their Deaths too if we be not awakened to prepare for our own But alas How soon do the Impressions wear off of such awakening Spectacles It may be the ghastly looks or dying groans of dear Friends or departing Relatives gasping out their last breath and just passing into the other World for the present may affect us a little It may be when we see an open Coffin in our own House or a Grave gaping to receive the Body of one we knew and loved and lately conversed with this may move and startle us a little It may be when we behold the mournful Looks and Habit the Funeral Pomp and Solemnity that attends them to the House of Darkness some serious Thoughts are excited our Minds are aw'd into some reflections upon our own Mortality But when the Ceremony is over and we are gone from such a Spectacle when the Dead are buried out of our sight and we engag'd among the living World again how soon alas is all this forgotten and how few are Gainers by such a Loss in the manner they should be i. e. To take the Warning to be Ready and Prepared for the Coming of Christ to us which is as sure as if we were already dead One Help to get Ready our Selves for Death and Judgment is to consider and improve the Death of Others Either of such who were called and not Ready whose case speaks loudly to us not to delay and trifle as they did or of such as were Prepared and fit to Dye their Death hath also the like voice of that in the Text Be you also Ready Our Deceased Friend Mrs. Gearing I am perswaded was of this latter sort § 1. I Know very well that the praising of the Dead hath been scandalously abused as a more close way of flattering the living Relations and therefore would be cautious what I speak on such Occasions But the Honour of Gods Grace is not a little concern'd in the Honour of those in whom it did remarkably appear and he hath promis'd that they who serve and follow him shall be honoured To mention what was really imitable and praise-worthy needs no Apology or Excuse the matter carries its own Justification § 2. You of this Congregation could not but observe her Diligence and Constancy in attending on the Publick Worship of the Lords Day and to show forth the Lords Death every Month in the other Solemnity of the Supper Her early Attendance here before the publick Worship began thô she liv'd at a more remote distance than many of you is not unworthy of your Imitation § 3. Her strict Seriousness in Family-worship and Closet Duties by which the Life and Vigour of practical Godliness is to be kept up they who knew her best were well acquainted with § 4. There was one thing in her daily Course which should shame and awaken most Professors viz. the Conscientious daily practice of Self-reflection and Examination reviewing and calling over the passages of every Day in the Evening She made Conscience every Night to look back on the Duties she had performed and the Manner of 'em on the Mercies she had receiv'd on the Errors Weaknesses and Omissions she had been guilty of c. in order to Repentance or Thanksgiving Oh that there were more of such concerning whom this may be truly said We should be more Ready for the Table of the Lord every Month and more Ready for the presence of Christ at the Hour of Death if we did thus review the Actions of every Day at the close of it § 5. Not to insist upon her Faithfulness and Prudence Tenderness and Affection Affability and Friendly Carriage in every Relation with divers other things very Commendable in her Life I shall only take notice of a few things concerning her last Sickness which after ten days determin'd in Death § 6. Her Patience Submission and Resignation was answerable to the other part of her Character and Deportment that is truly Christian When sometimes by intervals her Distemper did affect her Head as soon as she recovered the use of her Vnderstanding and a composed mind very pertinent and earnest Supplications to Heaven discovered the holy Seriousness of her Heart and Frame When she could hardly speak more than Yes or No yet she did sufficiently signifie her Assent and cordial Approbation of any seasonable Religious Discourse that was made to her § 7. She owned her Hope and Trust in the Mercy of God thro' Jesus Christ for Pardon and Eternal Life and under the disorders of so painful and violent a Feaver yet acknowledg'd she had Peace within § 8. The day before she dyed she told a near Relation that she had a great work to do on the morrow And when it was replyed that 't is true It is a great and difficult Work to dye yet one moments Enjoyment of God in Heaven will make amends for all She very affectionately cries out I so it will I know that my Redeemer lives and that I shall go to him and be with him § 9. The Evening before her Departure after I had prayed for her in the presence of several Relations and Friends and seriously endeavour'd to commend her Soul into the hands of Christ I ask'd her Whether Jesus Christ were not the Chiefest of ten thousands to Her whether she did not desire and prize him above all whether she had not given up her self to him again and again with all her Heart and Soul entirely and without reserve and endeavour'd humane Infirmities and Backslidings repented of excepted to walk and live as a Follower of Christ under the Conduct of his Spirit and according to the Rule of his Word and some other such Questions that might assist her to discern the Truth of her Grace c. She answered in the Affirmative with extraordinary Modesty Humility Thankfulness and Affection And gave me her hand at Parting with thanks for my Prayers and Assistance begging of God the best of Blessings for me and mine which were her own words § 10. After which in a difficult struggle with the King of Terrors we hope and trust she was supported by the Everlasting Arms of that Powerful Grace of Christ who hath conquer'd Death and him that had the Power of it the Devil So that we may now say O Death where is thy Sting c. God grant those lively impressions of Death and another World which the Relations then present seem'd to have on that occasion may not easily wear off or lose their proper Influence And now Christians let us mix our Sorrows for our Deceased Friend with the Joys of Faith on the account of her being made meet and ready for the Presence of Christ Some Sorrow is allowable were it but as Death enters into the World as the fruit of Sin But she being Prepared for Death and made meet for the Promised Blessedness beyond the Grave that ought to be the matter of our Joy which we believe is so of hers
