light Burden which cost the Son of God his life to obtain Heaven upon an intolerable Load and to be had on easier Terms That God should have only the faint and feeble Services of our last Hour for his Mercies vouchsafed to us all our Days That he should accept of such a Commutation for the Obedience due to him as a Death-Bed-Repentance a few Sighs and Groans Tears Promises Scatterings of Devotion in exchange for all our Duties sufficient to expiate a whole life of Impiety with a Breath to retract all the dishonour we have done him in it As if he had made us to take the delights he most abhors and after all to give us such a stupendious Reward From the Word of God Men have no Promise to warrant such a Confidence if they have let them shew it if they have not they must thank or rather condemn themselves for bringing themselves into a Condition without the Covenant without a promise hopeless and miserable And oh how miserablâ— must he needs be that lies upon the brink of Eternity incountering the throws and horrors oâ— an imminent Dissolution the doubts of what wiâ—â— become of him in another World the fears oâ— Hell the uproars of a guilty Conscience whom God hath left to the Boiling Sea of his own Terrors and thrown him out no Anchor of Hope THE Whole Duty OF A CHRISTIAN c. Of the Scriptures THE Scriptures contain a Continued History of the Church from the beginning to the end of the World and all things necessary to be known believed and â—ractised for Moses and the Prophets deliâ—ered whatsoever God requiâ—ed them (a) Deu. 4.2 Mal. 4.4 and Christ made â—nown the last and full Will â—f his Father (b) Mat. 28.20 John 14.26 15.15 to his Apostles who faithfully delivered what â—hey received of Him (c) Act. 20.27 1 Joh. 1.3 As to â—he substance of it 't was ever â—he same The Apostles saying none other things than thosâ— which the Prophets and Mosâ— did say should come (d) Act. 26.22 Anâ— a woe is denounced against thosâ— that shall add to or take awaâ— from it (e) Gal. 1.8.9 Rev. 22.18.19 Their Divine Authority appears from theiâ— wonderful preservation the Testimony anâ— constancy of Believers in all Ages thâ— Heavenliness and Efficacy of the Matter 〈◊〉 the simplicity sincerity and agreement 〈◊〉 the Pen men Miracles wrought to coâ—firm them their Antiquity being mucâ— Antienter than any other writing thâ— malice of the Devil and wicked men against them together with the testimonâ— of the Spirit in the Hearts of the Faithful At first Moral duties to God and Maâ— were Engraven on Mens Hearâ— (f) Rom. 2.14.15 and other things carried dowâ— by faithful tradition But wheâ— Men were much multiplied the lives shortened and greatly degenerated that the Divine Will might be an Infallibâ—â— standard of true Doctrine and preserv'd uâ— corrupt to the end of the World it was coâ—mited to writing by God hiâ—self (g) Ex. 31.18 by Moses at Gods coâ—mand (h) Ex. 34.27 by Holy men whoâ— he stirred up and inspired (i) 2 Pet. 1.21 oâ— after another according to the necessity 〈◊〉 â—he times by degrees so much in all Ages â—s was sufficient until the whole Canon was â—nished The Old Testament is divided into Moses or the Law and the Prophets (k) Mat. 7.12 Luke 16.29 and 24.27 because penned by them â—nd delivered to the Church of â—e Jews The New Testament â—as writ by the Evangelists and Apostles â—e Originals kept in the Churches they â—lanted and compos'd into one Volume as 〈◊〉 suppos'd by St. John the last of the Apoâ—les as the Old Testament by Ezra Neheâ—iah Malachi the last of the Prophets They were writ in Hebrew the mother â—nguage of the Jews and Greek the most â—ommon language of the Gentiles And as â—e first Edition so after-Translations ought 〈◊〉 be in the vulgar Tongue to be underâ—ood and read of all who are to Live and â—e Judged by them They were written for our Learning and Comfort (l) Ro. 15.4 to be a Lamp â—nto our Feet and a light unto â—ur Paths (m) Ps 119.105 to give wisdom â—nd understanding to the simâ—le (n) Ps 19.7 are profitable for Doâ—trine for reproof for correâ—tion for instruction in Righteousâ—ess (o) 2 Tim. 3.16 Ignorance of them is â—he mother of error not of devotion (p) Mat. 22.29 hid only to those thâ— are lost (q) 2 Cor. 4.3 We are theâ— fore to give attention to reaâ—ing (r) 1 Tim. 4.13 to search the Scripture (s) Joh. 5.39 to have them dwell richâ— in us in all knowledge (t) Col. 3.16 delight and meditate in the day and night (u) Psal 1.2 such as 〈◊〉 are commended (w) Act. 17 11. 