sin or Provocation We became at first subject unto Sickness by Sin only So if we reflect upon Gen. 2. 17. all our foregoing Actions and Circumstances There is some evil which insensibly alters and breaks the sound Constitution or brings it on Speedily and Violently The next thing is to be humbled for the same to accept the Punishment of our Iniquity Lev. 26. 43. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord for I have Sinned against him Mic. 7. 9. We must sincerely resolve if God should spare us this time to watch more carefully against the same for the future now to be unfeignedly sorry for it and to cry mightily unto God. The King of Israel is a Merciful King he will be Appeased and Reconciled Behold Happy is the Man whom God Correcteth Therefore despise not thou the Cbastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Then he fully perceives that false shew of Happiness with which Fools and Blind are deluded all along Which they might know in the mean while if they would consider it throughly as they do ever and anon slightly Outward things cannot give so much aid as they vainly promise They are all passed away as a Dream and cannot help in the greatest time of need My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Psal 73. 26. If the Conscience is accused by sin let the Sick Man cast it forth by Confession and Prayer and the Sea will cease from raging The mind will become more quiet Whether the Body dies or lives he is safe when he hath done all things to obtain the Mercy and acceptance of Almighty God. It is a sad Story of those who in time of Dangerous Sickness have made great shews of Reformation and Amendment and after Recovery have returned again unto Folly. And they have not cryed unto me with their Heart when they howled upon their Beds Hos 7. 14. Which word imports no true in ward Sorrow but an outward noise upon apprehension of Danger which goes off with it However God cannot be imposed upon he knows the Thoughts long before searches the Heart and tries the Reins discovers the bottom and inward reserves according to which he will judge So it is not what they pretend but what they will really be Those who have been for a superficial and slight Repentance which they did hope might avail if they should Die but if they Recover then to return to their former evil ways I say these should have done well to have considered What moved them to any Repentance at all the same should engage them to continue and perfect it For admit you should certainly live it is but a Reprieve only You will be Sick again or what is worse cut off suddenly And then things will appear exactly at the same manner again yea worse for the former Hypocrisie and Dissembling As also for that more Sin and Guilt is increased How many years may be added unto your Life is not known but it will be a sad thing to have lived Ionger to have committed more Iniquity and so Die hardened Impenitent or feigned at last At first recovery is uncertain for many have lulled themselves with hope thereof till Death hath been upon them Many things might be urged to disswade people from doing Foolishly and Presumptuously Their own Eternal Happiness or Misery lies at stake It is not a matter to trifle or deal deceitful with Be prevailed upon as you tender the good of Soul and Body to have your Repentance true and sincere By the Trouble or Pain of them think of the Worm which shall never die and the Fire which shall not be quenched and which are to be escaped from only this way Believe in God and Jesus Christ that all things contained in the old and new Testament are certainly true Faith and Repentance are necessary for all Men both in time of Health and Sickness which whoso hath according to Truth is sure for these intitle unto the Promises of him with whom we have to do Health doth consist in a regular Disposition and due Motion of each part of the Body None can see into himself or tell the exact manner how as to every particular I was made in secret and curiously VVrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect and in thy Book were all my Members written which in continuance were Fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal 139 15 16. None of us can look into the Womb or whilst in Life can see how all the Members and Parts within do work and move yet after the Body is dead we may perceive somewhat by Dissections which is guess and uncertain for if a number of Men should come into the Shop of an excellent Artist seeing his Tools and Instruments only One may think this another that and so may be divided but can never find out the exact manner of his Art. He that sees a dead Carkase unless he were put in mind by himself carrying about one of the same likeness would be at a stand to answer the Question Was this lump ever in Life He could never by his own Wit and Invention find out the way how it was He would also admire how each part both within and without did move and actuate So wonderful and fearful are Gods Works which puzzle the Understanding of Man. Whether it were to keep of Boasting or other causes yet God doth hold our Souls in Life by hidden and invisible Bands that whatever others pretend unto they cannot perfectly find out and see them The Lord Killeth and maketh Alive He bringeth down to the Grave and bringeth up 1 Sam. 2. 6. He hath kept this in his own Power All the ways he hath set out for Nature to go according unto are not yet known Indeed many of them have been searched after and some found but not all for then those Diseases would be Cured which were not first Mortal and Irrecoverable The prevention of and recovery out of Sickness doth depend upon