assist them hereafter as now otherwise it is as uncertain whether you shall Repent hereafter if you live as whether you shall live to that hereafter wherein you say you intend to Repent 6. Consider How great and Important a thing it is to Dye and to meet the Lord our Judge It is so even for good men that are habitually Ready after such a life of sense and the deep Impressions we are under by sensible Objects after our many Backslidings and actual Sins to look into the House of darkness and think of lodging there to lay down these Bodies to corrupt and Putrifie there to bid adien to all our Relations and take a solemn leave of all our Friends to think of passing thro' this dark Entry through which as we go right or wrong we are made or undone for ever to think of the Majesty and Holiness of God his Truth and Justico to consider the strictness and Spirituality of his Holy Law and the awful Solemnity of the Tryal and Judgment that all Mankind must come under These and such things consider'd which are obvious to any considering man make it no easie matter to dye even for the best But for an unprepared Soul that is Unready as to his State who hath done little or nothing ever in his whole Life of such Work no Expressions can describe the Terrors of that mans case especially for careless carnal Professors that attend the preaching of the Word and are deceived by the Devil to think they are in the way to Heaven while yet they live in secret Sin and are Enemies to God what killing disappointment will they meet with one moment after Death when they expect with the foolish Virgins to enter Heaven and find the door to be shut Sirs believe and tremble If you are not ready for the Coming of Christ you are ready for his condemning Sentence and ripe for Ruine If you are not ready as Vessels of Mercy prepar'd for Glory you are ready as Vessels of Wrath fitted for Destruction That Place and Portion which you are fit for you shall have at Death If you are not fit to be with Christ if you are not made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Life if you are not formed and wrought by the Spirit of Christ for this self-same thing you shall have another Place and Company and Portion with the Devil and his Angels in unquenchable Fire where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth for ever 7. You need not fear that you shall hasten your Death by Thinking of it and being Ready Christs Summons will not be hastened tho' thy Preparation be The stroke of Death will not be sooner but the easier and make Life and Death it self sweeter by now endeavouring to be Ready You will not then be afraid of every Sickness and threatning Danger that brings you to the borders of the Grave They were the foolish Virgins who were affrighted at the Midnight cry The Bridegroom cometh because their Lamps were out and they had no Oyl they were struck to the Heart their Hope 's dyed and they presently sunk into Despair But of such as are Ready we find them speak of Dying as of an easie sleep I must put off this Earthly Tabernacle shortly saith one Apostle The time of my Departure is at hand and I am ready to be offer'd up saith another 2 Pet. 1.14 2 Tim. 4.6 But as Christ will not delay his Coming tho thou be unprepared so neither is thy Readiness for Death a likely means to shorten thy Life 8. Consider It is for this end that our Lives are continued and all the mercies of our Lives that we may be ready What have you Life given you for why were not you cut off many years ago but that you might have Time and space to Repent and Prepare for the Coming of Christ How many years have some of you been spared It may be twenty thirty forty fifty years and yet after all you are not ready What have you been busie about all this while How have you employed your Time What is the end of God do you think in all the merciful helps He concinues you Such as Ministers and Books Ordinances and Providences your own Sickness and others Funerals You lose the benefit and use of all your Mercies of Life Health and Time and some of you of Wealth and Honour c. of all the Sermons you have heard of all the Providential warnings of God to Awaken you you have lost them all if they have not furthered your Readiness for the Coming of Christ And if you shall live many years to come you must say it was all lost Time and wish you had never had an hour of it while this preparation for Death and Judgment is neglected 9. Consider the unspeakable Difference between a prepared and unprepared Soul in a dying Hour The one is going to see the things he hath Believed and possess that which he hoped for and hath the promise of God that he shall enjoy The other is going to feel what he would not in time believe to endure the threatned Wrath he would not Fear so as to escape The one is come to the end of all his Prayers and Patience Labours and Sufferings The other to the end of all his Ease and Pleasure Mirth and Joy The one hath the promised Felicity with God and Christ and all the blessed Spirits above in view before him the other hath Death and Hell the Judgment of Christ and an Eternity of Misery before him ready to overwhelm his Soul The one can look back with Comfort and reflect upon his upright Holy persevering Obedience mixt with Repentance for many Sins and Failings and yet can hope in God for his acceptance thro Christ the other must review his Heart and Life with horror and regret and read over the black Items of his careless Impenitent Course with Bitterness and Torment and the fears of greater The one is leaving this World where he spent his days in preparing for Eternity thô he heartily laments that he began no sooner and minded it no more the other is passing into the invisible Eternal World for which he hath made no provision The one by Death shall be translated to a blessed State of Holinefs Love and Peace in the everlasting joyful Praises of God his Maker Redeemer and Sanctifier the other sort are passing into the Regions of Darkness and Despair among Devils and unholy miserable Souls with whom they must dwell under the Hatred and Curse of God and the unspeakable Terrors of his Wrath for ever O the difference between one that is ready and one that is unready when the Summons from Christ shall come to call them both away Consider this endeavour to be Ready for the difference between one mans Death and anothers depends on the difference between Heart and Heart Life and Life Preparation and Unpreparedness 10. Consider that all the Readiness you now can get