2 Tim. 3.15 2 Pet. 1.19 and blâ—sed is he that readeth and 〈◊〉 that heareth the words of tâ—â— Prophesie (x) Reve. 1.3 Of God THat he is appears from the wondâ—â— of Creation and Providence the Hâ—mony and regular order of the World â—â—cay and corruption of things in it the â—â—veral vicissitudes of Night and Day Summâ— and Winter the production natural Aâ—ons agreement and Instinct of Irration Creatures the unanimous consent of Natioâ— the practice of Satan the admirable contâ—vance and offices of the Body the hopes aâ— fears troubles and peace of the Soul in tâ—â— we are not satisfied with the knowledge aâ— possession of any thing below but are 〈◊〉 thirsting after something the knowledge aâ— enjoyment of which gives satisfaction God is a Spirit Omniscient Omnipreâ—nt alone in of and to himself Self-sufâ—cient All-sufficient Invisible Omnipoâ—ent Incomprehensible Unchangeable Eterâ—al Infinite in Glory Blessedness Wiseâ—ome Power Holiness Mercy Justice â—oodness and Truth having most Soveâ—ign Dominion over us and to whom is â—ue the obedience of all his Creatures Many things are spoken of him and ascriâ—ed to him in Condescention to our weak apacities after the manner of men but â—ust be understood according to the nature â—f God As by his Eye is meant his knowldge watchful providence Favour By the Apple of is Eye that which is dear unto him By his â—â—rm Power and Strength By stretching out his â—and putting forth his Power to help or deâ—roy By his being weary that he cannot enâ—ure Sin By sleep his silence forbearing to â—elp or punish By his being a Rock c. his â—rotection c. His Attributes are several representatiâ—ns of that one perfection which is himself â—nd are either Incommunicable such as canâ—ot be given to any Creature as Omniâ—esent Omniscient c. or Communicable â—cause some parts or resemblances of them â—e found in his Creatures as Wisedom â—oodness Mercy c. Of the Trinity THe Trinity is one God in three distin persons or three persons in the Goâ— head yet but one God none before nâ— greater than another They are not three sâ—veral substances but three distinct subâ— stences or three
Isa 53.9 Matt. 12.40 â—o sanctifie our Burial to â—weeten and perfume the Grave to us that in the strong Holds and Fortress of Death He might overcome and loose the Sorrows and Bonds of Death (r) Acts 2.24 1 Cor. 15.55 c. V. He Descended into Hell the third Day hâ— Arose again from the Dead Christ so humbled Himself that he was deprived of his Natural Life in the Estate of the Dead and under the Power of Death for Three Days that it might appear he was truly Dead but no longer that his Body might not seâ— Corruption (s) Matt. 12.40 17.23 John 2.19 Acts 2.31 He arose the third Day being the First Day of the Week for our Justification and quickening iâ— Grace as our Head as a Pledge and Means of our Resurrection as an Evidence Divine Justice was fully satisfied the Deâ— paid in that the Judge released him out oâ— Prison VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty Having continued upon Earth forty Day after his Resurrection to assure his Disciple of it and instruct them in all things pertaining to their Preaching the Gospel Having finished his Work on Earth over come and Triumphed over His and our Enemies Before many Witnesses he was â—isibly taken up into Heaven where in â—ur Nature and as our Head he is Advanâ—ed by the Father to the Height of all Majesty Power Dominion Honour Digâ—ity and Glory next unto Himself Haâ—ing Authority to Rule as King over all â—â—ings in Heaven and Earth making Conâ—nual Intercession for us that for his Pleâ—ary Satisfaction all his Members Persons â—nd Services may be accepted of God who â—eing the Father Almighty is both Willing â—nd Able to grant the same VII From Thence He shall Come to Judge the â—ick and the Dead At the last Day He â—all Descend from Heaven in great Power â—â—d Glory when He shall sit upon his â—hrone and all then alive and that Dyed â—efore shall be summon'd and stand before â—im and be Judged by the Law of Nature â—d Covenant of Grace When Sentence â—all be pronounced of Absolution to the â—â—ghteous first then of Conâ—mnation upon the Wickâ— (t) Mat. 25.41 c. VIII I Believe in the Holy Ghost Or Holy â—irit who proceedeth or is as it were â—â—eathed forth from the Father and the Son Who Inspired the Prophets and Apâ— stles works in us and assists us in thâ— which is good IX The Holy Catholick Church the Communiâ— of Saints I Believe that Christ hath a Sâ—ctified People Dispersed through and â—â—parated from the Rest of the World stylâ— the Catholick General or Universal Churâ—â— Called out of an Estate of Sin and Miseâ—â— into an Estate of Grace and Salvation aâ—â— Engaged to Holiness in Heart and Lifâ— Being that Body whereof Christ is tâ— Head Militant on Earth Triumphant Heaven X. The Forgiveness of Sins I believe theâ— is Pardon to be obtained Reconciliatiâ— to an offended God and Satisfaction maâ— to a Just God a Discharge from the Gâ— of all Sin Acquittance from the Challeâ— of the Law and Constituting us Righted before God through the Undertaking aâ— Merits of our Redeemer for all who Râ—pent forsake their Sins Believe in him aâ— thankfully subject themselves to all the Pâ—cepts of the Gospel XI The Resurrection of the Body I Belieâ— that at the