raigned raged in those times In this last age of the world violēt bloody deathes seeme to have abounded more then ever before both on Iew Gētile Pagā Christiā What destruction massacre from the beginning of the world unto that time might be cōpared with that of the Iewes by the Romanes for the contempt of Christ his Gospell Mat. 24.21 How many rivers of Christiā blood have bene shed by Romane authority of Heathenish Emperours Antichristian Popes The Harlot drunkē with the blood of the Saints is still blood-thirsty Rev. 17.6 The Kings of the earth drunkē with the wine of her fornication do give their strength power unto her even to this day and are become her butchers to kill slay for her Rev. 17.2.13 Whereas there are foure beasts mentioned in Dan. 7.4.7 a lyon beare leopard monster with ten hornes the beast Rev. 13.1.2 is compounded of all foure so devoureth as many as all the former what should we speake of Turkes Tartares other Barbarous nations among whome by whome death reignes so strōgly Rev. 9.17 18. This all is well knowne but not well regarded In all this we have a cal frō God to remember our latter end But we have eyes see not eares yet heare not his call resist sinners by threatning death by executing death on malefactours Gen. 3.24 with Rom. 13.4 The Princes Iudges of the earth are as Angels of God set to keepe the garden watch the city of God to cut off the workers of wickednes Psal 101.8 and so become the messengers of death unto wicked men Prov. 16.14 Every Iudgmēt Hall is the Tabernacle of death there Death dwelles there he oft shewes his terrible countenance from thence utters his voyce roares as a Lyon There be the monuments of death in many already dead in others threatned Every such place is a pillar of remembrance whereon Deaths name is engraven And if in time of peace the house of Iustice be such a monument of Death much more is the Campe in time of War as Hazarmaveth the Court of Death There Death displayes his banner the sound of Drumme Trumpet are the proclamations of death the Mounts Bulwarkes Batteries are the scaffolds where Death actes his part the Trenches Approches Galleries Mines are the vallies of the shadow of death and all the weapons warlike Engines are so many darts of death whereby the dead are multiplyed And seing by divine providence besides the many armies marching abroad in other countries the Camp is now presētly so neere unto us in our borders by s' Hertogen-Bosch our duety is to observe this Alarum of death from thēce to hearken unto the speciall calling of God for remembrance of our latter end The Lords voyce cryes unto the City Heare the Rod who hath appointed it Mic. 6.9 and not onely to the City beseeged that it may shake off the yoke of Antichrist but unto us our cities that are within the soūd that we may walke more worthy of Christ his Gospell which we professe He that regards not this call of God shall beare his iniquity b In the calling of Ministers we have an other Memoriall of death that many wayes Ministers are called of God to call others to remember their latter end And this is noted as a maine worke of their calling Esa 40.6.7.8 A voyce sayd Cry And he sayd what shall I cry All flesh is grasse all the goodlines thereof is as the flovver of the field The grasse withereth the flovver fadeth because the spirit of the Lord blovveth upon it surely drawing out shaking that sword against the breast of sinners by making life or death to be evermore the foot or burden of their song and the effect of all is they are the savour of life or the savour of death to all that heare them 2. Cor. 2.16 c And this which hitherto we have heard of Angels Magistrates Ministers is spoken of the good come we now to speake of the evill The Lord calles us as lowd by them to remember our end that we may gather good out of evill Evill angels what are they els but professed murderers murderers from the beginning going about as roaring lyons seeking whome they may devoure Ioh. 8.44 1. Pet. 5.8 They have power of death Heb. 2.14 dayly bring thousands to death of body soule for ever Wicked Magistrates persecuting rulers that compell men to Idolatry false religion force men to take the marke of the beast as also the false teachers blinde guides that bring in damnable errours even both these are like the servāts that dance on the threshold fill their masters house with spoyle prey Zeph. 1 9. Both these are the blood-hounds of the Divell by which he hunteth soules Hos 5.1 Both these are as ranging beares ravenous woolves that wory yong old drive them into the slaughterhouse of Satan Prov. 28.15 Mat. 7.15 These help him dayly to thrust sinfull men into the ditch into the bottomles pit of Hell All these therefore are the Grand-champions standard-bearers of death have Death written in their foreheads The sight of these or the mention of them their enterprises should cause men with horrour to thinke of death And seing the world is full of these how many are the calles warnings that God by them gives us to thinke of death to stand upon our watch d As for the times severall also are the warnings which are thereby given us to remember our end sometimes by the red horse marching in our borders trotting galloping rushing into battell sometimes the pale horse ambling up downe in our streets Rev. 6.4.8 both warre pestilence bringing massacre upon massacre calamity upon calamity Ier. 9.21 Ezek. 7.25.26 are as so many proclamations of death in our eares sounding at some times more louder then other according as these judgments are more grievous universall Who doth not see the axe layd unto the root of the tree in these dayes both the bloody axe of warre black axe of pestilence in some times places continued in others threatned Besides time it selfe is a sythe an axe Night day are two axes at the root of our life when one is up the other is downe without rest every day a chip flyes away and every night a chip and so our bones ly scattered at the graves mouth as when one cutteth or heweth wood on the earth Psalm 141.7 Though every day giving us so manifold examples of death do thereby serve to put us in minde thereof yet in a speciall manner is the Sabbath-day set apart by the ordinance of God that on it we should consider the latter end of man That is the time especially when the voyce cryeth in the Congregation All flesh is grasse c. And therefore in the Psalme that is entitled
are we called of God to remember same offences of striking or cursing committed against others were not so though some childrē might happily have as much wisedome as their father mother yet their authority alone being despised brought such woe Now the authority of God the heavenly father over his creature being infinitely greater then the authority of any earthly father over his children the contempt thereof doth accordingly procure an infinite woe unto those that disobey God that reject his Law make their owne lust their law prefer the doing of their owne vile wills before the obedience of his holy heavenly will So in like manner the infinite evill of sinne appeareth distinctly in this that it is committed against the infinite goodnes mercy of God There are in creatures manifold degrees of love kindnes the love of one doth an hundred times exceed the love of some other both in tendernes of affection in multitude of benefits And in such case the treachery of such as deale falsely wickedly against their cheefest friends becomes an hundredfold greater evill then the sin of some others Now the Lord is love it selfe 1. Ioh. 4.8.16 herein is love not that we love God but that he loved us vers 10. his grace the gifts of his eternall free grace doe infinitely exceed all other love he gave himselfe to be our God portion his Sonne to be our ransome And therefore to sin against this high immeasurable grace to contēne this love to love that which is vanitie of vanities more then God doth make the sin of such to be out of measure sinfull deserveth an infinite hatred misery to ensue thereupon And thus the greevousnes of sinne is to be considered conceived in respect of the other divine attributes whereby we may see as it were ten infinites in one behold many windowes of contemplation opened before us through which we may have a huge vast prospect of the endles unsearchable woe of sinne that is to be felt in the second death Though there be many other aggravations of sinne yet this so farre exceeds the rest as if they all were nothing in comparison of this therefore doth the Spirit often urge this consideration upon men saying to the sinners Ye have lyed not unto men but unto God Act. 5.4 he that despiseth despiseth not man but God vvho hath also given us his holy Spirit 1. Thes and it containes more then a world of bookes can expresse c This fierce wrath of God is often in Scripture compared unto burning devouring fire Deut. 32.22 Ier. 15.14 17.4 Ezek. 21.31 22.21 36.5 Zeph. 1.18 accordingly is the tormēt in hell described unto us by the name of hellfire Matt. 5.22 18.9 The smarting paine caused by fire is well knowne by the common use thereof among us And yet above the nature of common fire which is made for the comfort of man to cheere him to make him laugh Esa 44.16 this dolefull fire of hell is propounded unto us of God by many strange descriptions It is a fire not like unto ours that may be quenched but an unquenchable fire Esa 66.24 Mark 9.44 Rev. 14.11 an everlasting fire Matt. 18.8 25.41 which so burnes the wicked as that it doth not consume them but keeps them alive in death that they may burne for ever and ever It is a fire that will not onely burne stones melt yron brasse but a subtile piercing fire that burnes even the spirits soules of men being a fire prepared for the devill his angels which are spirits Matt. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 and therefore farre more terrible then our fire by which tyrants burne the bodies of martyrs but cannot burne their soules Mat. 10.28 For the greatnes of it it is a bottomlesse pit Rev. 9.1.2 deep large Esa 30.33 a lake or sea of fire Rev. 20.14.15 for the names of lake or sea are sometimes in Scripture indifferently put one for another Matt. 8.24 with Luk. 8.23 and this burning sea is withall called a lake of brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 which makes the fire to burne more cruelly to choake strangle such as are plunged into this lake And for the forme of it it is sometimes compared to an oven or furnace of fire Mal. 4.1 Mat. 13.42.50 in which the fire being kept close strait may be made seven times more hote fierce then it was before Dan. 3.19 To make this fire yet more abhominable it is compared unto Tophet Esa 30.33 where children were burnt in horrible lothsome manner being sacrificed unto devils Ier. 7.31 with Psa 106.37 so more horrible would it be to see the soules sacrificed in Hell-fire Were there now but a witch to be burned at a stake how many thousands would flock together to behold the sight how many would loose a dayes work be content to misse their dinners rather then to misse the sight of it But if it were to see a King or an Emperour burnt to see a Pope or a Cardinall which having burnt many martyrs should at length have their owne flesh burnt with fire how many farre and neere would run and ride and spare no cost or labour to become spectatours of such a judgment how long how often how earnestly would men talke of it afterwards And yet this fire of the second death is for such by faith we see it faith makes us spectatours thereof if we beleeve the Scriptures which shew us how Tophet is prepared for kings Esa 30.33 how the beast and the false prophet the Popes are to be cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 and with them the multitude of their idolaters and other abhominable persons Rev. 21.8 And how are men bewitched that they forget this latter end of sinners that they more regard the light and momentany judgments of men then the eternall and severe judgments of the everlasting God This lake of fire is so forgotten and contemned of many which stand dayly at the brink of the pit ready to sinke downe into it for their sinnes as if that fire were already quenched yea the very common knowledge and confession thereof by all sorts hath quenched the thought of it and extinguished the memory and mencion of it with many as if it were so well knowne that it needed no more to be spoken of And for this cause are many tumbled into it overwhelmed in the depth of it before they be aware of it d The power of Gods wrath in kindling this fire may further be perceived if we behold the great variety of strange fires which God in his works of creation providence hath already kindled and set before us to shew what he is able to doe In the bowels of the earth below the Lord hath as it were sowne the seeds of fire in the divers minerals thereof as in the
ourselves with zeale of the Lord to drive away that lukewarmnes of our soules that is so abhominable in the sight of God Rev. 3.16 The Apostle teacheth us to make this use of the aforesaid considerations for the change of our conversatiō unto all holines godly life 2. Pet. 3.11 And from hence may we learne patience in suffering as well as obedience in doing the will of God as the Spirit teacheth us if the Lord be at hand if the end of all things be at hand such an end why should not our patient minde our moderation and sobriety be made knowne unto all upon all occasions Phil. 4.5 1. Pet. 4.7 Though injuries be done vnto us great dayly in extraordinary manner both unchristian inhumane dealing yet seing the comming of the Lord draweth nigh the Iudge is at the doore at the threshold and entrance of our house and there is but a step betwixt us him but an inch of time betwixt our sufferings and his judgement therefore he requireth of us that we be patient establish our hearts in him Iam. 5.8.9 Have we other losses troubles in the world whether we winne or loose it skilles not much whether we purchase buy with increase of gaine or whether we sell for necessity whether we be rich or poore it is no great matter seing the earth all the works thereof are in a moment to be burnt up 2. Pet. 3.10 seing the end hasteneth the world passeth away let not the buyer rejoyce nor the seller mourne Ezek. 7.12 All the happines of man stands in being delivered from this everlasting fire kindled by the fierce wrath of God against sinne We have enough may well be content while we have our soule saved as a prey from this great destruction f If yet we be dull of hearing cannot see the dreadfulnes of this death in the causes thereof the sinne of man deserving it the wrath of God inflicting it if yet we desire a plainer evidence thereof let us then looke upon the effects thereof consider how the smart of this second death shall make the children of hell to crye waile take up eternall lamentations without any measure or end By the effects of sorrow Ieremy thus describeth the affliction of Ierusalē in her captivity that of a princesse being become a desolate widow she did weep sore in the night that her teares were on her cheekes that they rā downe as a river night day the apple of her eye never ceassing that her elders her infāts young men virgines did mourne together that the priests prophets did sigh their eyes being dimmed fayling with teares their bowels troubled their liver powred thus roare faint in themselves under this burden of sorrow how can any men or Giants that are but flesh undergoe the same When the Lord shall pleade against the proud covetous cause his wrath to smoake against hypocrites dissemblers against profane men drunkards adulterers malicious men how can their heart endure or their hands be strong Ezek. 22.14 Though they were as stout as the devils they shall be crushed broken together with them Now many skorners make a mock of religion now the epicures make a sport of sinne now the obstinate persons despise admonition hate to be reformed they set their faces as Adamants in their obstinacy But though their bones were brasse their strength of stones their heart as hard as the nether milstone yet shall they be ground to peeces with this wrath of God that grindes the very Devils to powder makes them to howle yell before him Above all other the most terrible effect of Gods wrath was that which was shewed upon Christ Iesus the Lord of men angels when as he being become our surety bearing our sins did groane under the burden when he cryed out with strong cryes teares Heb. 5.7 when in the trouble of his soule with great astonishment feare he sayd What shall I say Ioh. 12.27 as if he had felt a sorrow not to be uttered when in the sense of Gods anger due unto us he not onely cryed day night but even with words of roaring Psa 22.1.2 finally uttered the most sorrowfull voyce that ever sounded in the world My God My God vvhy hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 If all the dolefull complaints lamentations of all miserable men were layd together upon the ballance they would be found lighter then this complaint of Christ because the iniquities of us all were layd together upon him Esa 53.6 he bore the curse of them Gal. 3.13 If we could see into the bowels of Hell or could lay our eare to any low vault to heare the howling of the spirits in that prison yet no wofull voyce ought to moove us so much as these cryes of our Saviour in his agony No weeping gnashing of teeth by those reprobates can so expresse the power fiercenes of Gods wrath as this weeping and sorrowfull teares of the in the second commandement the Lord threatens such a change that they shall be most ashamed of that which they adored shall cast their Idoles to the Moles to the Bats Esa 2.20 creatures that love darknes the one for place living under the earth the other for time comming abroad in the night The Idolaters shall wish their idoles were hidden in utter darknes for ever But as Moses once despited the Idolaters by burning their Idoll grinding it to powder strowing it on the waters making them drinke thereof to their further shame Exod. 32.20 so shall the Lord force the Idolaters by remorsefull remembrance evermore to drinke the powder of their images of their owne inventions The Lord through a secret antipathy of nature doth sometimes worke such a strange terrour in some men as experience shewes that at the sight of some creatures or dishes of meat set before them on the table though the creatures be good in themselves lawfull for use to other men comfortable yet these men quake tremble sit astonished with gastly countenances full of perplexity anguish gaping sweating at the sight their haire standing upright on their head their spirits appalled not able to speake a word nor to stirre out of their place but like men confounded remaine bound in the chaines of amazement as terribly affrighted as was Belshazzar when he saw the palme of a hand writing his destruction upon the wall Dan. 5.5.6 And hereby we may conceive the power of Gods wrath for the torment of idolaters by representing unto their mindes those unlawfull images which they worshipped to their eternall affright and horrour The Lord knoweth how to engrave all the sinnes of men with the point of a diamond upon the table of their heart for their vexation woe and so in speciall to pourtray their images idoles upon the broad plate
their latter end continually before their eyes thereby f As labour toyle in the day so sleep rest from labour in the night season is also a necessary help to preserve this mortall life This sleep is a lively image of death For in sleep men ly downe as dead men without sense and motion ceassing from their workes and taking no knowledge of the things that are done by others and therefore the holy Ghost often describeth death by the name of sleep or lying downe to sleepe Genes 47.30 Deuter. 