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A08812 Meditations of death wherein a Christian is taught how to remember and prepare for his latter end: by the late able & faithfull minister of the Gospel, Iohn Paget. Paget, John, d. 1640.; Paget, Robert. 1639 (1639) STC 19099; ESTC S113906 110,470 273

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us further by applying unto us the merit of his sufferings Then as the childe neesed seven times so the new creature the converted soule doth manifest the truth of life received by severall degrees at the first neesing a new disposition appeares at the second new motions at the third new affections at the fourth new will purpose at the fift new fruits and workes at the sixt new thankesgiving and praise in joy of the holy Ghost so much in this life at the seventh neesing the old man is utterly abolished the flesh shaken quite off and the spirit caryed into a heavenly kingdome clothed with a white robe of perfect righteousnes in Christ the fulnesse of spirituall life Therefore all is to be sought principally in Christ c The outward meanes whereby the Spirit quickeneth are the ordinances and workes of God The primary ordinances of God are his Word Prayer Sacraments and Discipline The word of God is the word of life Deut. 32.47 Ioh. 5.25 6.63.68 Act. 5.20 a tree of life Prov. 3.18 the immortall seed 1. Pet. 1.23 that quickeneth the soule which cleaves unto the dust melteth for heavines Psa 119.25.28 By prayer men finde life for themselves Ioel. 2.32 Rom. 10.13 Esa 38 2-5 give life to others 1. Ioh. 5.16 Baptisme shewes us the laver of regeneration or new birth Act. 2.38 with Tit. 3.5 Ioh. 3.5 and the dead-harted are quickened by meditation of the grace represented sealed thereby By the Table of the Lord the fainting spirits are relieved revived through that spirituall food which is there exhibited 1. Cor. 11.24 The admonitious of Discipline are the corrections of life Prov. 15.31 therein is consolation for those that are ready to be swallowed up of sorrw 2. Cor. 2.7 By these things men live in all these is the spirit of life vivification Esa 38.16 therefore as we would have the life of the new creature to be dayly increased within us so are we to attend upon that word of life night and day to pray incessantly to watch thereunto with all perseverance and thankesgiving to sanctify ourselves for an holy use of the Sacramēts from time to time to submit unto Discipline for mutuall edification so to wait for spirituall life thereby to be ministred unto us d The secondary ordinances of God for vivificatiō of the new man are an holy Feast a holy Watch unto the Lord. As mirth is compared to the song in the night when a holy solemnity was kept Esa 30.29 Paul Silas sang together at midnight Act. 16.25 till midnight did Paul continue his speech unto the disciples at Troas Act. 20.7 And such meanes are the godly still upon occasion to use for their quickening in their spirituall life sitting under the shadow of him that is the true vine Ioh. 15.1 drinking the wine of his promises plucking the grapes of his consolation cōforting the poore heavy hearted communicating their joy one to another using his gifts in all sobriety and thankfulnes for their mutual support in this time of their pilgrimage e After these follow the tertian ordinances so to speake meanes of an inferiour order rank to wit Vowes and Covenants for the helpes of spirituall life As a religious feast and watch serve for the quickening of the soule in the use of the first and primary meanes so these in the third degree serve to binde us to the use of the secondary each supporting an other Vowes promises to God serve to binde us to the observance of other godly exercises at a certaine time we see how the godly upon occasion vowed to offer unto God a bullock a ramme a lamb or goat male or female more or lesse insomuch that the sacrifices are sometimes called by the name of vowes the Lord accepted that vow of so small a matter Lev. 7.16 22.18 23.38 Num. 15.3 18.14 29.39 Psa 116 12-19 Mal. 1.14 with Act. 5.2.3 ch 21.23.24.26 And so now when men vow unto the Lord and binde themselves unto any particular work of mercy towards the poore or to keep a love-feast or any watch or to performe any labour of love unto the Lord for the quickening of themselves others the same is a sacrifice of sweet odour unto the Lord. Phil. 4.18 2. Cor. 8.4.5 Heb. 13.15.16 In like manner the covenants promises made unto mē whereby they binde themselves to one another for the performance of some dueties of religion or mercy together are also approoved meanes of mutuall comfort and vivification David bound himself by covenant to Ionathan 1. Sam. 18.3 to the Elders of Israel 1. Chro. 11.3 to other worthies cap. 12.17.18 And what his covenant was with the man of his covenant that profaned it we see in the Psalme of his complaint namely to be as guides to one another to take sweet of this way application of the former truth the Lord hath in his word given further light and direction by certaine peculiar workes which himselfe hath cōmended unto us as having pregnant special reference to our latter end to procure some more distinct certaine comfort by the particular observatiō practise of thē And therefore whereas some godly and christian friends doe mutually desire of one another some directiō counsell for their preparation to their end to such besides a general resolute purpose to have respect unto all the commandements of God in al things to keep fayth a good cōsciēce I would cōmend these dueties following I. In the first place a dayly invocation of the name of God for his help and assistance in this particular poynt that they may be prepared to die to leave this world come with comfort into the presence of God to stand undismayed before the throne of his grace The comfort of a happy end is worthy a speciall prayer every day for that particular benefit The maine blessing that Paul could wish unto Onesiphorus that had so oft refreshed him was this that the Lord would grant unto him that he might finde mercy of the Lord in that day 2. Tim. 1.18 And this he prayes for the Thessalonians that their hearts might be stablished unblameable in holines before God evē our Father at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with his Saints 1. Thes 3.13 againe that their whole spirit soule body might be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thes 5.23 Now that which Paul so earnestly desired for his dearest friends that is also worthy to be desired of us for ourselves every day If Paul prayed night and day exceedingly to see the faces of his godly friends 1. The. 3.10.11 and that by any meanes he might have a prosperous journey cōming unto them for their mutual comfort how much more cause have we to pray night day with exceeding longing to see the Lord face to face to
doth trouble disturbe the minde and disables it that it cannot orderly quietly dispose it selfe unto godly comfortable meditations but being overcome with impatiēce frets murmures is tossed up downe without fruit Therefore are these extremities of anguish compared to a cup of intoxicating wine making men as it were drunken with greefe Esa 51.17 21.22 Lam 4.21 and even mad with woe sorrow that they know not what to doe Deut. 28.34 Ier. 25.16 Eccles 7.7 And what folly is it then for men to be unprepared through forgetfulnes of their latter end to remaine drunken with security all their life till they be drowned in a gulfe of misery Perplexity extreme anguish may justly come as a snare upon them that abuse their present peace ease promising themselves liberty power to dispatch all that is needfull for their salvation in one moment of their last distresse g And commonly when death approcheth our adversary the devill that prince of darknes that hath gone about as a roaring lyon watching to devoure us at all opportunities before doth thē especially rage knowing that his time is short Rev. 12. 12. and withall seekes to take advantage by the present infirmitie of the sick persons insinuating himselfe into each of the former troubles adding fearfull dreames to their slumbers strong fancies to their distraction aggravating their paines with divers terrours Experience shewes what great temptatiōs many have undergone upon their death-bed And therfore the consideratiō of this last great combat should warne every one betimes to arme thēselves to gather strēgth every day against the last day to furnish thēselves with grace to seek truth righteousnes faith patience store of comfortable promises out of the word of God layd up in their hearts kept in readines to nourish themselves in hope to watch pray uncessantly that having concluded this last combat obtained the victory they may then be translated from a state militant to a state triumphant for ever h THese forewarnings are such as serve chiefly for the instruction of those that feele them on whose persons they are inflicted but beside these forewarnings the dead leave unto the living many after-warnings of their mortality which admonish the succeeding generation that they must follow their praedecessours And here first of all observe how it is ordered by divine providence that in death the soule body be separated one from the other In this separation the Soule is carried away invisibly no man knoweth how nor whither No humane sense cā discerne the spirit of man ascending Ecc. 3.21 The Lord in his unsearchable counsell would have the opening of the gates of the second world to be kept secret close from us If godly parents should see the soules of their children carried away to destruction in the clawes of an hellish dragon crying unto them with a lamentable and desperate voyce what horrour woe would this be unto them to make their dayes more uncomfortable so lōg as they should live on earth God in great mercy conceales it from them If wicked ungodly men should see their children or companions soules haled away by evill spirits after they were separated frō their bodies withall should heare thē shrike cry curse their cōpany what a stroke of terrour might this be unto them but God in justice hides these things from thē will not satisfy the curiosity of profane men that despise his Gospell and the means of life revealed therein This secret manner of translating the separated soules in carrying some close prisoners to Hell and transporting others in covered wagons invisible chariots unto Glory serves to warne and admonish us by the very forme thereof so much the more to remember the other evident monuments of our frailety When secret things are restrayned to the Lord the things revealed are immediately thereupon the more enforced upon us to observe the same Deut. 29.29 When the Spirit recordes how some persons men or angels have vanished out of the sight of those they had spoken withall we are to observe how they were occasioned thereby to thinke the more of that which they had seene heard from such and not to prye into that which was withdrawne from them Luke 24.31.32 Act. 8.39 Iudg. 6.21.22 c. Yea the Lord appointed that they should not be suffered to live which went about to talke with the dead soule or to rayse the spirits Levit. 