receiveth Heb. 12.6 But the Usefulness and Necessity of such Providences and the Wisdom and Faithfulness of God therein may be made conspicuous to a considering Mind And it is frequently acknowledged by the Experience of those who are exercised in this kind That it is no more than is needful that we should sometimes be in heaviness by such Dispensations As will appear by considering a few things First Such Providences are proper to Awaken Repentance for our many Omissions and Failings in the Relation we stood to them whom God hath taken from us How seriously should we reflect Did I discharge the Duty of my Place to such or such a deceased Relative Did I value and prize such a Mercy as I ought Did I thankfully Improve such a Blessing as I might It is our fault and folly as well as our unhappiness that we seldom know how to prize and use such Mercies till God hath depriv'd us of them And that neglect is no way to be retriev'd but by a penitent sense of our Error in compliance with the Call of God That Call of God I mean which he gives us by their Removal And it is part of the Wisdom of God's Government to order our Tryals and Afflictions for the kind for the manner and for the season of them as may best serve to convince us of our Sin and promote our Repentance For Example Children should consider upon the Death of Holy Parents in what Instances they failed of hearkning to their Counsels and following their Instructions Admonitions and Examples of paying that Honour Reverence Duty and Obedience which God commands They should then remember consider and mourn to think how often their Miscarriages against God and them was a Grief and Burthen to their Souls and made them walk softly They should recall the Vanity of their Childhood and review the Stubbornness and Frowardness and Intractableness of Youth and the many particular provocations they were guilty of while their Parents lived against their frequent Reproofs against the cry of their prayers and the meaning of their Tears against their many Warnings and Compassionate Calls to Repentance against all the methods God used to awaken humble and reform them Is not this the voice of such a Rod to many Children when their godly Parents are taken away by Death And the like Reflections should Parents make when God removes their grown Children whether they have answered their Trust and been faithful to their Souls solemnly dedicating them to God endeavouring to instruct them in the Principles of Religion and Educating them in the Christian Faith and saving them from the Temptations of the World the Flesh and the Devil endeavouring by all means to make Religion amiable and Sin odious and practical Godliness lovely by their own Circumspect walking by keeping up the Authority of God and his daily Worship in their houses by faithful Instructions and prudent seasonable Reproofs and fervent Holy Prayer to God for them and with them c. The like for other Relations when the Desire of our Eyes is removed as a Dear Husband or a beloved Wife God expects we should reflect and consider whether we enter'd into such a Relation as becomes CHristians marrying in the Lord Whether we did walk as Heirs of the Grace of Life together whether by tenderness and Affection by Meekness and Wisdom by Watchfulness and Prayer by Counsel and other Assistance we faithfully performed the Duty of that Relation We ought to reflect in such cases How much more good we might have received and done with reference to the Deceas'd How much more we might have contributed than we did to the furtherance of their Grace and Holiness their Knowledge and Comfort their peace of Conscience and meetness for Heaven or what Advantage and Increase of our own we might have had by their means and did not improve You that are now Happy in one anothers Affection remember this before a parting time do come for such thoughts as these will be apt to follow us under such providences and it is fit they should And if we have the warning of their Approaching Change by Sickness it may then be proper to reflect how we then demean'd our selves whether we were duly sensible of it what was the Temper of our Spirits in prayer for them and what our carriage and deportment toward them and toward God with relation to their case How far we expected and prepared for a Separation by Death what solemn acts of Resignation of them and of our selves to the Will of God our Spirits were formed to what impressions their Sick-bed Discourses their Dying Speeches Comforts or Counsels with their last Agonies had upon us what Duty lyes upon us at such a time in reference to these things is sufficiently obvious But how far we then comported with it ought seriously to be inquired when God hath removed them by Death that wherein we have failed we may be awaken'd to Repent which is one Design of God by such a stroke Secondly To testifie his Displeasure for our fond Inordinate Affections to those Relatives he snatcheth from us and to prevent the like as to those that survive God is Jealous of his Honour and he will not bear a Rival and if the Desire of our Eyes lay too near our Hearts and rob him of our Delight and Love and Time no wonder if he make a Separation When Jacob's Affection to his Joseph and Benjamin were so excessive that his Life was bound up in theirs he and his must then be parted And the good Old Man be brought to say with a doleful accent and aking Heart Joseph is not and Simeon is not and must Benjamin go too all these things are against me A Husband a Wife a Mother a Father a Child a Friend which is as thy own Soul Any of them All of them must go if we Love them too well i. e. if we value them too highly if we delight in them excessively if we rejoyce in them more than in the presence of God if we place the satisfaction of our Minds the solace of our Lives too much in their Company if we love them not only in the Lord or in subordination to him if we reckon too much content in their Continuance if we are too unwilling to part with them at the Call of God c. This we may be sure of God will break that from us from which we would not be broken or turn it to our Cross And that stroke which makes the breach should teach us to moderate our Affections to surviving Friends to Possess Enjoy and Use all things and persons in this World as if we used them not because the time is short and the fashion of the World passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 That we may be brought to speak it as the inward sence of our very Hearts Lord I see all Earthly Comforts are withering Gourds how quickly how easily how suddenly are they gone O let me henceforward