that lived under the Old Testament which doth not so clearly manifest immortality as the Gospel doth Luke 16. 22 23. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 21 23. Heb. 9. 27. Rev. 6. 9. Besides are innumerable places to prove Resurrection eternal Judgment and Life everlasting Things are fixed and not according to Mens Fancies one way or another those Decrees and Ordinances remain still the same in Heaven Of which we could know no more unless they had been â—old unto us by the Son of God who came down from Heaven and the Spirit from above then one now lying in the lowest Dungeon doth know of what is done in this World. And they do not vary change or alter with our several apprehensions of them whether of assurance or doubt no more then the Sun ceases from shining when only a Cloud comes between Let the sick Person use continual Ejaculations Lord increase my Faith And God will not leave him But he shall receive the end of his Faith the Salvation of his Soul. There cannot be too much Strength or Comfort laid up against this Day it should be the business of a Christians whole Life before for it is the entrance into an endless Life It is the fulfilling and Manifestation of whatever he hath heard Read or done in Truth pertaining to God and Religion And indeed it is worth while to do all things to go off safely He will have Peace in his Life and strong Consolation in his Death Let him observe all parts of Duty to God his Neighbour and himself throughout the Course of his Days Let him do what he can in Sincerity and Truth Whoso doth these things shall never be moved He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death Rev. 2. 11. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good Work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ Pâ—â—l 1. 6. We may be certain of using the means of perseverance for God hath put them into our Power and as long as we rightly use those means we shall infallibly persevere So that in the mean while we may be assured and at last have true and cercertain hopes of Resurrection unto eternal Life And there cannot be such Fright and Amazement concerning that which is to make the everlasting Decision either when it is far off or near at hand If any one hath let him search and examine his Conscience impartially either he doth something which he ought not to do or he leaves something undone which he ought to do this makes him horribly afraid and must be amended before he can be freed from the Danger which the Fear gives warning of A true Christian can contentedly look for the blessed Hope even in the midst of Life he can find Comfort and sweet in the thoughts of Death as that which will free from the disturbances of Flesh and Blood the Molestations of an unthankful unbelieving ignorant World from the Miseries and Labours of Life and send him over unto eternal Rest and Rejoycing To come to the Enjoyment of our Lord Jesus Christ to be admitted into Fellowship with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Prophets Apostles Martyrs all the Good and Wise Men since the World began to be gathered unto his Fathers to see his Godly Friends and Acquaintance of the same Generation with himself just gone before all this must be a desirable thing The dead may be supposed to be about five hundred to one more then the living now are those whom thou leavest behind shall in a little time follow thee and the People which shall be born shall die in like manner and shortly God will accomplish his whole Elect. None hath advantage who goes before or after And seeing the River must be gone over it is small difference who hath a longer or shorter Passage so we avoid the Rocks and Dangers in the way The pious Soul will be in a Strait willing to stay and yet have a mind to go and there is some Irksomeness to leave the World as now it is to change the place where we have long dwelt Our Nature is something made up of Contraries willing and yet unwilling but if God doth really send as we know not his Pleasure until after the use of all prudent Remedies the Sickness proves unto Death Fear not to go for he calls thee Remember that Petition thou hast often made Thy Kingdom come and when it is wilt thou then shrink back One end of Sickness is to make us the more willing to leave the World. Whatever is sudden doth surprize for the time but then it is soon over whereas that which comes on by Degrees and expected is longer but then more easily born Good Men have been divided in Opinion about this thing those who have been for a sudden departure have rightly thought the only Preparation is by an holy Life for the Gospel speaks of no other It Commands to Watch to have our Loyns girt and our Lamps burning and this is to be done in the midst of Health Life and Vigour There is much Talk in the World about providing for ones latter End but unless to settle temporal Affairs from the example of Hezekiah there is not so much said thereof throughout the whole Word of God. It is the beginning of Error and Deceit when People depart from that It is Non sense and Contradiction to the saying of our Saviour John. 9. 