20.27 1. Sam. 28.8 9. c. But by all this we are so much the more led to observe the common visible memorials of mortality shewed unto us in them that die before us i It is further to be observed that when the spirit is carried away presently to God that gave it yet the body remains behinde returnes to dust from whence it came Eccles 12.7 If God by death had taken away both the soule the body together at the same time if it had pleased God to take away all men as Henoch Elias were Heb. 11.5 Gen. 5.24 2. Kin. 2.11.17 or to bury all men so as Moses was Deut. 34.6 namely so that their bodies should be seene no more among men yet even then there were cause enough to remember that wonderfull great finall translation but now seing every man departing this life leaves a peece of himselfe among his friends on earth yea the one halfe of his person and that halfe which is the visible part even the body that was best knowne among men the Lord by this fragment of man that is left gives us occasion to thinke what is done with the rest and to keepe in memory the death past to prepare us for death to come As Elias ascending to heaven let his mantle fall for a remembrance so much care for our bodies as we doe for the soules according to this example of God who shewes more love respect to the soules taking them first into his heavenly Kingdome glory when as he suffers the body so long a time after to lodge in dishonour to remaine in the pit of corruption 1. Cor. 15.43 l The sequestration of the body from the place where the soule is and the corruption of it being separate are memorialles wrought immediately by Gods owne hand beside these there are other after-warnings of death effected by the providence of God mediately by the services of men that seeke the honour of the dead comfort of the living For honour of the dead holy men of old have shewed great care to provide sepulchers tombes monuments for them Such were the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham Gen. 40.30.31 and 23. the pillar on Rachels grave that Iaakob set up Gen. 35.20 that continued so many generations to Samuels time 1. Sam. 10.2 the title on the sepulcher of the man of God that prophesied of Iosias 2. Kin. 23.17.18 the sepulcher of David that continued twise fourteene generations from David to
the Apostles time Act. 2.29 having bene preserved in the time of the Babylonian captivity even then when both city temple were destroyed with many the like These monuments are in Scripture called Memorialles Mnemeia Matth. 23.29 Iohn 11.38 and 19.41 and 20 1. by which whatsoever others intended the godly are taught to remember their latter end The garnished tombes and the sumptuous sepulchers are but so many scaffolds stages theaters of humane frailety and so many pulpits out of which our mortality is preached and all the common graves of the people are the coffers of death the sight whereof should teach us to lay up our treasure in heaven And thus though the touch of a grave defiled the body with a ceremoniall pollution in the time of the Law Numb 19.16 yet the sight of a grave may serve to cleanse the soule by a spirituall consideration of our end even as the sight of the Leviathan raised up did bring men to purify themselves fearing lest the whale might be their grave Iob. 41.25 with Iob 3.8 m The grave being prepared for the dead corps then men proceed with their may obtaine n Having bene at the grave performed the last duety to the person of the dead we then returne come from the dead to the living to the friends of the dead to mourne with them to comfort them and as the kinred speciall friends of old used to eat drink with them give them the cup of consolation Rom. 12.15 Ier. 16.7.8 Gen. 37.35 1. Chro. 7.22 Ioh. 11.19 and in this action we have an other call to remember our end While we minister consolation to others we are to take an exhortation to our selves The house of mourning is the schoole of mortification and therefore better to enter into it then into the house of feasting for there is the end of all men which the living will lay unto his heart so be made better in his heart by the consideration of the dead by the sadnes of the countenances waiting on that consideration Eccles 7.2.3.4 o When the comforters of them that mourne are departed from the mourning house gone every one to his owne yet still the friends of the dead even while they live on earth so often as they misse their friends departed want the help benefit which they were wont to enjoy from them so often are they called to remember death that makes such separatiōs La. 4 18-20 The widowes orphanes desolate parents oppressed subjects scattered sheep that are deprived of their loving husbands parents children rulers pastours or any friend neighbour that misseth the company of an other are by this want called to remember both that death past which took away their friends that death to come which shall againe restore them bring them together 1. Thess 4.13.14 2. Sam. 12.23 And in this remembrance they are withal warned to make themselves ready for death not to be glewed unto this world from whence their comforts are taken away When the shepheard takes up the young lamb the ewe followes him of her selfe and needs no more calling or driving when the great shepheard of the sheep takes away the soules of young old of dearest friends from one another it is to make them runne after the Lord to long after his presence in whom they shall finde all more then all that ever they lost in this world So often as we thinke of a mother a father or other intire serve to make a deeper impressiō into the soule and to keep the memory of it self in the minde more then a thousand other memorials beside A strange thing it were if a man that were to be judged the next day of life death and to receive sentence eitheir of a most cruell shamefull death or of a rich honourable estate during his life if this man could not keep in minde the judgment approching untill the next morrow without tying stringes about his fingers for remembrance or writing some caveats upon the posts of the prison or procuring some watchmen to come every houre whispering in his eare to tell him of the danger imminent of life or death And as strange or more is it that these great maine matters of Eternall Salvation or Eternall Condemnation should not by their owne greatnes presse the heart of man with the weight thereof unto a continuall remembrance of them without other warnings when as we know not whether we shall have one dayes respite before they come a The last end of the godly is eternall life This life consists especially in fellowship with God the Saints By fellowship with God men come to see God Matt. 5.8 even to see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 to see his face which living man was never able to see on earth Exo. 33.20 to see him before whom the glorious Seraphims doe cover their faces with their wings Esa 6.2 to see the holy Trinity the blessed Father Sonne H. Ghost clothed with the sacred robes of their severall beauty and majesty shining distinctly as the pure Iasper the carnation Sardine the greene Emerald Rev. 4.3 Then the Sonne will shew himselfe unto his elect Ioh. 14.21 and they shall see his glory Ioh. 17.24 and the Father shall be seene in him Ioh. 14.9.10 and with them both the seven Spirits which are before the throne even that one and the same Spirit enlightning with his sevenfold graces and gifts that bright sevenfold lamp of his Church Rev. 1.4 with 4.5 1. Cor. 12.11 With this vision shall the soule be satisfyed whē they awake Psal 17.15 The pleasure of this surmounts the joy of all pleasant things seene by any eye If all the pleasure that all the most ardent lovers receyved at any or at all times from all the most beauteous amiable countenances of their dearest spouses fairest loves in the like promises Therefore is that end ever to be remēbred longed after Thē especially shal it appeare how the elect remaine as lambs in the bosome of the Lord their shepheard Esa 40.11 Thē will it be further revealed how God dwelleth in thē they in him 1. Ioh. 4.15.16 therefore need not feare being kept far off as mē on earth that were kept from the bodily presence of Christ being in the house because of the thrōg at the doore Mar. 2.2.4 The incomprehensible Lord filling heaven earth Ier. 23.24 is himself a house where they shall dwel and they a mansiō wherein he will make his abode Ioh. 14.23 By this heavenly conjunction cohabitation with God shall the elect be one even as the Father the Sonne are one Christ in them and the Father in him that they may be perfect in one Ioh. 17.22.23 This thrise blessed most glorious union is that greene bed of Christ his Spouse Sol. song 1.16 an eternall paradise of comfort and garden of pure delights Oh