thee of thy Danger by bad Company I urg'd thee to flee youthful Lusts I told thee what would be the End and Issue I forewarn'd thee of this day and of the Everlasting Destruction that Christ had Threatned and of thy too late Repentance in the other World and that hereafter I should see thee condemned to Hell without being able to pity thee And now the Case is thus I cannot but approve the Righteous Sentence of the glorious Judge for thou wouldest not prepare and get Ready for this Day notwithstanding thy many Warnings and Calls from God and Man to do it Moreover 5. Labour to strengthen Faith concerning the Certainty and Glory of Christs Appearing and the most important awful Consequences of it both to the Righteous and to the Wicked 1. As to the Certainty of his Coming Unbelief is at the bottom of our neglect to make Ready We do not consider the confirming Reasons of the Truth of the Gospel and beg the Light and Influence of the Spirit to perswade us fully of this foundation Article We take up with the name of Faith and do not Believe with a notional weak ineffectual Faith that may dwell in the Hearts of Hypocrites or Devils and therefore feel no influence by it to excite our Hopes or Fears or Preparation Did we indeed believe it as an unquestionable Truth that Christ shall come again to judge the World we could not but Fear to be found Unready For whatever the distance be between this and that Our Faith would represent it near as if the thing were present as if we saw the Redeemer in the Clouds with the glorious Retinue of Blessed Angles and ten thousand of his Saints It would realize the Solemnity of his Tribunal the Books being opened and the Wicked trembling before their Judge and the Righteous justified and rejoycing in the Approbation of their Saviour Did we believe it Certain we should often put the Question How shall I appear and stand in the Judgment How shall I give an account of all my Talents What shall I answer when I am call'd to his Bar what shall I do to be befriended when I am tryed for my Life Therefore beg that God would fix a believing sence of this upon your Hearts that your Faith may be the Evidence of things not seen That you may believe it as firmly as if Dooms-day were already come as if you heard the Trump to sound and that Amazing voice Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment 2. Strengthen and increase Faith concerning the Glory of the Second Coming of Christ as well as the Certainty of it He shall be revealed from Heaven with visible Glory in flaming Fire with his mighty Angels so that every Eye shall see him and they also that pierced him He shall come again with Power and great Glory and the voice of the Arch-Angel shall awaken the World and fill them with an awful Reverence of their Glorious Judge He that stoopt so low at first to be cloathed with a mean disguise and to glorifie the Father in the form of a Servant by the Sacrifice of himself for our Redemption shall be publickly Honoured in the view of all Mankind At his first Appearance he was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief he made himself of no Reputation was despised and rejected of men but he shall come again openly to vindicate himself from the Contempt of his Enemies Every knee shall bow before him and every Tongue confess him to be Lord And they who affronted his Throne and lift up the Heel against him shall be made his Footstool At first he appear'd with all the sinless Infirmities of Humane Nature but shall a second time with all the Demonstrations of the Divine Power and Godhead 3. How awful and important will be the Consequences of his Coming to all Mankind 1. To the Wicked With what Amazement and Confusion with what Fear and Horror with what Dread and Trembling shall they as guilty Prisoners be made to stand before his Judgment Seat What killing despair will seize their Hearts what Paleness and shadow of Death will cover their Faces what Convulsions and gripes of Conscience will then torment them Where can they go where can they hide How can they appear How can they avoid appearing What can they say How can they answer the Charge or deny the Accusation or evade the Sentence or put off the Execution for a day or bear it for a Moment Since they can never escape the Tryal or corrupt the Judge or be pardon'd after Judgment or get the Sentence to be reprieved or the Execution deferr'd It will then be in vain to cry for Mercy for now the Day of Vengeance without Pity and of Judgment without Mercy is come what Friend wilt thou go to then where are they who can plead for thee or save thee but he that will not I would not for ten thousand Worlds appear in thy Case among those that shall then be found Naked and Vnready And are not these things sit to be now consider'd believ'd and prepared for What is all the Business and Affairs of this World What but a Play a Game a Trifle to these things 2. To the Righteous The Bridegrooms departure is not upon a Divorce He shall come again to be glorified in his Saints and be admired of all them that believe They shall see him and meet him in the Air and say Yonder is He whom our Souls Love yonder is the blessed Jesus who once came from Heaven to dye for us and now comes to bring us to Heaven we believed his Word and behold now he comes to make it good They shall hear his absolving Sentence their Persons shall be justified their Cause shall be pleaded their Sins shall be blotted out their Sufferings and Sorrows shall all be ended They may therefore rejoyce in hope and lift up their Heads in expectation of that Day for the blessed Sentence shall ravish their Hearts when they shall be bid to Enter into their Lords Joy And hear those endearing Words from the great Redeemer Come ye blessed Children of my Father take Possession of the Inheritance prepared for you Let us therefore pray for the Second Coming of Christ and the hastning of it as all Believers under the Old Testament and New have done And in this posture Watching Praying Waiting and preparing for his last Appearance to Judgment we should be Ready for his particular Coming to us by Death Lastly Let us improve every Warning of Divine Providence every Death and Funeral of our Relations and Acquaintance to promote our own Readiness to follow This is the Language of the late Providence that occasions this Discourse This is the voice of God by every breach he makes in our own or our Neighbours Family Be you also Ready for you know not the Hour when the Son of Man comes We lose the Examples and Holy Lives of our deceased Friends for want of Imitation and we lose
