put to the Foil by that old subtle Serpent who hath a liberty in his Commission to bruise the Heel of the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3.15 because they are no better shod with the Shoes of Gospel-peace This is known by common experience that those who are tender-footed or whose Feet are either beaten or blistered cannot tread upon Stones or Thorns they are Halters betwixt God and Baal The fourth piece of Defensive Armour is the Shield of Faith verse 16. which we are bidden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above all or over and upon all to take and be armed with intimating that whatever other part of this Mystical Armour we want we must in no wise want this principal part thereof for this doth cover and defend all the other pieces of the Defensive Armour because a firm Trust and Confidence in God by Christ doth after a special manner shelter and over-shadow the imperfections of all our other Graces And indeed this Shield of Faith doth not only defend our other Graces but our selves also as it takes hold of that precious Promise of God to Abraham I am thy Shield fear not c. Gen. 15.1 As if God had said thine Enemies shall first strike through me thy Shield before they can come to reach and wound thee I will stand betwixt thee and all Danger and the like priviledge of safety God vouchsafed unto Israel saying as the Eagle beareth her young upon her wings so hath the Lord born you c. Deut. 32.11,12 which allusion doth imply that no Shot can come to harm the young Eagles so carried but it must first pierce and pass through the body of the Old one By all this it is apparent how safely doth Faith lodge the Soul under the shadow of the wings of Almighty God Psal 91.1,2,3,4 to 14. The just do live by their Faith Hab. 2.4 Nor is this all that the Shield of Faith doth for us in securing us from the Assaults of Satan but it also repels and beats back those Darts that he casts at us yea and yet higher it moreover doth quench that Hell fire they bring along with them for Satan's Darts are like those that History mentions of the Scythians which were not only pointed and hardened in the fire but they were also dipped in the poison of Asps and in the venom of Vipers that they might the more horribly torture and torment those Bodies that were wounded with them even so Satan would torture and torment our Souls with his poison'd fiery Darts The Lord strengthen our Faith whereby we may quench the fire and antidote the poison c. The fifth peece of Defensive Armour is the Helmet of Salvation verse 17. which the same Apostle helps to interpret this place saying Take for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation 1 Thes 5.8 So that this Helmet here is the Grace of Hope the office whereof is to hold up our heads above Water and raises up the Soul with an out-stretched neck as the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.23 signifies which we read waiting with groans for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of the Body And the next words there are for we are saved by hope c. and if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it verse 24 25. Hope is the Daughter of Faith its Mother yet is it as a staff for its Aged Mother to lean upon By Faith we believe the Truth of and our own Title to those blessings that we are not yet possessed of and by Hope we patiently wait for that which we believe shall surely come to pass And when they but begin to do so then Hope looketh up and lifts up the head because our Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21.28 'T is the excellency of Hope to take her Turns in walking round about the Streets of the New Jerusalem and sometimes to sit still and sing adhuc mea Messis in Herba est there is yet an happy Harvest that is hastening in its season for me the Lord will hasten it in his time Isa 60.22 So I will hope against Hope Rom. 4.18 Yet more this Hope is so excellent that it is not only our Helmet by Land but it is also our Anchor by Sea Heb. 6.19 By Hope we have our Safety here and our Salvation hereafter both are purchased by Christ who has secured a full Victory over this strong Man for us Thus far the five pieces of the Christian Defensive Armour reacheth now the two following parts namely the Sixth and Seventh are indeed Offensive Weapons as well as Defensive Armour As the former five were meerly and solely for our Defence so these two latter are not only for our own Defence but they are also for Offence of our Spiritual Foes to wit the Sword of the Spirit and Darts of Prayer The Sixth Apostolical Direction here for our being compleatly Armed in our Spiritual Warfare is Take likewise to you the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6.17 As there is a literal and a Carnal Sword so there is a Mystical and a Spiritual Sword Which Truth may be demonstrated First By that Example in Scripture-Record And it shall come to pass that him who escapeth the Sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay and him that escapeth from the Sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay 1 Kings 19.17 the Interpretation whereof must most plainly imply that Elisha had his Slaying Sword as well as Hazael and Jehu And tho' their Slaying Swords were both of them Carnal yet this of Elisha must be Spiritual as he was a Prophet of the Lord and more yea and weilded no other Sword but that which is called here the Word of God And in congruity with this sense the Lord himself speaketh Secondly Therefore I have hewed them by my Prophets I have slain them by the words of my mouth Hos 6.5 Moreover a Third sacred Instance gives a farther Illustration unto this Mystical Interpretation namely If any man will dare to hurt my two Witnesses I will give such a power to my Servants that Fire shall proceed out of their mouths which shall devour their Enemies and if any man tho' never so many or so mighty will hurt them he must in this manner be killed Rev. 11.3,5 And yet to all those three Quotations above-named this Scripture is most express for this Mystical sense saying Take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God There be several cogent and ponderous Reasons why the Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit c. The first is Because the Spirit was the Artificer the curious Contriver who framed and fashioned this Spiritual Sword the Holy Spirit hath the honour of making this excellent weapon ready to our hands for thus we are told That no Prophecy of Scripture came in old Time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c. 2 Pet. 1.20,21
Flagons oâ— Wine and Apples of Comfort she sâ— earnestly cried for and this she doth acknowledge in this Divine Rapture Koâ— Dodi 't is the Voice of my Beloved ver â— and in Chap. 5.2 Also Remark the Second As Christ's Face is comely to the Eyes of gracious Souls White and Ruddy Cant. 5.10 yea and altogether Lovely as well as all asunder ver 11 12 c. 16. So Christ's Voice is comfortable to their Ears Oh how the very hearing of it put the Spouse into a Transport having a present sense of her Lord 's approaching to make some gracious discoveries of himself to her by his Voice Oh how wonderfully refreshing yea ravishing was it to this Love-sick Spouse and 't is no less to Love-sick Souls And The 3 d Remark is among all the five Senses the Sense of Hearing hath this surpassing Excellency that God hath ordained the great grace of Faith must come by bearing Rom. 10.17 As Satan had made Man's Ear the instrument of Man's destruction when our first Parents listned sooner to the Tempters base Lies who was a Liar from the beginning Joh. 8.44 than to the blessed Truths of the God of Truth even so our Gracious Father hath made the same sense of hearing to be the Organ of Man's Salvation c. The 4 th Remarke is There is a natural Deafness in faln mankind 'T is not not so much God's Silence as it is our Dulness for God speaks once and twice and Man perceiveth it not Job 33.14 or it may be our Childishness as it was in the young Child Samuel when he mistook God's call for old Ely's 1 Sam. 3.4,6,8,10 'T is worst of all to be like the Deaf Adder that will not hearken c. Psal 58.4,5 This is our case until Christ come and cry Ephphatha J Ears be opened Mark 7.34,35 The 5 th Remark is It is a sad dispensation to lie any long time under Divine Desertions and not to hear the Voice of our Beloved neither Week-day nor Lord's-day This was David's outcry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me I cry night and day but thou hearest me not so as not to answer me with thy Voice Psal 22.1,2 yet he keeps high and honourable Thoughts of even a silent God saying but thou art Holy and inhabits Praises c. ver 3. and he complains also Lord how long wilt thou be Angry against the Prayers of thy People Psal 80.4 And thus it was with the Spouse complaining I called him but he gave me no answer Cant. 5.6 this is sad to Love-sick Souls c. The 6 th Remark is The Love-sick Spouse even while slumbering can know the Voice of her Beloved Cant. 5.2,3 c. where she saith it is the Voice of my Beloved that knocketh c. not only because it was but an half-sleep for the hidden man of her heart so called 1 Pet. 3.4 was awake but also because of her former frequent knowledge and acquaintance with this Kol-Dodi or her Beloved's Voice Thus it is common among us that we know whose Voice it is that calleth us when foregoing Acquaintance hath made it familiar to us tho' we be betwixt sleeping and waking especially if we shake our selves as Samson did Judg. 16.20 The 7 th Remark is When we have not been so dutiful and attentive to Christ's Voice as we ought to be so as to obey his Call c. yet then must we make serious reflections upon our own negligence and severely censure our selves for refusing such blessed Embracements as the Soul-sick Spouse did repeating with regret every Title of Love and every Accent he had given her and every Action he had done in order to his own reception with her All along aggravating her own fault and folly that a King should court a Beggar and be rejected Cant. 5.3,5,8 The 8 th Remark is This Kol-Dodi c. is an abrupt passage proceeding from a pang of Love whereof she was sick and now lies as it were languishing at Hope's Hospital ever listning and Hearkning to hear her Bridegrooms Voice and when she heard it she rejoiced at it not only as the Damsel Rhoda did to hear the Voice of Peter Acts 12.14 but as Elizabeth did when our Lord's Mother saluted her as her Babe so the Spouses Heart leaped within her Luke 1.40,41 The 9 th Remark from the Text Cant. 2.8 is The Voice of Christ is a very pretious Voice unto all gracious hearts as here to the Spouse she first heard his Voice and then cries behold he comes John Baptist was call'd a Voice to prepare a way for Christ's coming Mark 1.2,3 So the Spouse here looks upon Christ's Voice as a forerunner of himself and of his coming to her to communicate more of his Graces and Comforts to her Love-sick Soul No sooner doth Christ's sweet Voice enter into our Ears and sinks down into our Hearts but presently we are made to hear of Joy and Gladness and our broken Bones begin to Rejoice Psal 51.8 the Spouse tells her Friends so c. Enquiry how we may know the Voice of Christ our Beeloved from the Voice of False Lovers c. Answer the 1 st There is much difficulty oftentimes to discern a difference because Satan can imitate the Servants of God his Magicians did the like to Moses's Miracle with their Enchantments Exod. 7.11 until God did convince them Exod. 8.19 yea and plagued themselves also for their Cheat Exod. 9.11 nor could Samuel himself have spoken more gravely more devoutly and more divinely than Satan did unto Saul who hired the Witch of Endor to conjure him up in Samuel's similitude 1 Sam. 28.15 to 20. Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light it is no marvel then if his Ministers False Apostles Deceitful Workers transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ c. 2 Cor. 11.13,14,15 and the cry of Folly is like the cry of Wisdom Prov. 9.4,16 the Voices are alike and the Words are the same in both Whoso is simple let him turn in hither c. yet are they distinguishable by many Characters Answer the 2 d The Voice of our Beloved doth differ from the Voice of Strangers which Christ ' sheep will not hear nor follow John 10.4,5,8 By these few Discriminations The first Discriminating Character is Christ's Voice hath in it self a self-discovering property 't is the excellency of it to bring along with it its own Evidence how do we know that Light is Light but by that evidence of Light which it hath in it self c. and thus Fire doth discover it self by its own Heat as well as Light The Second Character is Christ's Voice is attended with Authority and Power insomuch as his Hearers stood astonished at his Doctrine Luke 4.32 and they were amazed saying What a Word is this for with Authority and Power he casteth out Devils ver 36. Thus David tells us the Voice of the Lord is powerful and full of Majesty it breaketh the tallest Cedars and
not so easily pleased again 4. Another Moral Evil in the Aged is to complain of present Times but praising former Days of old which the Old Men of those Days did as much complain of as he doth of these Whereas indeed the fault lieth not in the Times either present or former but in the Persons that liveth in those Times for in every Age better Hearts and Lives would make better Times Then 2 dly After these Moral Vices do follow Spiritual Sins which are found in Old Age such as 1. Ignorance a meer Child for knowledge no Fool like to an Old Fool and therefore tho' this silly Child be an hundred Years old he is denounced by a Divine Mouth to be accursed Isai 65.20 Thus the Old Age of that silly Child Shimei who childishly plaid away his own Life could not exempt him from Justice for it was David's charge to his Son Solomon let not his Hoary Head go down to the Grave in peace 1 Kings 2.6 2. An indocible untractable Frame attends Old Age to learn the great Mysteries of Godliness as appeared in Old Nicodemus tho' a Master in Israel and could not but have read of a New Heart which God promised to give c. in the Prophet Ezekiel and in other places of the Old Testament yet how aukward was he in entertaining the Doctrine of Regeneration objecting against it First How can a Man be born again And after Christ had told him that the way of the Spirits working this work was incomprehensible c. yet comes he off again with his How can these things be John 3.4,10 This Old Man nay an Old Master in teaching work understood no more of the Mystery of the New Birth than a rude Rustick can comprehend the profoundest Points of the Mathematicks which be no better than Gibberish to him when he hears them NB. However it is no matter how dull the Scholar is when Christ himself will become the Teacher as here for this Nicodemus who had long been a Night-bird during the Life of Christ did at the last break forth as the Sun from under a Cloud to manifest his Love to his Lord after his Death John 19.39 3. To illustrate this farther Old Age is Self-conceited and cannot easily be convinced through Pride of Spirit rooted in it he is too wise to learn therefore was it that Solomon preferred a poor and wise Child before an Old and Foolish King who abhors to be admonished Eccles 4.13,14 for the Young Child is apt to learn and ready to receive Instruction and will be as careful to follow it and all this is true Wisdom Whereas an Old and Foolish King is not only weak but also wilful and his Pride is the ground of his Wilfulness as he is short-sighted in his Mind so he is stubborn and unconvincible in his Will There have been such Kings in the World who in their Old Age have shewed themselves so self-willed and so wedded to their own vain Opinions that they never endured to ask Advice and if any were given them what they fancied not they assuredly rejected it though they sometimes yea very seldom ask Counsel yet never follow any but their own