mines of coales in the veines of vitrioll of salt-peter of lime and divers other things whereby from under the earth is turned up as it were fire Iob. 28.5 and to shew a most wofull burning it is sayd The people shall be as the burnings of lime Esa 33.12 Above upon the face of the earth the Lord hath planted divers growing fires in sundry hote herbes some burning blistering the skinne outwardly by the very touch thereof as the nettle with some other kinde of thistles venomous thornes whose innumerable prickes shew the infinite power of God to curse the wicked some other herbs being taken inwardly as Hellebore Coloquintida or the wild gourd that brought death into the pot 2. Kin. 4.39.40 Euphorbium the like doe cast the body into miserable paine distresse burning exulcerating gnawing grating tearing the intrals tossing and tormenting the body with vomits purges with swooning fainting with violent convulsions fearfull symptomes In the sensitive creatures God hath kindled many kindes of living going fire walking to fro in the earth in the divers poysons of sundry serpēts some creeping under our feet some flying over our heads as in the hornet the snake adder aspe cockatrice those fiery flying serpents that sting burne men to the death Num. 21.6 Esa 14.29 To come neerer ourselves in the body of man God kindleth many strange fires in the sundry diseases thereof both by painefull inflammations of particular parts both outward inward especially by that universall fire of the burning fevers flaming out of the heart into the whole body Deut. 28.22 this in great variety some inflaming the spirits onely some the blood also some consuming the very substance of the solid parts also some burning with a simple excesse of heat others consisting in rotten corrupt humours doe burne the body more cruelly of these againe some burning continually night day without intermission as the fire in glasse houses the furnaces where yron is melted others by fitts comming at appoynted seasons after certain periods of time either every day or each second or third day like fire raked under ashes kindled againe upon occasion some others againe consisting of a malignant poysonous fire as in the pestilentiall fevers that burne more cruelly deadly then the rest these are like going or running fires through their contagion spreading abroad walking in darknesse destroying at noone flying as poysoned arrowes by their infection breaking out in boyles carbuncles like so many fiery furnaces or ovens comming up in the flesh Psa 91.3.6 Esa 38 21. And by these with their compounds the Lord kindleth a burning lake within the body maketh the veines which containe the inflamed blood humours to be like so many rivers of pitch brimstone and so causeth an unquenchable thirst an intollerable paine that followes it In the aire clouds above our heads God kindleth terrible fires by thūder lightnings divideth the flames shooteth abroad his fiery darts to consume his enimies Psa 18.12.13.14 Above the clouds in the firmament God kindleth another fire by the Sunne some other starres and smites the earth her inhabitants with the beames thereof so that they are scorched with heate faint in themselves Psal 121.6 with Rev. 7.16 16.8.9 Ion. 4.8 To goe higher into the third heavens God hath there also kindled many fires he maketh his Angels to be flames of fire Heb 1.7 to be horses charets of fire 2. Kin. 6.17 2.11 to be burning Seraphims Esa 6.2 expressed by the same name that is before given to the fiery serpents Numb 21.6 he maketh his Cherubims like coales of fire as the appearance of lampes as the flashes of lightning from them are scattered coales of fire over countries cities for their punishment Ezek. 1.13.14 with cha 10.2.7 e But above all these the Lord himselfe is a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 9.3 Heb. 12.29 an everlasting burning Esa 33.14 when he riseth up to judge the world to plead with secure sinners how can they stand before his angry face His throne is a fiery flame his wheeles as burning fire a fiery streame issueth commeth forth from before him consumeth round about Dan. 7.9.10 Psa 97.3 his face is burning Esa 30.27 his eyes flaming Rev. 1.14 his nostrils smoaking Psa 18.8 his tongue a devouring fire his breath an overflowing streame as a river of brimstone to kindle Tophet Esa 30.27.28.33 from his loynes upward from his loynes downeward all as the appearance of fire Ezek. 1.27 when he shall be revealed from heaven he is to come in flaming fire with his mighty angels round about him all of them like so many shining beames of his glory pointed with indignation sparkling with wrath against the sinners that are frozen in their dreggs 2. Thes 1.7.8 Iude. 14. And yet further to shew the greatnes of this wrath we are to remember that each person in the H. Trinity burneth with a distinct flame of wrath against the wicked The Lord from the Lord raines fire and brimstone Gen. 19.24 The Son comes in the glory of his Father Matt. 16.27 The holy Spirit is a spirit of judgment a spirit of burning Esa 4 4. as the Spirit mooved upon the waters in the beginning of the world Gen. 1.2 so shall it moove upon the fire of Gods judgments in the end of the world for the consuming of sinners All other fires in the creature are but sparkles lesse then nothing in respect of this infinite wrath of God This is the latter end of wicked men never to be forgotten When the Lord warned the Iewes of their destruction of their end that was comming it is wonderfull to consider how earnestly he cryes unto them how many repetitions he useth worthy to be numbred counted exactly of every one whiles he calles upō them An end an end is come the end is come An evill an onely evill behold it is come An end is come the end is come it vvatcheth for thee behold it is come The morning is come unto thee the time is come the day of trouble is neere not the eccho of the mountaines c. Behold the day behold it is come the morning is gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath budded c. The time is come the day dravveth neere c. Ezek. 7.2.3.5.6.7.10.12 Thus doth the Lord spread out his hands unto sinners to warne them of their end they are worthy to feele the smart of that eternall fire that neither by the terrour of his wrath propounded nor by the carefull love of God in admonishing thereof will be drawne to looke in this burning glasse to thinke upon this last end Were we wise we should run oftner to warme our soules with this fire by the meditation of it then we bring our bodies to any other fire to heate
warne every one that would stand in the evill day never to forget their latter end After the fall then God calles againe by a Sentence of mortality which he pronounced on man Dust thou art to dust thou shalt returne Gen. 3.19 to make men with new care to thinke upon death And this was a generall day of judgment in the beginning of the world as there shall be an other Generall judgment in the end of the world Then were we all in Adam Evah presented before the Tribunall judgment-seat of God receyved the sentence of the first death universally pronounced upon all men righteous or unrighteous elect or reprobate as there shal be a sentence of second death pronounced on the reprobate at last After this Sentence the Lord calles againe by the execution thereof from time to time while death being entred into the world reignes among men devouring all bringing all to dust yet so that the execution of this Sentence is revealed in manifold diverse degrees according to the great patience long their language but cut of their dayes from foure or five hundred to two hundred od yeares Gen. 11 18-32 And so with the ruine of Babel the life of man was ruinated The lofty tower of mans age that before ascended to so great an height by the steps of so many yeares was now throwne downe made lower by the halfe The noyse crash of this downefall sounded through many generations from Peleg to Terah warning all to be more watchfull because the execution of this sentence of death with double speed was brought upon them After this in the time of Abraham the generations following from two hundred od we finde the yeares of the Patriarkes brought to an hundred od Gen. 25.7 35.28 47.28 c. So was the reprive of man shortned againe And whē the Lord called Abraham his seed into his covenant he withall called both him the world by a new summōs as by sound of trumpet to repentance amendment of life by remembrance of their latter end which now pressed upon them with double hast to that it had done And lastly in the time of Moses the Lord being provoked by a new rebellion did againe halfe the age of man reduced the number of his yeares to seventy or eighty Psal 90.10 Then was the execution of the Sentence of death hastned more then ever before thereby the Lord called them still calleth us to remember our end Lord let thy call be effectuall unto us bring our hearts to true wisedome establish thou the worke of our hands fill us with thy mercy in the morning that we may seeke thee early be glad in thee all our dayes d If God should once more have halfed the age of man as he did before then can we not conceive how the world should have subsisted If our dayes upon a new provocation had bene shortned from seventy to five thirty if weaknes of old age had prevayled as much upon us at thirty as now it doth at sixty if at fifteene yeares men should have bene at their full strength then have begun to decline as now many doe at thirty being then in the height vigour of their age how manifold defects in learning practising would thē have ensued what wisedome experience could men have learned in so short a time how could liberall or mechanicall arts sciences have bene learned or what continuance of strēgth could have bene to have wrought exercised such trades sciences what a world of children old folkes yea what a world of fooles impotent persons should we have had though it be so already yet how much more then But the Lord will not contēd for ever though he be now provoked as much as ever before for the spirit would faile before him the soules that he hath made Esa 57.16 Therefore hath the terme of mans age continued at this stay from Moses to our time for about three thousand yeares together so as it was never settled in the former generations And therefore in speciall is this worke of God to be considered of us as being the last call warning of God in this kinde to make us remember our latter end Now though God doe not againe shorten halfe the dayes of man by such certaine determinate limits as formerly he hath done yet after another manner he doth not ceasse to cut them off prevent the course of nature for our warning as effectually as in the former judgemēts For still the Lord being provoked by the wicked cutts them off before their time they are brought downe to the pit they live not out halfe their dayes Psal 55.23 the number of their moneths is cut off in the middest Iob 21.21 as the vine shakes off his unripe grape the olive his flower Iob 15.33 And not the wicked alone but the elect the beloved of God as Henoch Gen. 5.23.24 are also taken away in the midst of their dayes though sometime they live to seventy or eighty yeares come to their grave in a full age as a shock of corne commeth in in his season Iob 5.26 yet oft they are taken away before Esa 57.1 in infancy childhood youth middle age c. Vpon every step of life death waites and thousāds are dayly translated on every yeare of mans life some the first yeare that they are borne some in the second some in the third so forward every yeare thousands ten thousands even to the last and so a thousand calles hereby we receyve from God to remember our latter end with greater hast e The multitude number of these uncertaine untimely deaths are innumerable We may observe it in three worlds The old world perished all together strong men with their women children were smitten with the sword of Ioshuah Ios 11.4 How many did the sword of Gideon of David other Kings of Israel devoure Who can recount how much flesh those foure beasts or Monarchies devoured Dan. 7.3 c. Not to speake more of the heathens what untimely deaths did overtake Israel their infants were drowned in Egypt Exo. 1.22 Six hundred thousād of their carcasses fell in the wildernes And as the childrē especially were before destroyed in Egypt so now in the wildernes the mē especially A decree was made a bound set unto the murmurers that they which were twēty yeares old should not live longer then sixty yeares accordingly for the rest whereas their childrē might live to sevēty or eighty yeares Num. 14 29-33 How many were slaine in the time of their Iudges Kings In Ahaz his time an hundred twēty thousand valiant men were slaine in one day two hundred thousand captived 2. Chron. 28.6.8 In Ieroboams time five hundred thousand chosen men fell downe slaine at once 2. Chro. 13.17 And by innumerable such examples hath death