but such as are Taught of God and have their spiritual sences exercised so as to be acquainted not only with the form of Godliness but also with the Power thereof these men do say that the Character which the others do give of this eminent persons teaching are most true and they do further also say that it is extraordinary Clear and convincing most Evangelical and Scriptural greatly practical and profitable and yet very Sublime and Spiritual Now Reader consider whether many if any such have finally miscarryed whose Natures were gentle and easie to be entreated whose hearts were Soft and Tender who had the Benesits of such Education and such Example who enjoyed such Teaching abroad as well as such Counsel at home and all accompanyed with fervent Prayer unto God for a Blessing which I am sure that she did not want it being reported of her Father that his Custom was with the Psalmist 119.164 Seven times a day to pray unto the Lord and to praise him Moreover I am informed that this deceased Gentlewoman was observed to spend much time in Closet Prayer of late consider then I say whether we may not hope considently that the Grace of God had savingly and effectually wrought upon her who was both visibly in Covenant with God and whose heart also God had disposed and prepared by such special Means of Grace which he had bestowed upon her And this is yet more evident if we reflect upon God's dealing with her in her last Sickness whereby God did seem to seal Instruction deeply upon her Soul Her distemper was one of the worst sort of Small Pox At her first being taken she had strong apprehensions that she should dye she therefore did fall closely upon the work of Examination desiring the assistance of some Ministers therein and she was visited by many she opened her case to us all and God was pleased to make her to suspect and be jealous of the worst and to confess and condemn herself for her Sins both of Omission as well as Commission and humbly to inquire after the only way of Pardon And it pleased God so to bless these last helps as that none of us who visited her do doubt but the same Spirit who convinced her of Sin and of Righteousness did at length seal her up to the day of Redemption The Alpha the first Beginning and Foundation of all practical Religion is that act whereby a Soul doth deliberately resolvedly freely and expressely dedicate and devote it self unto God and his Service Thus the Saints in 2 Cor. 8.5 The Omega the last concluding and consummating work of a devout Soul is to commit and commend its Spirit into the hands of God as to a faithful Creator thus did Stephen Acts 17.59 Yea thus did our Lord Jesus himself Luk. 23.46 Thus also did this blessed Person she did I hope begin well in an early Consecration of her self to God I am sure she did end well and 't is the end that Crowns the work she did reckon that she had not fully Finished her Course nor rightly laid the Top-stone of her spiritual Building so as to cry Grace Grace unto it untill she had most devoutly and humbly offered up her Soul to God in Prayer by the assistance of some Friend and Minister Accordingly although it were midnight and although my Habitation was far from hers yet in the very last Agonies of her Death she did send for me and with the clearest use of her Reason and the most servent desires of her Soul she did entreat me that I would in her Name solemnly and expresly furrender and give up her Soul into the Arms and Bosom of her Saviour in whose precious Blood she did hope that all her sins were now fully washed away I did readily obey the Call and did comply with her desire for I did and do judge that this desire of hers proceeded from some extraordinary Impulse and work of the Holy Ghost And Reader thou walt think as I do if thou shalt read and observe the effect and consequence hereof as it is related to thee in the close of the following discourse Almost such another extraordinary Impress as it may be thought was made upon her Spirit on occasion of this Author 's presenting her with a * Exhortation to Touth to prepare for Judgment 11 Eccl. 9. Funeral Sermon which he had preached but a little kefore she was taken sick which Sermon she having received and read and diligently considered she was heard to say That she did think that her own change would not be far off and that she could wish that the Author might preach her Funeral Sermon also and she then named the Text now insisted upon and said That she hoped that God would make her Funeral Sermon as profitable to other young Ones as the Former Sermon had been to her self Her Prognosticks were too true as to the shortness of the time which she lived after those words were spoken by her God grant that her hopes be not frustrated but that all her dying words may prove truely prophetical and especially those which related to the profitable success of the Sermon here before thee The Author hath done his part like himself as well in this as in the former Discourse Oh that he might find as diligent and as considering Readers as she was many excellent Considerations very subservient and conducing to thy Conviction and Salvation are proposed herein but all will be in vain and to no purpose without thine own Meditation and the Spirits application Concerning the Discourse I must say no more and I can do no less than to allude to the words of the Holy Ghost Eccl. 12.9 And moreover because the Preacher was wise therefore in this Discourse he hath Taught the People Knowledge and hath given good heed and sought and set in order many Arguments for thy preparing for Death and moreover for preferring of Death before Life The Lord convince thee by them and also carry thee comfortably through all Time to Eternity My Paper is short and my Time shorter I must therefore conclude for the Sermon is wholly Printed and stops only untill I have told thee that I am Thy Friend and Souls Servant S. Fairclough THE SAINTS DESIRE TO Be with Christ PHIL. I. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better SAint Paul writing from Rome to the Church at Philippi in this Chapter acquaints them with his Bonds and other Discouragements which he tells them by their Prayers and the Assistance of the Spirit of Christ obtained thereby would turn to his Salvation and the furtherance of the Gospel and had already been attended with some considerable success in that kind V. 12 13 14. to fortifie and confirm the Professors of the Christian Faith and to propagate and promote it even in the Court of Caesar and in other places And if Christ might be magnified
