but wonder to see how busily thou heapest up riches yet knowest not who shall eat the grapes of thy planted vineyard God gave thee a countenance erected towards heaven and must it ever be groveling and poring on the earth God gave thee a soul to live with his blessed Angels and wilt thou make it a companion fitter for no other then brute beasts Eccles 5.12 There is an evil sicknesse saith Solomon that I have seen under the Sunne and what is that but riches reserved to the owners for their evil See here the just judgement of a righteous God to this end is thy riches thou wouldest live at ease and outlast many years therefore thy life is but miserable and thy death must be sudden thy dayes are but few and thy few dayes are evil Vse 2 But to comfort all you that live in the fear of God it may be your dayes are evil and what then this is to make tryall of your love to God and a tryall it is of Gods love to you First it makes a tryall of your love to God Certainly if you have but a spark of this love your dayes cannot be so evil but in the midst of those evils you shall find some inward consolations that will sweeten all Gen. 29.20 It is memorable how Iacob for Rachel serves Laban seven years but yet saith the Text they seemed to him but a few dayes for the love he had to her Nay after Laban had deceived him in giving him blear-eyed Leah in stead of beautifull Rachel Iacob then serves him another seven years prentiship love makes the heart chearfull in the worst of sufferings though Iacob was consumed with drought in the day and frost in the night Gen. 31.40 which many and many a time made his rest and sleep to depart from his eyes yet his love of fair Rachel sweetens all his labours Why thus thus will it be with you that wait on the Lord your God what though miseries come upon you as thick as hail-storms in a sharp winters day you may remember you have a better master then Laban a better service then Iacobs a fairer prize then Rachel who is your master but such an one as will surely keep his covenant even the Lord your God what is your service but such a one as is most glorious and honourable even a light burden a perfect freedome what is your prize but such a one as surpasseth all prizes whatsoever even the beauty of heaven the beatificall vision of our blessed God If then you but love God as Iacob did Rachel what matters it how evil your few dayes be nay be they never so evil and were your dayes never so many yet an hundred a thousand years spent in Gods service they would seem but a few dayes for the love you bear to him O Lord work in us this love and then command what thou wilt persecution affliction the Crosse or death no service so hard but we shall readily obey thee Secondly as your evils of sufferings try your love to God so they are a tryall or token of Gods love to you 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth unto us a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory and if this be the end who would not endure the means O divine mercy therefore the dugs of this life taste bitter that thereby God may wean us from the love of this world to attain a better Certainly God is good unto us in tempering these so fitly bitternesse attends this life that thou maist sigh continually for the true life Wouldst thou not run through dangers for a kingdome wouldst thou not fetch a crown for fear of a thorn nay who would not go to heaven although it were with Eliah in a whirlwind I count saith Paul that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed unto us Rom. 8.18 Come then ye that thirst for long life believe in God and you shall have life eternall All is well that ends well though a while we sink in miseries yet at last the joys of heaven will refresh us then shall we live in love rejoyce in hymns sing forth in praises the wonderfull works of our Creatour and Redeemer this is that life of heaven and when our life ends here Lord grant us life everlasting Thus farre have you seen the state of our life this lease breeds sorrow but the reversion is our joy no sooner shall this life exspire but God will give us the purchase of his Son that inheritance of heaven comfort then thy soul that wades through this sea of miseries and the Lord so assist us in all our troubles that he lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Amen Have been OUr life is but dayes our dayes are but few our few dayes but evil and now when all is done we find all is out of date Few and evil have the dayes of my life been This last word is the leases exspiration and why have been If you will needs know the reason The time that is past is best known to Jacob. And the life of Iacob is but as the time that is past First the time that is past is best known to Iacob Olim meminisse juvabit Virg. old men can tell old stories and something it delights them to remember the storms gone over them We all know how Many years we have lived Great miseries we have suffered Iacob tells you as you may tell each other our years have been few our few years have been evil To make this good Have they not been few Let me ask some old man whose hairs are dipt in snow Eccles 12.6 whose golden ewer is broken whose silver cord is lengthened how many be thy years It may be thou wilt answer Psal 90.10 as Moses gives the number a matter of threescore years and ten or fourscore years I cannot say but it is a long time to come but alas what are these fourscore years now they are gone Tell me you that have seen the many changes both of Moon and Sun are they not swiftly runne away you may remember your manhood childhood and I pray what think ye was it not yesterday is it not a while since who will not wonder to see how quickly it is gone and yet how long it was a coming The time to come seems tedious especially to a man in hope of blisse the time now past is a very nothing especially to a man in fear of danger go down to those cast-away souls that now suffer in hell flames and what say they of their life but as soon as we were born we began to draw to our end Wisd 5.13 Wisd 5.13 go down to those putrified bodies and find amongst them the dusts of Adam Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalaleel Jered Enoch Methushalem every one of whom lived near to the number of a thousand years are