arts of hunting in divers kindes It is strange to heare see how the waterfoules in Freeseland Waterland and elswhere are taught to entise other wild foules bring them into the snare and then to give a watchword unto their master to sease upon them If thus farre they be subdued unto man evē after the fall what is that service which they should have performed before the fall when both man should have had more understanding to teach governe them they a more inclinable tractable disposition to have obeyed As Iehosaphat witnessed his fellowship with the kings of Israel when he professed My people are as thy people and my horses as thy horses 1. Kings 22.4 2. Kings 3.7 so hath the Lord hereby declared his communion with man by making his creatures our servants his horses our horses c. It cannot be conceived or knowne of us how great pleasure delight man should have had in this dignity communicated unto him of God The earth it selfe all the increase thereof was also subjected unto man Gen. 1.28 paradise all the pleasant fruits thereof Gen. 2.8.16 whereas otherwise every one might have bene as dangerous pernicious to be eaten tasted of as was the forbidden fruit the greene grasse diversifyed with sweet flowers of sundry colours shapes was spread as a pleasant carpet for man to tread upon and by a speciall providence the ground was greene a colour wholesomest for the eye-sight of man the firmament above beautifyed with so many spangles of shining starres was spread out as a canopie over the head of man where ever he goes Esa 40.22 more glorious then those carried over the heads of Popes or Emperours Even those heavenly bodies are communicated and distributed unto man for his benefit comfort Deu. 4.19 f And yet notwithstanding all this if we cast our eye into the world to come the glory thereof will be found far to surmount all this That which is now above our heads shall then be found to be under our feet The visible heavens that now are are not thought good enough nor pleasant enough for the elect but they shall passe away with a noise 2. Pet. 3.10 into singing Esa 44.23 the sea shall roare the floods clap their hands the field shall be joyfull all that is therein Psal 96.11.12 98.7.8 And yet all this is not enough if every twigge of all the trees in the world were a flute or sapwhistle if every stalk of corne in the field or reed by the waters side were all pipes blowne by the winde yet all would be too little to resound this incomprehensible glory And in the meane time untill this glory be revealed untill the sons of God be manifested they wait hold up their heads in exspectation they groane travell in paine longing for this blessed end Rom. 8.19.22 and so doe they that have the first fruits of the Spirit groane sigh within themselves waiting for the adoption the redemption of their bodies vers 23. This is the desired end which God calles us so oft to remember how can men thinke of it without desiring it how can they desire it aright without praying for it how can men thinke they pray aright for it unlesse they prepare themselves thereunto by denying the world What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation godlines whiles we looke for this end with what care diligence should we labour to be found of him in peace without spot blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.11.14 g BEsides the fellowship with God in the old world if we againe looke back into it we may behold an other happines of men in their mutuall fellowship one with another The first conjugation of humane society was that of mā wife by marriage this was the originall ground of all other societies from hence sprung the names estates of father mother with their sonnes and daughters out of this society in family sprung all the societies in Church common-wealth When God could have made men of new clods of the earth so as Adam was made at first Gen. 2.7 and so have multiplyed them abundantly according to the abundance of spirit that was in him Mal. 2.15 yet he thought it good to create not onely one woman for one man which he might have done in many couples of them but also to make onely one couple of them and from them to draw all the lines of consanguinity affinity which should be so many bandes of love to unite binde all mankinde new Cast we our eye that way againe behold how in the resurrection they neither marry nor give in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven Matt. 22.30 All the comforts of marriage shall be as it were swallowed up overwhelmed of that heavenly glory vanish away in the sight of it There shall be more glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels then is the matrimoniall covenant sweeter knots of loving fellowship faster then the knot of marriage the bond of the Spirit uniting hearts mindes in one more then all the cords of consanguinity or affinity All the faithfull soules shall be presented unto Christ as pure virgines 2. Cor 11.2 they are shall be ever his loves his doves his undefiled Cant. 5.2 and he shall be their bridegroome Matt. 25.1 fayrer then the children of men Psal 45.2 white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand wholly delectable lovely Cant. 5.10 c. far above the first Adam The heavenly paradise shall be an eternall wedding-chamber and all the Angels of God shall rejoyce for them to whom such honour is vouchsafed Luke 15.10 What remaineth to be done of us untill we come to that immortall undefiled inheritance but that we aspire unto it dayly that we have this end before us as the loadstarre of our comfort direction that we be carried forward amaine toward this price of our heavenly calling one would thinke this should be a spurre sharp enough to make us runne the race of godlines set before us while we have such glory propounded the call of our Bridegroome inciting us i From Adam Evah come we to their children looke into the old world againe Had not sinne come into the world by the transgression of Adam had he his posterity continued untill this time in their uprightnes in the image of God wherein they were created what a glorious blessed communion should man have then enjoyed even upon the earth If sinne had bene kept out of the world then had not death entred Rom. 5.12 with Gen. 2.17 3.17.19 then might Adam Evah have bene alive to this day seene their childrens children not unto the third fourth but to the thirtieth fourtieth or hundredth generation all of them faire without blemish either of soule or body without any had thirty renowned sonnes that rode
are we called of God to remember same offences of striking or cursing committed against others were not so though some childrē might happily have as much wisedome as their father mother yet their authority alone being despised brought such woe Now the authority of God the heavenly father over his creature being infinitely greater then the authority of any earthly father over his children the contempt thereof doth accordingly procure an infinite woe unto those that disobey God that reject his Law make their owne lust their law prefer the doing of their owne vile wills before the obedience of his holy heavenly will So in like manner the infinite evill of sinne appeareth distinctly in this that it is committed against the infinite goodnes mercy of God There are in creatures manifold degrees of love kindnes the love of one doth an hundred times exceed the love of some other both in tendernes of affection in multitude of benefits And in such case the treachery of such as deale falsely wickedly against their cheefest friends becomes an hundredfold greater evill then the sin of some others Now the Lord is love it selfe 1. Ioh. 4.8.16 herein is love not that we love God but that he loved us vers 10. his grace the gifts of his eternall free grace doe infinitely exceed all other love he gave himselfe to be our God portion his Sonne to be our ransome And therefore to sin against this high immeasurable grace to contēne this love to love that which is vanitie of vanities more then God doth make the sin of such to be out of measure sinfull deserveth an infinite hatred misery to ensue thereupon And thus the greevousnes of sinne is to be considered conceived in respect of the other divine attributes whereby we may see as it were ten infinites in one behold many windowes of contemplation opened before us through which we may have a huge vast prospect of the endles unsearchable woe of sinne that is to be felt in the second death Though there be many other aggravations of sinne yet this so farre exceeds the rest as if they all were nothing in comparison of this therefore doth the Spirit often urge this consideration upon men saying to the sinners Ye have lyed not unto men but unto God Act. 5.4 he that despiseth despiseth not man but God vvho hath also given us his holy Spirit 1. Thes and it containes more then a world of bookes can expresse c This fierce wrath of God is often in Scripture compared unto burning devouring fire Deut. 32.22 Ier. 15.14 17.4 Ezek. 21.31 22.21 36.5 Zeph. 1.18 accordingly is the tormēt in hell described unto us by the name of hellfire Matt. 5.22 18.9 The smarting paine caused by fire is well knowne by the common use thereof among us And yet above the nature of common fire which is made for the comfort of man to cheere him to make him laugh Esa 44.16 this dolefull fire of hell is propounded unto us of God by many strange descriptions It is a fire not like unto ours that may be quenched but an unquenchable fire Esa 66.24 Mark 9.44 Rev. 14.11 an everlasting fire Matt. 18.8 25.41 which so burnes the wicked as that it doth not consume them but keeps them alive in death that they may burne for ever and ever It is a fire that will not onely burne stones melt yron brasse but a subtile piercing fire that burnes even the spirits soules of men being a fire prepared for the devill his angels which are spirits Matt. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 and therefore farre more terrible then our fire by which tyrants burne the bodies of martyrs but cannot burne their soules Mat. 10.28 For the greatnes of it it is a bottomlesse pit Rev. 9.1.2 deep large Esa 30.33 a lake or sea of fire Rev. 20.14.15 for the names of lake or sea are sometimes in Scripture indifferently put one for another Matt. 8.24 with Luk. 8.23 and this burning sea is withall called a lake of brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 which makes the fire to burne more cruelly to choake strangle such as are plunged into this lake And for the forme of it it is sometimes compared to an oven or furnace of fire Mal. 4.1 Mat. 13.42.50 in which the fire being kept close strait may be made seven times more hote fierce then it was before Dan. 3.19 To make this fire yet more abhominable it is compared unto Tophet Esa 30.33 where children were burnt in horrible lothsome manner being sacrificed unto devils Ier. 7.31 with Psa 106.37 so more horrible would it be to see the soules sacrificed in Hell-fire Were there now but a witch to be burned at a stake how many thousands would flock together to behold the sight how many would loose a dayes work be content to misse their dinners rather then to misse the sight of it But if it were to see a King or an Emperour burnt to see a Pope or a Cardinall which having burnt many martyrs should at length have their owne flesh burnt with fire how many farre and neere would run and ride and spare no cost or labour to become spectatours of such a judgment how long how often how earnestly would men talke of it afterwards And yet this fire of the second death is for such by faith we see it faith makes us spectatours thereof if we beleeve the Scriptures which shew us how Tophet is prepared for kings Esa 30.33 how the beast and the false prophet the Popes are to be cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 and with them the multitude of their idolaters and other abhominable persons Rev. 21.8 And how are men bewitched that they forget this latter end of sinners that they more regard the light and momentany judgments of men then the eternall and severe judgments of the everlasting God This lake of fire is so forgotten and contemned of many which stand dayly at the brink of the pit ready to sinke downe into it for their sinnes as if that fire were already quenched yea the very common knowledge and confession thereof by all sorts hath quenched the thought of it and extinguished the memory and mencion of it with many as if it were so well knowne that it needed no more to be spoken of And for this cause are many tumbled into it overwhelmed in the depth of it before they be aware of it d The power of Gods wrath in kindling this fire may further be perceived if we behold the great variety of strange fires which God in his works of creation providence hath already kindled and set before us to shew what he is able to doe In the bowels of the earth below the Lord hath as it were sowne the seeds of fire in the divers minerals thereof as in the
him drink of the river of his pleasures To him be praise for evermore CHAP. II. Of the sure onely way to the Well of life No way to life but onely by Christ In the knowledge of Christ we are to consider a His calling unto the whole work of Redemptiō the gifts wherewith he was abundantly furnished for this calling b The offices laid upon him for this work when he became our Prophet to teach instruct both in his owne person by his ministers c Our Priest in his sufferings obedience on earth intercession for us in heaven d Our King to bring us unto the possession of life subduing all his our enimies e The visible signes seales of his grace Baptisme the Supper of the Lord f The dignity of his person being both very God true man requisite unto the discharge of each of his three offices g The comforts arising from these considerations specially when men thirst after life are carefull to have in store a select number of the promises of salvation h A direction how to apply the promises unto ourselves by the due consideration of Christ his natures offices I Am the way the trueth the life no man commeth unto the Father but by me saith Christ Ioh. 14.6 He is the Lambe that leades unto the living fountaines Rev. 7.17 the good shepheard that gathers the lambes with his arme carries was called thereunto of his Father Christ is the signet of his Fathers right hand him hath God the Father sealed by designing appointing him to be the Mediatour Ioh. 6.27 He is the elect of God Esa 42.1 fore ordained before the foundation of the world 1. Pet. 1.20 and againe manifestly called in time chiefely at his Baptisme Transfiguration when that glorious voyce came from heaven This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Matt. 3.17 17.5 This calling of Christ is especially noted in the Gospell of Iohn more thē fourty times in exact number under the phrase of sending him Ioh. 5.23.24.30 ●6 37.38 c. yet fourty times againe in other equivalent phrases of being sealed given comming downe from heaven come in the Fathers name the like Our Saviour himselfe doth ever anon repeat this calling rejoyce in it teach others to comfort themselves in it therefore the afflicted conscience that seekes to be strengthened in faith should often remember this calling of Christ yea fourty fourty times to runne unto it after the example of Christ never to have done with it that so the meditation thereof may lead them to the well of life Christ being thus called of his Father is thereupon also furnished with all gifts meet for his calling anoynted with the oyle of joy gladnes above his fellowes H●b 1.9 with the spirit above measure Ioh. 3.34 that of his fullnes we all might receive even grace for grace or grace over against grace grace renewed in us according to his image grace according to our need of grace according to his abundance able to supply all our wants Ioh. 1.16 All his garmēts smel of myrrhe aloes cassia out of his yvory palaces whereby they have made him glad whereby he hath made us glad giving the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Psa 45.8 Esa 61.3 His name is an oyntment powred out therefore the virgines love him Sol. song 1.3 and they sing lovesongs of him and their heart boyleth out his praise Psal 45. title vers 1. Being thus anointed called of his Father he comes promptly at his call Lo I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.7 with Psa 40.7.8 he is as willing as he is able to be a ver have found the well of life for there is none that understandeth Psa 53.1.2 but he is the light of them that sit in darkenes in the shadow of death he maketh the eyes of the blinde to see out of obscurity darknes Esa 29.18 In his breast is that Vrim Thummim by which the counsell of God was made knowne unto men Exod. 28.30 Num. 27.21 for he is the substance of the shadowes that went before Coll. 2.17 As from the Oracle debir 1. Kin. 6.19.20 the inmost place of the Sanctuary God was wont to speak of old to send forth a voyce Exo. 25.22 Num. 7.8.9 so now hath he spoken unto us in his Sonne that is in his bosome Heb. 1.1 Ioh. 1.18 There is no labyrinth of errour but he gives a threed of direction to come out of it There is no perplexity or difficult case of conscience but he resolveth it God hath given him the tongue of the learned to know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Esa 50.4 He leades the simple in a way that the fooles shall not erre therein Esa 35.8 Many complaine of the many religions and opinions in the world that they know not which to take but such are not acquainted with this Prophet who teacheth the humble revealeth his secret to them that feare him Psal 25.9.14 Christ is not like a sterne austere master of whom the poore schollers dare not aske a question but he is gentle loving calles them to learne of him perswades them to come to him because he is meek lowly shewes them how to finde rest unto their soules in all their doubts difficulties Matt. 11.29 And further as in the dayes of his flesh he was a minister of the circumcision Rom. 15.8 going about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospell of the kingdome Matt. 4.23 so now by his ministers servants Eph. 4.11.12 the maidens of his wisedome Prov. 9.3.4 he calles all nations to the knowledge fellowship of his grace Mat. 28.19 As of old he preached to the spirits now in prison by Noah a preacher of righteousnes 1. Pet. 3.19 so still at this day he preacheth peace to thē that are afarre of Eph. 2.17 Hereby his voyce is as the sound of many waters Rev. 1.15 a souud that is gone out into all the earth unto the ends of the world Rom. 10.18 And thus the spirit even in the waters of the great deep Exod. 14. Esa 51.10 so there being a burning lake a red sea of wrath prepared for sinners our holy high Priest hath made a way for us he wading first through the same the waters therof entring into his soule and overwhelming him that we might be delivered Psal 69.1 2. His suffering satisfaction is become a strong bridge of translation to carry us out of the state of wrath and condemnation into the state of grace and salvation and to transport us safely over this gulfe of destruction and curse in which for our sinnes we had deserved to have bene plunged drowned for ever Gal. 3.13 Col. 1.13.14 To