But tho he would not heal and recover sick Lazarus he sends a most excellent Remedy unto his Sisters to cure their mistakes to ease and heal their minds which was the intention of this Reply unto their Importunate Message This sickness is not unto Death but for the Glory of God c. In which we are called to consider 1. The Manner 2. The Design 3. The Import of this Answer I would make a few Reflections upon the two former and then shall insist upon the last as most suitable to our present Affair I. As to the Manner of this Answer 'T is easie to perceive the obscurity and dubiousness of the former part This Sickness is not unto Death For the Event did at least seem to contradict the literal meaning of this Declaration which expresly denies that the sickness of Lazarus was unto Death and yet Laxarus dyeth This seeming contradiction must render this part of the Answer dubious and dark unto those to whom it was sent Indeed notwithstanding this obscurity there was a most certain Truth in this part of the Answer which speaks of such a Death as truly answers that Character viz. Such a Privation of Life as puts a final Period unto it on which account it can truly be said of the Dead That their places know 'em no more and that they go the way whence they shall not return Job 8.10 c. 16.22 As also That they see corruption Acts 13.36 The Body quite losing that Organization that makes it a fit Habitation for a humane Soul This is the primary and proper notion of Death and under which the Spirit of God speaks of it See Rom. 5.12 14. 1 Cor. 15.21 26 54 56. Not to mention several other places Unto such a Death the sickness of Lazarus was not his Death was not a final Period but only a short interruption or cessation of Life which like some Rivers which run under ground for a space only for a while disappear'd and then was again brought to light This being granted we cannot deny that there is some darkness in the manner of expression Had it so pleased the Redeemer he could have spoken in a much plainer Language he could have said Tho this sickness shall deprive Lazarus of his Life yet it shall soon be restored to him again tho' he shall truly die yet he shall not long remain under the power of Death for I design to work a Miracle to raise him from the dead Thus could the Redeemer have expressed himself had it so pleased him but he chooseth to speak obscurely not only to these Sisters but afterward to his Apostles when he said Our friend Lazarus sleepeth v. 11. Which Metaphorical and dark way of speaking led them into a mistake as we read v. 13. Many other instances of this kind might be produc'd as that which this Evangelist relateth Ch. 16.16 17 18. And as the Language so the Carriage of Christ hath obscurity in it his ways are unsearchable and his footsteps are not known both with respect unto visible Providences and invisible dealings with the Soul Many there are whom Christ really loveth who walk in darkness are brought into a kind of a Labyrinth where they are strangely perplext and are tempted to conclude that their Lord hath quite forsaken and cast 'em off when he retains the kindest and most gracious purposes toward ' em As God did toward Abraham when he commanded him to go out of his Countrey and yet did not acquaint him with the Place which was design'd to be his Inheritance Heb. 11.8 Thus was Abraham try'd and so are the Children of Abraham as indeed this conduct of God is admirably suited unto the state of Probation in which we now are All that darkness and perplexity which at any time we are brought into are design'd by God to try and discover the sincerity and constancy of our obedience And 't is our grand concern to stand out this Tryal to undergo this Probation aright and then whatever darkness there is now in the dealings of Christ he will after a while scatter every Cloud and will be an everlasting Light unto us 'T were easie to make large Reflections upon this Subject but your own Meditation can supply this defect Nor may I dwell long upon the II. Observable in the Text The Design of this Answer made by Christ which was to afford present Support unto the dejected Sisters of Lazarus He whose Eye discerns the most hidden and distant Objects knows how their tender Hearts were disquieted and that such a Spectacle as a deceased dying Brother must wound and afflict their Souls and the more when their Expectations were disappointed as to the speedy visit of Christ What! might they be apt to argue not make so charitable so seasonable a Visit to one whom he loveth to one who needs his help and must perish without it Is this Kindness to neglect a distressed Friend till Life and all be gone Such disquieting Thoughts would begin to rush into and disorder their Minds Now 't was to still this Tempest that the Redeemer sends this Reply to ' em This Sickness is not unto Death but for the Glory of God c. q. d. Though the Danger and Progress of this Sickness joyn'd with my seeming Neglect of their Brother will be an Occasion of Trouble unto them Sorrow and Fear will take hold of their Spirits yet let not their Hearts be troubled there is no just ground of disquieting Fear notwithstanding the dismal Appearances this Matter will have a happy and honourable Issue When our Lord Jesus doth not grant the expected Relief yet he always provides Support and Consolation for his faithful Followers When He determin'd to send away the Multitudes who had followed him into the Wilderness he resolves that he will not send 'em away fasting lest they should faint by the way Mat. 16.32 Though they must for a time be deprived of his Presence yet he takes care that they might not faint and perish This was his Carriage toward his Apostles in general and more particularly toward the Apostle Paul who when he besought the Lord thrice that the Messenger of Satan might depart from him tho' this Request was not granted tho' the Thorn in the Flesh was not removed yet this most supporting Answer was given to him My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Sometimes the Carriage of Christ bears an Aspect of Unkindness and Neglect but even at such a time his Heart is fill'd with Love and his Hand is employ'd to Support 'T is worthy our notice what care the Spirit of God hath taken to remove the Suspition of Unkindness in the Redeemer toward his Friend Lazarus whom he refus'd to Visit and Recover as his Sisters requested and expected for in the Verse which immediately follows this Answer of Christ the Evangelist adds this cautioning Remark Now Jesus loved Martha and her Sister and Lazarus His not complying with their intimated Desire of