dreadfull of hel yet coveting death in a continuall torment yet his own tormentour consuming himself with grief and horrour impatience and despair till at last he ended his miserable-miserable life And now beloved if such be the departure of a sinnfull soul O who would live in sinne to come to such a departure For my part I dare not say these parties thus miserable in their own apprehensions are now among Devils in hell I find the Authours themselves to incline to the right hand besides what am I that I should sit in Gods Chair onely this I say that their miserable deaths may verie well give warning to us all nor need you think much at me for uttering these terribilia terrible stories for if sometimes you did not hear of Gods judgements against sinne a day might come that you would most of all crie out on the Preacher To this purpose we have a story of a certain rich man who lying on his death-bed My soul said he I bequeath to the Devil who owns it my wife to the Devil who drew me to my ungodly life and my Chaplain to the Devil who flattered me in it I pray God I never hear of such a Legacy from any of you sure I had better to tell you aforehand to prevent it then not telling you to feel it And let this be for my Apologie in relating these stories Vse 2 But for a second Use give me leave I pray you to separate the precious from the vile Now then to sweeten the thoughts of all true penitents the souls of Saints are not required but received Rejoyce then ye righteous that mourn in Sion what though a while ye suffer death is a Goal-delivery to your souls not bringing in but freeing out of thraldome Here the good man finds sharpest misery the evil man sweetest felicity therefore it is just that there should be a time of changing turnes The rich mans Table stood full of delicates Lazarus lacks crums but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Luke 16.25 Wo unto you that laugh for you shall mourn Luke 6.25 Luke 6.25 Blessed are you that mourn for you shall rejoyce Matth. 5.4 Matth. 5.4 Happy Lazarus who from thy beggary and loathsome sores wert carried by Angels into Abrahams bosome happy Thief who upon thy true repentance and unfeigned prayer wert received from the Crosse to the Paradise of thy Saviour happy are all they that suffer tribulation Death shall lose their souls from bonds and fetters and in stead of a Bayliff to arrest them shall be a Porter to conduct them to the gates of heaven There shalt thou tread on Serpents trample on thine enemies sing sweet Trophies were not this enough thy Conquests shall be crowned by the hands of Seraphims triumphed with the sound of Angels warbled by the Quire of Spirits confirmed by the King of Kings and Lord of Hosts Happy Soul that art not required by Devils but received by Angels and when we die Lord Jesus send thine Angels to receive our Souls You see now Deaths Arrest and what remains further save to accept of some Bail But what Bail where you have the Kings Commandment from his own mouth this requiring is not of any other but himself of no suretie but of thee saith God must thy Soul be required Of thee ONce more you see I have brought this rich man on the stage his doom is now at hand and Death Gods messenger summons him to appear by Requiring of his soul but of whom is it Required had he any Sureties to put in or was any Bail sufficient to be taken for him no he must go himself without all help or remedie it was he that sinned and it is he must pay for it Of thee it is required How of thee Sure Death mistakes we can find thousands more fit none more fearfull there stands a Saul near him his armour-bearer behold a Judas such will outface deaths fury nay rather then if fail in its office they will not much question to be their own Deaths-men but this Of thee who art at league with hell in love with earth at peace with all is most terribly fearfull Stay Death there stands a poor Lazarus at the gates like Job on his dung-hil his eyes blind his ears deaf his feet lame his bodie struck with Boyls Job 7.15 and his Soul choosing rather to be strangled and die then to be in his bones were not this a fit object for deaths crueltie would he spare the rich he should be welcome to the poor but Death is inexorable he must not live nor shall the Beggar beg his own death for another Of thee it is required But Death yet stay thy hand here 's a better surety what needs death a presse when he may have volunteers there stands an old man as ready for the grave as the grave for him his face is furrowed his hairs hoary his back bowing his hammes bending and therefore no song is fitter then old Simeons Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Youth