eyes sometimes set upon our heads as witnesses and pledges of the glorious kingdome to be enjoyed hereafter In Baptisme is represented both the washing away of our sinnes Act. 2.38 our fellowship with the holy Trinity whose names are put upon us Matt. 28.19 The names of the Father Sonne H. Ghost are set like three pearles shining in our crowne of glory set upon our heads Esa 28.5 In the Supper of the Lord being called unto his Table to the participation of the body blood of Christ we are thereby set together in heavenly places with him Eph. 2 6. like olive plants round about his Table as a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord Esa 62.3 even a crowne about our head Christ in the middes of his Church As the children of Israel in the wildernes to guide support them in the way were led by a pillar of cloud fed with manna water out of the rock so by a like favour for the same spirituall use hath Christ our King given us the Sacraments of the new Testament 1. Cor. 10.1.2.3.4 therefore looke what joy comfort the most faithfull in Jsrael had when they saw the cloud of the Tabernacle going before them such joy comfort ought we to be filled withall at the administration of Baptisme and looke with what joy and thankfulnes they went forth to gather Manna with as great ought we to be affected in going to the Table of the Lord giving thankes unto Christ for such a staffe of comfort to quicken strengthen us in our journey way unto the Kingdome of Heaven f But for a further view of this unspeakable grace comfort exhibited in these three offices of Christ we are to looke upon the dignity of his person whereupon depends the vertue power 33.15.16 When for sinne the Lord threatned a departure of this presence yet offered to send an Angel with them to destroy their enimies Exod. 33.2.3 that would not content him no presence of prophets or angels would serve the turne without this divine presence united to the Tabernacle for their guidance And even so according to this type when the word was made flesh he dwelt among us as in a Tabernacle as the word signifyes Ioh. 1.14 escenose His body was the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man Heb. 8.2 In him dwelt all the fulnes of the Godhead bodily Coll. 2.9 Out of this Tabernacle he spake Heb. 1.1 and wrought miracles Matt. 4.23 Act. 10.38 and remooved up and downe and conversing among men led his sheep in the way of life Ioh. 10.27.28 No man nor angel had bene sufficient for this worke but he being very God as well as man bearing up all things by his mighty word Heb. 1.3 caries along his sheep unresistably and safely unto the glory exspected He is Lord of all and at his right hand we may see all his blessed angels attending to whom he hath given charge to watch over his sheep in this way and to carry them in their hands that they dash not their feet against a stone Psal 91.11.12 At his left hand he hath the Devill his angels in a chaine and bindes them at his pleasure Rev. 20.1.2 2. Pet. 2.4 so that they cannot hurt a swine or any uncleane beast without his permission Matth. 8.31 and much lesse can they hurt them that are washed in his blood and he having given commandement to prepare the way of his people to cast up an high way to gather out the stones and to remoove the stumbling blockes Esa 62.10 57.14 they shall goe in the way of life as Israel marched out of Egypt with an high hand Exod. 14.8 a dog shall not moove his tongue against them Exod. 11.7 further then is for their good Rom. 8.28 and in due season they shall come to the Lord the wel-spring of all glory life comfort in heaven g The comfort which ariseth from this consideration of Christ is marvellous great for all the faithfull and in speciall for afflicted consciēces that desire to be established and confirmed in faith for t out of his fullnesse Thus the soules that come dayly to Christ as their Prophet may dayly be refreshed by him h If any through weaknes of faith cannot lay hold on the promises of God touching the pardon of sinne and the free gift of salvation set before us let them bring these promises to the ground of them even to Christ applying them first to Christ then to themselves for in him all the promises of God are Yea and in him they are Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 not onely in their owne nature truth but also in respect of our apprehension He that cannot assent unto the promise looking on the promise onely may better assent sooner beleeve when he lookes on Christ the ground of the promise for example God promiseth unto the repentant that their crimson skarlet sinnes shall be taken away and they made white as snow wooll Esa 1.18 now the troubled soule that cannot say Yea to this promise by particular application let the same looke upon the sacrifice of Christ bearing their sins satisfying the justice of God behold his blood powred out to wash them so they shall sooner conceive apprehend their sins to be done away and their soules to be cleansed and made white as snow There is a promise that where sinne abounds there grace aboundeth much more Rom. 5.20 The perplexed consciences that faine would but cannot say Amen unto this promise by applying it unto themselves let the same looke upon Christ and behold the dignity of his person his deity divine majesty being the brightnes of glory the character or engraven forme of his Fathers person his equall and his fellow Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Zach. 13.7 when they see his eternall Godhead and almighty power to whom nothing is hard or impossible withal consider how he stoops downe to help and puts his hand to this work to give worth price unto the sacrifice for sinne to make the blood of redemptiō more precious meritorious to redeeme the vilest sinners then shall they more easily receive the promise of abundant grace with more faith say Amen unto it There is a promise that God will be mercifull to the sinnes of his people Heb. 8.12 receive them with everlasting kindenes Esa 54.8 pity thē as a father merit of life to justify us v. 54. the spirit of life for our sanctification Rom. 8.10 the crowne of life for our glorification Rev. 2.10 He is all in all Coll. 3.11 and therefore we are to be nothing in ourselves but all in him and wholly renouncing ourselves our owne righteousnes we are to cast ourselves altogether upon him for the hope of eternall life To him be praise for ever Amen CHAP. III. Of Mortification or the death of sinne The nature necessity thereof in generall a
lover of the world and of these things of the world then is not the love of the Father in him 1. Ioh. 2.15.16 then is he made the enimy of God for his entertainment of these lusts and his amity with them Iam. 4.4 and consequently cannot looke for the fruits of that blessed friendship with God but for such remaineth a fearefull exspectation of judgment death in the day of Gods wrath Therefore men die for ever because they live after the flesh doe not die betimes to these sinfull lusts Rom. 8.13 e As the world so the Devill also by the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life both worketh his chief temptations by the mortifying of those he is cōquered by mens yeelding unto thē he overcommeth devoureth them This appeareth in three most memorable examples of Adam Christ and Antichrist At the temptation of our first parents the Devill used these three baites thereby ensnared them The forbidden tree by his suggestion appeared good for meat Gen. 3.6 to bring them to covetousnes not content with all the other trees of paradise as though there had not bene meat enough for thē without this also it appeared pleasant to the eyes to kindle the lust of false and vaine pleasure in them and by his suggestion it appeared as a tree desirable by which the Devill workes so effectually in him and in others by him are those three forenamed lusts for by these three is Antichrist often described In respect of the lust of the flesh the habitation and denne of Antichrist is a spiriruall Sodom Rev. 11.8 abounding with lusts of monstrous uncleannes the Romish city is compared to a great Harlot the mother of harlots having in her hand a great cup full of abominations filthinesse of her fornication Rev. 17.1.4.5 and living deliciously in pleasures Rev. 18.7 In respect of the lust of the eyes love of riches she is decked with gold precious stone pearles Rev. 17.4 18.16 and for increase maintenance of that wealth her servants ministers through covetousnes and with fained words doe make merchandise of men 2. Pet. 2.3 And as for the pride of life this man of sinne doth exalt himselfe above all that is called God shewes himselfe that he is God 2. Thes 2.4 and hath a mouth speaking great things blasphemies is wondred at worshipped throughout the world Rev. 13.3.4.5 And when he is crossed in any of his lusts then he makes warre with the Saints overcomes them is drunken with their blood Rev. 13.7 17.6 suffers them not to buy or sell that will not receive his marke Rev. 13.17 Hereby it appeares that the spirit of Antichrist and the breath of his life is lust these worldly lusts are as it were the bridle and saddle wherewith Satan rides upon him with the spurres of these lusts he drives him on to commit so great abhominations By lust is the greatest sinne wrought in the world and therefore is every one to be warned hereby to fight continually against these lusts that fight against the soule and make it a slave to Satan 1. Pet. 2.11 They must either mortify these lusts of the old man or els for ever be a spoyle prey unto the old serpent that worketh by them Holy Ghost they are againe taught upon the new consideratiō of this honour done unto them in reverence of this divine guest to proceed unto a further degree care of their mortification to cleanse themselves from all filthines of flesh and spirit to subdue the old man with his lusts affections lest they grieve this Spirit that is come to dwell with them 1. Cor. 6.19.20 2. Cor. 6.16 7.1 Eph. 4.30 a The manner how the Spirit doth mortify sinne is by bringing the sinner unto Christ by him unto the Father As the Father for communicating of life unto men hath sent his Sonne to merit life Ioh. 7.16 3.16 both the Father the Sonne have sent the Holy Spirit for our assurance of that life Ioh. 15.26 so the Spirit againe bringes us both to Christ to the Father and first teacheth us to embrace Christ he testifies of Christ and glorifies him takes of his shewes it unto us Ioh. 16.13.14.15 The manner how the Spirit bringes us unto Christ is by working in us the graces of Faith Hope Love of Christ These are the most sweet breathings of the Holy Ghost by each of these he workes mortification in them that are so brought unto him I. Faith in Christ serves to kill sinne in us many wayes First of all by the death of Christ there is merited for us not onely the pardon of our sinne but also a power of subduing sinne by his death he hath merited the gift of the spirit even of the spirit of sanctification Of this gift we are made partakers by faith which engraffes us into Christ into the fellowship of his death of all the merit thereof Therefore is it sayd that we are planted together with him into the likenes of his death and hereupon we know that the old man is crucifyed with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6.5.6.7 8. Thus being by faith united to Christ the spirit of mortification as well as the gift of reconciliation is bestowed upon us in this regard should we the more earnestly seek that precious faith which procures so great grace unto us Therefore did Christ beare our sins in his body on the tree that we might become dead unto sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 that by the merit of his death sinne might be mortifyed in us And hereupon we come to say with the Apostle that we are crucifyed with Christ Gal. 2.20 we may stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free Gal. 5.1 IV. Moreover as our Mortification depends upon that which Christ merited for us so that which Christ by his death obtained for himselfe doth further lead us thereunto For to this end Christ both dyed rose againe that he might be Lord both of the dead living Rom. 14.9 And as we beleeve that he is becom our Lord so we are to beleeve that we are become his servants being bought with a price to wit by his blood therefore are not our owne but his 1. Cor. 6..19.20 7.23 therefore may not doe our owne willes nor follow our owne affections lusts but are to mortify them that we may doe his will Thus the faith of Christs dominion over us purchased by his death doth serve for an help of our mortification while it apprehends that the redeemed of Christ are redeemed from the earth from among men to follow the Lambe being the first fruits unto God to the Lambe Rev. 14.3.4 V. Againe being in part mortifyed contrite for sinne by another act of faith we doe