one time he complain'd of his Service and Burthen and desired rather to die than bear it any longer Num. 11.14 15. At another time he spoke with indecent Passion unto the Israeltes and then God pronounc'd the Arrest which you read Num. 20.12 That he should not bring the Israelites into the Promised Land Now the executing of that Sentence did glorifie God because it manifested his Holiness which could not behold the desiling Blemishes that were in Moses who was one of the most eminent Favourites of God 3. The Divine Sovereignty and Dominion are honour'd by the Obedience and Resignation of Sick and Dying Believers When a Christian exercises that Submission unto the Orders of God that he willingly drinks the bitterest Cup which his Father gives him how Honourable must this be unto God I This last act of Obedience Crowns the whole Christian course certainly there is no Spectacle more grateful unto God than a Christian chearfully yielding back his Soul unto him who gave it 'T was a resigning Obedience that rendred the Death of Christ a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God who was in a most eminent manner glorified by it Though a Dying Christian cannot offer an Attoning Sacrifice yet he is a kind of Holocaust when his Death is perfum'd with a chosen Submission unto the disposing Will of God On this Account the Death of the Saints or as the Hebrew word imports the Favourites is precious in the sight of the Lord Psal 116.15 4. The Powerful Grace of Christ is honour'd by the inward support and refreshment which sick and dying Christians receive from him at a time when the Daughters of Musick are brought low and all the Pleasures of Life are without relish then to feel an invigorating strength which renews the inner Man when the outer decays and is salling down this magnifieth the powerful Grace of God who giveth power to the Faint and to them that have no Might encreaseth Strength Isa 40.29 A Principle of Natural Courage will afford some Support but 't is Divine Grace alone which can enable a Christian to triumph over the Pain and Danger of a Mortal Sickness 2 Cor. 5.6 5. Especially God and Christ are glorified in the Victory which a Christian gains over Death This last Enemy is a very Formidable one An Alexander who could Encounter the vast Armies of Asian Monarchs who had despised the Terrour of Battels in his last Sickness was so afraid of Death that his Court was sill'd with Diviners and Victims and all imaginable Methods were try'd to preserve his Life When therefore a Christian though of the tender fearful Sex is raised above the Fear of Death is confident and willing rather to be absent from the Body and present with the Lord as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 6.5 This doth highly Honour the Grace and Power of the Redeemer through whom alone it is that a Christian is more than a Conqueror Rom. 8.36 37. 6. The Redeemer is glorified in that Blessedness which he immediately confers upon the Souls of his deceased Friends No sooner had the Israelites pass'd the Red Sea and got upon free Land but they send up their joyful Praises and mention how gloriously God had Triumphed over their Enemies What Heart can conceive the Songs of Praise which Celebrate the Lamb and him who sits upon the Throne when one believing Soul is set free from the House of Bondage and transplanted into the Heavenly Countrey when a Soul that is Imprison'd and Fetter'd in a House of Clay is received into the heavenly Habitations which the Redeemer hath prepared Surely if those who heard of the Conversion of Paul glorified God in him or on his account those who were Witnesses and Spectators of a far more surprizing Change could not be wanting in their Admiration and Praises of that God who Crowns with unfading Glory 7. The Death of a Christian brings glory unto the Redeemer as it is the Occasion of that astonishing Operation which will raise the dissolved Body and transform it into the likeness of his own most glorious Body The sinal Conquering of the last Enemy must be exceeding glorious unto that Power which effects it The Raising of Lazarus and re-instating his Body in a perishing Life did glorifie the Redeemer and this he had his Eye upon in making this Answer What then must be the Raising of a Corrupted Body unto a blessed Immortality By which the Children of the Resurrection are made like the Angels of God Read and consider that memorable passage 2 Thes 1.10 Let us now briesly reflect upon the 2. Evidence which I propounded viz. How the Sickness and Death of Christians glorifie God with respect unto them who survive whether they be more nearly or distantly related And 1. God is thus glorified on such Occasions because he manifests his Divine Power in compensating and supplying that Loss When useful and serviceable Christians are removed by Death nothing but Almighty Power can fill up such a void empty space and raise up others to carry on his Work so that the Church resembles that Poetical Tree in which as fast as one Branch was broken off another did spring in the same place Thus when Moses dies God finds a Joshua who was qualified to succeed him When a David is laid unto his Father's and sees Corruption God sills his Throne with a Solomon 2. The Exercises of Graces in surviving Relatives or Acquaintance doth glorifie God on such Occasions When holy Job upon the surprizing Death of all his Children at the same time doth Adore the Sovereignty of God and blesseth his Name when he took his dearest Comforts away this did effectually refute the reproaching Accusation of Satan and brought a singular Honour to God who is also 3. Glorified in the Comforting of those who are troubled and cast down by such Providences This is one glorious Character of the blessed God That he comforteth those who are cast down 2 Cor. 7.6 Did not his Hand bind up the Wound no other could do it all the Consolations which a Creature can present are weak and ineffectual things but the supports of the heavenly Comforter are never more sensible than under the sense of afflictive Providences 2 Cor. 1.3 4. In the 4. And Last place The Sickness and Death of Christians bring Glory unto God as they are serviceable unto the Souls of them who survive As those Fruits that fall from the Tree and lye about it make the Soyl more fruitful such sorrowful Providences being excellent Instructions about our Duty and powerful Arguments to excite us unto our great Work What the Apostle saith concerning his Bonds was equally true concerning his Death They were for the furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. How many have owed their Conversion and Establishment unto the Counsels and Examples of dying Christians The Histories of every Church abound with such Instances I should now have shewed 3. On what accounts this Consideration is sufficient to Quiet and