is loath but Age is merry to depart from misery let Death then take him that standeth nearest deaths-door No the old must die but the young may he must die soon yet be sure thou shalt not live long Of thee it is required Cannot this serve let death yet stay his hand there stands a servant waiting at this rich mans beck as if he would spend his own life to save his Masters he can make a Pageant of Cringes act a whole speech of flatteries every part owes him service feet to run hands to work head to crouch and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of a Mistris so the eyes of his servants look unto the hands of their Master but where be these attendants when death comes was ever any Master better then Christ were ever any servants truer then his Apostles yet see their fidelitie must their Saviour die one betrayes him another forswears him all run from him and leave him alone in midst of all his enemies what then is the trust of servants the rich man may command and go without if death should require them they would not or if they should desire death hee will not his arrest concerns not the servants it is for the Master himself he that command others now death commands him Of thee it is required Will not all do Let death but stay this once there stands a friend that will loose his own to save his life Greater love then this hath no man saith our Saviour when any man bestoweth his life for his friends John 15.13 John 15.13 Riches may perhaps procure such love and get some friend to answer deaths quarrel which he ows this man Jonathan loves David David Absolon and sure it was a love indeed when Jonathan preserves the life of David and David wisheth a death to himself in the stead of Absolon O my sonne Absolon 2.
will you do whither will you go to whom will you pray the Angels are offended and they will not guard you God is dishonoured and he will not hear you onely the Devil had your service and onely hell must be your wages Consider this ye that forget God Psal 50.22 lest ye be torn in pieces and there be none to deliver you It is cruel for your souls thus to suffer to be torn and torn in pieces and so torn in pieces that none may deliver you Better this Worldling had been a worm a toad an adder any venomous creature then so to live and thus to have died yet hither it is come his sickness is remediless his riches comfortless his torments easeless still he must suffer and there is none to deliver he is torn torn in pieces and none may deliver him What need you more now we are come to this period his glasse is run his Sunne is set his day is finished and now this night the verie night of Death his soul is required and received of him Lo here the dismall dreadfull terrible time of this mans departure it was in the night a night of darkness drowsiness sadness sinne death and destruction Vse 1 Who will not provide each day against this fearfull night howsoever we passe away our time in sinne we must of necessitie ere it be long lie gasping for breath upon our dying beds there shall we grapple hand to hand with the utmost powers of death and darknesse what should we do then but sow our seed while the seed-time lasteth we have yet a day and how short this day is God onely knows be sure the night cometh wherein none can work Joh. 9.4 and then what a fearfull time will come upon us I know there be some that dream of doing good in another world or at least will deferre it longer till some time hereafter such vain hopes of future performances hath undone many a soul I must work the work of him that sent me Joh. 9.4 while it is day saith our Saviour The way-faring man travels not in darknesse but while the day shines on him then he knows he is under the protection of the Laws the light of the Sunne the blessing of heaven Joh. 11.9 Are there not twelve hours in the day if any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world but if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Do good then and lay hold of every season which may get you to heaven Let the whole course of your life be a conscionable preparative against death Suppose every day your last as if at night you should be called to account before that high and great tribunall in a word whatsoever you think or speak or do say thus with your self Would I do thus and thus if I knew this night to be my last Who is it would sinne if he thought at that instant he must go to judgement Vse 2 But if we neglect the day be sure the night will come to our condemnation where be those wonders that so dazled our eies while the day shone on them Where is Absaloms beautie Jezabels paint Sauls personage nay where is this wretched Worldling he had a day to work out his own salvation and that being lost at last came night before he had gone two steps toward heaven Joh. 12.35 O beloved walk while yee have light that ye may be children of the light You may be sure the meanest soul that hath the work of grace upon it death is to him no night but the day-break of eternall brightnesse This may make us in love with the sincerity of religion this may make us to labour and never cease labouring till we have gotten out of the state of nature into the state of grace O that I could say of every one of you as Paul of the Ephesians Ye were once darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. Ye were once carnall but now are ye spirituall ye were once unregenerate Ephes 5.8 but now are ye a first-fruits