until they ruin themselves and their People 4. As the Three former brings Ruine c. to the Bodies not only of Old and Foolish Kings but also of Old and Foolish Subjects who do harden their Hearts against all good Counsel yea and that which is worst of all these Three afore-named bring destruction to their Souls likewise by their living and dying in that great sin of Unbelief and final Impenitency which their custom in sin taking away all conscience of sin doth at last seal them up in where the superabounding Grace of God doth not interpose to disappoint it This refractory and untoward untractable Temper of abhorring to be taught hath been a long time observed universally to accompany Old Age insomuch that this was the first ground of that Old Greek Adage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Senum Doctor a Teacher of Old Persons by which Phrase the Wisdom of the Ancients used to express any labour in vain like those other Phrases Aethiopem lavare to wash a Blackmore white which Phrase is used in Scripture Jer. 13.23 And to the same purpose is that Adage used by Pagan Authors Sysiphi saxum voluere a Poetical Fiction that this Sysiphus was doomed unto as a punishment for his former Faults that he was to roll an heavy Stone up the Hill which then did run down again of it self with its own weight and when it came to the bottom his work was to roll it up again yea and that which was the Mischief and Misery of this Man in this Work it must be his only and continual Task for all his time c. All these Adages do demonstrate the unteachableness of Old Age and that if we do not through the Grace of God remember our Creator in the days of our Youth while that tractable Temper continueth with us but still drive it off until Old then become we so slow so oblivious and so setled upon the Lees c. insomuch that the Ministry of the Word that they sit under is labour in vain to such and Christ's Ministers may complain with the Prophet as to such as hate to be reformed and are incorrigible I have laboured in vain and I have spent my strength for naught and in vain Isai 49.4 NB. Note well how besotted and even bewitched are such Persons to make that the Task of their Old Age which ought to be the Trade of our whole Life and to settle their everlasting and surest making or marring upon so sandy and sinking a Foundation as Old Age is well called an Evil Age for Reasons aforesaid Now the next and Second Point to be discoursed upon is How this Evil Old Age may become a Good Old Age as was Abrahams Gen. 25.8 and Isaac's Gen. 35.29 and Davids 1 Chron. 29.28 hic labor hoc opus est this is an high and an hard undertaking for the accomplishment whereof let this be the method As 1 st The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it may be so seeing the Evil Old Age which is so in it self and by decays of Nature hath been made a good Old Age by the power of Grace as in those three aforenamed 2 dly The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Reasons why it ought to be made so because our eternal Weal or Woe hangs upon it And 3 dly The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the means whereby this marvelous change from Evil to good may be wrought First of the 1 st That it may be so 't is clear not only from the many Examples of Holy Men and Women upon Record in both the Old and New Testament who all lived holily to a good Old Age and died happily at the last and the Scripture gives this honourable Character concerning Mnason that he was an Old Disciple of Christ Acts 21.16 And the Ancient
at the day of Judgment however if not sooner for then there shall surely be a Resurrection of Names as well as of Bodies c. NB. Note well we must often be pondering in our Minds that great Text aforenamed Prov. 16.31 which runs thus in the Hebrew Gnetereth Sephereth Shebai bederek Tsedakah Timetseh which in Latine is thus expressed Diadema Gloriae Canities in Via Justitiae Invenietur this in English is read thus the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness which at â—…rge is treated on before This great Text I say again all we Aged Ones ought to make the constant Rule of our whole Conversations unto the day of our Deaths and then will come the Crown of Life c. 2 dly As the Good Old Age hath its Comforts against these Natural Evils so it wants not Cordials against Moral and Spiritual Evils let us put them both together for then 1. Our Corruptions now are more mortified than ever thâ—y were before Thus Paul the Aged as he calls himself Philem ver 9. could then say of himself I have fought the good fight c. 2 Tim. 4.7 He found that Thorn in the Flesh which he had so sorely complained of 2 Cor. 12.7 to be now conquered and his fighting against it he found was then as good as finished because in a Good Old Age. 2. Grace is then fortified as well as Lust mortified Grace is now more vigorous more lively and more powerful than heretofore while it was clogged and overloaded with many youthful Lusts but as the Outward Man decays so the Inner Man ought to revive day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 This is the Godly Man's Motto as that good old Minister Peter Martyr said upon his Dying Bed My Body is weak but my Soul is well 't is well for the present but it will be better hereafter 't is well in the Kingdom of Grace having overcome the Flesh World and Devil but it shall be best of all in the Kingdom of Glory The Inner Man in Old Age ought to be not only more brisk and powerful but also more fruitful in the fruits of Righteousness and true Holiness or Holiness of Truth as it is in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opposite to formality Ephes 4.24 this is God's Promise to the Good Old Man He shall bring forth fruit in his Old Age He shall be fat and flourishing being planted in the Courts of his God Psal 92.12,13,14 that is he being rooted and grounded in Christ and living under the droppings of the Sanctuary shall flourish like the Palm which is noted to grow very Tall always Green c tho' it hath many weights at the Top and many Snakes at the Bottom tho' it be not known to grow in our cold Climate and like a Cedar wherewith Lebanon flourished and whereon the Temple of Solomon was built 't is not said he shall grow like the Grass as it is said the Wicked spring as the Grass Psal 92.7 for if that proud Grass grow never so great and lofty they shall be mowed down with the Sithe of God's wrath seeing there is one higher than the highest of them Eccles 5.8 and in things wherein they deal proudly the Lord God is above them Exod. 18.11 Now we Aged ones ought to make a serious search and an earnest enquiry whether we bring forth Fruit in our Old Age whether we be fat and flourishing especially if we have been long planted in the House of our God 't is a shame to us that we should be like the lean Kine of Egypt which eat up the fat Kine and still remain as lean and as ill faâ—…ed as heretofore Gen. 41.3,20 't is a sad Judgment of God when he gives us meat to the full yet sends leanness into our Souls Psal 106.15 When God sends among fat ones leanness Isai 10.16 wo to us if yet we cry out our Leanness our Leanness Isai 24.16 We should all be like Wine which the older it is the better it is our Graces like good Liquor should run fresh to the bottom c. our last works should be our best works Rev. 2.19 Tho' our beginning was but small yet our latter end should greatly increase Job 8.7 and we should hold on in the way of Righteousness and grow stronger and stronger Job 17.9 Veteres non veterascent tho' we grow old and weak in Nature yet ought we not only to retain our former vigour and verdure of Grace but also to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3.16 from one degree of Grace to another that is to the highest degree Ephes 4.13 We must grow above our Corruptions especially our Constitution-sins the sins of our Nature our darling sins our best beloved Lust Oh God forbid that Erasmus his Character be upon us which he put upon the Bribanti or Flemmings of whom he saith Quo magis Senescunt eo magis Stultescunt the older they grow the foolisher they become Oh God forbid I say that any of us should do so 't is the sign of an Hypocrite who takes no deep Root when planted seemingly in God's Courts as the sincere Servants of Christ do and grow into Fruit-bearing in its Season c. whereas the Hypocrite is only thrust in like a Stake into the Earth and never grows How then ought we all Aged Persons to fear and tremble that we do not run out our Lives in Hypocrisie and so die like Fools at the last And therefore for the undeceiving of our own pretious Souls and for the better setling and comforting of our own immortal Spirits concerning our sincerity in the sight of God let us compare Time with Time can we say in the witnessing of the Holy Ghost that time was when the Assaults of Satan upon my Soul have been very violent but through Grace since that time I have found them feebler than heretofore yea and through the abundant Grace of my dear Lord strengthning me these Assaults of Satan are become less daring and more cowardly in my Old Age As I hinted before let me inlarge upon it here if it be said to the honour of Young Men in whom youthful passions are very pregnant rapid and oft precipitant and preposterous c. that they had overcome the Wicked One 1 John 2.13 Oh then what a shame and dishonour it is for us who are ranked and reckned among Fathers to fall short of the younger and lower Rank and still remain Slaves to our Lusts in whom Nature is decayd and so less grace is required to resist the Tempter and to bridle in the Temptation May we not say that now by the strengthening Love of Christ upon us we can more easily shake off that Viper the Old Serpent from off our Hearts as Paul the Aged did easily shake off that venemous Viper from off his Hands into the Fire Acts 28.3,4.5 and that without receiving any harm thereby even so we ought to bless the Lord for that Miracle of
Mercy that no deadly â—oison of Satan doth now harm us as our Lord did promise unto all Believers after his Resurrection Mark 16.17,18 Oh that all we Aged Ones could sincerely praise the Lord for this high Favour that 〈◊〉 now find by sweet experience we can better resist the Devil now so as to make him flee from us Jam. 4.7 We can now resist him more stedfastly in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.8,9 than we were able to do in our youthful days and tho' we be able through Grace to say this yet out of an Holy Jealousie over our own Hearts we must still make a farther enquiry what is the principal procuring Cause of such an happy and easie Conquest over our own Corruptions and Satan's Temptations now in our Old Age whether we be not more beholden herein unto the decays of our own Natures in us than to any strength of God's Grace freely given to us because we may die to sin by the deficiency of our natural strength of Body when sin doth not die to us through those powerful Operations of the mortifying Spirit of Grace Rom. 8.13 but more of this after c. Now come we to the Second Reason why a Good Old Age is a great blessing because the goodness of it is not only a blessed Antidote and Preservative against those threfold Evils before-named but also it is a blessed Preparative for Death at the end of our Old Age and of our Lives This preparation for Death is not only an universal but also an indispensable Duty for after death comes the Judgment Heb. 9.27 then is the time of Reckoning which our Lord Requires after his Returning however long or short it be wherein all Mankind both the good and the bad Servants must Reddere Rationem or give an exact account of their Stewardship whether they have wasted or improved their Lord and Master's Goods Matth. 25.14,19 Luke 16.1,2 and 19.15 c. as I shew at large in my Fourth Volume of the History and Mystery of that Parable pag. 185 186. Now every Man's Death-day is his particular Dooms-day for then the Spirit returns to God who gave it Eccles 12.7 when the Body returns to Dust of which it was first made Gen. 2.7 by rotting in the Grave c. Then the Soul goeth to God not to dwell with him for there the Speech is made of all Men both bad and good but to be disposed of by him for his Final Estate then is the Soul or Spirit as being there opposed to the Body to receive its Final Doom either for Everlasting Weal or for Everlasting Wo. Therefore to prepare for Death is a most necessary tho' it be a much neglected Duty Now such as be good in Old Age their goodness consists in being alway prepared for it both Habitually and Actually they learn to die daily 1 Cor. 15.31 and makes Death familiar to them both at Bed and Board Their Conversation is in Heaven while their Commoration is here on Earth Phil. 3.20 They labour and learn to live with dying Thoughâ—s because they hope at last to die with more living comforts They have Heaven as an happy Harbour of Rest in the Eyes of their Hope which serves to season and sweeten all Sorrows and Sufferings to them as it was with blessed Paul who had his Eye fixed upon that Crown of Glory which was laid up for him and for all Believers 2 Tim. 4.8 and therefore he was not at all discouraged at his light Afflictions which were but for a moment in comparison of that exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 where we have a most elegant Antithesis or opposition and a double Hyperbole beyond the reach of our English Translation As thus 1. For Affliction here is Glory 2. For light Affliction here is a weight of Glory And 3. For momentary Affliction here is Eternal Glory and the sight of this by an Eye of Faith put Paul upon his Cupio Dissolvi I desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.21,22,23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there signifies to loose off from the shore of this Mortal Life and to launch out into the Ocean of Immortality which he accounted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is far far better and best of all Thus this preparation for Death had caused Old Simeon before this Apostle even to sing his Soul out of his Body as before This likewise made that Good Old Man Job to say I would not live always Job 7.16 for he hoped to behold his Redeemer c. Job 19.25 Thus may we accordingly say we would not be Young always because we have been so hampered and pester'd with many youthful Lusts which now through Grace a Good Old Age hath weakened An Hoary Head that is found in the way of Righteousness doth ripen fast like good Fruit upon the Tree of Life in its Autumn and becomes day by day more mellow for Death and hath nothing thâ—n to do but to die being able through Mercy to say with his sweet Saviour Father I have finished my work which theâ—… gavest me to do in the World John 17.5 Oh how ready was David how willing and how prepared to die and to fall asleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 when he could say his Conscience bearing witness with him in the Holy Ghost as Rom. 9.1 that he had served out his Generation in his whole Generation-work according to the will of God Acts 13.36 The Third Reason why a Good Old Age is a most rich Blessing and Benefit to the Sons and Daughters of Mankind is because it doth priviledge them with a true Title unto Mansions of Glory prepared for them in a better World Such as have continued in ways of Holiness all their Life and become faithful unto death Rev. 2.10 they shall assuredly at the last arrive at the Haven of Heaven and Happiness when they die for God himself hath assured us and God Keeps the best and surest Ensuring Office that having our Fruit unto Holiness then our end shall be Eternal Life Rom. 6.22,23 for then comes first the Joy of Harvest as when fruitful Fields are white unto Harvest John 4.35 then comes the Husbandman with his Sithe or Sickle and cuts down his Corn binds it up in Bundles and carries it Home to his Barn c. even so God the great Husbandman as Christ calls him John 15.1 when he sees his old Servants as it were white unto Harvest with Hoary Heads and fully ripened in the way of Righteousness then doth he take them down by the hand of Death and gathers them Home into his heavenly Garners Our Lord doth certifie this great Truth to us over and over again saying that Heaven is surely secured for us and we are likewise safely secured for Heaven by the mighty Power of God the word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth we are kept as with a Guard and in a Garrison and that at the last we shall receive the end of our Faith even the