Spirit by faith bringes us unto Christ for the mortification of sinne it followes that we consider how the same is done by Hope also through the assured exspectation of the glory that is to come Christ is our Hope the Hope of glory 1. Tim. 1.1 Col. 1.27 And frō this Hope there ariseth a double act of mortification by two especiall graces of Sobriety Patience that are exercised therein Sobriety is an act of mortification which consists in the subduing of inordinate joy delight of all earthly pleasures honours and profits wherewith so many are as it were drunken overcome By looking for that blessed Hope the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour Iesus Christ we are taught to deny ungodlines worldly lusts to live soberly and temperately in the moderate use of all outward comforts Tit. 2.12.13 The godly doe know that when the Lord shall appeare in glory they shall be made like unto him when they shall see him as he is And every one that hath this Hope in him purifyeth himselfe as he is pure 1. Ioh. 3.2.3 This purification of the soule from uncleane pleasures and lusts is the mortification of them As a greater light doth obscure dimme the lesse both the starres in the firmament the candles lighted on earth below doe cease to shine when the light of the radiant Sunne doth arise upō them so all the brightest lampes of worldly pleasure are as it were extinguished suffer with joy the spoyling of their goods knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better an enduring substance Heb. 10.34 e After the consideration of Faith Hope it remaines that we proceed to the third grace of Love whereby the holy Spirit doth worke a further mortification in the elect And first of all by the love of Christ men are brought to the love of death having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 This desire of death cannot be in a man untill he be dead unto the world untill the love of the things that are in the world be dissolved within him Vntill a man be content to depart from all other vanities he cannot desire to goe unto Christ And therefore ought the godly to labour to finde in thēselves this desire of being translated out of the world to be with Christ that thereby they may finde more assurance of their mortification We see how the tender fervent love of some friends makes them willing desirous to die with their friēds doth after a sort mortifye the world unto them Iacob having lost Ioseph refused to be comforted resolved to goe downe mourning into the grave unto his sonne Gen. 37.35 fearing the losse of Benjamin both he others thought he should die with him his life being bound up in his sonnes life Gen. 42.38 44.22.30.31 It is recorded by divers historians touching the barbarous Indians in some parts both of the East the West some Black-Moores in Guinea in the midst betwixt them both that many of the subjects doe willingly die with their kings and many women with their husbands that the Prince being drowned many of the people have willingly drowned themselves with him that some men give their wives some their childrē some their servāts to be buried alive in the grave with their king to serve him in another world that some women doe cheerfully by the encouragement of their friends cast themselves into the fire wherein according to their manner of burial in some places the dead bodies of their husbands are consumed together If these so wickedly and resolutely leave this world before they be called and blindly cast away their lives for the love of a wretched creature what shame is it unto Christians if the love of their glorious prince heavenly bridegroome doe not mortify them declared it remaineth yet to be shewed how the Spirit having brought us to Christ doth bring us thereby to the eternall Father for in Christ through the Spirit we have accesse or entrance to the Father Eph. 2.18 and are reconciled to God saved and not onely so but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 5.11 And then all the attributes that are in God absolutely considered besides the other comforts to be had by them doe in speciall serve for our mortification by the Spirit of Christ teaching us the right life of them God is light 1. Ioh. 1.5 and all his glorious attributes are so many divine beames of light whereof every one of thē by shining upon us doth further our mortificatiō The eye of Gods infinite wisedome looking downe upon us may well strike us with shame of our vaine behaviour and forgetfulnes of God and make us mourne as Peter when at his third denyall Christ turned and looked upon him Luk. 22.61.62 And therefore are wicked mē the further from mortification because they say in their hearts Tush God seeth not Psal 10.11 Iob 22.14 the eye of man restraines them more then the eye of God Iob 24.15.17 The sight of Gods infinite power may well cast us downe and make us seeme lesse then grashoppers in our owne eyes when Israelites were so stricken with the sight of the mighty and tall Anakims Num. 13.33 His infinite goodnes mercy communicated with us should affect us more then Davids did Mephibosheth cause us rather to say What are we that the Lord should looke upon such dead dogs as we are 2. Sam. 9.8 His infinite wrath against sin before which the mountaines quake and melt Nah. 1.5.6 may well strike us with godly sorrow for the same sins which in the reprobate are punished with unrecoverable destruction though they be pardoned in us The incomprehensible majesty glorious beauty of his face cannot be looked upon by living men Exod. 33.20 some sparkles thereof appearing have brought men to the feare of death Iud. 13.22 His unmeasurable eternity being duely thought upō may well mortify the love of this transitory world that passeth away 1. Cor. 7.31 he alone being unchangeable abiding for ever the same Iam. 1.17 Psa 102.26.27 His unconceivable ubiquity or presence in every place may well serve for an hedge or wall of mortification to keepe us in awe of him in the denyall of ourselves for him seeing we can goe no whither from his spirit presence Psa 139.7 c. And thus all the rest of his attributes being reverently thought upon may serve to subdue the vanity of our mindes worke a death of sin within us by the help of his Holy Spirit By this meanes we may be prepared for our latter end to leave this world with comfort The Heremites Anachoretes that shut up themselves in walles or wildernesses doe every day with their owne hāds digge with their fingers scratch rake up the mouldes making their owne grave aforehand lying downe therein doe not in
leads men with comfort through the gates of death overcomes the pangs thereof ferries conveyes men over all the floods of sorrowes a This grace of Vivification is to be considered in six especiall degrees answerable to those six degrees of Mortification before noted each of them may better be understood when they are mutually compared together I. The first degree of Vivification is a new disposition or habit of quickening grace infused by the Spirit of God whereby they are inclined to imbrace Christ to glory in his merit to live unto him This new disposition is like a new borne babe or at least as a babe newly conceived in the wombe of the soule is called the new creature Gal. 6.15 the new man Eph. 4.24 the inward man Rom 7.22 the law of their minde vers 23. the newnes of spirit vers 6. the consideration of this gift is cause of great joy thankesgiving unto the faithfull that doe therefore break out into the praise of God and blesse him that hath begotten them againe 1. Pet. 1.3 As it is matter of joy unto a mother to have a living childe borne though for that present it lie bound in swadling clothes without stirring hand or foot so it is great joy unto the regenerate to have this new habit of life though they doe not alwayes feele it actually stirring within them Yea this is a comfort that supporteth the godly in the midst of manifold temptations when notwithstanding their great imperfections present impotency unto good they yet can remember this habit of spirituall life formerly discerned in themselves by sundry joyfull apprehensions fruits of faith in time past This is that seed of God which remaineth abideth ever in those hearts where it is once sowne 1. Ioh. 3.9 This is that heavenly drop of divine grace which being once distilled into the soule is never dryed up but becomes a fountaine of living water springing up into everlasting life Iohn 4.14 This is that precious spark of spirituall life which though it be sometimes raked under the ashes of worldly cares and feares yet is it never extinguished but upon occasion breakes forth burnes more bright then before II. A second degree of vivification of the new man consisteth in the motions of new life and in the stirrings of the spirit which are a further comfort demonstration of spirituall life As the mother that hath conceived in her wombe yet for a long time together feeles not her childe to stirre within her doth then begin to feare and to doubt of the life thereof so the godly having bene long without the lively motions of the spirit beginne