dedicated to God If it were thus with you then to your comfort upon your dying beds you should meet with a glorious troop of blessed Angels you should feel the glorious presence of the sweetest comforter you should see the glorious light of Gods shining countenance you should have a night if it were night turn'd all into a mid-day Now the Lord give you such a day whensoever you dye through Christ our Lord. You have heard the time of Deaths arrest This night Now for the party wee 'll make a privy search and if we stir one word we shall finde him at next doore it is thy soul Thy Soul THe party under arrest is the rich mans Soul no warranty could prevail no riches satisfie no strength rescue death now demands it and there 's none can redeem it therefore This night they will have his soul Every man hath a jewell better worth then a world Observ and the loss of this is so much more dear by how much it is more precious What profits it a man to gain a world and to lose his soul said our Lord and Saviour Mat. 16.26 Mat. 16.26 Nay what are a thousand worlds when the soul is valued Give me leave to ope the cabinet and you shall see the jewell that is arrested it is the Soul The Soul what 's that Substantia creata invisibilis incorporea immortalis Deo similima imaginem habens creatoris sui Aug. in lib. de definitione animae Dicearchus it is saith Austin a substance that is created invisible incorporeall immortall most like to God as bearing the image of its Creator Please you that we illustrate this description and you shall see how every word shews forth some excellencies as the glorious lustres of this glorious pearle the Soul First if you ask what is the Soul 't is a substance How fond were the opinions of some Philosophers one would have it to be nothing vox praeterea nihil and how many of us are of this opinion Doe not we live as if we had no souls at all The epicure is for his belly the ambitious for his body but who is he that provides for his soul Sure we imagine it to be nothing valuable or how should our estimation of it be so grosse and vile to prefer the body to neglect the soul There were other Philosophers vvent a pace yet further and they gave it a being Galen but vvhat no better then an accident that might live or dye vvithout death of the subject this they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humorum a certain temper composed of the elements or nothing but the harmony of those humours in the body Is this the soul then of all creatures are men say vve 1 Cor. 15.19 of all men are we saith the Apostle most miserable most unhappy
furnish one Epicures table Sivill sends fruit Canary sugars Moluques spices Egypt balsamum Candy oyls Spain sweet meats France wines our own land cannot satisfie but forrein kingdomes and countreys must needs be sacrificed to our belly-gods but what dainties have such Nabals when they come to hell there is a black banquet prepared for devils and reprobates the first dish is weeping the second gnashing of teeth and what mirth is there where these two courses must last all the feast The lazie Friar sweating at 〈◊〉 long meats and meals Heu quantum patimur cries he alas how much do we suffer which are Friars but alas how much must you suffer at this supper where the meat is poyson the attendants furies the musick grones and time without end the sauce of every dish See here the provision for the damned their chains loose not their fire cools not their worm dies not their woes end not such gall and vinegar bitters every morsell God hath proportioned this punishment for these sheaves they are sent from surfets to an emptie dungeon that sent away beggars empty from their doors But more Bundles yet where is Drunkennesse with her rioters Lo they are trodden under foot saith the Prophet Esay 28.3 they whose tables were full of vomit and filthinesse are now driven to that scarcitie and want that not a cup of wine nor a draught of beer nor a drop of water can be got in all hell for them Sinne must have its punishment in a just proportion the tongue of that rich man that had turned down so many â—uns of wine cannot procure in hell one pot of water to cool it in his tongue he sinned in his tongue he is tormented fiery heats breed a scorching thirst yet because he denied Lazarus a crum of bread Lazarus must not bring him a drop of water how a drop of water alas what are ten thousand rivers or the whole sea of water unto that infinite world of fire here is a poor suit indeed what begs he but a cup of water an handfull of water a drop of water nay were it but a wet finger to cool the tip of his scorched tongue Hearken ye drunkards and fear these flames that one day must parch your tongues Here you may recreate your selves by sleep when you have too much or by idle company when you would have more but hereafter you shall find no means to qualifie these pains sleep there is none though it be nothing but an everlasting night friends there be none though all could professe their everlasting loves you may indeed commerce with some company but who are they save devils and reprobates miserable comforters in the same condemnation Who is not sober that knows what portion must befall these reprobates their mouthes drie as dust their tongues red as fire their throats parcht as coals all their bowels clung together as the burning parchment He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity the drunkard that abuseth so much wine must there want a