Day of Judgment there shâ—â— be a general Resurrection both of the Jâ— â—â—d Unjust Their Bodies raised up and united to their Souls 1. The Just the Spirit of Christ and by virtue of Resurrection their Union with him as â—â—eir Head and as their Merciful Saviour â—â—d Redeemer Their Bodies shall be raiâ—â— Spiritual Incorruptible and like unto 〈◊〉 Glorious Body out of their Beds of â—â—st with great Joy and Triumph to be â—own'd with Everlasting Glory and shall â—â—ne as the Sun in the Firmament 2. The â—dies of the Wicked shall be raised in dishoâ—ur by him as an offended Judge and all come forth as out of their Prisons â—th great Fear and Trembling Horrour â—â—d Astonishment as so many Malefactors 〈◊〉 Execution as so many ugly loathsom â—rcasses to look upon Their Faces gaâ—ering Blackness and Darkness They shall â—ise to Everlasting Shame and Confusion of â—â—ce as well as to Everlasting Condemnation â—â—d Torment XII And the Life Everlasting I Believe there a future State after this Life of Endless appiness or Misery according to mens â—â—oce here of Good or Evil Life or Death â—hich God hath set before them either to â—â—turn and live or go on and perish everâ—stingly Amen I thereby acknowledge and â—â—fess stedfastly to believe the undoubâ— Truth and Certainty of this Creed in â—â—neral and of every Article thereof in â—â—ticular and to live answerable to this â—â—lief The Ten Commandments THey are a perfect Platform Summaâ— or Abridgement of the Law of Natâ— or Moral Law at first writ on Man's Heaâ— expounded by the Prophets and Apostâ— and are divided into Two Tables The 1 â—â—spects our Duty immediately to God whâ—â— to be worshipped for the true God in wâ—â— manner how we are to use and honâ—â— his Name the set Time of his publick Wâ—â—ship The Summ of this Table is Thou shâ—â— love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 〈◊〉 with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind I 2 respects our neighbour his Honour a Dignity Life Chastity Wealth good Naâ—â— Propriety The Summ of this is Thou shâ—â— love thy Neighbour as thy self or whatsoeâ—â—â— you would that Men should do you do you e ven so to them this is the Law and the â—â—phets (v) Matt. 7.12 and 22 37 39. For understanding Them we must â—â—serve 1 The Law is Spiritual read the Powers of the Soul as well as Action of the Body 2 Where any Duty is â—â—manded the contrary Sin is forbidden 〈◊〉 where any Sin is forbidden the contraâ—â— Duty is commanded 93. In all Duties â—â—manded and Sins forbdden all of the â—e kind together with all the Causes â—â—ans Occasions Appearances Provocatiâ—â— thereunto are also commanded and forâ—â—en 4 What 's forbidden and comâ—â—ded our selves we ought to endeavour â—ay be avoided and eprformed by others Thou is used in every PRecept shewâ—â— God speaks to All and to all alike to â—â—y one in particular as if he named him Name â—he Preface contains the Reasons of our â—â—ing them â—s 1. His Surpeam Soveraignty over I am the Lord so we owe him all â—â—dience as we are his Creatures and Subâ—â— His Interest and Propreity inus Thy 〈◊〉 particular Engagern ent and Enâ—â—ment In such a manner as to none â—â—rs by taking us into Covenant a â—â—al Relationto himvelf His redeeming and delivering us out â—â—hraldom Which brought thee out of â—â—nd of Egypt A Place h of Servitude 〈◊〉 by how much Sin is worse than Suffering the Devil and his Angels power aâ—â—malice surpasses Pharaoh's and his Taâ—â— masters everlasting Troments in Hell â—â—ceed Temproal pains in the Brick-kill Fâ—nace
with undaunted undismayed Courage and Constancy under all the Uneasinesses of a rugged way Lift up the Hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble Knees Let the weak say I am strong and the lame Man leap as an Hart (e) Heb. 12.10 Isa 35.3 c. These are the Days of Conflict and Conquest that admit not of Repose untill the Evening when he that hath been eminently good chearfully patient constant and couragious under great Disadvantages and Discouragements shall be proportionably rewarded When all Distempers and the Causes of them shall be wholly removed No more Hospitals nor Diseases No more seeking for or need of Cure or Remedy when the Mountebank's Stage shall be pulled down and all Physicians of no value The Doctor and Apothecary consulted no more They shall give over acting Experiments upon afflicted Mortals And the great Physician of Soul and Body who himself took our Infirmities and bare our Sicknesses (f) Mat. 8.17 perfected his undertaken Cure And God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things that disturbed them are passed away (g) Rev. 21.4 The thoughts the belief of this is the chief Refuge and Delight of all true Christian Sufferers Whilst this Cordial is next their Hearts they are healthfull secure and satisfied The Comfort of that day heals and redresses all their Wounds their