Back-burdens Now who would not but be disburdened and be at Ease and Rest in the Grave the Weary find Rest Job 3.17 but the Rest that is found in Christ Matth. 11.28,29,30 is for the Soul as well as Body c. Rev. 14.13 and who would not be willing to put off Rotten Rags and to put on Royal Robes c. Many more Cordials might be mentioned as 7 thly For me saith Paul to die is Gain Phil. 1.21 because Death to a good Man brings freedom from all Evil and a fruition of all Good And hereupon he 8 thly He desired to be dissolved c. ver 23. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to launch forth to loose off from the Shore of Life and to launch out into the Ocean of Immortality and Glory this was all his Song he longed to be with Christ ever after he had been wrapt up to the Third Heaven 9 thly Yea and Old Simeon thought it best of all with Paul to die when he sang that sweet Song Lord now let thy Servant depart in peace c. Luke 2.29 as is largely spoke to before adding only this here he only saw the Lord's-Christ in weakness with an Eye of Sense but we see him in Glory with an Eye of Faith therefore may better depart not in Peace only but also in Joy and Comfort 10 thly How couragious was that Proto-Martyr Stephen against the Terrors of a most Terrible Death after he had seen the Heavens opened and Christ standing at the Right Hand of God Acts 7.56 The like Prospect we have offered to our Faith which is the Key that opens Heaven and may we but fix our Spiritual Eyes upon that Glorious Object this would wonderfully enable us to lay down our Mortal Bodies in peace and send up our Immortal Souls into the Hands of him that bought it crying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Lastly But thanks be to God who giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.57 with 55 56. Thirdly The Cordials against Terrors of the Day of Judgment which surely follows Death Heb. 9.27 and which is called a Terrible and Dreadful Day very often in Scripture as that Day shall burn like an Oven Mal. 4.1 the Sun turned into Darkness and Moon into Blood Acts 2.20 and Elements shall melt with fervent Heat c. 2 Pet. 3.10 and the Lord will come in flaming Fire c. 2 Thes 1.7,8 and with Fire and Sword will God plead with all Flesh c. Isai 66.15,16 see likewise Joel 2.31 Matth. 25.31,32 Rev. 1.7 c. Now if a Crack of Thunder and a Flash of Lightning at the breaking of a single sorry Cloud do so affright us how much more when the whole Heavens break and drop down like Scalding Bell-Mettal about our Ears c. Yet Note well 1 st There is Comfort for the Chosen Ones they shall be caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall ever be with the Lord and therefore comfort your selves c. 1 Thes 4,16,17,18 2 dly As Death leaves us so the Day of Judgment will find us as the Tree falleth towards the South or towards the North there it lieth Eccles 11.3 Even so as is before observed if we fall by Death upon the Right Hand of Christ among his pretious Sheep then are we called upon to lift up our Heads for the Day of our Redemption is come Luke 21.28 Ephes 4.30 that way the Tree leans that way it falls Oh that while we live we may lean to Christ 3 dly The due Observation of the main end of Life is to be useful to the end of our Lives wee should be ever ready Matth. 24.44 May we but become good Stewards then blessed is that Servant whom his Master shall find so doing ver 46. 4 thly Tho' we be conscious to our selves that our Obedience has been exceeding narrow to God's Commandments which are exceeding broad Psal 119.96 yet may we rejoice with Trembling Phil. 2.11 because our Judge is our Advocate who became sin for us c. that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 1 John 2.1,2 5 thly May we but upon good grounds be persuaded that we are justified by Faith then have we peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5.1 this is known if we be sanctified by the Spirit 2 Thes 2.13 For this latter doth evidence the former and having got God's Seal and Earnest which he never gives to a Reprobate then fear not Gen. 15.1 6 thly Be sure to have the Line of Scarlet Thread bound to our Windows as Rahab had Josh 2.18 this was the saving Colour a Red Cord Thus Israel's Door-posts must be Red with Blood when the destroying Angel passed over Egypt Rahab made haste and delayed not as Psal 119.60 So soon as she dismissed the Spies long before Jericho fell c. Oh could we get this Scarlet Line the Blood of Christ fixed upon our Hearts this Sign saved Rahab and made her famous Heb. 11.31 and Jam. 2.25 then our Joshuah will save us and say to us also Come ye blessed of my Father inherit c. Matth. 25.34 In the mean time we Aged Ones must be ever praying Lord cast me not off in my Old Age and forsake me not when strength fails me Psal 71.9 Laus Ei Soli tribuatur omnes Cujus Afflatu Labor extat omnis Fructus ut Vitae reserantur omnes orbis in Oras FINIS Christopher Nesse aetatis suae 56 1678 Minnister of the Gospel in fleet Street London
be demonstrated from Scripture the first man defiled Nature and ever since Nature hath defiled every man his whole Frame is out of frame whole evil is in man and whole man is in evil As in Noah's Flood not any one part of the Earth could be seen dry So nor any one part of man can be found that is not infected with this Original Pollution and the chief cause of all our Actual Sins is charged not upon Satan but upon this Evil Concupiscence that is inbred in us Jam. 1.15 The Tempter might strike Fire long enough in vain if we did not find him dry Tinder for his Sparks to fall upon We cannot say as our sinless Lord said the Prince of this World cometh and finds nothing in me that is to favour his Temptation Joh. 14.30 But alas when he comes to tempt us he finds a Treacherous Party within this Birth-sin of ours which betrays us oftentimes into his hands as hath hapned unto some Cities besieged whose Gates have been opened by some Traiterous Citizens within for a free entrance of the Enemy that were besieging it round about Hence is it that all men are said in Holy Scripture to be dead in sin Ephes 2.1 and Bondslaves to Satan Heb. 2.15 and subject to all Calamities of this Life under the Curse of God Gal. 3.10 Yea and good men even the best of men are but men at the best for Original Sin in them is stronger than their Grace for if God should leave us with our stock of Grace that he hath graciously given us and let us be alone but a while in the hands of our own Counsels this sin of our Nature would easily swallow up our stock of Grace wo to us when God departs from us Hos 9.12 The Reason is because Grace given to us is like the putting of Hot Water into that which is Cold Tho' this will warm it for the present yet the Water will reduce it self into its own natural temper of Coldness unless Fire be kept continually under it Take another Example as a River would run caeterâ—…s paribus the nighest way to the Seaâ— which is the Receptacle of all Rivers were it let alone to its own tendency by nature but we see the various situation of the Earth in some places higher than others and by the Art and Industry of Man the most Rapid River is madd to run in crooked Streams in and out to break its forcible passage even so this Original Sin would drive all persons the nighest way to Hell were it not that it meets with not only the several Tempers and Dispositions of Nature in the Sons and Daughters of Mankind which makes it work variously according to their various Constitutions as David saith I have kept my self from my iniquity Psal 18.23 that is from my Constitution sin c. but also and that more especially through the over-ruling Power of God and that by two ways 1. Either by giving Restraining Grace even to Pagans as he did to that Pagan King Abimelech Gen. 20.6 whereby God kept him at a modest distance from medling with Sarah Abraham's wife which otherwise he would have undoubtedly defiled seeing so many Kings tho' called Christian make it their too common practice or 2. By giving Renewing Grace even to his own chosen and called ones whereby he changeth their Natures so that one of the Antient Fathers tells this Story of a Young Man who had been for some time intangled with an Harlot and meeting with some Remorse of Conscience he withdrew from her upom some occasions he had in another Country and after a â—ittle time returning home this impudent Whore meets him takes hold of him and said to him Ego sum Ego I am the same Woman I was when you left me at which he smartly replied to her sed ego non sum ego but I am not the same Man I was through the Grace of God whereby he said with David The Snare is broken and my Soul is delivered Psa 124.7 therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 VVhere Christ comes he saith Behold I make all things new Rev. 21.5 both all the Members of the Body and all the Faculties of the Soul These all were formerly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weapons of wickedness unto sin but now become weapons of Righteousness unto Holiness Rom. 6.13,17,18,19 so that Christ makes new understandings new wills new memories new consciences c. in the inner man yea and new tongues hands and feet c. to talk walk and work for God in the outward man ☞ Let this likewise be well weighed how this Original pollution of the faln Nature is like the first Confused Chaos at the Creation of the World which had the seeds of all several kinds of Creatures in it and that prolifick Vertue continues unto this day even so in Original Sin lays the Spawn of all several kinds of sins which lasteth all our lives until death destroy this body of Death at the last as the other will last while the World lasteth So This fretting Leprosie of sin is typically described in the Law of that Plague Levit. 14.41.43,44,45 The house which hath that Contagion all the scraping of the Walls within it will not cleanse it until the house it self with the Stones and Timber of it be broken down yea and it begins betimes as well as it lasts long This sour Leaven doth leaven the whole lump with its sowrness and spreads it self over all the Ages of Man as Infancy Childhood Youth and old Age. 1. Infancy Austin's story Vidi Zelantem parvulum I my self saw a little one rise up in Rage against his fellow-suckling for beguiling him of his Mothers Milk from whence that Antient Father proves and confesses that sin began betimes both in himself and in others 2. Childhood there is much folly bound up in the heart of a Child Prov. 22. v. 15. as fardles or packs are bound upon the Carriers Horses back and these bonds of Iniquity keeps him fast in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 so makes not only Childhood but also 3. Youth to be not only Vanity but likewise often abounds with Villany Eccles 11.9,10 with 12.1 where the Preacher presseth upon Youth to indulge themselves in their youthful lusts if they dare do so adding a stinging But which marrs the Yonkers mirth God will judge thee for all thy Tricks of youth account them not Trifles which both Job and David so bitterly bewailed Job 13.26 and Psal 25.7 Therefore he exhorts such to remember their Creators at that time as Psal 119.9 before 4 ly Old Age come which is an Evil Age both for sin and misery But more plainly this Truth of Man's Malady and Danger is held forth in that Text The strong Man armed c. which declares Man's Malady and Danger Luke 11.21 where Satan is described 1. By his
and do so to this day But more especially he is mischievous to the Souls of Mankind It may be said that the Sword of this Strong Man reacheth even unto the very soul as Jer. 4.10 He both slashes and wounds the Soul and doth ambitiously aspire like Lucifer to be like the Most High Isa 14.14 and to have a power to kill the Soul as well as Body Estate and Good Name which is God's Prerogative only Matt. 10.28 However his main Mark Satan aimeth at is to procure evil against our Souls Jer. 26.19 and therefore as the Syrians were commanded to fight against neither small nor great but against the King of Israel 2 Chron. 18.30 So our fleshly lusts are those Syrians and Soldiers whom Satan commands to war principally against the precious Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 and his Malice is mostly to be mischievous to Saints more than to Sinners for he tempted David a man after Gods own heart 1 Sam. 13.14 to grosser and greater sins than ever he did not only Saul who died in his Sin even of self-murder yet never fell into such foul acts of sin as David did but also than ever he did tempt Ahab tho' he sold himself to work wickedness 1 King 21.25 yet this none-such Sinner was only tempted to covet his Neighbours Vineyard and not his Neighbours Wife yea and life too as David did The reason is this because Satan is satisfied with the evil state that Sinners remain in so he needs not to tempt them to evil Acts well knowing that such Actions will as naturally flow from them as Water doth from a Fountain Thus David saith to Saul wickedness proceedeth even naturally from the wicked 1 Sam. 24.13 as if they needed no Tempter but will Tempt themselves Jam. 1.14,15 Satan matters not for Actions but only where he cannot secure persons and still keep them captive in an evil State NB. This Reason may be rendred why some civil Moralists do lead more blameless and more spotless lives than some Saints and sanctified Souls who sometimes may be left of God to Satan's buffeting Messengers to humble them as 2 Cor. 12.7,8 because 't is enough for the Temper to know that these meer moral men do still abide in a Christless-state but as to such as are delivered from the power of Belial and are translated into the Kingdom of Grace Col. 1.12,13,14 Those be they against whom this Envious One is most maliciously mischievous and when he sees that he cannot keep them from Heaven he will do them all the mischief he possibly can he will send them if possible even haulting to Heaven Herein Pharaoh that Dragon of Egypt so called Ezek. 29.3 was a Type and Figure of this old Red Dragon the Devil who was calm and quiet enough with God's Israel while he found they could be content to be his Bond-slaves in Mortar-Work c. but when they begin to be gone out of his Kingdom c. then he rages and pursues them with his Chariots and Horsemen c. As Pharaoh pursued Israel as they were passing towards the Earthly Canaan so Satan pursueth us in our passage towards the Heavenly Canaan and as Pharaoh in his pursuit of Israel was at length drowned in the Red-Sea So this may be for strong Consolation to us that this Saint-pursuing Satan shall at last be drowned in the Red-Sea of our blessed Saviour's Blood for we are told to our Comfort that our Redeeming Angel will come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his hand and will lay hold on the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and not only bind him for a thousand years but he will cast him likewise into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where he together with the Beast and the False Prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20.1,2,3 and 10 verses In the mean time we must expect that this Serpent and Dragon will be spetting forth the Poison of his Malice against us for such is his Malice to all the Saints that he will first tempt them to Sin and then he will accuse them for Sin as it is storied of the Russians they are so malicious one against another that sometimes a man will hide some of his own Goods in