little water his tongue shall cleave to the roof of his mouth and goblets of boyling lead runne down his throat as the pleasure so the pain he was comforted and is tormented And yet more Bundles where is Covetousnes and her gripers O the iron age we live in was there ever lesse love ever more dissembling the covetous hoardeth holdeth oppresseth or it may be puts out to usury but never without sureties pledges morgages bills or bonds Think of those bonds ye covetous that must hind you in bundles had you then ten thousand worlds and were they all composed of purest gold and brim-full with richest jewels yet would you call them all at the foot of some Lazarus for one drop of water or one puff of wind to cool any part or piece of your tormented members See the cruell effect of sinne he that hath no pity shall not be pitied no he shall have jâ—dâ—ement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy James 2.13 Jam. 2.13 Thus to pay the covetous in his own coin coffers and chests shall be brought before him there shall devils ring him a peal of this damned coin of pounds of shillings of pence these accounts shall sound through his ears and to satisfie his heart melted gold shall be poured down his throat yea he shall be served too with his meat in plâ—â—â— and plate and meat all boil together to his loathed supper thus hath God satisfied him that could never satisfie himself his gold now wants no weight his silver is not scarce mountains and loads are prepared for him to his greater torments Yet again more Bundles where is Adultery with her minions Lo ugly fiends do embrace them and the furies of hell be as their bosome concubines I have read somewhere but I will not deliver it as a truth that a voluptuous man dying and going to this place of torment he was there saluted in this fearfull manner First Lucifer commands to fetch him a chair and forthwith an iron chair red-hot with sparkling fire was brought and he set thereon this done Lucifer commands again to fetch him drink and a drink of melted lead was brought in a cup which they straightway pouring into his open mouth anon it came running out of all his members this done Lucifer commands again that according to his use they should fetch him musitians to make him merry and a sort of musitians came with hot glowing trumpets and sounding them at his ears whereto they laid them anon there come sparks of fire leaping out of his mouth his eyes and nostrils all about him this done Lucifer commands again that according to his wonted manner he should have his Concubines and upon this they bring him to a bed of fire where Furies give him kisses fiery Serpents hug about his neck and the gnawing worm sucks bloud from his heart and breasts for ever and ever Howsoever in this story it may be altogether truth was not brought a bed yet imagine what a welcome shall be to the damned souls their eyes shall startle their ears glow their nostrils suck up flames their mouthes taste bitternesse and for the sense of feeling according to the measure of their sin they are wrapped in the grisly embracements of stinging and stinking flames where now are those daintie delights sweet musick merrie companie are all left behind and is there no recreation in those smokie vaults Unhappie dungeon where there is no order but horrour no singing but houling no ditties but their woes no consorts but shrieks no beautie but blacknesse and no perfumes or odour but pitch and sulphur Let the heat of this fire cool the heat of your lust pleasure ends with pain In as much saith God as the harlot glorified her self and lived in pleasure so much give ye to her torment and sorrow Rev. 18.7 Rev. 18.7 You see now Beloved what Tares are in bundles the Proud Gluttons Drunkards Covetous Adulterers these and such others are bundled by the
fast asleep on the edge of a Rock he dreams merrily of Crowns and Kingdomes and will not off it but on a sudden starting for joy he tumbles into the bottome of the Sea and there lies drowned in the deep that assurance which is ever secure is but a dream whereas the testimony of Gods Spirit is sometimes mixed with doubts and sometimes to our unspeakable comfort with a secret still heart-ravishing voice thus speaks to our consciences thou shalt be thou shalt be with me in paradise You see the testimonie of Gods Spirit how it works in us and how it is discerned by us it works in us by a particular application of the promises in the Gospel and is discerned by us by the word by our love our prayers our fears our joys at some times while we are a doing our duties Vse O blessed man that feels in his soul this blessed testimonie what is here comparable to it riches are deceitfull pleasure is a toy the world is but a bubble onely our assurance of Heaven is the onely reall comfort that we have on earth who then would not studie to make this certain if we purchase an inheritance on earth we make it as sure and our tenure as strong as the brawn of the Law or the brain of Lawyers can devise we have conveyance and bonds and fines no strength too much and shall we not be more curious in the setling our eternall inheritâ—nce in Paradise a man can never be too sure of going to Heaven and therefore in Gods fear let us examine the testimonie of our spirits by the inward tokens and by the outward fruits let us examine the testimonie of Gods Spirit by the means and the difference and if we find both these testimonies to accord within us how blessed are we