4. to put off the working while it is day till the night cometh when no Man can Work. Who purposely put off the working out their Salvation till that time had best have a great Care what they do for besides the hazard of being taken away by sudden Death yet if they should have considerable time of Sickness or Old decrepit Age they have no such Warrant of being accepted Hear what God saith Mal. 1. 8. of offering the Blind the Lame the Sick for Sacrifice But if some are against Death by the ordinary way of Sickness because that is tiresome and may be an occasion of murmuring Distrust Unbelief blasphemous Speeches which proceed from violent Distempers yet we should not refuse to suffer whatever God thinks fit to lay upon us He knows our Condition and will not enter into Judgment for the meer Sin of the Disease no more then he imputes the Follies of Childhood We are to receive for the things done in the Body 2 Cor. 5. 10. to be judged according to the general Tenour and Bent of our Life Neither will our most merciful God take advantage of any infirmity or slip at the last He will not suffer us for any Pains of Death to fall from him The Church prays so for more abundant security and also to deliver from sudden Death O Lord thou knowest what is best for every one of us Thy Will be done Whether this first coming of the Son of Man finds in the
acquainted find to be Pleasantness and Peace All the uneasiness in Religion is at first or to those who will not conform wholly to it which true Courage and Resolution might go throughly with and then that would wear off The Grace of God doth very much assist those who seek and work together with it The two Principal hindrances are Fear and Enjoyment of Lust they may be comprehended under one for there is a Fear of Misery in missing it but the frightning of trouble of Mind and a little heaviness hinders from coming to Repentance That which was implanted in Man to bring him unto God is so transversed as to keep him off such is only a foolish and more exceeding Fear And yet these would be thought to have least who indeed have most The reason why thy seem Fearless in the â—ight of the World is because they make a shew not to care for God and Religion insinuating they let that alone for Fearful People It is manifest what sets them a talking at this rate their negligence and stâ—pidity Ignorance and unbelief their inconsideration and hardness of heart their continued endeavours to stifle the sence of God to be so narrowly confined within themselves that they look only upon themselves not into the World or who made that and gave them Being They grow up they know not how neither do they mind it and then they look only to the present time and what is just before them By such kind of ways they come to be Despisers and umindful but that it is not through want of Fear may be further illustrated by their fear in reference to other things That keeps them in ungodliness and transgression so it hath a main influence on the common actions of Life This being contrary to their Proud Nature they endeavouâ— to conceal and keep close as much as they can in their words they would make a shew of the contrary but truth will come forth Fear as hath been said is by reason of any thing apprehended as evil If they have had some experience of it theâ— dread the same thing for the time to come or if not they imagine it may be evil and consequently are afraid to fall into it Indeed those lesser and ordinary evils of life being so common it doth not put them into trembling and amazement but they are concerned so far as to avoid them When they fly from the least evil and the shadow thereof who cannot endure the least Pain Grief or Discontent and can only subject themselves to dangers because they are unknown and future this argues a timorous disposition Their resorting continually unto all Pleasures proceeds from a kind of Fear to lose them and also of suffering Vexation 'T is not altogether sweetness which invites for constancy makes them satiating but they are sought after as a preventive of inward Sorrow they should otherwise labour under What makes Men thrust themselves into all Company The delight whereof ceases when continually had but they are afraid to converse with themselves least their own thoughts should begin to accuse them They