Wrongs their Injuries Asswages and allays all their Pains and Perplexities expells all melancholy Thoughts banishes all Sadness from their Hearts stills all their Murmurings and Complaints stifles innumerable Sighs stops Rivers of unprofitable Tears from flowing from the Afflicted raises the Minds of the Miserable and Unfortunate supports and refreshes the Spirit of Heaviness makes the Cross of Christ a light Burden As being both consistent with his love and the Effects of it influential upon their Happiness Prayers for the Sick O Thou great Creator and Wise Disposer of all things in whose Hands are our lives and breath and all our ways in all Humility we prostrate our Souls before thee acknowledging it of thy Infinite Mercy and Goodness that we have access unto thee and may find acceptance with thee in and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake pardon all our Sins and receive us into thy Favour In much Mercy and tender Compassion O thou that delightest not in the Miseries of thy Creatures regard this thine afflicted Servant Thou woundest and thy Hands make whole thou bringest down to the Grave and raisest up again Direct to proper means we humbly beseech thee and accompany those used for his health with thy Blessing Speak the Word and thy Servant shall be healed If it may stand with thy good Pleasure let him not die but live and declare the Works of the Lord However fit him for whatsoever thou hast designed for him Give him a true Sence of and Repentance for all his Sins and a well-grounded Faith in our great Redeemer of Souls Sanctifie this thy fatherly Visitation to him let the sickness of his Body tend to the health and good of his Soul Mitigate his Pains increase his Patience Give him a quiet contented resigned Spirit unto thy blessed Will Lay no more upon him than thou wilt inable him to bear let thy Grace be sufficient for him In the multitude of his thoughts within him let thy Comforts delight his Soul When his Body returns to the Earth as it was let his Spirit return unto God that gave it and be glorified together with thy self thorough Jesus Christ our Lord in whose Blessed Name and Words we further pray Our Father c. Another ALmighty and most Mercifull Father the God of the Spirits of all Flesh thou sendest forth thy Breath and we live thou recallest it and we die and return to our dust O pardon unto us we humbly intreat thee our unthankfulness for our former health and all thy Mercies that we have made so little use of the same for thy Glory Give us grace for the future to be more sensible of more fruitfull under them In particular look with an eye of favour on this thy suffering Servant Let thy Power appear in his weakness strengthen him on his Bed of languishing make all his Bed in his sickness Rebuke remove his Distempers in love to his Soul deliver him from the Pit of Corruption and cast all his sins behind thy Back Let not his sickness be unto Death but thy Glory if it may stand with thy good pleasure but if thou hast otherwise determin'd fit and prepare him for thy self As his outward Man decays let his in ward Man be renewed day by day Take him not hence untill thou hast made him meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in life Give him an easie and comfortable Passage out of this Vale of Misery and receive him to the Eternal enjoyment of thy self in Heaven And give all of us grace in Health to provide and prepare for sickness in our most prosperous and best Estate to consider how frail we are in a full perswasion of thy unerring Providence over us and Infinite love towards us let us resign our selves intirely unto thee resolving by thy gracious Assistance to rest satisfied with thy Appointment That we may rejoyce in hope of that Immortal Life and Happiness when thou shalt wipe away all Tears from our Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying nor any more Pain but that after Death hath parted us we may meet together and acknowledge with Eternal Praises thy wise and mercifull Providence which by ways contrary to our desires hath brought us to endless and undisturbed Rest through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thy blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and for ever Amen Another EVer blessed Lord the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation who art not willing any should perish but that all should come to Repentance We praise and adore thee for thy Patience forbearance and goodness to us all our days that we have enjoyed so much Health and Ease Peace and Plenty so many Mercies to sweeten our Passage through this Vale of Tears O forgive our Ingratitude for our Abuse of thy Bounty and Kindness to us and be at Peace with us in and through our Lord and Saviour and for the time to come give us grace to carry our selves well-pleasing in thy sight In particular we now recommend unto thee this thy Servant beseeching it may please thee to restore him unto Health unto thee no Cure is difficult no Case desperate but all things possible O command create Deliverance direct to sutable means and super-add thy Blessing to them O spare him that he may recover strength before he goes hence and be no more But however thou dealest with him let it be in love and mercy unto him pardon all his Sins