in this vale of tears it is an heaven upon earth a Paradise in a wildernesse in a word a comfort in all miseries be they never so embittered See a Thief hanging on the Crosse an Engine of most grievous torture but who can tell the joy that entred into him before he entred into Heaven you may guesse it by his desire to be remembred of Christ when he came into his Kingdome he begs not for life nor pleasure nor riches nor honour no there is one thing necessary give him Heaven and he cares for nothing to this purpose doth he addresse himself to our blessed Saviour Luke 23.37 39. and he asks what if thou be Christ save thy self said the Jews in derision and if thou be Christ save thy self and us said the other Thief to him but this was onely for the bodies safetie and here is a man quite of another mind let the Jews rack him tear him break all his bones and pull him into atomes if our Saviour will but do so much as remember him in his kingdome he desires nothing more O blessed Christ speak comfortably to his soul that begs it thus vehemently at thy hands but why do I prevent the bowels of our Saviour yearn to hear him remember him yes he will remember him and he shall be with him comfortable news how leaps his heart at these so blessed words his desire is granted and Heaven is assured and the Spirit of God yea the God of Spirits thus testifies it to him to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Thus farre of the certainty of his salvation thou shalt be but as the grant is sweet that is certain so is it yet more acceptable if done with expedition and here is both the certainty and expedition thou shalt be when to day with me in paradise To day OUr Saviour deferres not that he promises but as he quickly hears and quickly grants so he quickly gives him Paradise and a kingdome This sudden unexspected joy makes all more gratefull to tell us of Crowns and Kingdomes that we must inherit and then to put us off with delayes abates the sweetnesse of the promise men that go to suits for lands and livings though Lawyers feed them with hopes yet one order after another spinning out time to a multitude of Terms makes them weary of the businesse it is the happinesse of this suitour that he comes to an hearing but the highest degree of his happiness was the expedition of his suit no sooner he motions Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome but the Lord gives him that he asks upon his first motion to day ere the Sun be down the Kingdome shall be thine thou shalt be with me in Paradise But you may object Was there no Limbus Patrum no Purgatory to run through but the very same day he died he must then go to Paradise no unlesse Limbus or Purgatorie be Paradise it self there is no such thing at all Some there are that rather then say nothing speak thus Christ giving up the ghost Mox ut Deus exspiravit ipse secundum animam ad infernos descendit Guliel Paris cap. 21. secundum verbum his soul descended into hel and the very same day was this Malefactour partaker of Christs beatificall vision with the other Patriarchs in Limbus But of how great difference is Paradise and Limbus we shall hear another time sure it is Christ promised not a Dungeon in stead of a Kingdome nor is Paradise a place of pleasure of any such imaginary melancholy nature we conclude then To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise it is all one as to say To day thy day of death thou shalt be with me in Heaven and there enjoy me in my Kingdome But again you may object That Christ rather that day descended into hel then ascended into heaven The Creed teacheth that after he was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell To answer the objection some go about thus by hel say they is meant Paradise where the soul of Christ was all the time that his body lay in the grave If this be not a misconstruction I am sure it is no literall Exposition and me thinks a very strange kind of figure it is to expresse Christs ascent into Paradise by his descent into hell Others more probably understand Christs abode in the grave for the space of three dayes Aug. Epist 57. Austin after some turns and wrenches concludeth thus Est autem sensus multò expeditior c. It is a farre easier sense and freer from all ambiguity if we take Christ to speak thesc words This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise not of his Manhood but of his Godhead for the man Christ was that day in the grave according to the flesh and in hell as touching his soul but the same Christ as God is alwayes every where Thus he But this will not satisfie all Perkins on the Creed and therefore they argue thus against it These words say they must be understood of his Manhood not his God-head and why so For they are an answer unto a demand and unto it they must be