31.16 1. King 2.10 Iob. 3.13 and ch 14.12 Psalm 76.5 Matt. 27.52 Iohn 11.11 Actes 7.60 1. Corinth 11.30 1. Thessal 4.13 By this marvellous work of God in breaking off the course of life and making Sleepe like an Half-death to invade us continually to come upon us like an unresistable Giant every day and to throw us downe and then by his manner of speech in calling death a Sleepe he calleth us by consideration of our sleepe to consider our death by the sight of our bed to remember our grave to looke upon it as a Tombe or Sepulchre every night before we goe into it to labour for reconciliation with God at the end of the day to seeke new sense of his love in Christ as we would doe at the end of our life that so we may lie downe sleep safely Had any man some speciall disease as of the falling sicknes Apoplexie Palsie Lethargie or the like terrible passion whereby at a certaine time of the day he should duely fall downe like a dead man and ly snorting at the gates of death for an houre or two untill the malignant humour were discussed and the force of the fit were over would we not thinke that man warned of God thereby to remember his end 7.8.9 but with the faythfull there is another remembrance of death by occasion of sinnes as comfortable to them as the former is terrible to the wicked For in sight of sinnes that greeve them they call to minde what shall quite free them from those sins and what is that but death Thereupon they set death before their eyes and are taught of God so to doe longing for their redemption and desiring to remoove out of the body which is by death Rom. 8.23 2. Cor. 5.8 And how many wayes then is death propounded unto us which way can we looke on the right hand or on the left before us or behinde us but every way the memorialles of death are before us Transgressions past sins present feares of the wicked desires of the godly all lead to the thought of death and to the remembrance of our latter end h Againe the afflictions sicknesses dangers wherein death is threatned unto men are likewise meanes of death and by them also we are called of God to remember our latter end It pleaseth God for the warning of secure men to bring men to the gates of death before they enter Psal 19.13 and though he bring them back againe yet is this done of God for a memoriall of death God brings men into such extremity that they make full account to die they receive the sentence of death in themselves despaire of life 2. Cor. 1.8.9 and are free among the dead in their owne and others judgement Psal 88.4.5 and this many times they are in deaths often 2. Corint 11.23 and such things God worketh oftentimes that men might renounce the world Iob. 33 22-29 and set their house in order their heart in order to die that being delivered they might then remember what thoughts desires what prayers purposes they had in their soules and recall them often for their preparation against the time of their finall departure out of this world Esa 38.1.15 c. As Iehosaphat having cryed out in the danger of death 2. Chron. 18.31 was bound to remember that very cry and disposition of his heart afterward so forasmuch as there is almost no man which hath not seene the face of Death and his dart shaken against him in being pale withered and wrinckled the shadow of death sitting upon their eye-lids and some in divers degrees betwixt both and especially in the sight of friends long absent and changed in that time we are called to thinke how the fashion of this world passeth away As the face so the stature of man growing up as a plant according to the divers measures and degrees of his growth appointed of God Psalm 144. 12. Luk. 1.80 and 2.52 is another testimony of his changeable estate even from the childe of a span long unto those that have their full growth Lam. 2.20 Though some be of low stature as Zaccheus Luke 19.3 and some againe higher then the common sort by the head as was Saul 1. Sam. 10.23.24 yet even in these compared with themselves the proportion of their growth is an evidence of their age to such as know them Though men being come to their full stature stand at a stay and loose not their stature by such degrees as they attained unto it in their youth yet many times we see in experience that crooked old age bowing downe their heads more more to the earthward they doe hereby after a sort loose their stature by degrees grow into the ground againe And thus the wheele of mans age visibly sensibly turning about according to the variation of his stature is another admonition to remember the latter end approching k Beside the face stature the Lord hath set sundry other markes upon the bodies of young and old for memorials of their time passing away at the changes of their age The younger people have the time of love described of God by divers markes and tokens thereof Ezech. 16.7.8 but especially old age hath the tokens of neere-approching death imprinted upon them whereby they are warned of God to prepare for it The decay of strength the decay of sense the decay of health are all forerunners of death and summon them to their end Through decay of strength the armes and hands the keepers of the house beginne to tremble Ecclesi 12.3 and the legges that are as pillars thereof do bow themselves and the help of a staffe as a third legge to rest on is sought of the aged person Zach. 8.4 and with that woodden legge at every step he goes he strikes upon the earth raps at the gate of the grave untill it be opened unto him By this weaknes death comes puts his manicles upon their hands his shackels upon their legges for remembrance of their end This weaknes is further signifyed by the ceassing of the grinders in the mill Eccles 12.3 both the upper the nether milstone which are called the life of man Deut. 24.6 These teeth fayling life begins to fayle From this weaknes the doores of the lips are shut without the sound of the grinding is low the voyce hoarse and so whether the old persons worke with
doth trouble disturbe the minde and disables it that it cannot orderly quietly dispose it selfe unto godly comfortable meditations but being overcome with impatiēce frets murmures is tossed up downe without fruit Therefore are these extremities of anguish compared to a cup of intoxicating wine making men as it were drunken with greefe Esa 51.17 21.22 Lam 4.21 and even mad with woe sorrow that they know not what to doe Deut. 28.34 Ier. 25.16 Eccles 7.7 And what folly is it then for men to be unprepared through forgetfulnes of their latter end to remaine drunken with security all their life till they be drowned in a gulfe of misery Perplexity extreme anguish may justly come as a snare upon them that abuse their present peace ease promising themselves liberty power to dispatch all that is needfull for their salvation in one moment of their last distresse g And commonly when death approcheth our adversary the devill that prince of darknes that hath gone about as a roaring lyon watching to devoure us at all opportunities before doth thē especially rage knowing that his time is short Rev. 12. 12. and withall seekes to take advantage by the present infirmitie of the sick persons insinuating himselfe into each of the former troubles adding fearfull dreames to their slumbers strong fancies to their distraction aggravating their paines with divers terrours Experience shewes what great temptatiōs many have undergone upon their death-bed And therfore the consideratiō of this last great combat should warne every one betimes to arme thēselves to gather strēgth every day against the last day to furnish thēselves with grace to seek truth righteousnes faith patience store of comfortable promises out of the word of God layd up in their hearts kept in readines to nourish themselves in hope to watch pray uncessantly that having concluded this last combat obtained the victory they may then be translated from a state militant to a state triumphant for ever h THese forewarnings are such as serve chiefly for the instruction of those that feele them on whose persons they are inflicted but beside these forewarnings the dead leave unto the living many after-warnings of their mortality which admonish the succeeding generation that they must follow their praedecessours And here first of all observe how it is ordered by divine providence that in death the soule body be separated one from the other In this separation the Soule is carried away invisibly no man knoweth how nor whither No humane sense cā discerne the spirit of man ascending Ecc. 3.21 The Lord in his unsearchable counsell would have the opening of the gates of the second world to be kept secret close from us If godly parents should see the soules of their children carried away to destruction in the clawes of an hellish dragon crying unto them with a lamentable and desperate voyce what horrour woe would this be unto them to make their dayes more uncomfortable so lōg as they should live on earth God in great mercy conceales it from them If wicked ungodly men should see their children or companions soules haled away by evill spirits after they were separated frō their bodies withall should heare thē shrike cry curse their cōpany what a stroke of terrour might this be unto them but God in justice hides these things from thē will not satisfy the curiosity of profane men that despise his Gospell and the means of life revealed therein This secret manner of translating the separated soules in carrying some close prisoners to Hell and transporting others in covered wagons invisible chariots unto Glory serves to warne and admonish us by the very forme thereof so much the more to remember the other evident monuments of our frailety When secret things are restrayned to the Lord the things revealed are immediately thereupon the more enforced upon us to observe the same Deut. 29.29 When the Spirit recordes how some persons men or angels have vanished out of the sight of those they had spoken withall we are to observe how they were occasioned thereby to thinke the more of that which they had seene heard from such and not to prye into that which was withdrawne from them Luke 24.31.32 Act. 8.39 Iudg. 6.21.22 c. Yea the Lord appointed that they should not be suffered to live which went about to talke with the dead soule or to rayse the spirits Levit. 20.27 1. Sam. 28.8 9. c. But by all this we are so much the more led to observe the common visible memorials of mortality shewed unto us in them that die before us i It is further to be observed that when the spirit is carried away presently to God that gave it yet the body remains behinde returnes to dust from whence it came Eccles 12.7 If God by death had taken away both the soule the body together at the same time if it had pleased God to take away all men as Henoch Elias were Heb. 11.5 Gen. 5.24 2. Kin. 2.11.17 or to bury all men so as Moses was Deut. 34.6 namely so that their bodies should be seene no more among men yet even then there were cause enough to remember that wonderfull great finall translation but now seing every man departing this life leaves a peece of himselfe among his friends on earth yea the one halfe of his person and that halfe which is the visible part even the body that was best knowne among men the Lord by this fragment of man that is left gives us occasion to thinke what is done with the rest and to keepe in memory the death past to prepare us for death to come As Elias ascending to heaven let his mantle fall for a remembrance so much care for our bodies as we doe for the soules according to this example of God who shewes more love respect to the soules taking them first into his heavenly Kingdome glory when as he suffers the body so long a time after to lodge in dishonour to remaine in the pit of corruption 1. Cor. 15.43 l The sequestration of the body from the place where the soule is and the corruption of it being separate are memorialles wrought immediately by Gods owne hand beside these there are other after-warnings of death effected by the providence of God mediately by the services of men that seeke the honour of the dead comfort of the living For honour of the dead holy men of old have shewed great care to provide sepulchers tombes monuments for them Such were the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham Gen. 40.30.31 and 23. the pillar on Rachels grave that Iaakob set up Gen. 35.20 that continued so many generations to Samuels time 1. Sam. 10.2 the title on the sepulcher of the man of God that prophesied of Iosias 2. Kin. 23.17.18 the sepulcher of David that continued twise fourteene generations from David to
the Apostles time Act. 2.29 having bene preserved in the time of the Babylonian captivity even then when both city temple were destroyed with many the like These monuments are in Scripture called Memorialles Mnemeia Matth. 23.29 Iohn 11.38 and 19.41 and 20 1. by which whatsoever others intended the godly are taught to remember their latter end The garnished tombes and the sumptuous sepulchers are but so many scaffolds stages theaters of humane frailety and so many pulpits out of which our mortality is preached and all the common graves of the people are the coffers of death the sight whereof should teach us to lay up our treasure in heaven And thus though the touch of a grave defiled the body with a ceremoniall pollution in the time of the Law Numb 19.16 yet the sight of a grave may serve to cleanse the soule by a spirituall consideration of our end even as the sight of the Leviathan raised up did bring men to purify themselves fearing lest the whale might be their grave Iob. 41.25 with Iob 3.8 m The grave being prepared for the dead corps then men proceed with their may obtaine n Having bene at the grave performed the last duety to the person of the dead we then returne come from the dead to the living to the friends of the dead to mourne with them to comfort them and as the kinred speciall friends of old used to eat drink with them give them the cup of consolation Rom. 12.15 Ier. 16.7.8 Gen. 37.35 1. Chro. 7.22 Ioh. 11.19 and in this action we have an other call to remember our end While we minister consolation to others we are to take an exhortation to our selves The house of mourning is the schoole of mortification and therefore better to enter into it then into the house of feasting for there is the end of all men which the living will lay unto his heart so be made better in his heart by the consideration of the dead by the sadnes of the countenances waiting on that consideration Eccles 7.2.3.4 o When the comforters of them that mourne are departed from the mourning house gone every one to his owne yet still the friends of the dead even while they live on earth so often as they misse their friends departed want the help benefit which they were wont to enjoy from them so often are they called to remember death that makes such separatiōs La. 4 18-20 The widowes orphanes desolate parents oppressed subjects scattered sheep that are deprived of their loving husbands parents children rulers pastours or any friend neighbour that misseth the company of an other are by this want called to remember both that death past which took away their friends that death to come which shall againe restore them bring them together 1. Thess 4.13.14 2. Sam. 12.23 And in this remembrance they are withal warned to make themselves ready for death not to be glewed unto this world from whence their comforts are taken away When the shepheard takes up the young lamb the ewe followes him of her selfe and needs no more calling or driving when the great shepheard of the sheep takes away the soules of young old of dearest friends from one another it is to make them runne after the Lord to long after his presence in whom they shall finde all more then all that ever they lost in this world So often as we thinke of a mother a father or other intire serve to make a deeper impressiō into the soule and to keep the memory of it self in the minde more then a thousand other memorials beside A strange thing it were if a man that were to be judged the next day of life death and to receive sentence eitheir of a most cruell shamefull death or of a rich honourable estate during his life if this man could not keep in minde the judgment approching untill the next morrow without tying stringes about his fingers for remembrance or writing some caveats upon the posts of the prison or procuring some watchmen to come every houre whispering in his eare to tell him of the danger imminent of life or death And as strange or more is it that these great maine matters of Eternall Salvation or Eternall Condemnation should not by their owne greatnes presse the heart of man with the weight thereof unto a continuall remembrance of them without other warnings when as we know not whether we shall have one dayes respite before they come a The last end of the godly is eternall life This life consists especially in fellowship with God the Saints By fellowship with God men come to see God Matt. 5.8 even to see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 to see his face which living man was never able to see on earth Exo. 33.20 to see him before whom the glorious Seraphims doe cover their faces with their wings Esa 6.2 to see the holy Trinity the blessed Father Sonne H. Ghost clothed with the sacred robes of their severall beauty and majesty shining distinctly as the pure Iasper the carnation Sardine the greene Emerald Rev. 4.3 Then the Sonne will shew himselfe unto his elect Ioh. 14.21 and they shall see his glory Ioh. 17.24 and the Father shall be seene in him Ioh. 14.9.10 and with them both the seven Spirits which are before the throne even that one and the same Spirit enlightning with his sevenfold graces and gifts that bright sevenfold lamp of his Church Rev. 1.4 with 4.5 1. Cor. 12.11 With this vision shall the soule be satisfyed whē they awake Psal 17.15 The pleasure of this surmounts the joy of all pleasant things seene by any eye If all the pleasure that all the most ardent lovers receyved at any or at all times from all the most beauteous amiable countenances of their dearest spouses fairest loves in the like promises Therefore is that end ever to be remēbred longed after Thē especially shal it appeare how the elect remaine as lambs in the bosome of the Lord their shepheard Esa 40.11 Thē will it be further revealed how God dwelleth in thē they in him 1. Ioh. 4.15.16 therefore need not feare being kept far off as mē on earth that were kept from the bodily presence of Christ being in the house because of the thrōg at the doore Mar. 2.2.4 The incomprehensible Lord filling heaven earth Ier. 23.24 is himself a house where they shall dwel and they a mansiō wherein he will make his abode Ioh. 14.23 By this heavenly conjunction cohabitation with God shall the elect be one even as the Father the Sonne are one Christ in them and the Father in him that they may be perfect in one Ioh. 17.22.23 This thrise blessed most glorious union is that greene bed of Christ his Spouse Sol. song 1.16 an eternall paradise of comfort and garden of pure delights Oh
of Christian life we are taught every day continually to remēber this our latter end All dueties both of doing good through faith hope and love or of suffering evill for doing good through patience are so many memorials thereof The end of faith is the salvation of our soules which it beleeveth 1. Pet. 1.9 the object of hope is life eternall which it embraceth Tit. 1.2 3.7 2.13 the comfort of love is translation from death unto life whereof it assureth us 1. Ioh. 3.14.18.19 the reward of patience is rest in the kingdome of heaven and an eternall weight of glory which it looketh for Matth. 5 10-12 2. Cor. 4.17 And thus the comfort of this blessed end is ever carried in the eye of faith in the armes of hope in the bosome of love borne as it were upon the shoulders of patience And as all that is done by mē being well considered should bring this latter end to their remembrāce so all the works of speciall grace that are wrought by God for his children before this world in this world or after this world if we looke upō them with a right eye they doe every one carry in them a remembrance of this glorious end provoke us to thinke thereof We cannot be assured of our election but we see it as a booke of life wherein we reade our happy end Phil. 4.3 and behold the kingdome prepared for us before the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 We cannot rightly thinke of our calling unles we behold that marvellous light glory where unto we are called 1. Pet. 2.9 5.10 2. Pet. 1.3 We doe not conceive sufficiently the cōfort of our justificatiō by faith ūles eye on this end and for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and finished his course the work committed unto him Heb. 12.2 Oh let us not breake the band that drew on Christ himselfe Oh forgive us Lord that we have bene so profane carnall to forget this end so often from henceforth keep it in our mindes fix it in our memories that it never slip away CHAP. VI. The latter end of the faithfull compared vvith the primitive estate of the old vvorld Of the communion which man had with God being created after his likenesse a The image of God in the soule though perfectly beautifull excellent b yet inferiour to the image of Christ in the faithfull the perfection perpetuity thereof in the world to come c The body at first though naked yet without shame pain erect upright in all the senses fitted for communion with God d but hereafter endued with more noble heavenly qualities spirituall transparent light agile ever vigilant in feeing communicating with God e The dominion over the creatures given at first illustrated by the remnants thereof yet apparent f not to be compared with that which shall be in regard of heaven earth all that is therein Of their mutuall fellowship with one another g Marriage the first band of society ground of all other to that end instituted honoured of God for their mutual comfort h yet nothing like the glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels in heaven i What blessed communion Adam Evah might have had with their posterity living to this day if neither had sinned k In a right line descendent viewing the long race of their progeny with great joy to themselves l and no lesse happines to their childrē who though living at greatest distance might then with ease abundance of comfort