be in vain in thee Let us walk Circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Days are Evil. Make us more and more sensible of our frailty and mortality seeing these Earthly Tabernacles our Bodies shall be dissolved let us frequently and seriously consider what manner of Persons we ought to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Pity the Degeneracy of Mankind Visit the dark Corners of the Earth with the light of thy glorious Gospel Purge out of thy Church whatsoever is an offence and dishonour unto thee and indangers the Souls of Men. Bless us in these three Nations by turning every one of us from our Iniquities Indue our Soveraign with those Gifts and Graces of thy Spirit that are necessary for him as a King and as a Christian Let us and all his Subjects live under him quiet and peaceable lives in all Godliness and Honesty Make all our Ministers and Magistrates faithful and successful in encreasing and encouraging Holiness and Discountenancing Vice Let none of our Relations be Strangers unto thy self nor any of thine Afflicted Servants be forgotten by thee Relieve them as thou knowest best for them Recompence those that have shewed us Kindness do good to those that have done us Evil. We Praise thy holy Name for all thy Mercies for thy Care of us and Goodness to us this Day and all our Dayes Take Care of our Persons and of all thou hast Committed to us this Night Let us lye down in a sence of thy daily Kindness unto us and awake in asence of thy continual Care of us and do abundantly for us above what we can ask or think for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath taught us to Pray Our Father c. Servants Duties INwardly Esteem outwardly in works gesture and behaviour Honour and Reverence your Masters From which neither Age Sex Birth Breeding Condition Gifts or Means can free you Reveal not their Secrets and Infirmities Dishonour them not behind their backs Stand up for them speak respectfully to them and to others of them Preserve their Reputation and the Families Talk not to others of what is said or done at Home Give them no just occasion of distast Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke account their own Masters worthy of all Honour (c) 1 Tim. 6.1 Readily and sincerely obey their Commands please them well in all lawful and indifferent things not answering again (d) Tit. 2.9 The Master's place is to dispose of and order his own Business and the Servant to submit unto his will in it chearfully without grumbling at it or at their work or that they are Servants and not as those they serve 'T is uncomfortable to your selves and them that you go about your Business with heavy sowr looks and discontented Spirits forgetting you are serving the Lord while you are doing their work Be not slothfull careless negligent but faithfull diligent industrious in it not loytering or minding your own ease and pleasure A Burdensome Imployment is made easie by Custome and to a willing mind doth it self Labour to preserve and encrease their Estate to further and advance their Interest by all good and lawfull means Be provident frugal and wary for their Advantage and see nothing be lost damaged wasted or consumed through your default Beware of secret Theft of purloyning stealing giving lending making away any thing without their Consent Remember your Father Jacob and the Blessing upon him when a Servant who served with all his power was carefull Night and Day of what was committed to him and made good what was torn or lost (e) Gen. 31.39 And how those that improved their Master's Talent were commended and rewarded while the idle and unprofitable was cast into outward darkness (f) Matt. 25.14 c. Do your work well and as soon as you can knowing you and your Time is not your own Be as thrifty and carefull as if it were your own Concern and serve as you would have others serve you Let your Answers be true direct dutifull not sullen muttering saucy irreverent contradicting or disputing with them Beware of excusing any unwarrantable thing or adding one Sin to another by telling a Lye which is an Abomination to the Lord which his Soul abhors which he punishes in this World and that which is to come Bear with meekness patience and submission the sharpest Reproofs and Corrections though wrongfully inflicted without Cause God will vindicate your Cause if wronged and reward you Look upon your Condition as chosen for you by God and your selves as his Servants and your Work Allowance Provision and Restraints as his and do all as to him Pray daily for a Blessing upon him his Affairs the whole Family and your Labours A Godly Servant hath been an Eminent Blessing where he hath lived They are not worthy to partake of the Mercies of the Family that pray not endeavour not for them Servants be obedient unto them that are your Masters according to the Flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of Heart as unto Christ not with Eye-service as Men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God from the Heart With good-will doing service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free (g) Ep. 6.5 c. Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward for this is thank-worthy if a man for Conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when ye be buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently But if when you do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable unto God for even hereunto were ye called c. (h) 1 Pet. 2.18 c. Their Prayer ALmighty Omniscient Omnipresent Lord God in all Humility I prostrate my Soul before thee acknowledging and adoring the Wisdom and Goodness of thy Providence in appointing every one his Station and disposing all things and Persons into their several Ranks Orders and Degrees some to command and others to obey for their mutual Help and Benefit I humbly submit to the State and Condition thou hast placed me in beseeching Thee to forgive me all my failings and disobedient Carriage towards thee and those thou hast set over me for his sake who though he was Lord of all took upon him the form of a Servant that by Obedience and Suffering he might procure the Salvation of all his Servants whether bond or free Give me a humble obedient contented Heart to serve thee and those thou hast obliged me unto diligently faithfully carefully with all chearfulness and gladness of Soul without repining murmuring envying or unwillingness Remembring I deserve not a Being upon Earth much less to be thy Servant Let me think my self happy therein and
young (q) Isa 40.11 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World (r) Matt. 25.34 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (s) John 3.16 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast off (t) John 6.37 Say unto my Brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God (u) Joh. 20.17 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my servant be (w) Joh. 12.26 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses (x) Acts 13.39 I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more (y) Heb. 8.12 There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the Right-hand of God who also maketh intercession for us c. (z) Rom. 8.1.33 c. Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their works do follow them (a) Rev. 14.13 And you that are about the Sick urge them betimes to make their Will if they have not Use your utmost Endeavours for their Ease and Recovery Be not weary of them but tender patient compassionate bearing with their Impatience Grudge not any trouble they put you to not knowing how soon 't will be your own Case Deal faithfully and prudently with them according to their state flatter them not with groundless Hopes of this or a better life Keep such from them as may hinder or annoy them with Impertinencies get such about them as will assist them in their passage to endless Best Let the Spectacle of Weakness Frailty and Mortality have a due Influence upon your selves See what they want which you would desire in their State and speedily supply them with it Pray with and for them and for your selves against that Hour Support for the Sick MOre particularly to direct and assist your Patience in Sickness Beware of a troublesome querrelous peevish Temper as to those about you The Lord heareth your murmuring which you murmur against him They may say unto you and what are we Are we the Cause of your Distemper and Pains Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord (b) Ex. 16.18 Shall the thing say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Liable to these Distempers and Diseases Impatient Complaining multiplies our Pains by adding Sin unto it and fruitless vexing our Souls for the Sufferings of our Body Encreases our own and other's Sorrows about us who are apt to sympathize with us in our Sufferings when by our calm Submission we should teach them Patience the only Remedy or Allay of those Evils which we cannot avoid or remove What Folly is it to vex or disturb our selves at that which we cannot help which Providence and the Frailty of our Nature hath made necessary for us to endure and which others do who are not assisted with the Result of a long Experience nor know how to turn Sickness into a Virtue and Pain into a Reward That raise not up their minds to the ever quiet Region of undisturbed Health and Ease That have the Wrath of an