the House of him whom he hateth and then accuse him for the stealing of them just so doth the Devil deal many times with God's dearest Servants thus Joseph's Steward first foisted his Lord's Cup into Benjamin's Sack and then accused him for stealing it Gen. 44.2,4 So that tempted Souls may say to Satan when he would tempt them to sin and after will accuse them of sin as the young Soldier said to Joab his General Tho' I should receive a thousand Shekels of Silver yet will I not dare to do what thou Satan would draw me into for the King of Kings hath charged me to the contrary and should I do otherwise I shall then work falshood against my own life for there is no matter that can be hid from the King and thou thy self would set thy self against me 2 Sam. 18.12,13 c. Thus Satan dealt with Jehoshua the High-Priest accusing him for wearing those very Garments that himself had soiled Zech. 3.1,2,3,4 yea and thus Satan dealt with our Dear Saviour himself to whom he made an offer of his giving to him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glories of them if he would fall down and worship him Matt. 4.8 yet afterwards this Accuser of the Brethren as he is called Rev. 12.10 doth by his Instruments accuse our Lord for aspiring after one of the least of those Kingdoms of the World namely that little Kingdom of Judaea Matt. 27.11,29,37 and this is the Tempters Method with all tempted Souls he will always extenuate sin in the time of his Temptation to it but after the Commission of it he will aggravate it in his accusation for it that he may drive the Soul into despair c. Thus he dealt with King Saul whom he first persuaded to spare Amalek under the notion of a good Deed or Work of Mercy hereby he tempted him and prevailed to spare King Agag and the fattest of the Flock 1 Sam. 15.8,9 Yet this same Satan comes to Saul in the likeness of Samuel and notoriously aggravates this Action which before he had presented to him in a plausible Dress of candour and kindness to the Creature c. and sets it home with weight upon Saul's Conscience especially when he saw him almost overwhelmed with deepest Distresses now representing the same Action as most horrible heinous and damning and all to drive him down at-once into the Pit of Desperation 1 Sam. 28.11,19,20 And thus by Divine permission the Devil deals with many Souls which are far more dear to God than this Saul was c. Hereby the third cursed property of this Doeg the Devil is made manifest namely that he is not only antiently maliciously but also
c. and the Spouse was sensible of this danger when she so earnestly prayed Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow forth Cant. 4.16 Never did the ground stand in more need of the sweet Influences of the Pleiades Joh 38.31 or Garden of April showers to bring forth May flowers c. than our Hearts and our Habits of Grace do of the Spirit 's Influence to come down upon us like Dew upon the mown Grass and like Showers that water the Earth Psal 72.6 'T is said the Spirit of God did move upon the face of the first deformed Chaos and Gen. 1.2 and thereby brought forth gradually a Beautiful World So no better are our Hearts and Habits until the Spirit descends as a Dove upon us and give more grace James 4.6 Thirdly Our Lord stengthens us for bearing Affliction which every good Soldier of Jesus Christ ought to do 2 Tim. 2.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 endure all evils Now this cannot be done but by vertue of having fellowship with Christ in his sufferings Phil. 3.10 and where there is not first an Union there cannot be any Communion or fellowship we must first be united to Christ as to our Head and then he communicates ability to his Members even to trust in a killing God as Job did c. 13.15 because Christ bears up the heavier end of the Cross as is shewed in that Resemblance of Simon 's bearing the Cross after Jesus Luke 23.26 The heavier end of the Cross lay upon Christ's own shoulders So Simon in his fellowship with his Saviour in his sufferings did but carry the small lighter end of the Cross after him Thus our Lord doth more than line our Crosses for us to make them softer and less galling to our tender Tempers but he hath taken away the Curse of every Cross and hath made them more Medicinal than Paenal so that we may now read Divine Faithfulness in them as David did Psal 119.71,75 'T is a filling up Christ's Afflictions Col. 1.24 A Chip of Christ's Cross doth dulcifie the bitter Waters as that Tree did Marah Exod. 15.25,26 That Glukuzar or Liquorice Tree might be a Type of the Cross whereon Christ was Crucified And we find upon Record how the sweet presence of Christ with the Three Nobles of Israel's Captives in Babylon did even sweeten to them those Bitter Flames in the Furnace of Fire as before Dan. 3.25,28 Fourthly Christ the strong Redeemer causeth his Redeemed Ones to be Conquerours also in Resisting Temptations for he having before hand broken the Serpent's Head Gen. 3.15 doth only leave Tail-Temptations for the exercise of their Graces and not for the destruction of their Souls He hath engaged his own Holiness and Fidelity for assuring us of this great Truth in that truly Golden Promise 1 Cor. 10.13 where he saith That we shall not be tempted above what we are able for he is faithful and he will make a way to escape tho' we cannot make any such way for our own Deliverance and that none such Tryals shall come upon us but what are common and incident to God's dearest Children He will not lead us into any untrodden paths but only into such ways wherein the great Friends and Favourites of Heaven have gone before us whose footsteps we are commanded to follow Cant. 1.8 and Heb. 6.12 Yea and he hath assured praying Souls that his Grace shall be sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12.7,8 and that he will Rebuke Satan that Resists us Zech. 3.1,2,3 c. which he can easily do as having him in a Chain and 't is but taking up a Link or two thereof then our Souls are safe c. Fifthly He makes them Conquerours in mortifying Corruptions from which none even those of the highest Form are not exempted Elijah Paul and Barnabas were subject to the like passions with others Acts 14.15 and James 5.17 The best of Men are but Men at the best Therefore it is as great an act of miraculous Power to keep our little spark of Grace alive in the midst of such a vast Sea of Corruption as it would be to keep a Coal-fire burning upon the surface of the Main Ocean Our Graces like the Army of Israel are very small when our corruptions like the Syrians are so numerous as to fill the whole Country of the Isle of Man 1 Kings 20.27 therefore is it said that the Righteous are scarcely saved 1 Pet. 4.18 that is they have much ado and meet with many difficulties before they can reach to Heaven and Solomon saith He that trusts his own heart is a fool Prov. 28.26 Notwithstanding all this tho' our corruptions have Iron Charets and be too strong for us yet are they not too strong for this stronger Man Josh 17.16,18 and Judg. 1.19 We must say with John Baptist He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mighty or stronger than I Mat. 3.11 And what Anakims or Gyant-like corruptions were ever able to stand before his Mortifying Spirit Rom. 8.13 his Promise he will subdue our Iniquities Mich. 7.19 where the Hebrew word Chabash doth not signifie simply to subdue but vi violentia subjugabit conculcabit that is Jikbosh Gnavonthenu Hebr. he will tread our Corruptions down by force and violence and will perform with his hand what his mouth hath spoken He will do what he hath said 2 Sam. 7.25 1 Kings 8.15 And which is more than all this God sometimes doth give pardoning Mercy where he hath denyed prevailing Grace as this latter hath been withdrawn to humble the Saints so the former is granted to comfort them as in that double case of David and Peter but then there must be some proportion betwixt sinning and sorrowing Manasseh had greatly sinned and was as greatly humbled Oh! let all bless the Lord for this that sin hath not Dominion over us Rom. 6.14 It may play the Tyrant but never Rex or chosen King it may come as a Traveller as 2 Sam. 12.4 but it cannot be an Home-dweller or Master of the House in any truly gracious Heart c. Sixthly The next Case of Difficulty wherein the Redeemer assists the Redeemed to become Conquerors also is in maintaining their Communion with God Alas how heavy are our Hearts Leve sursum grave deorsum heavy things hang downward as light things press upward which our Hearts cannot do having the Stone in them the Spouse was sensible hereof when she prayed draw me and we shall run after thee Cant. 1.3 Anselm's Bird with a Stone tied to its foot is a lively Representation of this Case no sooner did the Bird essay to mount up toward Heaven but the Stone at her foot did presently pluck her down to the Earth It may well be said Oh how weak are our Hearts Ezek. 16.30 Christ saith to his Disciples Can ye not watch with me one Hour the Spirit indeed is willing but the Flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 As if our Lord had said with the
so gets many a knock and blow c. oh how severe was God's Law against such saying That Soul which dare do any thing presumptuously doth reproach the Lord as if such scorn'd his helping hand and shall be cut off from among his People Numb 15.30 Our Lord tells us That without Christ we can do nothing John 15.5 that is nothing after a gracious manner neither acceptably or effectually and therefore are we bid to abide in the Vine ver 7. and to abide in him 1 John 2.28 and yet we can do all things by Christ's strengthning prefence Phil. 4.13 Alas our Bow like that of Joseph's cannot abide in strength unless it be strengthened by the Arms of the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob Gen. 49.24 'T was not enough for Joash to put his hand upon the Bow alone no but the Prophet of God who represented God himself must lay his hands upon the King's hand alo otherwise there can be no shooting to any purpose the Arrows of God's Deliverance c. 2 King 13.16 We are like little Boys learning to write who must have their hand guided by their Masters hand But Secondly we must put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.12 c. The Reason is our Adversary is a strong Man armed even Cap-a-pee from head to foot and woe to us if at any time he assault us when weak men and naked such are easily overcome by High-way-men in their Travelling-Journeys 'T is sad to be insensible of our own nakedness Rev. 3.17,18 Woful is our case if this Thief in the night find us naked Rev. 16.15 The first Adam made himself and all his Posterity naked by eating forbidden fruit Gen. 3.7 he lost the Robe of Original Righteousness both for himself and for all that were in his Loins as he was a publick Person and Representative of all Mankind Adam's Nakedness made him Run from God to Satan in his sinful excuses of his sin and in his Fig-leave coverings c. Gen. 3.10,12 c. Now while we remain in this corrupt Root the first Adam we are easily taken by this mighty Hunter and led captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 The Greek word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies taken alive in Hunting by this Nimrod not to be preserved alive but to be destroyed 2 Pet. 2.12 without Repentance unto Life Acts 11.18 Thus likewise we are told How Aaron made the People naked Exod. 32.25 so that a double Nakedness was upon them both that from Adam's sin and also by their own sin of Idolatry wherein Aaron was their Instrument This Golden Calf did divest them of Divine protection and exposed them to the Wrath both of God and Man as Numb 14.9 we become a Break-fast to Satan c. And this our Nakedness God minds us of it Again Ezek. 16.22 where both Gnaram and Gnarah Hebrew be used to intimate we are in the faln Nature not only polluted in our Blood as is at large expressed in the beginning of that Chapter but that we are both naked and bare too that is without Apparel as well as without Armour also oh great misery c N.B. Note well seeing we are both naked and bare in the faln Estate to wit we are destitute both of Apparel and of Armour Therefore in the first place we must look out for some Tight Apparel not only to cover our Nakedness but also such as may secure us from those Storms which Satan that Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2,3 will assuredly raise up against us This our Lord sheweth in his Parable Matth. 7.25 saying The Rain will descend upon our Spiritual Buildings c. Many a sharp Shower will beat upon us and batter us and because the Fig-leave Aprons which our first Parents made for themselves was not a sufficient security to them Hereupon the Lord made Coats of Skins and cloathed them Gen. 3.21 which was there a shadowing Emblem of the Fleece and Skin of the Lamb of God we must be counselled to buy of him white Raiment that we may be clothed and that the shame of our Nakedness may not appear Rev. 3.17,18 We must be covered with a Covering of Christ's Spirit Isa 30.1 and apparelled with the Robes of his Righteousness which is call'd the Best Robe Luke 15.22 and thus the Bride the Lamb's Wife had granted to her to be arrayed in fine Linnen clean and white which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Righteousnesses of the Saints to wit the Grace of Justification and the Grace of Sanctification and therefore the Greek word is put into the plural Number Rev. 19.8,9 Oh pray over that Promise I will spread the skirts of my Merit over thee to cover thy Nakedness c. Ezek. 16.8 and look upon it as a shameful thing that we can all of us be wise enough to secure both our Bodies and our dwelling houses from all annoyances and harms to them yet not be so wise for our Souls but leave them exposed to all evil whereas we have need to be like Noah's Ark that was pitched within and without that it might be able to Ride out the Storm Gen. 6.14 Now in the second place This double Malady must have a double Remedy as we are both naked bare Ezek. 16.22 c. So when we are remedied of being naked of Apparel then may we not remain still bare of Armour and this Spiritual or Mystical Armour wherewith we ought to be furnished and fortified do fall under three distinct denominations in sacred Scripture the first is 't is call'd the Armour of Light Rom. 13.12 so named because first 'T is only the Children of Light so called Luke 16.8 Ephes 5.8 1 Thes 5.5 who are blest and beautified with this blessed Armour all the Children of Darkness abide both naked and bare and continue Slaves and Vassals to Satan that Prince of Darkness as before 2 Tim. 2.26 c. But secondly Because those Children are or at least ought to be careful to keep this Armour lightsom bright and glistering as indeed all the parts of this Armour are when they come first to them out of God's own Heavenly Armory and of God's own furbushing and polishment Now this very name Armour of Light doth most clearly teach us that we ought to Exercise all the parts of this Armour duly and daily and to keep them in perpetual Use and never out of any security or presumption dare to let them become Rusty or soiled by our careless Disuse of them Yea and 3 dly this is called the Armour of Light because it gives a light and lustre to such as wear it for the light of Divine knowledge teacheth us to walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Handsomely and of the best form and fashion as the Greek word signifies Rom. 13.13 Intimating that we ought by the help of this Armour to lead such convincing lives walk as children of light Eph. 5.8 that all who behold us may then Acknowledge