have visited them and communicated with them m In the collaterall line extended on each side to brethren sisters all rejoycing in one another in their loving easy pleasant visitations n Yet all this comes short of the heavenly communion in the world to come the love of Christ the manifold rivolets of sweet fellowship the free glorious motions in the kingdome of heaven THat we may the better comprehend that happy communion wherewith the latter end of the faythfull shall be glorifyed let us somewhile leave our speech of the world to come as also of this present world and let us looke back into the world that is gone past let us behold the glory that is lost that by the greatnes thereof first considered in it selfe then compared with this to come the glory hereof may more evidently appeare That we may the better observe the difference we are to set ourselves as it were in a middle gate betwixt two worlds the old and the new where we may have an open and free prospect into them both and from thence we are to cast a look first into the old world then into the new with one eye to behold the first paradise in Eden and with another the second paradise in the third heavens with one look to view the first Adam his gifts his children and with an other look to behold the second Adam Christ Iesus his gifts his children and so to compare the glory of their estates together In such a middle gate or tower of prospect into these two worlds the Prophets Apostles did often set themselves when they compared them together as appeareth in those texts Old things are past away behold all things are become new 2. Cor. 5.17 Behold I create new heavens a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my minde Esa 65.17 The first man Adam vvas made a living soule the last Adam vvas made a quickening spirit 1. Cor. 15.45 so v. 49. c. a The glory of the old world in the primitive estate thereof consisted also in a blessed fellowship with God and fellowship with men This blessed fellowship of God with man appeared first in that he communicated his image and similitude with man the beauty of which image shined especially in that wisedome holines righteousnes which God imprinted in the soule Gen. 1.26.27 with Eph. 4.24 Coll. 3.10 Eccl. 7.29 By that wisedome he knew God saw his glory by that holines he did cleave unto him embrace him with love reverence confidence and so in both communicated with God At the bestowing of this image each Person in the holy Trinity did work together each gave precious excellent gifts unto man for the beautifying of his soule with variety of graces such as might make him a lovely creature in whom the Lord himselfe might take delight Rev. 4.10.11 with Ioh. 1.3 Coll. 1.16 Iob 33.4 and therefore is the Trinity described consulting about this work Let us make man in our image after our likenes all are noted with the title of creatours or makers Eccl. 12.1 boreêcha Iob. 35.10 ghnosai As upon the losse of this image when Adam begate a sonne in his owne likenes Gen. 5.3 all hatefull ugly deformity of sin succeeded every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 6.5 so
arts of hunting in divers kindes It is strange to heare see how the waterfoules in Freeseland Waterland and elswhere are taught to entise other wild foules bring them into the snare and then to give a watchword unto their master to sease upon them If thus farre they be subdued unto man evē after the fall what is that service which they should have performed before the fall when both man should have had more understanding to teach governe them they a more inclinable tractable disposition to have obeyed As Iehosaphat witnessed his fellowship with the kings of Israel when he professed My people are as thy people and my horses as thy horses 1. Kings 22.4 2. Kings 3.7 so hath the Lord hereby declared his communion with man by making his creatures our servants his horses our horses c. It cannot be conceived or knowne of us how great pleasure delight man should have had in this dignity communicated unto him of God The earth it selfe all the increase thereof was also subjected unto man Gen. 1.28 paradise all the pleasant fruits thereof Gen. 2.8.16 whereas otherwise every one might have bene as dangerous pernicious to be eaten tasted of as was the forbidden fruit the greene grasse diversifyed with sweet flowers of sundry colours shapes was spread as a pleasant carpet for man to tread upon and by a speciall providence the ground was greene a colour wholesomest for the eye-sight of man the firmament above beautifyed with so many spangles of shining starres was spread out as a canopie over the head of man where ever he goes Esa 40.22 more glorious then those carried over the heads of Popes or Emperours Even those heavenly bodies are communicated and distributed unto man for his benefit comfort Deu. 4.19 f And yet notwithstanding all this if we cast our eye into the world to come the glory thereof will be found far to surmount all this That which is now above our heads shall then be found to be under our feet The visible heavens that now are are not thought good enough nor pleasant enough for the elect but they shall passe away with a noise 2. Pet. 3.10 into singing Esa 44.23 the sea shall roare the floods clap their hands the field shall be joyfull all that is therein Psal 96.11.12 98.7.8 And yet all this is not enough if every twigge of all the trees in the world were a flute or sapwhistle if every stalk of corne in the field or reed by the waters side were all pipes blowne by the winde yet all would be too little to resound this incomprehensible glory And in the meane time untill this glory be revealed untill the sons of God be manifested they wait hold up their heads in exspectation they groane travell in paine longing for this blessed end Rom. 8.19.22 and so doe they that have the first fruits of the Spirit groane sigh within themselves waiting for the adoption the redemption of their bodies vers 23. This is the desired end which God calles us so oft to remember how can men thinke of it without desiring it how can they desire it aright without praying for it how can men thinke they pray aright for it unlesse they prepare themselves thereunto by denying the world What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation godlines whiles we looke for this end with what care diligence should we labour to be found of him in peace without spot blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.11.14 g BEsides the fellowship with God in the old world if we againe looke back into it we may behold an other happines of men in their mutuall fellowship one with another The first conjugation of humane society was that of mā wife by marriage this was the originall ground of all other societies from hence sprung the names estates of father mother with their sonnes and daughters out of this society in family sprung all the societies in Church common-wealth When God could have made men of new clods of the earth so as Adam was made at first Gen. 2.7 and so have multiplyed them abundantly according to the abundance of spirit that was in him Mal. 2.15 yet he thought it good to create not onely one woman for one man which he might have done in many couples of them but also to make onely one couple of them and from them to draw all the lines of consanguinity affinity which should be so many bandes of love to unite binde all mankinde new Cast we our eye that way againe behold how in the resurrection they neither marry nor give in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven Matt. 22.30 All the comforts of marriage shall be as it were swallowed up overwhelmed of that heavenly glory vanish away in the sight of it There shall be more glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels then is the matrimoniall covenant sweeter knots of loving fellowship faster then the knot of marriage the bond of the Spirit uniting hearts mindes in one more then all the cords of consanguinity or affinity All the faithfull soules shall be presented unto Christ as pure virgines 2. Cor 11.2 they are shall be ever his loves his doves his undefiled Cant. 5.2 and he shall be their bridegroome Matt. 25.1 fayrer then the children of men Psal 45.2 white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand wholly delectable lovely Cant. 5.10 c. far above the first Adam The heavenly paradise shall be an eternall wedding-chamber and all the Angels of God shall rejoyce for them to whom such honour is vouchsafed Luke 15.10 What remaineth to be done of us untill we come to that immortall undefiled inheritance but that we aspire unto it dayly that we have this end before us as the loadstarre of our comfort direction that we be carried forward amaine toward this price of our heavenly calling one would thinke this should be a spurre sharp enough to make us runne the race of godlines set before us while we have such glory propounded the call of our Bridegroome inciting us i From Adam Evah come we to their children looke into the old world againe Had not sinne come into the world by the transgression of Adam had he his posterity continued untill this time in their uprightnes in the image of God wherein they were created what a glorious blessed communion should man have then enjoyed even upon the earth If sinne had bene kept out of the world then had not death entred Rom. 5.12 with Gen. 2.17 3.17.19 then might Adam Evah have bene alive to this day seene their childrens children not unto the third fourth but to the thirtieth fourtieth or hundredth generation all of them faire without blemish either of soule or body without any had thirty renowned sonnes that rode
to Adam to see how he would name them Ge. 2.19.20 so might Adam shew them to his childrē according to the wisedome given him at the first cōferre againe of their natures the reason of their names with those his childrē created in the same image of God with him taught of God that he might rejoyce in them also as they with him Though Solomon spake of trees from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssope on the wal also of beasts fouls creeping things fishes was wiser thē all the philosophers in the degenerate corrupt world 1. Kin. 4 29-34 yet was his wisedome but ignorance in comparison of that primitive estate the wisedome given to Adam at the first After this a multitude of other pleasures they might have returned loaden with blessings filled with comfort as much as their heart could hold And if at any time Adam Evah would in like manner have gone abroad on progresse to have visited their children what comfort should this have bene unto their children to have entertained that most royall honourable person above all others that right Catholick King or universal Monarch father of the whole world with Evah their Queene-mother therefore to have bene reverenced loved obeyed by all How would they have receyved him as an angel of God to the unspeakable joy both of him them mutually m And as the glory of this communion might thus be observed in the persons allyed in a right line both descendēt ascendent so also in the collaterall line extended on each side both farre neere to brethren sisters an hundred other degrees of kinred further off among all which if man had continued in his estate wherein the Lord placed him there should then have bene a most loving pleasant conversation more then can be imagined It had bene as easy for these to have travelled a thousand miles to embrace their friends as it is now for us to goe one small dayes-journey While there was no evill of sinne there should have bene no evill of paine or trouble in any of their labours And besides in the state of innocency great help comfort should have bene afforded unto man by the service of other creatures as hath bene shewed before Even in this corrupt degenerate estate of man beast all kinde 2. Cor. 6.18 behold my spouse my wife my bride Ioh. 3.29 Rev. 19.7 21.2 All the speciall bands of love union whether in the root of marriage or in the branches of kinred whether in the degrees ascending descending or any way extending themselves either in the right line or in the side line they are all found in Christ all meet together are combined in him He alone the new Adam is instead of all the fathers mothers brethren or sisters sonnes or daughters the comfort of all more fruits of love then all the kinred of the old world could have afforded unto us is to be enjoyed in the kingdome of Christ And looke how Christ esteemes of his elect so shall they be esteemed loved of all others there where his word requiring it must needs be performed Ioh. 13.34 15.12.13 And therefore looke how many Saints Angels there be in heaven so many sweet fountaines of loving communion there be for every soule to drinke at farre passing all the love of friends ever tasted in the lower world From every one shall flow rivers of water of life Ioh. 7.38 Christ Iesus being the headspring of all for then shall that all the rest of his promises be fullfilled in the highest degree It is matter of more joy even now to sit at the table of the Lord to receive the Sacrament of the New Testament then it was to pluck apples from the tree of life in paradise greater benefits are sealed even Christ is herein exhibited unto us a gift more excellent then all those that were confirmed unto Adam by the tree of life but then especially shall the difference appeare when the faythfull shall partake in the marriage supper of the Lambe in heaven when they shall be brought before the Lord the ancient of dayes the everlasting God before whom Adam though alive at this day should be as a child of yesterday a thousand yeares being but as one day in his sight when they shall heare him speake tell of his eternall love of us before the world in his decrees of election and predestination so often poynted at in Scripture and the like precious thoughts of his grace to us ward this shall be the fullnes of joy infinitely exceeding all the supposed delights of the old world As for the pleasant journeys motions we may not thinke that the godly shall be there as in a prison together in heavenly places in Christ Iesus Eph. 2.6 CHAP. VII Hovv God calleth men to remember the latter end of Reprobates The fearfulnes greevousnes of the second death set forth by a The deserving cause Sinne which is especially aggravated by the wisedome authority goodnes other attributes of God b The inflicting cause the wrath of God from which the whole misery all the circumstances of the second death have their denominations c compared unto fire yet different from common fire unquenchable most piercing largely extending it selfe taking hold on the greatest in the world d This fire the fiercenes of it made plaine by the observation of sundry fires already kindled in the bowels of the earth in vegetative sensitive creatures in the body of man in the aire firmament in the angels e but chiefly in the course of Gods just indignation against sinners seriously to be considered of all that desire to escape it f The effects dolefull cryes lamentations of the tormented of the Devils themselves yea even of our blessed Saviour in his sufferings g Particular manifestations of Gods wrath against particular sinnes transgressions of every commandement both of the first second table THe end of all flesh hath bene represented unto us of God by a basket of summer fruit ripe for the harvest ready to be gathered The blessed end of the godly hath bene shewed in the basket of good figs very good there remaines yet the basket of rotten figs very naught to be marked of us for that sight is also propounded unto us of God he calles us to remember the end of the wicked thereby whiles that basket was in vision also set before the Temple of the Lord. Ier. 24.1 It is an hideous fearefull sight to opē the graves where the greene carcases of dead men doe lye to behold the grieslines lothsomnes of death in them and who doth not flie from it But much more horrour it is to looke upon the dead soules in Hell their torment lothsome estate being an hundred times more worse to be endured then the sight of any rotten carcasses in the grave Yet
bring us on in this journey to the well of life whē we like wandring sheep had gone astray perniciously he sought us found us laid us on his shoulders 1. Pet. 2.25 Luk. 15.4 He hath borne our griefes carried our sorrowes Esa 53.4 he bore our sinnes in his body on the tree 1. Pet. 2.24 under the burden of our iniquities he was bruised Esa 53.5.10 he was sore amazed he groaned Mark 14.38 cryed out with strong cryes supplications Matt. 27.46 Heb. 5.7 he did sweat great drops of blood that trickled downe to the ground Luk. 22.44 and there was no remedy but that to save others he must goe downe to the gates of death he was abased unto the death of the crosse as Moses lift up the serpent in the wildernes so was our Mediatour lift up Ioh. 3.14.15 as men deale with a toad or serpent so they hanged him upon a stake stauros set him upon a pole he became as it were a monster unto many Psa 71.7 22.13 that he might make us glorious by deliverance bring us unto life He was further abased when he was left for a time under the condition of death free among the dead Psa 88.5 while he made his grave with the wicked Esa 53.9 hereby was as it were swallowed up of the whale in the heart of the earth Matt. 12.40 And yet above all this before his buriall he descended into Hell to the gates of the second death into the deepest degree of humiliation in his agony both in the garden and upon the crosse Matt. 27.46 Psal 88.6 there the sorrowes of hell compassed him about there he drunk the cup of the red wine of the wrath of God Matt. 20.22 26.39.42.44 a cup whereinto all our vile and deadly sinnes were grated God laying upon him the iniquities of us all Esa 53.6 At the tasting of this cup his strength was powred out like water his heart did melt like wax in the middes of his bowels Psa 22.14 a greater matter then if the whole world beside had melted away to nothing for ever The very thought of this filled the heart of our Mediatour with perplexity feare long before it came I have a baptisme saith he to be baptised withall how am I pained untill it be ended Luk. 12.50 And how was he then pained in the finishing of it But hereby are many sons brought unto God delivered from the bondage feare of death for ever Heb. 2.9.10.14.15 Having passed himselfe and led us through the first gate of justice by suffering there remained a second by fulfilling the law for us this also necessary for our entrance into life therefore besides the sacrifice of his death he also offered up himselfe in a holy life unto God sanctifyed himself for us Ioh. 17.19 For being made under the Law Gal. 4.4 he fulfilled all righteousnes Matt. 3.15 was an immaculate lambe 1. Pet. 1.19 holy harmelesse undefiled Heb. 7.26 whom no man could convince of sinne Ioh. 8.46 even in the midst of his sufferings his active obediēce willing subjection to the will of his Father Phi. 2.8.9 Ioh. 10.17.18 18.6.11 was for us a sacrifice of sweet odour as well as the suffering it selfe so led us through the second gate of Gods justice Thus by the obediēce righteousnes of one many are made righteous evē partakers of the righteousnes of God in Christ Rom. 5.17.18.19 1. Pet. 1.2 2. Cor. 5.21 And further as all that he did then on earth was for our comfort so all that he now doth in heavē is also for the increase of our comfort for he is still a priest and sacrificer in heaven As Aaron bore the names of the children of Israel both upon his two shoulders ingraven in two Onix stones set in ouches of gold Exod. 28 9-12 likewise in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart in twelve other precious stones when he went into the holy place for a memoriall continually before the Lord vers 17-29 so our Mediatour hath not onely carried us on his of the promised inheritance in Canaan we see what enimies in the way rose up against them to hinder them to destroy them Pharaoh his host with charets horsmen pursues after them to bring them back againe into bondage or to destroy them utterly Exod. 14.5.9 15.9 Then Amalek when Israel was faint weary in the way came out and smote the feeblest hinmost of them Deut. 25.17.18 Exod. 17.8 Edom their brother denyed them passage Num. 20.21 King Arad tooke some of them prisoners Numb 21.1 Balak the King of Moab calles Balaam the southsayer to curse Israel Numb 22.4 and 23.13 The Midianites vexed them with their wiles and brought thousands of them to destruction Num. 25.4.9.17.18 Sihon and Og the giant with all their forces came out to stop them in their way Deut. 2.32 3.1 And the Kings of Canaan with an host like the sand upon the sea shore in multitude were gathered together to fight against Israel and to keepe them from their inheritance promised Iosh 11.4.5 And in like manner to stop and hinder the faithfull in the way of life armies of enimies rise up on every side The world generally hates them Ioh. 15.19 Matt. 24.9 The nations rage the princes conspire against the Lord and his anoynted Psal 2.1.2 The mighty men the Giants of our time cease not to warre against them The Romish Balaam much worse then the old southsayer curseth them incessantly The Babilonian harlot is drunken with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 The manyheaded Beast blasphemes God and his Tabernacle Rev. 13.6 and the second Beast forceth men for feare to receyve his mark vers 16. The Dragon and his angels fight Rev. 12.3.7 The Devill goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devoure and cast out from the inheritance of the Lord. 1. Pet. 5.8 And our owne flesh like a serpent in the bosome lusteth and fighteth against the soule Gal. 5.17 1. Pet. 2.11 Now for the resisting and conquering of all these Christ is given unto us as a victorious King and Prince of peace He is exalted above every name that is named in this world or in the world to come Eph. 1.21 He hath overcome the world Ioh. 16.33 cast out the wicked spirit confirme his afflicted people in their exspectation of future glory and dignity by Christ the Branch God appointed his Prophet to take silver gold from them of the captivity to make Crownes to set them first upon the head of Jehoshua and then to keepe them for a memoriall in the Temple of the Lord Zach. 6 9-15 so in the use of these ordinances of Baptisme the Lords-Supper given to his Church left for memorials of our glory in Christ we ought to be affected as if there were two goldē crownes hung up in the congregation before our