angry God to conflict with attoned and reconciled to us thorough the Merits of our Saviour's Sufferings How many without the Advantages of the Gospel have thought it mean and effeminate to lament or be dejecteed in pain Through Fortitude and Bravery of Spirit undergone wracking Tortures with Constancy and Sedateness for Praise Dignity Decency of Demeanour Stoutness of Resolution By presenting to their minds Noble precedents Taking heed of doing any thing to be repented of dishonourable low spirited unmanly unbecoming their Patience their Gallantry of Mind whereby they not only put a Check upon themselves and restrained their Spirits but even alleviated the very Pain it self Accounting nothing evil but what was base and vitious and him a wise couragious valliant Man who was constantly composed undervaluing all the Contingencies and Inconveniences of Humane Life But our Redeemer hath restored us to a more lively Hope That after we have undergone the Labours of a painfull Life our Troubles shall all end in greater Joy and Gladness as the escaped Marriner after a Ship-wrack A lively Apprehension of which will encourage us to endure Hardship as good Soldiers of Jesus Christ And not suffer us to think that he who designed us good by all our former Afflictions intends us otherwise by this or that he hath a greater Kindness for his most flagitious Enemies because he affords them the Ease he denies us Was God's Providence to Christ the more to be questioned because he was oppressed afflicted a Man of Sorrow Or his love less to him because he was acquainted with Grief An ill Habit of Body is a proper Season for the Acquisition and Exercise of many Graces A happy Impotency as to the most wasting Vices An excellent Monitor of our own Frailty and Mortality Every little Ach toles the Bell and every extreme pain is turning Dust to dust and Ashes to ashes A firm Constitution of Mind is often wrought from the Diseases of the Body And the Soul grows more active and refined by still working out its own Separation Whilst the Mortal part by a continual Succession of little Dissolutions is better prepared to drop with Ease and just Maturity into that final one of Death which rends strong robust Tempers with great Concussion and Violence It 's not much material how weak and ruinous our Prison is seeing we are to tarry in it but a very little while seeing we shall the sooner and easier obtain our Liberty and Freedom And though here a little Pain molests in the Grave whole Limbs fall off and crumble into Dust without disturbing that quiet Repose which buries all the Sorrows of this Life in a profound Oblivion and Insensibility Rouse up therefore from that Sluggishness of Temper and forgetfulness of your Profession to which you are inclin'd Remember in whose Hands you are who puts forth his Hand now and touches your Bone and your Flesh (c) Job 2.5 who cuts you off with pining Sickness (d) Isa 38.12 and is ordering all for your good Make the truth of your profession more apparent and illustrious Rejoyce that by this Trial is manifested the Victory of Faith the Omnipotency of Grace the Miracle of Patience Humility Resignation and Complacency under sufferings Bear up
more Comfort than all the Mirth and Jollity of the Earth A Holy Life give more satisfaction than all the licentious Humours of this Jovial Age. When God shall give Relaxation and Rest to his troubled Saints When all their Burthens of Persecution Temptation and Sin shall be removed All their bodily Diseases and Infirmities end in perfect Vigour Agility Spirituality Incorruption and Glory All their Ignorances in a perfect Intuition and Vision of God All their Troubles of Conscience in perfect Peace All their Distempers of Sin in perfect Subjection to the Will of God All their exorbitant Affections in a regular and harmonious Motion towards the Supream good All their Distractions and deadness in Duty in a vigorous Activity and uninterrupted Exercise of Grace All Church-Divisions in perfect Union and Communion of Saints When they shall have no misgiving Thoughts no remaining Depravity in their Nature or new contracted Guilt to eclipse the Face of God or deject theirs and make their Countenance fall before him Nothing taken from them but their Prison their Chain their Clog their Shame their Sting their Poyson their Burden their Misery The Consideration of Judgment to come is enough sure to perswade us to a strict and diligent Care of our Lives and Actions to cast a damp upon all youthfull Dalliances and Solaces to check them in their eager pursuit of their most delicious Pleasures (y) Ec. 11.9 To make the Judge upon the Bench tremble at a few words of a Prisoner at the Bar (z) Act. 24.25 The Drunkard to let fall his Cups and the Busie Worldling to stand at gaze the Prophane Atheist to hide his Head and the sleepy Sot to start up into Anxious Wonder to hush the loud Companions into