both give their lights that Lambe that was slain from the beginning of the world that body of his once crucified now brighter then ten thousand Suns O how infinitely glorious doth it make this Paradise this Citie of God His countenance is as the Sun that shineth in his strength saith Iohn Revel 1.16 Revel 1.16 But what starres are those in his hands and his feet Where the nayls pierced now it sparkleth where the spear entred now it glittereth gloriously if we look all over him Ibid. v. 14 15. his head and his hairs are as white as snow his eyes are as a flame of fire his feet like unto fine brasse as if they burned in a furnace no wonder then if such beams come from this Sun the Sun of righteousnesse that all heaven shines with it from the one end to the other And yet again the Lambe and the Saints all give their lights for we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him 1. Joh. 3.2 1. John 3.2 how like why he shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.21 Phil. 3.21 In what like even in this very quality for they that be wise shall shine Dan. 12.3 Dan. 12.3 How shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament nay more as the starres saith Daniel nay more as the Sun saith our Saviour nay yet more saith Chrysostome howsoever the righteous in heaven Heaven are compared to the Sun Matth. 13.43 Matth. 13.43 Chrysost in Matth. Hom. 6 It is not because they shall not surpasse the brightnesse of it but the Sun being the most glittering thing in this world he takes a resemblance thence onely towards the expressing of their glory Now then what a masse of light will arise in Paradise where so many millions of Sunns appear all at once If one Sunne make the morning sky so glorious what a bright shining and glorious day is there where 's not a body but 't is a Sunn Sure it is Revel 21.23 There shall be no night there no need of candle no need of Sunne or Moon or Star O that this clay of ours should be partakers of such glory what am I O Lord that being a worm on earth thou wilt make me a Saint in heaven this body of earth and dust shall shine in heaven like those glorious spangles in the firmament this body that shall rot in dust and fall more vile then a Carrion shall arise in glory and shine like the glorious body of our Saviour in the mount of Tabor To come neer my Text See here a Saint-Thief shining gloriously he that was crucified with our Saviour at whose death the Sun hid her face with a veil now he reigns in glory without need of Sunn for he is a Sunn himself shining more clearly then the Sun at noon he that one day was fastened to a Crosse now walks at liberty through the streets of Paradise and all the joyes all the riches all the glory that can be is poured upon him What else He is in Paradise and what is Paradise but a place of pleasure where sorrow is never felt complaint is never heard matter of sadness is never seen evil success is never feared but in stead thereof there is all good without any evil life that never endeth beauty that never fadeth love that never cooleth health that never impaireth joy that never ceaseth what more could this penitent wish then to hear him speak that promised Paradise and perâ—â—â—â—â—ed his promise To day thou shalt 〈…〉 with me in Paradise And thus in a Map have I 〈…〉 Paradise for quantitie great for quality glorâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 better when you shall walk through the 〈◊〉 observe the towers fully contemplate the glory 〈◊〉 that you may not wâ—â—â— of application before I 〈◊〉 Vse 1 Meditate then with what sweet delight everyâ—â—â— servant of God may bath himself before hand even in this valley of tears Did we but think on this gloriâ—â—â— place 〈…〉 â—hose heavenly mansions prepared for us did we spend many thoughts upon it and ever and anon sigh and seek after it until we came to the fingering and possession of it O how would these heavenly meditations ravish our souls as if Heaven 〈…〉 before we entred into Heaven Consider of this in what â—â—se soever we are whether we are vexed or injured or oppressed or persecuted for the name of Christ there is nothing so imbittered that a thought of heaven will not sweeten Yet I say not that wâ— are onely to think of it withall let us strive and strain to get into this golden Citie where streâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—teâ— â—nd all is gold and pearl nay where pearl 〈…〉 noâ—hing worth in comparison of those things which shall be revealed unto 〈◊〉 faithfull soul Vse 2 On the other side Consider with your selves what fools are they who deprive themselves willingly of this endlesse glory who bereave themselves of a room in this City of Pearl for a few carnall pleasures what Bedlams and humane beasts are they who shut themselves out of Paradise for 〈…〉 rie pelf What sots and senselesse wretches are they who wittingly and wilfully bar themselves out of this Palace for the short fruition of wordly trash and 〈◊〉 As for you of whom I hope better things let me advise you for the love of God for the love of Christ for the love that you bâ—â—â— to your own soule that you will settle your affections or things above and not on things beneath and then you shall find oâ—â— lâ—y the comfort of it when leaving this world the Spirit of Gâ—â—st shall whisper to your souls this happy tidings To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Here is an end Shall I now cast up the accounts of what I have delivered you The Total is this Every sinner that repents and believes shall be saved you need no other instance then this Thief on the Crosse at one hearty tear one penitent prayer Lord remember me in thy Kingdome the Lord gives him his desire see here the fiat thou shalt be the expedition to day his admission with me the place whither he is inducted it is into Paradise and there now he officiates doing service to God without ceasing world without end O Lord give me grace so to repent and believe that whensoever I go hence that day I may be with thee in Paradise AMEN SOâ—â— DEO â—Lâ— Printed for Nath. Webb and William Grantham at the Grey-hound in Pauls Church-yard MDCL