so right a manner thinke of their end as those that thus doe mortify their sins making their owne spirituall meditations the graves wherein to bury their lusts CHAP. V. Of the outward meanes of Mortification The ordinances the workes of God a The primary ordinances the Word Prayer Sacraments Discipline b The secondary ordinances Fasting Watching c Ordinances of a third degree Vowes c Covenants d The Sacraments Sacrifices of the old Testament e Legall purifications there was more pollution by the touching of an uncleane or dead man then by the touch of any uncleane beast in seven respects f The Law of the Nazarite g The workes of Creation both in generall particular h The workes of Providence all the good that is done for us or performed by us i all the evils either of sinne committed by ourselves or others k or of punishment suffered by our selves or others l The due consideration of Death serves to mortify all kindes of lust THe Spirit of God working inwardly is the principall meanes of our mortification yet ordinarily he chooseth those times for this his work when as we observe the outward meanes which he hath appoynted to this purpose These meanes are either the use of his ordinances or the consideration of his workes The primary ordinances of God whereby the Spirit killes sinne are his Word Prayer Sacraments Discipline that he hath appoynted These are the weapons of our warfare not carnall but mighty through God to cast downe strong holds 2. Cor. 10.4 a His Word is the Hammer of Mortification that breakes the stony heart makes it contrite Ier. 23.29 As he himselfe is so is his word lively mighty in operation sharper then any two-edged sword that pierceth deep cuts the soule spirit Heb. 4.12.13 and hewes the old man in pieces as Samuel once hewed king Agag in pieces before the Lord. 1. Sam. 15.33 This sword of the Spirit is to be taken into the hands of every Christian that would obtaine the victory over the world Eph. 6.17 This word is to be heard publickely to be read privately to be meditated upon continually out of it a store of divine sentences commandements promises and threatnings is to be gathered kept in readines Col. 3.16 according to every mans necessity and speciall temptations so to be applyed against the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life for the mortification thereof These divine testimonies words of God are like so many sharp nayles Eccl. 12.11 to be fastened into the hands and feet of the old man that so he may be crucifyed As it was the honour of Iael she was blessed above women because she put her hand to the nayle and her right hand ro the hammer and smote Sisera and stroke through his temples till the enimy of Gods people was slayne Iudg. 5.24.26.27 so shall they be blessed above other men and women that having furnished themselves with store of divine oracles doe then put their hands to the nayles hammer of the Spirit so strike downe every lust sinful motion as soone as it beginnes to lift up the head and to stirre within them by applying the counsell of God against the same By Prayer the spirit of mortification is obtained both when it is desired by petition according to the precept promise Luk. 11.13 Matt. 26.41 as also by the very act exercise of prayer though this grace in particular be not desired but other things in as much as the very comming into Gods presence and the very presenting of the soule before him doth strike downe proud thoughts set the soule in a way of mortification Gen. 18.27 Psa 59 2-7 The Sacraments being due ly administred and received serve also in speciall manner to mortifye the old man In Baptisme there is as it were a grave of mortification when being baptised into the death of Christ we are buryed with him by baptisme Rom. 6.3.4 Col. 2.12 1. Cor. 15.29 The reverent and due meditation of this ordinance the beholding of the administration thereof is more effectuall for the mortifying of sinne then travelling to Ierusalem to behold the sepulcher of Christ as many have done In the Supper of the Lord the body and blood of Christ is so lively represented unto us that with Thomas we doe put our fingers into the hands and side of Christ into the print of the nayles speare Ioh. 20.27 in the due consideration thereof we cannot but crucifye our owne flesh with the affections and lustes In the exercise of Discipline by admonitions rebukes for sin the heart is humbled and broken Psal 69.20 with Zech. 13.6 and the censures are administred for the destruction of the flesh shaming of the offendour 1. Cor. 5.5 2. Thess 3.14 that by such meanes he might be truely mortifyed They serve also for the mortifying and humbling of the persons by whom they are administred giving them just cause of mourning bewayling both their owne others miseries by reason of sinne 1. Cor. 3.2 2. Cor. 7.8 and 12.21 even as under the Law he that did that which tended to the cleansing of others became uncleane himselfe Num. 19.7.8.10.21 b The secondary ordinances of God are such meanes of mortification as serve to help further us in the use of the former as namely Fasting Watching that we may be better prepared to pray to meditate to heare the word to receive the Sacraments to performe other religious dueties By fasting we understand either abstinence from meat altogether for a shorter time as in David others 2. Sam. 1.12 3.35 or abstinence from pleasant meat for a longer time as in Daniel Dan. 10.2.3 vvith vers 11.12.13 The use of both is to humble the soule that it may be better fitted for the exercise of mortification to this end are we called thereunto of God Ioel 2.12 and for the same purpose are the examples of the Saints that have bene frequent therein commended unto us in Scripture Dan. 9.3 Psa 35.13 69.10 2. Cor. 11.27 either to cast off their sins or themselves to be cast out of the Church they say in that covenant conditionally as Ionas sayd when he offered himselfe to be cast into the sea Ion. 1.12 binding themselves at their entrance into the Church either to beware of offences disturbing the peace thereof or to yeeld unto those courses whereby themselves deserve to be troubled d Having considered the ordinances of the New Testament the subordinate helpes whereby we are furthered in the exercise of mortification let us now see what may be observed to this purpose from the ordinances of the old Testamēt Though the practise of them cease in the ceremony yet not the meditation of thē nor the practise of those dueties which are signifyed by the ceremonies And all of them in speciall manner preach mortification unto us and call us
behold the glory of all his angels to tast of the pleasures of his right hand If David prayed so often and so earnestly that he might enjoy the presence of God in his earthly sanctuary to behold the beauty of his ordinances there Psa 27.4 and 42.1.2 84.1 c. how much more ought we to pray constantly for our entrance into his heavenly sanctuary to enjoy the glory that 5.7 Lev. 5.16 Every man therefore that would have comfort in death peace in his conscience at his latter end must labour according to his utmost power to make cleare with the world by restitution satisfaction for wrong done for debts undischarged for fraudulent bargaines overreaching of his neigbour for any other injuries by word or deed against the person or credit of his neighbour He that would finde his soule reconciled to God must labour betimes without delay to see himself reconciled with men III. As there is a needfull Reconciliation so there is a holy zealous Revenge necessary to be sought before death that men may die with more comfort Neither let it seeme strange that seeking of revēge should be reckoned among the speciall preparatives unto death Though to take the sword for carnall revenge to satisfy the private lust of the flesh be oft forbidden of God Rev. 13.10 Mat. 26.52 Rom. 12.19.20 Pro. 25.21.22 24.17.18 20.22 yet is there a just glorious revenge of sin commanded of God both upon others upon ourselves Moses a little before his death is commanded to avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites that then he might be gathered unto his people Num. 31.1.2 One of his last workes was to be a work of revenge that being done he was to die with more comfort The remembrance of that revenge wrought by Phinehas could not but comfort him at his last houre Num. 25.11.12.13 Saul therefore had extreme anguish discomfort in death for not executing a revenge upon Amalek as it was told him of the Devill because he would not learne it of God 1. Sam. 28 15-20 with ch 15 1-35 David on his death-bed could not die quietly till he had cōmēded that work of revenge unto his son upon Ioab Shimei which himself had deferred omitted in his life time 1. Kin. 2 1-9 And all Magistrates having the sword committed unto them of God shall die with more comfort when according to their power they have so used it besides common justice have on some special occasions manifested some speciall zeale for the suppressing rooting out of the maine evils raigning in their times They that have the sword of the Spirit committed unto them of God are to