will offend God who is not seen if thereby they may please their superiours The lower sort are the instruments of great Mens Oppression and Injustice they accuse and inform of one another to get the favour and avoid the displeasure of such a Rich and mighty Neighbour And again he is afraid of those above equal or under him Even the greatest have inward tremblings and are willing to content the people If they do not fear God they do fear Men and who make a pretence not to regard them yet they are horribly afraid of many things besides as Disgraâ—e Pain Sickness and the event thereof So Fears do go round and tho' they do not fix on the right Object yet on every thing besides that hath the least power to do hurt and all is by reason of that They fear the Work of his hands but do not fear the Maker of them all And the only Reason of that is because they neither know nor see him and he keeps silence for would not these very Isa 57. 11. Men who adore visible Greatness and tremble at every thing do the like also if they perceived the least Glimpse of Gods Glory or had the least Manifestation of his dreadful Majesty They would then crouch and creep as now they lift up and exalt themselves An Exampâ—â— we have in Nebuchadnezar Dan. 3. Verse 15 19 24 27. Upon the least shewing himself â—orth the mighty Ones do submit presently But if he did so always or for the most part there could be â—o Tryal of free obedience It would be no thanks for them to fear the Lord for they could not help it And they might Fear him as Slaves and Captives not as Saints and Children They might stand in awe of and yet not obey him Those who commit so many Sins to avoid little temporal Inconveniencies it is because they are afraid of them And they venture upon the other because as yet they see no harm happen but did they behold that Furnace of Fire which shall be to the VVorkers of iniquity these same Persons would be as much afraid of that as now they are of the Temptation which leads them over to it Who are now fearful of every Evil would be the same as to those of the other World had they but such a sight thereof as departed Souls have The Wicked and Prophane would presently become as Religious as the most strict and rigid Fellow is now in the Worlds Opinion and still no thanks to them for what is it in any that arises out of Bed and Shifts for himself in a Night Fire There would be no Faith nor Love nor any thing worth the least Acceptation And those things are removed out of sight for exercise of them all There is that in the natural Man which if he would turn and order aright might bring him to Heaven and Happiness The Lord knoweth our Frame Psal 103. 14. And hath put those things in us all that if we would comply with them we must necessarily lay hold of the good and avoid the evil set before us That Fear which now drives from every little thing would much more oblige us to make haste to escape from the stormy Wind and Tempest the Damnation of Hell. It seems strange that though God hath done so much for Mankind who gives to the worst such offers and assistances of his Grace that they might do otherwise if they would yet so many should perish but none ever did or shall hereafter unless he both resists the Grace of God and doth violence to his own Inclinationâ— and Passions Self-preservation and Fear which make up so much of every Man would have kept him if he had wisely considered where the greatest dangers lay for all of this short and vain life are not much to be valued And yet the affrightfulness of them would have stirred up a
greater care against those which are not seen but revealed by that God who cannot lie to be mucâ— more terrible then what we now see and endure It would be endless to trace out all wicked Mens Actions for having run from the way everlasting they are gone into many By-paths and wandâ—ings but leaving these we may at last bring them aâ—â— up to these two heads of Pride and Fear which might easily be altered into Hope of Eternal Life and Fear of the Wrath to come Then they would be converted and become Christians However at present they esteem the Actions of those foolish and ridâ—culous yet in this they condemn themselves for they act after the very same manner in reference to the things of this life as the others to that which is to come We are all Men still and though our Actions dâ—ffer as Heaven from Earth yet they all at first spring from the same common Principles Are the Men of this World willing to be happy So are we Are they afraid to be Miserable So are we But then they look only for the present time and we do the same taking in also that which is to come They mind the things of the Earth we think of them as much as they are worthy of and have our conversation in Heaven All their devices perish in the using their endeavours after Happiness lie in present enjoyments which cease and come to nothing whilst they are had their preventives of misery are only stupefactions to make them unmindful of that for a Moment of which they are to be