heeded and observed The similitude runs in parallel lines betwixt the two kinds of Sleeping and Watching both of that which is Natural and of that which is Spiritual For as in natural or literal Sleep that immortal part of man the pretious Soul layeth as it were dead and buried in an House of Clay all its noble parts and gifts seem then to be lost and Man all the time he lies asleep doth differ very little either from a Beast or a dead Carcass which made that famous General Epaminondas say Qualem inveni talem reliqui when he was blamed for cruelty in killing his Centinel whom he found sleaping to the hazard of the whole Army c. and his Apology was I left him but as I found him c. He looked upon him as one dead while he lay asleep c. But when those Vapors that cause Sleep are digested and consumed by the Natural Heat of our Animal Spirits and when those Obstructions of all our Senses are thereby removed then saith the Philosopher Panduntur Meatus Reditque opus Sensationis id est Vigilia quae est Sensuum Actio Motus quem Calor Spiritus in omnia Membra effusus efficit that is the Heat and Spirit being then defused into all our Members from Head to Foot all the passages of our Senses are opened c. and then we awake from our Sleep c. Even thus it is with us in that which is called a Mystical and Spiritual Sleeping and awaking out of it It was corrupt Humours that caused both the Spouse and the Wise Virgins to fall into a slumber and those Vapors do arise out of the Body of Sin that unrenewed part in us which do for a time obstruct the operations of a Spiritual Life in us But when the Spirit of Grace which is called the Spirit of Burning Isa 4.4 reviveth and burns up those corrupt Humours in us then is it that we awake arise and go forth to shake our selves as Samson did when the Philistines were upon him Judg. 16.20 This is called our awaking unto Righteousness 1 Cor. 15.34 and standing up from the Dead Ephes 5.14 Awake Awake saith the Lord Isa 52.1 and Arise Shine c. Isa 60.1 The Fourth Inquiry is what is the proper Object or Subject of this Spiritual Watching Answer This Christian Vigilancy is most highly concerned in this Watching-work as it hath a Respect and Relation to a double Trinity the first is a Trinity of Friends to wit the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost And the Second is a Trinity of Foes namely the World the Flesh and the Devil All these both Friends and Foes are to be duly and daily watched in our warring the good Warfare 1 Tim. 1.18 and in fighting the good Fight of Faith 1 Tim. 6.12 First of the first The Trinity of Friends that must be watched is 1 st God the Father must be watched this Lesson we should learn from Christ who did so saying We speak that we know and testifie that we have seen Joh. 3.11 and farther The Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do Joh. 5.19 and the Father loveth his Son and sheweth him all thing that himself doth ver 20. And as I hear I do not doing mine own will but the will of my Father who sent me ver 30. Now if Christ that holy Child watched what he saw and heard from the Father by that Divine and Unspeakable Communication between them c. how ought Christians to watch likewise having an Unction from the Holy God that teacheth all things 1 Joh. 2.20 It is said of Israel Veshameru Mishmereth Custodiebant Custodiam they watched the Motions of the Lord in the Cloudy Pillar Numb 9.19 they kept Watch and Ward Night and Day to see when the Cloud would arise that they might be at every hour ready for removing Thus David set God always before him Psal 16.8 So ought we to do that we may learn to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 Children should learn to be like their Father Matth. 5. last in the Quality of Holiness tho' we cannot come up to an Equality of his Holiness Thus we ought to pass more and more into the likeness of that Heavenly Pattern If our Eyes wait upon the Lord as the Eyes of a Servant upon his Master c. Psal 123.1,2 then is there Hope concerning both our Conformity to God and our Communion with God We ought to watch God's Pillar of Providence as Israel did the Cloudy Pillar for there is God's Voice in the work of his Providence Were we but Men of Wisdom to watch hear and undestand it aright Mic. 6.9 we should learn the sooner to follow Providence the better the neglect whereof doth oft bring damage and detriment to us c. But tho' God's Providence may be too dark and deep for our dim Eyes to see and for our dull Ears to hear yet blessed be God his Precepts and his Promises are all so plain that he who runs may read and hear them and our not watching them makes us neglect Godliness The 2 d Friend is God the Son must be watched for we know not either the Day or the Hour wherein he will call us either to Death or to the Day of Judgment every Man's Death-day is his particular Dooms-day c. as before and because we cannot foresee it therefore must we ever expect it and spend every day as if it were our last day Hereupon we are all commanded to be always upon our watch and to be also ready for his coming Matth. 24.42,44 where our Lord useth seven Argument from ver 37. to the end of that Chapter as so many motives to stir us up unto watchfulness the day and hour knoweth no man c. ver 36. ideo latet unus dies ut observentur omnes that we might watch continually for that uncertain certain day The Harlot grew bold to sin on this account because she knew her Lord would not return till such an appointed time Prov. 7.10,18,19,20 Whereas secure Sinners may hear Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be taken from thee Luke 12.20 He will come unlooked for and Dichotomize cut asunder and tear his Soul from his Body by force c. Matth. 24.50,51 'T is a blessed Badge pinn'd as it were upon sanctified Souls Sleeves that they wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 1.2,7 1 Thes 1.10 as it was the character of Old Testament Saints that they waited for the consolation of Israel in Christ's first coming Luke 2.25 how much more ought we to lift up our Heads and Eyes for beholding the comfort of his second coming Luke 21.28 looking for and hastning unto it as desirous to meet him in the way 2 Pet. 3.12 crying continually O mora Christo veni come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.20 All such as have taken many sweet Turns in communion with Christ upon the Mountain of Spices
to wit Gospel Ordinances will cry come and be like a Roe for swiftness Cant. 8. last Upon such Christ comes not as a Thief in the night 1 Thes 5.3 for they love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 and they are blessed Rev. 16.15 Such as fear to live and see that day shall not see it to live c. The Third great Friend we must watch is the Holy Ghost for 't is a Divine Precept He that hath Ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 2.7 And this is said again and again both in the 2 d and in the 3 d Chapter to all the Seven Golden Candlesticks seven times over the sense whereof is we must watch and hearken what God the Holy Spirit will speak Psal 85.8 not so much with the Gristle on the Head but more by the Ear of the Heart for God may speak once and twice and man perceive it not Job 33.14 until God bore our Ears as he did David's Psal 40.6 and open our Hearts as he did Lydias Acts 16.14 and until our Lord put his Finger into the Hole of our Ear and looking up to Heaven he cry Ephphatha that is be opened as he did to the Man that was possessed with a deaf Devil Mark 7.34 We must pray with the Spouse for this purpose saying Lord thy Companions hearken to thy Voice cause me to hear it also Cant. 8.13 when this Quickning Spirit as he is called Joh. 6.63 even this Spirit of Truth cometh he guideth us into all Truth Joh. 16.13 and blessed is that Soul which watcheth the Motions of this Holy Spirit in a Sanctified Conscience and can discern a difference of such persuasions as come not from him that calleth us Gal. 5.8 The Steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord Psal 37.23 Blessed are they that hear the joyful sound of this breathing Spirit they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy Countenance Psal 89.15 they follow the footsteps of his Anointed ver 51. and David must then bestir himself when he heard the sound of God's goings upon the Tops of the Mulberry Trees 2 Sam. 5.24 This Holy Spirit is a delicate thing Psal 143.10 as Junius reads it and therefore must not be vexed Isa 63.10 nor grieved Ephes 4.30 much less quenched in its motions 1 Thes 5.19 they that are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 as Paul was Acts 16.6,7 and Simeon was led by the Spirit into the Temple Luke 2.27 Yea and our Lord Jesus himself was led up by the Spirit into the Wilderness to conquer the Tempter in a Duel upon the Devil 's own ground Matth. 4.1 Thus Abraham that Father of the faithful went out he knew not whether nor when he should return nor how he should subsist c. yet he well knew with whom he went Heb. 11.8 for he put himself as a Child into his Father's hand who called him and the conduct of the Holy Spirit carried him dry-shod to the last Thus likewise if we be the Sons and Daughters of Abraham the Holy Spirit will teach us all things John 14.26 that blessed Anointing is our best Instructer 1 John 2.20.27 We should lay our selves as Instruments open to the Touchings of this Holy Spirit and submit to his Discipline which requires much self-denial then shall we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22,23 which is in all Goodness and Righteousness and Truth Ephes 5.9 And could we but watch its whisperings more and better so as to obey them we should not so oft be found in Fundo Diaboli upon the Devil's ground in places of Temptation but as the Spirit suffered not Paul c. to go unto such and such Places Acts 16.6,7 even so would it be with us could we but put our Souls wholly under the conduct of this Holy Spirit If once we dare presume to break this Divine Hedge that Old Serpent will surely bite us Eccles 10.8 We may not live at Random and without a Rule but we must mind and watch the Teachings of this Divine Unction which never teacheth us any thing but what is consonant to the Holy Scripture endited by it 2 Pet. 1.19,20,21 Now come we to the Second Trinity or three sorts of Foes or Enemies to be duly and daily watched The first Foe is the World which is a woful Witch and must be burned for a Witch at the Last Day 2 Pet. 3.7,10 and therefore ought we to watch this Witch well that we may not be bewitched by it It is well known that such persons as are bewitched do not only lose their Likeness and Beauty but also do suffer many sad Paroxysms and Fits of strange Distempers c. As all this holds true literally to bewitched Bodies c. so no less is it true mystically to bewitched Souls which are captivated by the two fair Breasts or rather Botches this Witch the World exposeth to their view namely Pleasure and Profit Such have horrible Fits of Madness as Saul had when the Evil Spirit came upon him 1 Sam. 16.14,23 c. and such have Leanness sent into their Souls Psal 106.15 Besides the World must be well watched because it is such an Enemy as continually besiegeth us and we cannot flee from it while we live in it therefore we must be sure to have a Lid or Covering for our Hearts Those Vessels that wanted Coverings the Law doomed them Unclean Numb 19.15 and so are our Hearts without a Covering of the Spirit Isa 30.1 The Dirt of a dirty World will unavoidably be often falling into an open uncovered Heart whereby both Mind and Conscience are defiled Tit. 1.15 We should keep the World under our Feet where God placed it Psal 8.6 and not set it in our Hearts Eccles 3.11 The Second Foe to be watched is Satan who is called the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 and dealeth with Worldlings as unlucky Boys do with silly Horses they first catch them with a little Provender and then backs them whips and spurs them into an High Gallop and rides them till they be tired and at last lodges them in the Stable at night c. We are told how Satan considered Job and better considered him Job 1.8 and 2.3 that is he watched all Advantages to Tempt that none-such Saint and Servant of God c. Oh then how much more ought such weak worms as we are to consider him who so much consiâ—ers us and watches us to take all advantages against us for we are not ignorant of his Devices 2 Cor. 2.11 We read of Rizpah how she watched her Royal Seed upon the Rock c. and suffered neither the Birds of the Air to rest on them by day nor the Beasts of the Field by night 2 Sam. 21.10 Thus every Believer ought to do as Rizpah did in watching the Royal Seed even the Seed of God in them that it be not wronged either by night or day by Satan who is called
both a Prince Fowl of the Air Ephes 2.2 and likewise a Beast of the Field as he is a Roaring Lion 1 Pet. 5.8 and therefore are we there bidden to be vigilant lest we be devoured by him When this Tempter comes to us he hath a Threefold Errand 1 st To find something of his own Work in us as he found nothing thereof in our sinless Saviour Joh. 14.30 2 dly To get betwixt us and out strong Hold Prov. 18.10 where is safety drawing us out of our Trenches c. as Joshuah did the men of Ai Josh 8.6 And 3 dly To gain some Harbour and House room in any corner of our Hearts NB. Note well Tho' he may have power over our Naturals yet he can have no power over our Morals without our consent He cannot make his passage into us unless we sign his Pass c. We must watch well hereupon c. The Third Foe we must therefore watch the more is our own Hearts which are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked c. Jer. 17.9 Hereupon we are commanded to keep our Hearts with all diligence even with the best of our keeping because the issues of Life yea and of Death too flows from that Fountain according to the goodness or badness of it Prov. 4.23,24,25,26,27 and Deut. 4.9,10 c. This Hidden Man of the Heart as 't is called 1 Pet. 3.4 must be well watched because 't is like a troubled Sea always casting forth Mire and Dirt Isa 57.20,21 'T is Job's phrase am I a Sea c. that thou settest a watch over me Job 7.12 Abundance of evil Thoughts c. proceed from the Heart Matth. 15.18,19,20 The Tempter can only knock at the Door he can neither Fire it nor Force it open 't is his gaining our consent that lets down the Draw-bridge and lets him enter c. therefore 't is not enough to have our Hearts well watched only but they must be well washed also as God saith Wash thine Heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved how long shall thy vain Thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4.14 Those evil Thoughts ought to ho watched and strictly examined yea and clapped up close Prisoners otherwise they will abuse us the Fathers of them as Lot's Daughters did him their Father they were awake when he was fast asleep and how busie were they to make him drunk c. Gen. 19.31 to 38. Alas how oft do vain Imaginations abuse our Harlot-like Hearts all the night long until the morning as those men of Belial in the City of Gibeah did the Levite Concubine Judg. 19.25 c. Upon this consideration we ought to watch well our own Hearts which is the Source and Seed-plot of all our sins for thoughts beget delight delight begets consent consent brings forth action action produceth custom and custom concludeth with laying a law of necessity in sinning against God principiis obsta venienti occurito morbo begin betimes to watch Diseases of the Body c. how much more those of the Soul ill principles breed ill practices The Inferences concerning the Duty of watching 1 st 'T is an universal Duty no Persons no Time no Place are excepted from it all watch Mark 13.37 2 dly Every Person must watch the whole Man both all the Members of the Body and all the Faculties of the Soul Alas all have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weapons of wickedness Rom. 6.13,19 No Roman General was allowed the Honour of a Triumph until they had won five Victories so nor may we truly Triumph before we have conquered our five Senses How ought we to watch them many have died of a wound in the Eye c. Job cover'd his Eye with a Covenant Job 31.1 Psal 119.37 If our Eye offend us we must pull it out of the Old Adam and get it set into the New Man c. How ought we watch our Tongues Psal 39.1,2 and 141.3 Eccles 5.1,2,3 Jam. 3.2 c. 3 dly Secure Souls that dare neglect their watch consider not that their way is dark and slippery Psal 35.6 and that this world is liKe the Vale of Siddim full of Slime-pits Gen. 14.10 into which we may slip before we be aware therefore ought we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to walk warily Gal. 2.14 signifying that we lift not up one Foot until we find firm footing for the other and we ought to walk circumspectly Ephes 5.15 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie to walk exactly by Line and by Rule its Etymology is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a going up to the very top of Godliness walking along as in a Frame and keeping the King 's high way not turning to right hand or left Prov. 4.27 4 thly We must learn from the Prophet to say I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the Watch-tower and will watch to see what God will say unto me c. Hab. 2.1,2,3 Now there is no watching without Eyes which when Samson had lost then a little Boy could lead him Solomon saith that a prudent man foreseeth an evil and hideth himself c. Prov. 22.3 'T is a good observation the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a wise man is derived from the Hebrew word Tsopheh speculator one standing always upon his watch 5 thly Let us rejoyce in this that when we neglect to watch over our selves we have a gracious God to watch over us night and day c. Isai 27.3 and keeps the Feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2.9 1 Pet. 1.5 Jude ver 1. we may be lost Respectu Rei of our selves not Respectu Dei of God Joh. 6.39 and 10.28,29 and 17.12 Jude ver 24. 