will be little enough to support your Souls when Christ shall call Our utmost Diligence to Prepare will not be too much to enable us chearfully to commend our Souls into the Hands of Christ in expectation of all the great and glorious things which he hath Purchased Revealed and Promised Then all the Grace you have treasured up will be little enough for that is a time to use it not to get it Our strongest Faith will hardly be sufficient the clearest Evidences of our Acceptance with God will be no more than needs the most apropriating particular applicatory Faith saying I know that my Redeemer liveth will be little enough to give us confidence in a dying Hour You know of none can help you if then you cannot look to Christ with hope If the Devil say this sinful Soul is mine and Christ disown thee and say so too what shall overcome the fears of Death No wonder if Doubts and Fears arise from the weakness of our Grace our Negligence and Remisness in the service of God our Folly and Offences and manifold Backslidings our familiarity with this World and natural Love of Life no wonder if it be difficult to conquer all these And how can that be done if we be not now diligent to get Ready 11. Consider for your Encouragement that Vprightness and Sincerity shall be acceptted as your habitual Readiness We are under a merciful Covenant and serve a gracious Redeemer we find by the parable of the wise and foolish Virgins that tho the former who had Oyl in their Vessels had many faults for they slumber'd as well as the Foolish when they should have been actually waking and Watching yet they were not shut out of Heaven and then your conformity to Christ shall be compleat and your weak imperfect Graces shall be perfected 12. Remember this also that if your diligent Preparation be a difficult Work it is but for a little while The allotted season to Watch and Work and Wrestle to strive and run and use all Diligence to be Ready is not long And Christ may say Will you not watch with me one hour that you may lift up your heads with Joy at my appearing and then dwell with me for ever O how soon will the labour of Repentance and humble self-denying Diligence in our preparatory Work be all over Soon will all the Affairs of humane Life be over all these little things which men call Business be past and gone those I mean of Trade and Money of Farms and Merchandize they will all be over e're it be long So will the Difficulties and Trouble of holy serious Diligence in making ready for the Coming of Christ be over too Now we must Fight and Wrestle and hold on unto Victory but the time of Triumph is approaching Now we must watch and stand upon our guard but the promised everlasting Reward and Rest is not far off Now our Life is or should be a Life of Prayer e're long we shall receive the full Answer of all our Prayers and all our Enemies be under our feet never to Disturb or Tempt or Disquiet or Indauger us more for ever It all depends upon our sincere and persevering Diligence to get ready for the Coming of Christ The Improvement which may be made of this shall be First To Lament our great and manifest unpreparedness for this Coming of Christ 1. Many such as are truly sanctified and have Oyl in their Vessels are yet too Vnready for want of frequent believing Consideration concerning this Coming of Christ and for want of Actual Preparation for it How many are intangled with the Cares and Hurry of worldly Affairs to that degree that they do not take Time enough to retire and bethink themselves of the glorious Appearance and Revelation of Christ from Heaven and so their Faith is weak and their Preparation flow Alas we are but too unready our unmortified Affections to earthly things and unbecoming Fears of our lust Enemy do plainly prove it The many breaches between God and our Souls by particular backslidings tell us we are Vnready The vanity of our Minds and Spirits discovered by an undue conformity to this World shows that we are Vnready The excess of our Passions upon Worldly Losses and Disappointments attest it too plainly The declension of lively Hope unto which we are begotten and born by Regeneration the grieving and quenching of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Adoption and Earnest of our Inheritance show that we are yet too unready The Promises on which we must venture our Everlasting Hopes are not studied and understood digested and applyed as they should be and therefore we are not Ready Our Desires of the Coming of Christ our Prayers for the hastning of it our anticipated Joy in the fore-thoughts of it are so low and so imperfect to what they ought to be that they prove we are Vnready We do not Labour and Watch Pray and Hope with a resolved persevering Zeal and Constancy for the Grace that is to be brought to us at the Revelation of Christ as those that are Ready for his Coming 2. 'T is further to be bewail'd that multitudes fancy and suppose they are ready when indeed they are not O how great is the number of such who imagine themselves to be too well prepar'd already to learn to Prepare And therefore all the Warnings and Exhortations of the Word make no impression on them because they think themselves not concern'd tho they have never accepted Christ as the Bridegroom of their Souls by an humble penitent unfeigned Dedication of themselves to him to love please and obey him above all And their own Consciences if they would consider reflect and search must tell them that they are not Faithful Stewards of their many Talents as expecting to be call'd to an Account 3. The general Vnconcernedness of the most about any such thing as this being Ready ought greatly to be Lamented The most reckon it at that distance they will not trouble themselves to enquire whether they be prepar'd or no. Others are conscious of their own Unreadiness and therefore do not care to think of Dying Tho they know not how soon they may be called for many younger and more likely to live have dyed this last Year Parents may survive their Children and lay those little parts of themselves in the Grave before they make their own Beds there Yet such is the powerful craft of Sathan to befool the Sinner and such the deceitfulness of Sin to harden the Heart that some of the most unprepared make a shift to live in peace tho they cannot tell but Death may open the Door into Eternity the next moment They will not yet consider it and apply it to their own case they will not know that their Judge is at the Door that their Day of Reckoning is at hand that they are hastening to the Tribunal of Christ that their Judgment lingereth not and their Damnation slumbereth not