sensible for evermore The time of Hardening and the day of Provocation passeth away and they haste to come into his power against whom they have behaved themselves Rebelliously and Contemptuously All their safety consists in their hands in the days of their flesh and that only because God is pleased not to interpose which he might if he would but ordinarily doth not till towards the Conclusion of their space of wickedness There is but poor protection in it we see the whole in this life a little Worldly prosperity and sensual Pleasure is all they must ever trust unto And this mixt with so many Fears Disquiets and Miseries that it is not worthy to be accounted of as also it flyeth so quick and will stand in no stead â—â—e days past are the same as if they had not been at all the present slips between their fingers every minute some of the gratifâ—ings of the flesh are lost and the fewer remain behind Which will be catcht at and pass away in the same manner then cometh the end when they shall be bereaved of all when their merry life as they called it but did not find it so just like a sleep when one awaketh every now and then disturbedly but when they have slept out their sleep they have found nothing that will avail them in the only time of need We have looked upon the Fears of Men in the midst of life Of the Fear of Death We have seen how they behave themselves when they are lusty and strong We have heard their disdainful Talk and proud Boasting which in some measure hath been detected of Hypocrisie and Falshood What are their Thoughts and Provision against Death either when it is afar off or it approacheth nigh Now it is certain we do not nor before enter upon meer Words but reality for all the living know they must die and every one is sensibly frightened with the apprehension thereof Bildad stiles it the King of Terrors Job 18. 14. As such it possesses the minds of all Men at first this is not denyed And the other also would be no controversie unless contrary practise did make it doubtful Whether Wickedness or Obedience is the best preservation against the Fear and Danger of Death If it be made evident for the latter the same conclusion again follows that Religion tends necessarily to the Happiness and Safety of Mankind In Truth this point is most worthy of Observation and insisting upon for though we are so much taken up with present things we snatch at all Ease and Pleasure and decline every little pain or Vexation yet Worldly Happiness or Misery is not much to be valued seeing the best which happens here will never make one truly Happy nor the worst Miserable It so soon passeth away whatever delights or disquiets Nothing is so good here as to be truly desirable Nothing so bad but what can be endured There is little difference whether we have a Calm and Smooth Voyage or are tossed to and fro with Tempests but the only thing to be minded and care taken for is where we set a shore on the land of Eternity for here we have no continuing City Heb. 13. 14. One Generation cometh and another goeth Those that were before us are gone we living drop away now one and then another the people which shall â—e born they shall die inâ—ike manner This we know though we do not so much consider of as we should we are all concerned in it though too many are unmindful Wise and Foolish comprehend all Mankind so they may be distinguished and known by this one thing for nothing is so worthy of the concern and regard of a wise Man as death is It is prudence to keep off and provide against all evils and if the World calls those wise who are so busied about Toyes and Trifles about the attainment of every little good and avoiding of every little evil much more is he who doth the same as to the greater If every one is diligently employed how it fares with him now so doth an understanding Man look about what shall become of him after this vain short and uncertain life is ended In this great matter there are two designs in the World the one is to drive out the thoughts of Death as much as they can to be unmindful of their dying day that it is grown into a Proverb till it is upon them and so they go away when their time comes The second is of them who both pray and also put in practise So teach us to number our Days that we may apply our hearts to Wisdom Psal 90. 12. Which of the twain is most wise and happy in their way may be a little cleared The reason of the first manner of doing is because the thoughts of Death are Melancholy and Uncomfortable so they think they do well to be rid thereof Amidst their jovialties sometimes a word or accident puts them in mind they shall die which raises an inward damp I know there are many sayings and sentences concerning Death in a Ludicrous and Ignorant way But this talk doth likewise proceed from the same reason as one is of vaiâ— Swearing by commonness of Speech to take off the dread buâ— still they â—eaâ— it may be otherwise They have not so much courage as â—he Epicures of Old who would have a Skull or Sceleton brought up to their