2 Tim. 1.12 The Apostle Peter saith the end of all â—hings is at hand therefore we must be soâ—er and wateh unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4.7 This is the last part of our Spiritual Armour Ephes 6.18 Matth. 26.41 which if by the helping hand of our gracious God we be made able to improve aright in our Christian Warfare then shall we be blest to rejoyce with the blessed Spouse of Christ crying It is the Voice of my Beloved behold he cometh leaping over Mountains and skipping over Hills Cant. 2.8 Remarks upon it are 1 st Watching and Praying Souls have this and hear this Kol-Dodi Heb. the Voice of their Beloved thus the Watching and Praying Prophet had his joyful tidings of the ruine of Babylon and of the restoration of Sion Hab. 2.1,3 and Chap. 3. and this was likewise the Spouse's work here wheâ— she was brought into the Bridegrooms Banquetting-house and his Banner of Loâ— was over her Cant. 2.4 yea and his left Hand was under her Head and his right hand embraced her after she had prayed for some of Christ's Cordials to be handed in to her Soul which was sick oâ— Love ver 5 6. and tho' she charged others not to awaken him c. ver 7. yet she doth it her self but not before he pleased for immediately he brings the
Birth And long before Luther even Origen did make the same choice that Moses had made before him in choosing rather to be a poor Preacher or Catechist in Alexandria than he would deny the Faith and turn Apostate as his fellow-pupil Plotinus did to procure to himself the great Grandeur and Splendor of this World As likewise I cannot but record it here how the Strengthening power of Christ made my self able to do the like c. when the Duke of York had imprisoned me and after a long time the Duke of Buckingham came to release me he then did offer to me one of the fattest Benefices in the Church of England if I would conform for he was informed by my Patron and his Father-in-law the Lord Fairfax that I was a great Scholar and had knowledge in all the learned Languages c. as he was pleased to use these Phrases and many more to the same purpose adding how much advantage might redound to our Church as well as to my self might I but be one of them c. My Answer then was this I thank your Grace for your Great Offers but I could not buy my Repentance at so dear a rate in wronging the Light of my own Conscience for I make it my Exercise my Recreation to keep it void of Offence both toward God and toward Man Acts 24.16 All the Favour I request of your Grace at this time is only my Releasement from Prison at which the Lord so inclined his Heart to release me and that without putting any Bonds upon me c. Ever since that time my prayer hath been that of Agur Lord give me neither Poverty nor Riches but feed me with Food convenient for me c. as Prov. 30.6,7,8 Indeed it is a shame the World should captivate us when we should captivate the World The Third Enemy that Christ captivateth for us is the Devil himself who maketh use of our fleshly Lusts as his Soldiers that he presseth yea and presseth forward too to war against our Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 and this present evil World Gal. 1.4 is this Tempter's large Shop where he is fully furnished with all sorts of Tempting Tools his Bag for the Covetous his Bed for the Lascivious and his Board for the Luxurious Lust of the Flesh Lust of the Eyes and Pride of Life as before Now when this Stronger Man our Lord Jesus comes upon this Strong Man thus armed Satan and overcomes him c. Luke 11.22 he spoils him with all his Principalities and Powers he leads Captivity Captive Ephes 4.8 and makes a shew of him openly as Tamâ—rlane did Bajazet the Great Turk whom he shut up in an Iron Cage made like a Grate and formed in such a sort as that on every side he might be seen and so carried him up and down to be scorned and derided by his own People as he passed along through all Asia Thus our Lord and our Champion made the Devil a publick spectacle of scorn and derision triumphing over him in it Col. 2.15 He hath already conquered him taken his Armour from him wherein this Strong Man trusted he hath won the Field and hath trodden him under his own Feet before hand for us and he will tread Satan under our Feet shortly Rom. 16.20 and he will give to us the same priviledge that Joshuah did to his Captains namely to set our Feet upon the Necks of all our Spiritual Enemies for this is God's doom upon all our Spoilers that when they have done their spoling-work they themselves shall be spoiled Isai 33.1 As Satan formerly took us alive as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies and led us captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 So he himself shall be led captive as our Lord hath long ago promised Rev. 13.10 as if he had said be of good chear your Spiritual Adversaries yea even Antichrist himself shall all meet with their match as Goliah did with David and this Strong Man with the Stronger Man as they have been long leading you into Captivity so they themselves shall be led into Captivity they shall all Drink as they have Brewed they shall have Blood to drink for they are worthy because they have sucked the Blood of God's Saints Rev. 16.6 Talia quisque luat qualia quisque facit God will pay them home in their own Coins It is a righteous thing with God to recompence Tribulation to them that trouble us 2 Thes 1.6 to fill them with the evil of their own ways as Prov. 14.14 and God will trouble those Troublers of Israel yea and that to all Eternity because if they and we could live together they would trouble us for ever in this lower World Now this is the blessed priviledge of every New Creature whereas sin and Satan did formerly lord it over the Soul the Soul by this happy change becomes through Grace to lord it over sin and Satan and then it is that the Lord saith to us as he said by the Mouth of Moses unto Israel Those Egyptians that pursue you thus this day ye shall see them again no more for ever Exod. 14.13 unless it be as they lay dead upon the shoar Thus converting Grace gives a mortal Wound to the Body of Sin and causeth it to lie a dying ever after and how can such as are dead or at least dying to sin live any longer therein and continue in it Rom. 6.1,2 Oh that we may be able to say our Consciences bearing witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 that Christ in us hath led Captivity captive for us c. The Fifth Character of a Conqueror is to pull down the Strong Holds of the Conquered He will in no wise suffer those noisom Nests of Rebellion to be kept standing any longer but with all expedition he labours to demolish them to pull them down from Top to Bottom and to leave them all level with the ground We ought all of us to make a most strict scrutiny and a most serious enquiry whether this Stronger Man the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 hath made the Weapons of our Spiritual Warfare even strong enough and mighty through God for the pulling down of the Strong Holds of Satan in us and casting down all vain imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God yea and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ in us 2 Cor. 10.4,5 NB. Note well here 1 st The Apostle's modesty not we saith he but our Weapons are mighty and not through us that wield them but 't is through God that works in and by them 't is not I saith he but the grace of God in me 1 Cor. 15.10 2 dly The Strong Holds of Satan in us are many 't is in the plural number there be sundry strong Forts Castles Trenches Bulwarks all Cages of Unclean Beasts inhabiting in our Hearts we have naturally in us a whole legion of Domestick Devils as the Man in the Gospel had Mar.
blest with an hearing Ear to the word of Life for the Ear is as it were the Gutter that conveys even the Waters of Life into the Soul of Man for thus it is said Hear and your Souls shall live Isai 55.3 and Faith cometh by Hearing the Word of God Rom. 10.17 We must enquire likewise whether with Joab also we have smitten those cursed Canaanites the Jebusites namely our own Carnal Corruptions enquire I say what Rule we have obtained over our own Spirits he that is slow to Anger is better than the Mighty and he that ruleth his Spirit is more honourable than he that conquereth a City Prov. 16.32 This is not only Manly but Godly also Whereas he that hath no Rule over his own Spirit is like a City that is broken down and without Walls Prov. 25.28 Such persons are like secure Hazor that had neither Gates nor Bars Jer. 49.31 those Souls are not fenced in with the fear of God and the Strong Man Satan well armed and furnished for every evil Work as the Man of God is furnished for every good Work as before 2 Tim. 3.17 keeps still the possession of his Strong Hold in them and they were never yet blest with a Visit from that blessed Stronger Man the Lord Jesus to dispossess him Oh thrice happy are they to whom Christ saith as he did to that Demoniack Mark 9.25 Come out of the Man thou Unclean Spirit and enter no more into him As none by the Roman Law were allowed to have the honour of riding Triumphantly in the City of Rome until he had obtained five Victories in the Field over his Enemies c. So none of us can ever expect to triumph as Conquerors in Heaven unless we have got the Victory over all our five Senses for even all the Members of our Bodies as well as all the Faculties of our Souls must be rescued from Satan and brought into obedience to Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 The Sixth Character of a Conqueror is Wholly to disarm the Conquered Thus the Stronger Man when he had come upon the Strong Man and had overcome him he took away all his Armour wherein he trusted Luke 11.22 that is those that were his offensive Weapons to wit the World Sin and Death wherewith he hath prevailed over all the Sons and Daughters of faln Adam after he had foil'd Adam himself for some thousands of Years unto this day And Satan finding all these Weapons so successful is said to trust in them as Goliah did in his Armour which made him triumph before his Victory saying to David come and I will give thy Flesh to the Fowls of the Air and to the Beasts of the Field 1 Sam. 17.44 as if David had been some Boy to be frighted with his big Boasts of his Carnal Confidence and in ver 45. David tells us how Goliah trusted in his Armour saying to him thou comest unto me with a Sword and Spear c. that is thou trustest in thy own Strength and in thy Armour c. but I come to thee in the Name of the Lord c. who will deliver thee this day into my hand ver 46 47. which was accordingly accomplished Thus he who is call'd both David's Son and David's Lord Mat. 22.45 The Stronger Man encounters the Strong Man that trusts in his Armour and spoils him thereof Col. 2.15 even in a Duel too as David did Goliah for Christ trod the Winepress alone Isai 63.1,2,3 When the fulness of time came this ruddy David appeared with his Garments dyed Red with the Blood of his Enemies and as David put Goliah's Armour in his Tent 1 Sam. 17.54 so our David hath buried all the Damning Power of the Devil's Armour in his own Grave Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Thus this Alligory may be farther enlarged as David carried the Head of Goliah to Jerusalem and as some suppose set it up upon a Pinacle of the Temple where Satan set our Saviour by God's permission afterwards as an high Monument of his Happy Victory This David did after he had shewed this same Head to Saul ver 57. And as for Goliah's Sword wherewith David had beheaded the Gyant with his own Weapon this likewise was laid up in the Tabernacle wrapped in a Cloath behind the Ephod 1 Sam. 21.9 where we are told how David prevailed with the High Priest Ahimeleck to restore it to him again as before it had been his own won by his Valour and therefore he accounted no other Sword like that which would be a standing Remembrancer of his former Atchievements by the mighty presence of the Lord his God wherewith he did encourage himself in the day of his great Distress 1 Sam. 30.6 even so our Mystical David destroyed him who had the power of Death that is the Devil with his own Weapon Heb. 2.14 Christ's Death was the Death of Death and of the Devil also who had the power of it Christ came to this end that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 Accordingly Oh how happy are those Christians who through Christ that strengthens them have got the head of the Tempter or of some strong Temptation into their Hand as David had the Head of Goliah in his Hand and can shew it to the King of Kings as he did to the King of Israel as before and who have got also those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Weapons of Wickedness as the Greek word signifies Rom. 6.13 which formerly warr'd against their Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 But now are wrapped up in a Cloth behind the Ephod in the Tabernacle of the Lord and who likewise go with David to the High Priest of our Profession as Christ is called Heb. 3.1 and have got a better Sword of him than that of Goliah even the Sword of the Spirit which it the Word of God Ephes 6.17 of which it may be better said than was said of the other there is none like that for if the word of Christ do but dwell richly in us as it ought to do in all wisdom Col. 3.16 and as it did in Christ himself aeque equally for Quality non equaliter not equally for Quantity for then we may comfortably hope that with this Sword we shall conquer the great Goliah of Hell as our Lotd did only by hurling three smooth Stones of Sacred Scriptures at his Head as David did at the Head of Goliah and gave him his mortal wound Then indeed are we Conquerors in Christ and then may we say with David also the Snare is broken and our Souls are delivered Psal 124.7 We should be careful to keep all our Monuments and Remembrancers of our former Conquests over both Satan's Temptations and of our own Carnal Corruptions as wrapped up in a Napkin behind the Ephod of a Sanctified Memory even in everlasting Remembrances then former experience may strengthen our present Faith Psal 77.10,11 and then no Weapon formed against us can ever prosper as the Lord hath promised Isai 54.17