to feare sometimes and to doubt of their estate But upon the new motions of the spirit they are filled with comfort thereby feele their sweet babe the new creature as it were to spring in their wombe againe These motions are divine inspirations whereby the minde is illuminate to discerne and know the will of God to give assent and approbation unto it when it is knowne and to remember it also when it is approoved Eph. 1.17.18 Phil. 1.9.10 Col. 1.9 Without these gracious operations of the spirit many having the truth propounded unto them doe not apprehend it others apprehending the meaning thereof approove not of it others approoving of it doe yet forget the same and so it vanisheth and is lost As the Spirit of God is sayd to moove Samson at certaine times and to ring in his eare like a bell as the originall word imports Iud. 13.25 with Exod. 28.33.34.35 so these motions and impulsions of the spirit in the godly are as the sound of an heavenly bell ringing them many peales of consolation and exhortation for their warning night day These are the counsels of God and whisperings of the H. Spirit like divine cymbals and high sounding cymbals tinckling and ringing in the eares of the regenerate Psal 16.7 and 51.6 Esa 30.21 for which they give thankes to God that illuminateth wakeneth their dead dark hearts thereby when as of themselves they are not sufficient to conceive or think any thing that is good holy 2. Cor. 3.5 Pro. 30. ● 3 As wicked motions are the messengers of Satan to buffet us so these are the messengers of God to quicken us therefore as welcome guests are to be welcomed entertained with all thankfulnes III. Besides the motions of spirituall life in the understanding judgement and memory there is a third degree of vivification to be observed when as this life is further spread abroad into the affections worship and care for the poore Saints harmlesse life and innocency in respect of all men and bowels of compassion towards them in necessity Esa 5.2.4.7 Hereby men shew that they are not strangers from the life of God but being rich in good workes the workes of spirituall life they doe hereby lay up in store for themselves a good foundatiō against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life 1. Tim. 6.18.19 VI. Lastly it is a further manifestation of spirituall life when after the former degrees of vivification the new creature beholding this grace of God in it selfe doth with all joyfull thanksgiving acknowledge the same cōtinually As David his people considering how God had opened their hearts quickened them to his service rejoyced with great joy because they had offered willingly praysed God because he had mooved them to praise him 1. Chron. 29.9.10.13.14.17.20 so the regenerate that are borne of God can rejoyce in the Lord doe know the joyfull shout they doe therefore againe rejoyce because they rejoyce Psal 89.15.16 And as one Rainebow by the reflexion doth often beget another that other sometimes begets a third so that three Rainebowes have sometimes appeared at once so in the new creature one joy begets another one light begets another and one grace is the seed of another Rom. 5.4.5 When Paul saw the constancy of the Thessalonians it quickened him when he saw their faith joy in the holy Ghost it made him give thankes for them and to conceive great joy 1. Thes 1.2.3.6 and when he considered the comfort of his owne joy for them it made him give new thankes againe unto God for that joy 1. Thes 3.8.9 And thus is spirituall life propagated multiplyed in the faithfull whē as both by the sense of quickening grace in themselves Coll. 1.12 by the sight of it in others they take new occasion of glorifying God for his unspeakable gift 2. Cor. 9 12-15 b The meanes whereby this grace of vivification is wrought in the elect is principally the Spirit of God which quickeneth and giveth life Ioh. 3.5 Rom. 8.10.11 2. Cor. 3.6 By it we are brought unto Christ Ioh. 16.14.15 15.26 comming unto him as unto a living stone we also are made living stones full of life 1. Pet. 2.4.5 We come unto him when we quicken
Lord that whether we live or die we may be the Lords Rom. 14.7.8.9 This murder of a mās self is a grievous sin of which are guilty not onely such as lay violent hands on themselves but even those also that rashly expose themselves to unnecessary dangers combatants rash adventurers such as without a calling or any necessity goe to infectious places which are as the shadow of death As souldiers set to keep watch may not leave their station till the time appointed of their Captaine no more may we offer to depart hence untill we be dismissed or called away of our Commander Every man is bound to preserve life so long as by good meanes he can doe it or els he breakes the sixth cōmandemēt In like manner doe many offend by impatience vaine wishes of death Ion. 4.3.8.9 whether they doe it without sense having obdurate and feared cōsciences or with extremity of sēse without faith as in thoughts of despaire b Secondly this poynt of doctrine touching the feare of death is wisely to be considered in respect of many weake and infirme persons which have true faith hope love and yet are not so ready to selves feeling some present unpreparednes for the recovery of their strength that they may in better manner be fitted to appeare before God Psa 39.13 As a faithfull loving wife having had her husband long absent in a farre countrey or a spouse her bridegroome though she cannot but long for his returne yet if it should so fall out that about the time of his returne she should have the yellow jaundies or some greevous sore and deformity in the face would wish that her bridegroome might stay a week or two lōger till her sores were healed her strength recovered or as a Nobleman that unfainedly desires that his Prince should come to his house may yet in respect of some want of reparations in his house desire and wish in his heart that the Kings comming might be deferred a while till his house were repaired even so the spouse of Christ and his faythfull servants though they love him dearely desire nothing so much as to enjoy his presence to the full may yet sometimes wish that his comming might be prolonged for some space of time till they be in better plight to entertaine him Secondly they may be loth to depart this life in respect of others for their benefit insomuch that though for their owne part they have an unfained desire to be dissolved yet for the good of others they are content desirous to live as a parent for his childrens education a Prince for the reformation a Minister for the instruction of the people in dangerous times Thus it was with Hezekiah Esa 38.18.19 Paul Phill. 1 21-24 d And yet even in all these distresses when death approcheth God calles mē away there is comfort against every want Christ makes supply of all if there be any blemish sore or deformity he is such a bridegroome as suddenly heales all and presents us to himself without spot or wrinckle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 He is the father of the fatherlesse the great Shepheard of the sheep Heb. 13.20 he will gather feed defend his flock he hath abundance of spirit whereby to fulfill all his good pleasure he is all in all Hezekias had great desire to live to see his children to teach them and yet behold when God had prolonged his life added unto his dayes fifteen yeares presently he offēds heares a woeful threatning of judgmēt Esa 39.6.7 Yea Manasses his sonne whom he got three yeares after his recovery and who entred into the kingdome when he was twelve yeares old Hezekias his fifteē yeares being expired became a most abominable Idolater murderer witch c. 2. Kin. 21.1.2 c. Had Hezekias knowne so much whē he desird to live lōger to teach his children it is not likely that he would have bene so desirous of life Therefore if God call us away we must be content to depart whatsoever inconveniences be in the way consider how great a fault sin it is to be unwilling to goe at his call e To this end it will be profitable to think often of the greatest hindrances and encumbrances in death yea to consider of them as if we were now upon our death-bed lay presently a dying gasping for breath that we may learne to arme ourselves against all lets difficulties that make men unwilling to leave this world For example Obj. I. Some are happily loth to leave the world because of their friends kinred children acquaintance c. whose company they still desire to enjoy Ans For one friend whom we leave here we finde a thousand in heaven For I. Of men in this world we see but one as it were our owne generation and of this generation not the thousandth person we never saw all the countries of the world scarce heard of them much lesse their cities townes particular persons II. Of those we have seen we know not one city much lesse are we acquainted with all the inhabitants there are many from whom we receive no love nor any fruits of love yea some that proove our enimies from whom much evill is received III. For that small number of those that are our true friends indeed how weake are they in comparison not so amiable in soule or body by an hundred degrees as those to whom we goe IV. If men on earth were as gracious vertuous unblameable as in heaven yet in this earthly condition our communion with them is most imperfect defective lame in respect of present necessities layd upon us as 1. Our drossy nature whereby we are like snailes cannot travell about the world in such swift and glorious motions as in heaven 2. Our many trades and vocations binding men like prisoners to sit the whole week at their work confining them to their severall imployments The world is like a Rasp-house or Bridewell where by the rod of necessity men are made to work the twigs or cords of this whip are hunger thirst cold nakednes the smart and shame of these doth scourge force men to labour thus it is with men here in respect of heavē where there is no hindrance from continuall making of acquaintance 3. Our wearines sleepy nature making us spend our nights in the shadow of death as dead men whereas in heaven there is no night no shadow of the earth which reacheth little further thē the sphere of the Moone and therefore is farre from causing any darknes in the third heavēs in the paradise of God What darknes or night can approch thither where al the righteous shine as the Sun for ever Matt. 13.43 4. The weaknes of our senses bodily communion whereas here two soules sitting together cānot impart their mindes to one another without the outward organs instruments of sense there the spirits