have revenge in readines against all disobedience by admonitions rebukes spirituall censures of sin thē Now I know that thou lovest me because thou hast not spared thy wealth from me c. And therefore besides dayly common workes of mercy the H. Ghost commēds unto us some extraordinary workes of mercy upon speciall occasion either of mercy received by us or afflictiō layd upō others Whē the kingdome of heavē was opened after the ascension of Christ the Spirit powred out many converted spiritual joy abounded the comfort thereof produced extraordinary fruits of love as when Ioses or Barnabas others that had lāds houses sold thē distributed to the poore Act. 4 34-37 such gifts could not be givē every day yet though it were done but ōce in their life the cōfort thereof might well last so long as they lived Zacheus that in the day of his joyfull conversion calling stood forth gave at once the half of his goods to the poore though he could not every week make such distributions yet the comfort of that one act approoved accepted of Christ as a fruit of his faith token of his salvation could not but be a perpetuall consolation to be thought on even to death For earthly blessings received speciall offerings were to be made at solēne times appointed of God such were the feast in Abib of the first fruits of barly harvest the feast of weeks of the first fruits of wheat harvest the feast of tabernacles or of gathering in the fruits of the land in the end of the yeare Exo. 23.16 34.22 Lev. 23. to teach us that new blessings call for new expressions of thankfulnes that we may honour God with our substance and with the first fruits of all our increase Prov. 3.9 And as upon occasion of speciall comforts we are to be mooved unto the workes of mercy so also at the consideration of the speciall afflictions and wants of others In the time after the captivity when the necessity was great and the bondage heavy upon the Iewes then did godly Nehemias forbeare to take the bread of the Governour the stipend of former rulers and shewed extraordinary love compassiō in which he comforts himselfe praying the Lord to think upon him for good according to all the kindnes that he had done for his people Nehem. 5 14-18.19 When with extreme need there appeare in persons lively tokens of faith and godlines thē especially should take place the counsel of Iohn Baptist that we should abridge ourselves of our food raymēt rather thē see others want Luk. 3.10.11 Such good workes cannot but follow the godly to the grave and minister comfort at the last Rev. 14.13 Act. 9.36.39 It is a shame unto the disciples of Christ that so many and great purgatory-gifts have proceeded frō the false faith of merit-mongers when the faith of his most glorious Gospel doth not work the like in true beleevers a shame that an idle dreame servile feare of imagined purgatory should doe more then the assured and certaine persuasion of the love of God in Christ V. With the work of mercy is to be joyned the work of humility meeknes as a speciall preparative for a comfortable death translation out of this world For as with those that are translated out of this world into heaven there is no respect of persons poore Lazarus is carried first in the bosome of an Angell and then in the bosome of Abraham the Father of the faithfull Luk. 16.22 so those that would beginne a heavenly life here in the end with comfort be translated are in like māner to make themselves equall with them of lower estate Rom. 12.16 to converse with the poore to cary them in their bosome not onely to give a few pence of silver but to powre out their heart and their love unto them Esa 58.10 This was prophesyed of as a fruit of Christs kingdome Esa 11.6.7.8 such correspondence with the poore Christ commends unto us with promise of a large recompence Luk. 14.12.13.14 We are to walk by faith not by sight 2. Cor. 5.7 now by faith we see the Angels ministring unto them who shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1. l. Rev. 22.9 therefore
if we performe the like offices of love respect unto the poore servants of Christ we shal be fitter to goe with comfort into the society of Angels They that thus goe out of the world beforehand by leaving the fashions thereof become childrē againe shall have a more comfortable entrance into the kingdome of heaven Matt. 18.3 As new borne babes here on earth are first taken up by one then by another are delivered from one friends armes to another every one striving to have them in their armes to kisse them so the souls that are borne into heaven are translated by death first into the bosome of Angels carying thē then into the bosome of Abraham the Saints receiving them every one imbracing them with kisses of heavenly love above all into the bosome of the Lord of glory there to be satisfyed with his love in fulnesse of joy for evermore Esa 40.11 Psal 16. l. VI. Another work whereby men are prepared to die with comfort is the visitatiō of the sick others that are in misery For the promise is that he that considers the poore or visits the afflicted shall himself be preserved and delivered in time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing he wil make all his bed in his sicknes Psal 41.1.2.3 By visiting the sick men both minister comfort unto others receive comfort themselves First they give comfort and minister a blessing unto those that are in distresse Thus to visit the fatherlesse the widowes in their affliction is pure religion undefiled before God and the Father Iam. 1.27 Onesiphorus is commēded for this Paul prayes heartily for him because he sought him out when he was in prison refreshed him ministred many things unto him 2. Tim. 1.16.17.18 Iob noteth the excellency of this whē he joineth him that cōforteth the mourners with a king even in the army when he useth greatest authority Iob 29.25 Whatsoever is done unto the least member of Christ in this kinde he takes it as done unto himself therefore such shall be remembred honoured by him at the last day Matt. 25 34-40 Secondly by visiting those that stand in need of comfort men doe also receive instruction comfort unto themselves Eccl. 7.2.3.4 2. Kin. 13.14.15 c. Though we may not inquire at the dead Deut. 18.11 yet at the dying we may learne many wholesome lessons as of repentance from their complaints of their sins bewailed of faith from their joyfull professions of their hope the examples of their constancy and of our owne mortality frailety from their strength languishing their pale countenances their dimme eyes their faltering tongue their ratling throat their panting heart their short breaths their painfull convulsions the last pangs sneckes of death all the symptomes of death are so many warnings unto the living to watch and prepare for their end Whosoever would be well prepared for death let them often repaire to such mourning houses let them so visit others in these cases that withall they see learne themselves that which God doth there so plainely teach them That which Elias sayd unto Elisha whē he had prayed for a double portion of his spirit If thou see me when I am taken from thee it shall be so unto thee 2. Kin. 2.9.10 may in some measure in another respect be sayd unto us whē seeing others taken away that very act with the circumstances of their departure is a meanes to increase the spirit in us yea to double our care comfort in looking for our end VII Lastly it is also a work preparatory unto death to have our testament Wil in readines that we need not be troubled therewith at last When the message of death was sent unto Hezekias he was called upon to set his house in order Esa 38.1 Abraham was carefull to settle the affaires of his house and family before his death as appeares by his disposing of Isaak in marriage Gen. 24.1.2 c. his giving gifts to the sonnes of Keturah his second wife sending them away Gen. 25.6 But the cheef part of testaments legacies are godly exhortations charges and blessings which parents give unto their children This was Isaaks care long before his death though he forgot the oracle that had assigned the blessing unto the younger Gen. 27 1-4 Isaak was then an hundred yeares old Gen. 25.26 with ch 26.34 he lived in all an hundred fourscore yeares Gen. 35.28 so that his testament his blessing was givē fourescore yeares before he dyed Iacob gave speciall charges blessings unto his sonnes before he died Gen. 47.29 48. 49. ch Thus did Moses with the children of Israel Deut. 33.1 c. and Ioshua Iosh 23. 24. ch Thus David also in a solemne assembly exhorteth the people especially his sonne Solomon to feare the Lord encourageth him unto the work that was to be done after him 1. Chron. 28.1.8.9.10 Solomon had also received instructions from his mother to the same purpose which he himself hath recorded Prov. 31. ch In speciall the more to affect children friends by exhortations promises and comforts I would commend unto fathers friends the example of Elijah the Prophet who in his life time made a writing which he procured to be delivered unto Iehoram after his death 2. Chron. 21 12-15 with 2. King 3.11 thus there may still be a prophesying after death though not by way of foretelling things to come yet by charges admonitions consolations which being left with executours or speciall friends together with other devises noted in the Scriptures together with the grounds thereof their faith hope love Simeon rejoyceth at the approch of his end Luk. 2.29.30 where we may observe the reasons before named mooving him thereunto his faith in having seen the salvation of the Lord which was grounded upō the word of promise produced peace of conscience his hope when he calleth death a departing or loosing frō bonds for it is the same word that elswhere signifyes to loose or release a prisoner Mat. 27.15.17 his love of God when he calles himself his servant Paul also had a desire to depart upon these three grounds his hope Phil. 1.23 his faith love 2. Tim. 4 6.7.8 And as these so other faithfull servants of Christ have also for the same causes earnestly desired to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord. 2. Cor. 5.1.2.8 2. Tim. 4.8 with Rev. 22.20.17 a Yet for the better understanding of this poynt somewhat must be further cōsidered to prevent a double danger both of some that seeme not to feare death of others that confesse they feare it The first sort are those that despise their life cast it away without being calld of God These deny the Lordship of Christ because that as no man should live to himself so none should die to himself but to the