keeps himself 1 Joh. 5.19 but we are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation and we are kept for Heaven as Heaven is kept for us 1 Pet. 1.4,5 that we may receive the end of our Faith even the salvation of our Souls ver 9. This great work of a double keeping is wrought by the great Grace of God given freely to us whereby we are made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 The 3 d Enquiry is the Supposition If we be found in the way of Righteousness Answer To understand the true meaning of this Phrase we must know that it is not enough for us to begin well but we must end well also Exitus Acta probat 't is the End that Crowns the Action The Old Father of the Church saith some are Sancti Juvenes sed Satanici Senes Young Saints yet at last prove no better than Old Devils who begin in the Spirit but end in the Flesh as the Apostle's Phrase is Gal. 3.3 Those foolish ones were like Nebuchadnezzar's Image whose Golden Head ended in Dirty Feet They did Run well at the first but the Devil hindred them in the way Gal. 5.7 not only making them stop and step back but also to step aside into crooked Paths Psal 125.5 and ran a whoring from God Psal 73.27 therefore the Lord will lead them sorth with the workers of iniquity The doom of such is denounced the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways Prov. 14.14 As he hath made a match with Mischief so he shall soon have his Belly full of it as he hath sold himself to work wickedness as Ahab did 1 Kings 21.25 so he shall be sure of a sad Paiment at last He hath drawn back unto perdition and God saith My Soul shall have no pleasure in you Heb. 10.37,38 Such as steal away from their Colours run from their Captain and revolt from Christ must expect no better than Martial Law Apostates indeed are Renegadoes they run away but 't is into the Mouth of Hell so a worse condition they cannot choose for themselves Whereas the Righteous on the contrary do hold on in their way both in their Youth and in their Old Age and grow stronger and stronger Job 17.9 He may indeed stumble sometimes upon some Stumbling-stone or Block that is laid in his way as David himself had his Stumbling-time at the prosperity of the Wicked and his own Adversity Psal 73.13,14,15 where we find his stumble was so deep and dangerous that he was ready to repent of his Repentance but as he that stumbles and falls not gains ground by his stumbling in taking a longer stride thereby so did David here who upon second thoughts ever better than the first recoiling and reflecting upon himself saying this is my Infirmity and Oh how he be beasts himself for so stumbling ver 22. so foolish was I and Ignorant and even as a Beast before thee my God the Hebrew word for Beast is Behemoth which is the plural feminine Hebrew signifying a Big-bellied Beast full of Young Ones which is a clear resemblance of Original Sin in us the Mother of all Actual Sins and the same word Behemoth the Lord useth in his Humbling Speech to Job Job 40.15 to 24 whereby is expressed that Monster of Beasts the Beast of Beasts the Elephant By this and by other Speeches of the same tendency God so humbled Job as to make him abhor himself and to repent in Dust and Ashes Job 42.5 Thus likewise that Holy Man Agur who vilifies yea nullifies himself to the utmost saying surely I am more brutish than any Man and I have not the understanding of a Man c. Prov. 30.2,3 Here was true Humility which is derived ab Humo signifying the Ground because this Grace lays us flat on the ground thus these godly persons and many more upon Scripture-record did indeed stumble in the way of Righteousness yea and some of them very fouly yet none of them did so stumble as to fall finally from that blessed way they all did recover themselves by Repentance they all did return to this way of Righteousness and they all did persevere therein to their dying day So their Gray Hairs became a Crown of Glory to them being all found in the way of Righteousness Note well we must all be found in that way when both Old Age and Death also come to find us Old Father Chrysostom said Canities tunc Venerabilis est quando ea gerit quae canitiem decent to wit then is Old Age most worthily Venerable then is Hoariness of Hairs most truly Honourable when only such Deeds are done by it that doth well become it both in the sight of God and Men We Old Ones ought to make it our exercise which the blessed Apostle made his saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herein do I do recreate my self as the word signifies to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and toward Man Acts 24.16 Oh that we could make this same our Exercise yea even our Recreation both Night and Day using our utmost Diligence Skill Will and Affections disciplining and inuring our selves herein and thereby we shall neither be ashamed to live nor affraid to die We must live as that Apostle did in all good Conscience Acts 23.1 Good both with the goodness of Integrity and with the goodness of Tranquility we must keep our Consciences clear and clean better offend all the World yea all the Witches in the World than offend our own Consciences for Conscience is God's Spie and 't is Man's Overseer as it is God's Deputy-Judge so it is Man's Domestick Chaplain bearing witness of all our Doings and desirings and accordingly excusing or accusing absolving or condemning yea comforting or tormenting us And if our own Hearts or Consciences do condemn us God is greater than our Hearts and will condemn us much more 1 John 3.20 Whereas on the contrary when Hoary Hairs are not found in the way of Righteousness that Hoariness is so far from being Honourable that 't is rather Mucor than Canities a nasty Mouldiness and not a venerable Hoariness 'T is sad with such that the older they grow they wax worse and worse 2 Tim. 3.13 and do no better than stink above ground being Dead while they Live 1 Tim. 5.6 What can be more odious than an old Lascivious Goat than an old Fornicator having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from sin 2 Pet. 2.14 c. Gray Hairs and Green Thoughts make an abominable agreement such are Heteroclites in declining Nature and Monsters of Mankind in the World in whom it is so far gone with them and Lust hath such an unlimited power over them that neither strength of Grace as Gen. 39.9 in Young Joseph strong Grace kept him from that great wickedness and sin against his God nor decays of Nature can restrain them from their Youthful Extravagancy as Gen. 18.12 Sarah said after I am old shall Hust
old and cold is our English Proverb It was the aggravation of Solomon's sin that he was in his Old Age so easily drawn away from God and godliness by his Idolatrous Wives 1 Kings 11.4 Oh how ridiculous it is to behold a sinner a Child of Fourscore or an hundred years old yet such shameful sights as these are denounced accursed Isa 65.20 But if we indeed be the true Sons and Daughters of Abraham we ought to do what he did of whom it is said that he went to his Grave in a good Old Age or as the Hebrew hath it with a good Gray Head Gen. 25.8 We must imitate him in this herein even all we that are Old that we may be Good as well as Old that we may both Live and and Die in a good Old Age as he did for unless we walk in Abraham's steps in this World while we live we can never expect to lodge in Abraham's Bosom when we die Abraham died an Old Man and full of Years Gen. 25.8 He was as fully satisfied to leave the World as men are wont to be willing to rise from the Table when satisfied to the full with Food And thus Job said I would not live always Job 7.16 but more of this after It was the saying of Augustus Caesar that Great Emperor in whose Reign our Lord Jesus was born Audite me Senem vos Juvenes quem Juvenem multi Senes audierunt be pleased Oh ye Young Men to hearken diligently unto me who am now Old whom many Old Men did hear attentively when I was but Young David saith I have been Young and now am Old come ye Children hearken to me and I will teach you the fear of the Loed Psal 34.11 and 37.25 Accordingly I say in all humbleness of Soul Oh that all People both Young and Old may lend an hearing Ear to me who am now very Old whom all Persons of all Ages did savingly hearken to when I was Young so that the Lord by his Grace made me a Spiritual Father to many Souls both Young and Old Male and Female Rich and Poor yea Bond and Free All these are one in Jesus Christ Col. 3.11 whom I have begotten in the Gospel as the Apostle doth phrase it 1 Cor. 4.15 who all rise up and call me their Spiritual Father in Christ amongst whom there is one remarkable Passage I cannot but record which indeed is worthy to be kept in everlasting remembrance namely While I was Minister at Cottingham near Hull that Ministerial Charge being resigned over to me by Famous Dr. Winter when he went over into Ireland to be the Provost of the College at Dublin there it pleased the Lord so to bless my Ministry as to honour me with the Conversion of many Souls both in that place and in other places round about But above all there was one Thomas Raspin an Old Man and one of the most substantial Men in that great Town who through grace had most evidently and most eminently a new work of Conversion wrought upon his heart in his Old Age and when Gray Hairs were upon him which indeed made him a most lively Servant of Christ to his dying day bringing forth sresh Fruit in his Old Age c. Psal 92.14 whose Funeral Sermon I then preached wherein I observed what a rare work of God this was to be effectually called in our Old Age for beside Abraham in the Old Testament and Nicodemus in the New Testament who were both called home from Idolatry and from Ignorance when they were Old Men And very few more such Instances can be found out upon Record in either Testament Now seeing this signal and singular Favour of God was vouchsafed to such a worthless Worm as me about fifty years ago when I had been but about seven years employed in the work of the Ministry if the Lord was then pleased to cause Old Persons so savingly to hearken unto my Ministerial Voice while I was so Young how much more may I hope now that all Persons of all Ages will give their most diligent Attention unto that most weighty Advice for I cordially profess to speak no otherwise than as an Oracle of God unto all Aged ones which cannot prove unseasonable to any that are Young because if the Lord delight in them to lengthen out their Lives and not cut them off for their wickedness in the midst of their days Psal 55.23 they must come to be Aged also And therefore let all lend an hearing Ear unto that grave Counsel which I an Old Servant of Christ doth declare at this time to you in the Name of the Lord. We are told how Moses was fourscore Years Old when God sent him with God's Message to Pharaoh Exod. 7.7 to shew that the words of an Old Messenger of God ought to take a deep impression upon the Hearts of all Hearers in case they be not Case-hardened as Pharaoh was over and over again both by himself and by God and likewise by the Devil But I hope this is not the Case of any of you as Heb. 6.9 tho' I mention the Case of Pharaoh Now I who am very near Fourscore may likewise say I am persuaded better things of you tho' I thus speak 'T was Zuinglius his practice when he had been inveighing against Vice to come off with these soft words Probe Vir hoc nihil ad te this is nothing to thee Oh thou Honest Man So my present prospect through Grace is that I may prevail with many either to hasten into or to keep close in the way of Righteousness if in it already how forcible are right words Job 6.25 especially to prepared Hearts more especially when multitude of Days and Years doth teach Wisdom Job 32.7 I have made a long discourse in discovering the many Characters of the true Conquerors through the Love of Christ Now seeing every Conqueror doth win a Crown which hath this Inscription upon it Vincenti Dabo to him that overcometh will I give it Rev. 2.7,10,26 and 3.5,21 and 21.7 but my present Task is to shew some Instances of such Conquerors to wit such Aged Ones as are found in the way of Righteousness the Crown of Life the Crown of Glory shall be assuredly set and seated upon their Hoary Heads After the general Discourse upon this Subject aforesaid that all us Aged Persons may come both to win and wear this blessed Crown I shall speak more particularly upon that Theme of Old Age concerning its Nature and its Accidents and concerning those Duties which ought to attend it whereby it may be made like Abraham's aforesaid a good Old Age c. 'T is said to the honour of Young Men that â—acy had overcome the Wicked One 1 John 2.13 Tho' youthful Passions be most rapid in them then 't is a shame for us Aged ones to fall short of these c. First of the 1 st of these namely its Nature Old Age is without all controversie a real Blessing
of Age at which Age David died see after Then Secondly They accounted him among the Annosos an Old Man indeed who lived up from Seventy to Eighty Years of Age such a Man was got a great way into that far Country of Old Age even into that Hyperborean cold and frozen Climate where the Snow of Hoary Hairs lay continually upon his Head undissolved But Thirdly The highest Step and Degree is such an one as liveth above Eighty Years old those they number among Decrepid Ones that then are Superannuated declining to a Doteage in whom all the Senses of the Body yea and all the Faculties of the Soul begin daily to decay as in Old Barzillai before-named according to his own confession unto David such very Aged Persons are accounted wondrous Old as is the Expression in the Old Singing Psalms Psal 90.10 for it falls out most commonly that in this wondrous Old Age we pay the deep interest of Pains in dolorous Distempers being the time wherein as Solomon saith we can have no Pleasure Eccles 12.1,2 c. and according to the Old Adage bis Pueri Senes Old Persons are twice Children as after their Birth so before their Death they become meerly Childish which once did occasion my self to say when I saw a very Old Woman one past all other Work rocking the Cradle that had a very Young Babe in it behold there is one Child rocking another and thereupon I gave her the best advice I could how it was high time for her to make sure work for a better World Moreover beside this Rabinical Animadversion thus Spiritually Improved we have another more Critical and Christian Calculation of Man's Life made by one of our English Martyrs who left behind this curious Criticism saying because the common term of Humane Life in the ordinary course of Nature is but Threescore Years and Ten according to Moses that Man of God's computation Psal 90.10 Now if we divide those Seventy Years into four Equal Parts then must it necessarily follow that every Man is three parts Dead when he doth but arrive at the Age of Fifty Years This solid Observation doth much sooner mind us of our Mortality than that before of the Jewish Rabbins and to the same purpose I my self have both publickly and privately taught the like Lesson upon the end of my four Fingers and the Thumb shewing to the Eyes of those I spake to how the top of the little Finger represents our Childhood the top of the next Finger shews our Youth the top of the longest Finger demonstrates our Middle Age when we come to our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fulness of Height and Health then the top of the fore Finger which is a little lower than the middle Finger declares our beginning to decline by little and little but lastly from the top of the fore Finger to the top of the Thumb there is a great fall and hence is it that we usually say such an Aged Person breaks fast in a little time the Lord help us to learn this Lesson upon our Fingers ends NB. Note well The God of Nature hath ordained that Nature in all his created Beings must decay yet this is the Sovereign Power of the Creator over all his Creatures to determine the Time measure and Quantity when the period of Nature shall come to decay and be dissolved Thus Job acknowledges this Divine Rule and Dominion of God over all Mankind saying his Days are determined the number of his Months are with God thou hast appointed his Bounds that he cannot pass c. Job 14.5,6 that is God hath set every Man the Bounds of his Time whether shorter called here his Days or longer the number of his Months and whether shorter or longer they have both their Bounds which they cannot pass no more than the unruly Ocean can pass the Bounds that its Maker hath set it Job 38.8,9,10,11 We should think the same of the Waters of Afflictions that the Lord doth limit them saying thus far shalt thou go and no sarther and here shall thy proud Waves be staid This Sovereign Rule and Dominion of God over Man in determining his Time upon Earth is made manifest in ordering such long Leases of Life to the Patriarchs and such a short Term to the Lives of the following Ages This is elegantly expressed thus by Tertullian Vitae Jugera illis sed nobis tantum Spithamas Deus dedit illi Gigantes fuere nos vero Pugiones c. God gave to the Patriarchs whole and long Acres of Life but to us only a Span-breadth thereof they were lofty Gyants but we are puny Dwarfs yea and this Divine Dominion is daily apparent as the only over-ruling Reason why some likely to live long do die soon while others that are more weak with daily Distempers do live longer than they as well as it is the Will and Wisdom of God that we see the Sons and Daughters of Men do die daily in all Ages in Childhood Youth Middle Age as well as Old Age And as God hath set Bounds to Man's Time so hath he determined Man's Task likewise thus John Baptist had his Course to fulfil Acts 13.25 the word for Course in Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence the Dromedary hath his Name which is a swift Creature and will run an hundred miles in a day Thus the Baptist tho' he lived not long but was cut off by Herod yet he lived much in a little space he wrought hard and made haste in his Work as not willing to be taken with his Task undone Thus 't is said of David also in Acts 13.36 that he served out his Generation and then he fell asleep after he had done his Generation-work according to the will of God There is an appointed time to Man upon the Earth Job 7.1 both for his Time and for his Task and he who bears up the Heavens prescribes such a Pillar before Man with this Inscription writ upon it ne plus ultra thou shalt pass no farther stat sua cuique dies said Virgil of old every Man hath his Day set him wherein he must die his last Day stands but all the rest of his days to that Day are in a running posture Some Lutherans indeed do teach that God hath not determined the period of Men's Days but that it is in Man's power either to lengthen or to shorten them But many Scriptures teach the contrary that God hath set the Bounds of every Man's Life to a very Day as well as his Place of Dwelling Gen. 49.13 Acts 17.26 and tho' thofe Bounds may be passed which our Natural Constitution in the ordinary course of Nature setteth yet those Bounds which the Almighty Power and Providence of God setteth us we can never pass For Job useth two Metaphors 1 st That of an Hireling Job 7.1 and 14.6 Now we agree with Hirelings to work with us for a day and therefore are they called Day-labourers The 2 d
salvation of our Souls 1 Pet. 1.4,5,9 Insomuch that Death which is in it self no other than Nature's Divorce the Bodies Prison the Soul's Banishment the Arrest of Judgment the Curse of Sin and the King of Terrors as well as the Terror of Kings Job 18.14 unto all Mankind in General yet such a change doth the power of Godliness both in Young and Old that are chosen and called make in their Changes from one World to another that their Death's is only their 1. Harvest or Ingatherings into God's Garner c. 2 'T is the Joy of Marriage which is called a Rest in the House of the Husband Ruth 3.1 so Death is our Rest A Rest from their Labours Rev. 14.13 they shall Rest 1 st From their Labours of Necessity their Needs of Nature shall then cease for ever they shall Hunger no more they shall Thirst no more c. as they have done while in the Body 2 dly They shall Rest from their Labours of Infirmity they shall never complain of any more Aches and Pains in any one of the parts of the Body as they have done frequently heretofore in the time of their Mortality 3 dly From the Labours of their Callings c. they shall toil no more in the Sweats of either their Brows or their Brains c. And 4 thly Which is above all they shall Rest from their Labours of Iniquity a Laboribus Peccati as well as Officii they shall never sin any more whereas heretofore in the time of their sojourning upon Earth they had this weight upon them which they could never lay aside nor cast it off and sin did then easily beset them so that they could not run the Race that was set before them Heb. 12.1 Because of the Law of the Members that did continually war against the Law of their Minds and oft bringing them into Captivity yea and as oft making them to cry out Oh wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me c. Rom. 7.23,24 But now Christ is come to them and knock'd off all their Fetters which formerly clogg'd them c. and setteth them at perfect liberty Isai 61.1 and those whom the Son of God doth free they are free indeed John 8.36 3. Death to those that die in the Lord and in a Good Old Age also is not only the Christians Harvest Marriage and Rest as before but 't is likewise their Conquest over all their Spiritual Enemies so they have also the Joy of Victory as well as of Harvest of Marriage and of Rest They are become by their Holy Life and Happy Death more than Conquerors Rom. 8.37 even Triumphers in Christ 2 Cor. 2.14 and so as they have won the Crown of Glory by their overcoming the Wicked one through the strengthning Love of Christ upon them so they shall wear it as Kings Rev. 1.6 and as Conquerors for evermore 'T is said the last Enemy to be destroyed is Death 1 Cor. 15.26 Now to all true Believers Death is already swallowed up in Victory ver 55. as Fuel is swallowed up by the Fire and as the Sorcerers Serpents were swallowed up by Moses his Serpent so that they can say to Death when it comes to them as Jacob said to Esau surely I have seen thy Face as the Face of God Gen. 33.4,10 Thus that Esau Death doth meet a Member of Christ with Kissing rather than with Killing or so much as Frowns yea and guards him home to his Father's House as Esau guarded his Brother Jacob Home to Canaan after his long absence from it he went before Jacob as his Life-guard ver 12. Thus after a long Conflict by the Indwellings of Sin all our Life comes the Conquest at the last in our Death Alas we cannot beat sin out of Doors as Sarah did the Bond-woman Hagar but this Fretting Leprosie sin can never be either washed out or scraped off from the Walls of our Earthly Tabernacles until the House that is infected with that Plague be demolished by Death and the Stones and Timber thereof be altogether taken down As it was thus in the Type under the Law concerning the House of Leprosie Levit. 14.43,44 So it is with our Houses of Clay as the Antitype which can no way be Amended but must be Renewed and this is only done in part while we are in the Kingdom of Grace But this cleansing Work is compleatly perfected when Death gives us a dismission from hence into the Kingdom of Glory The belief of this made Old Simeon sing his Soul out of his Body and Paul the Aged Phil. v. 9. was not only a Conqueror but which was more even a Triumpher in Christ as before for he sang a Triumphant Song over Death and the Grave singing as well as saying Oh Death where is thy Sing and Oh Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor 15.55 This is the boldest and the bravest Challenge that ever any Mortal Man did ring in the Ears of Death in which words he as it were out-braved it calling it Craven to its Face as the Vulgar saying is and bids it do its worst to him that it could do like the Philosopher Anaxarchus who with an undaunted Courage told the Tyrant who was beating his Body to pieces with a great Iron Pestle in a large Mortar made purposely for that Barbarous Butchery in the very Act of his Martyrdom he most confidently cryed out to his Tormentor Tunde Tunde Tyranne Vasculum frangis sed Anaxarchum non Laedis Beat on beat on thou Bruitish Tyrant thou indeed doth break the Vessel of the Man but thou can never hurt Anaxarchus the Man himself Much more might this blessed Apostle insult over this greatest of Tyrants that universal Destroyer of Mankind to wit Death with his Javelin in his hand seeing he was so able as to render such weighty Reasons for his Triumphing Insultation as he saith the Sting of Death is Sin c. ver 56. signifying hereby that our dear Redeemer had been the Death of Death by his Death Mors Mortis Morti Mortem quoque Morte dedisset The Death of Christ gave Death its Death as it was prophesied of him Oh Death I will be thy Death c. Hos 13.14 thus our Saviour did disarm Death and took out the Sting from this Venemous Serpent so that we may now as safely put Death into our Bosoms in a serious Meditation of dying Daily as some men whom I have seen have with enough of safety put into their Bosoms a Snake whose Sting was before pulled out If Death do now shoot out any Sting at us we may thank our selves for our not being more constantly sound in the way of Righteousness If at any time we turn aside to crâ—…ked Paths there will the old crooked Serpent meet us and he will not only sting us there but also leave his Sting behind him in us as the Bee doth to those that are stung by it and this may be the procuring Cause of many sad effects
it is indeed a Terror to Kings too the Philosopher calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most formidable of Formidables and Nature in the best doth find it frightful enough yet our Lord saith I will not leave you Comfortless John 14.18 The First Comfort against the Fear of Death and that our Lord hath left us for our Relief is 1 Cor. 15.55 that Christ hath unstinged that Serpent and that now his Redeemed may triumph over it Moses first fled from the Serpent but being better informed he took it by the Tail and then it became an Useful Rod in his Hand Exod. 4.3,4 Thus Israel at first fled from Goliah as affrighted with the sight of such a Monster of Mankind but so soon as they understood that David had slain him and laid him along without his Head upon the ground then did they run as fast to him to trample upon him c. as they had before run away from him sore affrighted 1 Sam. 17.24,52 So could we but believe that Christ our Lord David had swallowed up Death in Victory as we are assured Isai 25.8 and that Christ's Death is the Death of Death Hos 13.14 then might we sing a Triumphant Song with the Apostle over both Death and the Grave c. A Second Breast of Comfort against the Fear of Death is that precious Promise of God Thou shalt not be afraid when Destruction or Death cometh Job 5.21 and thus God said to Old Jacob fear not to go down to Egypt for I will be with thee and I will bring thee back again c. Gen. 46.3,4 Accordingly our Saviour saith to his sanctified ones Isai 13.3 Fear not to go down among the Dead which is a going the way of all the Earth Josh 23.14 for I will go down with thee and I will assuredly also bring thee back again as one of my Children of the Resurrection Luke 20.36 as if he had said I will bring you without failure from the Jaws of Death to the Joys of Heaven as surely as Ezra and Nehemiah brought all the Captive Jews out of the Captivity of Babylon and we must consider for our Comfort that Death seizeth upon the Body only which we derive from the First Adam as Joseph's Mistress seized only upon Joseph's Garment his Person escaped so the pretious Soul is returned to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 A Third Breast of Consolation for Saints to suck against the Fear of Death is the Righteous hath Hope in his Death Prov. 14.32 Death to a Believer is as the Vally of Achor Josh 7.24,27 Israel's entrance into the Land of Promise a Door of Hope Hos 2.15 into the Heavenly Canaan there to sing Hallelujah's to the Lord for ever Death indeed to Sinners is but a Trap-door that drops them down into Hell Psal 9.17 When that Grim-Sergeant Arrests them by God's Permission and Commission in the Devil's Name and hurls them into an Infinite Ocean of Hell-fire Oh what Dreadful Skreaks doth that Guilty Soul give when it is hurried away and hurled into Everlasting Burnings Isai 33.14 and to swim naked as i◠Scalding Lead and Liquor for evermore But blessed be God 't is better with the Saints whose Debts are all paid by their Dear Redeemer they are not afraid of the Arrest of Death but looks upon it as God's Officer sent to give them possession of a Mansion of Glory and therefore their Hearts are not troubled when their Lord sends for them to be ever with him in Heavenly Happiness John 14.1,2,3,4 and 16.7 and 1 Thes 4.17.18 Oh how willing was Old Jacob to go down into Egypt when it was only to see his younger Son Joseph whom he had not seen for many years c. How much more willing yea desirous ought we to be to go up to Heaven a far better place than Egypt there to see our Elder Brother Jesus Christ How glad were those Three Wise Men of the East to take a long Journey when it was only to see the Babe of Bethlehem Christ in the Cradle c Now if we can but say as those Wise Men said We have seen his Star c. Matth. 2.2,11 how much more ought we to long for this Journey c. that we may behold our Lord Christ advanced upon the Throne of his Glory and to behold his Face in Righteousness Psal 17.15 c. which is a Beatifical Vision a Sight far exceeding those Three Romam in Flore Paulum in Ore Christum in Carne which Father Augustin so earnestly wished to see namely Rome in its Glory Paul in the Pulpit and Christ in the Flesh Alas all those Sights are infinitely below the beholding him in his Glory 1 John 3.2 It was a good Prayer of the same Augustin saying Lord can no Man see thy Face and live O then let me die that I may see it c. A Fourth Cordial against the Fear of Death is Better is the day of our Death than the day of our Birth Eccles 7.12 'T is better every way For 1. Our Birth begins our Miseries but our Death ends them if we die in the Lord we are blessed Rev. 14.13 Whereas Man born of a Woman is born to trouble c. Job 14.1 Yea miserable so soon as warm in the Womb at Conception Psal 51.5 Birth is our entrance into this lower present Evil World Gal. 1.4 but Death in Christ is our entrance into the best and blessed World 2. We come crying into this World c. but some Saints have gone singing and triumphing out of it into a better World hoping that their Death was but the Day-break of Eternal Brightness c. A Fifth Cordial is that Death cannot separate us from the Love of God Rom. 8.28 'T is so far from destroying the Union that it is called a sleeping in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 And as by sleep the frame of the Body is refreshed so by Death the Union of the Soul is refined Now when we are wearied with our days Labour we are not afraid to go take our rest When Lazarus died our Lord said our Friend Lazarus sleepeth John 11.11 and he said the same of Jairus's Daughter Matth. 9.24 and this is the frequent Phrase in Scripture to call Death a Sleep Job 7.21 2 Sam. 7.12 1 Cor. 11.30 Now as Sleep doth not separate Friends but only for a time betwixt good Night and good Morrow so no more doth Death which is but a bidding good Night for after sleeping in the Grave as in a Bed Isai 57.2 the Morning comes to rise again The Sixth Cordial is 2 Cor. 5.1,2,3 to 9. We know 't is not we think or we hope only this is the true Triumph of our Trusting in Christ our leaning upon the Lord Isai 50.10 that when our Clayie Cottages moulder down we have a Mansion of Glory to go to While we abide in those tottering Tabernacles we groan earnestly being Burdened ver 2.4 that is both with Sin and Misery whereof we have here our