Silence and the merry Droll into a carefull Look No Sinner knows how soon he may be reduc'd to the very last opportunity of making his peace with God and brought into those straits that no wise considerate man would be in for all the World Into such a Condition as to have nothing to save him from perishing but a sudden Repentance to have but this Plank left which is a Thousand to one whether ever it will bring him safe to shore Now he apprehends himself in danger he is infinitely troubled for his neglecting Preparation for that which he could not for his life but believe would come He thinks and it 's to be fear'd very right it 's somewhat too late to set about it to little purpose to gird up his Loins when he can do no Service to light his Lamp when all his Oil is spent He 's afraid he shall have no time to do any thing considerable in this work that God will not accept of any thing he doth at such a time he vainly wishes for some of those Hours he was sick of hung upon his Hand he foolishly wasted and mis spent and nothing hinders him now from setting about the Work with all his Might but that â—â—e hath neglected it so long and that it 's â—ow too late But is it not better to preâ—ent the occasion of it To take away the ground of such vain Wishes such sad Complaints Why should we not resolvedly do that now which so many when they come to die heartily wish they had done The Foundation of our Peace and Comfort at Death must be laid in our youth and health living in a continual Expectation and Preparation for it doing all things in order to it getting a stock of habitual Grace and keeping our Souls in a vigorous vigilant Posture Let your loins be girded about and your lights Burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately Blessed are those Servants Luke 12.35 36 37. whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching A Prayer for a Comfortable Death To be added to our daily Devotions ALmighty Creator and most mercifull Redeemer who hast made me as the Clay and wilt bring me to Dust again Have Mercy upon me now and at the Hour of my Death By a Holy Conversation and habitual Performance of my Duty let me be always ready for it Let it not be unprovided or untimely having in it nothing extraordinary but an extraordinary Piety and the Manifestation of a great and miraculous Mercy Hide thy Face from my Sins and blot out all mine Iniquities Let me pass through the Valley of the shadow of Death with safety and a well-grounded Peace a meek and quiet Spirit and a Sence of thy Love and Mercy let me then fear no Evil because thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comforts me when my Flesh and my Heart faileth me be thou the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Give me a right use of â—â—y Sences and Understanding an unâ—â—gned Repentance a strong Faith and â—â—tience a firm Hope a sincere Love 〈◊〉 thee and all the World Be thou â—â—e Portion of all my Relations and â—â—iends and our exceeding great Reâ—â—rd When our Earthly House of this â—â—bernacle is dissolved let 's have a Builâ—â—g of God an House not made with â—â—nds Eternal in the Heavens while â—â—ive let me live unto thee when I 〈◊〉 let me die unto thee living or dyâ—â—â— let me be thine through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord. Amen Another O Judge of all the World and Father of Mercies In all Humility I â—strate my self before thee O Reâ—â—mber not against me the Sins of my â—â—th nor of my riper Years but acâ—â—â—ding to the Multitude of thy tender â—â—â—cies blot out all my Transgressions 〈◊〉 me not in a short life create to my 〈◊〉 Horror Amazement and Eternal Torment but be every day doing that which will be matter of Triumph and Rejoycing when I come to die All the days of my appointed Time let mâ— wait till my Change come Preservâ— me in thy Faith Fear and Love to my Life's End Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirâ—â— from me Deliver me whom thou haâ— redeemed with thy most precious Blood from the Power and guilt of Sin from offending thee or others by an impatâ—â—ent uneasie Spirit from the Assaults 〈◊〉 Satan from an immoderate Fear 〈◊〉 Death from Eternal Damnation Thâ—â— when I have served thee in my Generâ—tion I may have an abundant Entranâ—â— into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savâ— our Jesus Christ to whom with thâ— Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be a Glory Honour and Praise now and eveâ— more Amen Another O Thou that art the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation receive and keep me in thy Favour in the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Faith and Peace and in Righteousness of Life Make me always sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of my Life and of the suddainness and certainty of that Day when thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether