save any thing by his Religion but his Soul He that sets up Religion to get any thing by it more than the Glory of God and the Salvation of his Soul will make a bad Bargain of it in the Close It is said of One that he would have Religion along with him Andronicus so far as it lay in his way Religion is like cold weather good for those that are sound bad for those that are unsound Differences also about Religion should not make men careless to have any but careful to have the best Julian That wicked Apostate loved the worst Religion best and was a professed Friend to all Foes of Goodness One being convinced of an Heathenish Custom thought Monica that Religion was not so poor as to borrow Rites from Pagans The Polanders are said to be of all Religions It is said if a Man hath lost his Religion he may seek it in Poland Poland and he shall be sure to find it or he may conclude that it is vanished out of the world May not the same be said of England that was said of Poland Galeacius to the Jesuit Let that Religion said one to another be cursed for ever which shall wed men to the World and divorce men from God Men may differ in Religon and yet be of the same Religion for every Difference in Religion is not a differing Religion Have a care not only of the Profession of Truth but also of the Truth of Profession lest bare Profession ends not in blessed Possession It is not enough to act a part or personate Religion but a man must be a religious person He spake like Himself who said Clarks Mirrour p. 39. that Religion did but effeminate mens minds and unfit them for noble Enterprises But why do I harp upon this string so long I shall only add this and so close Be of that Religion which the Protestant spake of who being asked by a Papist where his Religion was before Luther wittily answered in the Bible where thy Religion never was Now Reader Deut. 33.27 that the Eternal God may be thy Refuge and underneath thee everlasting Arms That Grace may be opened to thy Heart and thy Heart unto Grace that the Blessing of the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob may be upon thee that the Eternal Spirit may be with thee that thou mayest distinguish between Light and Darkness Life and Death Truth and Error Gold and Dross Silver and Tin Flowers and Weeds Corn and Chaff is the Breathing of his Soul who through Grace more than desires as for Himself so for Thee that thou mayest not live to die but die to live and dying see the Death of Death in the Death of Jesus R. Mayhew Vita fugit nulloque Sono dilabitur Aetas Sic fugiendo solet fallere Vita fugit Vita fugit liquidam velut Unda supervenit Undam Sic Tempus trudit Tempora Vita fugit Vita fugit pars prima fugit pars altera fugit Tertia pars fugiet tempore Vita fugit Vita fugit res dicta satis res omnibus aequa Cognita nòn aequè credita Vita fugit Vita fugit celeris Mors Vltima Linea rerum Rerum tempus edax Vivito Vita fugit THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK SECT I. WHether there be a natural or corporal Death the circumference of the Vniverse Page 1 2 c. SECT II. What this natural or corporal Death is which is the circumference of the Vniverse Page 4 5. SECT III. Whether natural or corporal Death be the circumference of the Vniverse Page 7 8 c. SECT IV. Why natural or corporal Death is the circumference of the Vniverse 1. Man hath sinned therefore Man is mortal and must dye Page 11 12 c. 2. Man is formed out of the Dust therefore Man is mortal and must dye 3. God hath appointed Death therefore Man is mortal and must dye SECT V. The Brevity of Life Page 14. SECT VI. The Certainty of Death Page 16. SECT VII The Vncertainty of the time of Death Page 17. SECT VIII The Impartiality of Death Page 19. SECT IX Directions concerning Death the Tribute of Nature and Law of Mortals This Section hath a double Aspect looking to a Soul out of Christ and to a Soul in Christ Page 20 c CHAP. I. To the Soul out of Christ Direct 1. Put not far away the day of Death Direct 2. Take not God's work out of God's hand Direct 3. Tremble for thou may'st dye and be damned That Death is terrible appears by its 1. Antecedents 2. Nature 3. Consequents Page 22. Direct 4. Go to Christ in whose Death is the Death of Death Quest 1. What is this coming or going to Christ Sol. It is a believing in Christ. Page 24. Quest 2. Is there a necessity of going to Christ for Salvation Sol. Christ is a Saviour is the Saviour Quest 3. But am I called to go unto this Saviour for Salvation Page 25. Sol. Called thou art therefore go Quest 4. But what shall I be welcome if I go Sol. Come and welcome Quest 5. But is not an Impossibility imposed Sol. He that commands coming concerns himself with drawing Quest 6. May a lost Soul go to Christ Sol. A lost Soul may go must go Quest 7. But can a Soul believe in Christ without Christ Sol. No but he that calleth to come causeth to come Quest 8. What manner of Saviour is this Saviour Page 26. Sol. 1. A merciful 2. A meek 3. A free 4. A desirable 5. A delectable 6. A faithful 7. A fruitful 8. An incomparable 9. An invincible A fourfold Conquest hath Christ made 1. Over the World 2. Over the Heart 3. Over Hell 4. Over Heaven Page 31. 10. Christ is a full Saviour There is in Christ a fulness 1. Of Power 2. Of Pardon Christ pardons Sin in respect of his 1. Deity 2. Dignity 3. Mercy 4. Merit There is also in Christ a fulness 3. Of Light 4. Of Love 5. Of Wisdom 6. Of Righteousness Pag. 35. The Law required a threefold Righteousness 1. Habitual 2. Practical 3. Passive Wherein the Law threatned 1. A Privation of Comfort 2. An Infliction of Torment All answered by Christ for those that are Christs CHAP. II. To the Soul in Christ Page 38. DIRECT I. Direct 1. Prepare thorough Christ for the first Death Quest But what course shall I steer and by what compass shall I sail that I may prepare for this Death Sol. 1. Make thorough Christ Mortality thy Meditation 2. Be much thorough Christ in Prayer To this end reflect Page 42. 1. The Income of Prayer 2. The Influence of Prayer 1. Prayer thorough Christ had an Influence over the four Elements 1. Over the Air. 2. Over the Fire 3. Over the Earth 4. Over the Water 2. Prayer thorough Christ had an Influence over the Prison 3. Prayer thorough Christ had an Influence upon the great Luminaries 4. Prayer had an Influence upon the Son 5.
is mans time The good Emperour not hearing a Cause or doing some charitable Act in the day would complain at night unto his Courtiers Sirs I have lost a day 2 Cor. 6.2 Hoc Nunc nullum habet crastinum Aug. Delays are dangerous yea Delay is the Mother of Danger Delay is almost as bad as Denyal There is a word which is the Lords Adverb and the Devils Verb Early say God stay sâ—y the Devil Now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation This Now saith one hath no to morrow Take heed of playing the Courtier with thy Soul the Courtier do all things late he riseth late dineth late goeth to bed late and repenteth late Henry the fourth asked the Duke de Alva if he had seen the great Ecclipse of the Sun which had lately been no said the Duke I have so much to do upon Earth that I have no leisure to look up to Heaven Let thy Thoughts be taken up with Death Ambrose I have not saith one so lived that I am afraid to die or ashamed to live longer Death is a Theam worthy the most serious and solid the most spiritual and sanctified meditation Be much through Christ in prayer Multiply cries and cry mightily unto Christ that Heaven may be thy Haven that Paradise may be the Port for thy Soul Prayer is the first and should be the last Dish If ye be Christs ye must Pray while ye live and Pray when ye die ye must live and die Acts 7.59 praying Thus Stephen did They sloned Stephencalling upon the name of the Lord and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Yea thus a greater than Sephen Luke 23.34 the Lord and Life of Stephen the Lord Jesus Christ did Father forgive them for they know not what they do When the Heart-blood of Christ was comming forth then was the heart-prayer of Christ also comming forth Rev. 8.3 4. Gen. 48.16 Father forgive them for they know not what they do We read of an Angel that stood at the Altar The Angel is Christ the Angel that redeemed Jacob from all evil the Angel of the Covenant The Altar is Himself who sanctifieth prayer as the Altar did the Gift This Angel which is Christ had a golden Censer his own Body Mal. 3.1 To him was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints or that he should add to the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was befere the Throne Christ by his Intercession perfumes the prayers of his being the only High Priest of the New Testament And the smoak of the Incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand It is such a prdyer that I intend a pure prayer a Gospel prayer a prayer that passeth a Christ that passeth out of the Angels hand that passeth through the hand of the Son 1 Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26 to the heart of the Father Now what is this Prayer but a pouring out of the Sonl to God what is pure prayer but a breathing out that before God which was first breathed in by the Spirit of God As Fear is so principal a Grace that it is sometimes put for all grace Now I know that thou fearest God Gen. 22.2 seeing thou hast not with-held thy Son thine only Son And as Faith is so principal a Grace that it is sometimes put for all Grace Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith so Prayer is so principal a part of Worship that it is sometimes put for all worship Mat. 21.13 Luk. 18.1 1 Thes 5.17 My house shall be called an house of prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves Pure Prayer is imposed therefore incumbent Christ spake a Parable that men ought alwaies to pray and not to faint To pray alwaies is not to faint in prayer Pray without ceasing Pray there is the Act without ceasing there is the Duration of that Act. As it is the duty of a Christian of Christs making to pray so it is the property of this person to pray A living Child is a crying Child Until the Child come out of the womb it cannot cry but when it come into the World it cry So long as a a man is in the womb of a natural state Gal. 4.6 he cannot cry Father Father Because ye are Sons God hath â—sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Act. 9.11 crying Father Father Was Paul ever said to pray until converted from his Pharisaical state Go for behold he prayeth He who was a Persecutor before is a Prayer now Soul if God design thee for Heaven he will put thee upon prayer yea Mat. 6.6 upon closet-prayer But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet 'T is death to a living man long â—o hold his breath If we breath we live if we breath not we die Thus 't is death as it were to a truly gracious soul long to be kept from inward and intimate converse and communion with God and Christ with God in Christ. A declining of this Duty will prove a drawn Flood-gate unto great Iniquity Where is that man like to stop who declines this Duty Eph. 6.18 Praying alwaies there 's the Duty with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit there 's the Direction If we would prepare for death we must be much in prayer To this end reflect the Income of prayer and Influence of prayer Be much in the reflection of the Income of prayer A Soul in Christ would not lose his Incomes of prayer for a world for a thousand worlds if there were so many Oh what have thy Tears and thy Triumphs been in a Closet Oh what have thy Sighs and thy Sights been in a Closet O what have thy Shines and thy Smiles been in private prayer Oh how melted have thy Soul been and mortified have thy sin been when thou hast been engaged and enlarged in private prayer Have not thy Soul been sent away with more of the sanctifying and with more of the sealing work of the Spirit too Davids Incoms of prayer were great and he valued them greatly I love the Lord why because he hath heard my voice Psa 116.1 2. and my supplications because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him so long as I live What an estimate is set upon the Income of Prayer Be much in the reflection of the Influence of Prayer Prayer hath a great Influence for instance Pure Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the four Elements Aire Fire Earth Water Over the Air. Elias which was Elijah praved earnestly in prayer he prayed Jam. 5.17 18. so the Greek That is he prayed earnestly for the ingemination hath this force that it might not rain and it did not that it might rain and it did Over the Fire Thus it had in
a way of mercy and thus it had in a way of Judgment Thus it had in a way of Mercy Elijah prayed and the Fire of the Lord fell 1 King 18.37 38. and consumed the burnt-sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench Thus also it had 〈◊〉 way of Judgment Elijah also prayed and fire came down from Heaven 2 King 1.10 11 12. consuming the two first Captains of fifties with their fifties Over the Earth Moses prayed and the earth opened swallowing up Korath Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.31 32. with all that appertained unto them Over the Water Moses also prayed and the Sea divided The Sea was made dry land Exod. 14.16 21. and the waters were divided Thus to the Elements Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the Prision Acts 12.4 5.7.10 When Peter was immured within Prison walls prayer without ceasing was made by the Church unto God for him so that his chains fell off and the Iron Gate opened of its own accord Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the great Luminaries the Sun Josh 10.12 13. and the Moon Joshua prayed Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon and they did so Prayer had an Influence upon Christ The Centurions prayer engaged Christ to heal his Servant Mat. 8.6 7 8 13. I will come and heal him But the Centurions faith occasioned Christs staying to heal his Servant without going Speak the word only and my Servant shall be healed Thou art God and needest not to go do but send yea do but speak speak the word only A word from a God will reach him and raise him Jesus said unto the Centurion go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee and his Servant was healed in the self same hour Gen. 32.28 What an Influence upon Christ had the prayer of Jacob Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel why for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed Jacob had power with God for he had power with Christ who is the Angel here and who is God manifested in the flesh He had also power with men for he had power with his Uncle Laban and his Brother Esau Prayer through Christ hath an Influence upon God himself the God of Gods Pure prayer will as it were fetch a God out of Heaven Act. 7.34 I have Jeen I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Aegypt and I have heard thâ—â—â— groaning and am come down to deliver them I have seen I have seen i. e. I have surely seen But what had God to see nothing but their Affliction Gospel-prayer hath as it were a shadow of Omnipotency instamped upon it Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons Isa 45.11 and concerning the work of my hands command ye me Though men cannot command the least thing of God yet upon the Entreaty of his people he is as ready to do as if he were at their command Command ye me If ye come unto me under this Notion that ye are my Sons and the work of my hands there is a Law upon me I cannot deny you Command ye me Oh what infinite Condescension is here As if God had said No Servant shall be so ready to serve his Master or Son to serve his Father as I will be ready to serve you it is but asking and having Command ye me Would ye prepare for Death Then through Christ imbitter sin Sin is a bitter thing and it will be bitterness in the End Ier. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord they God and that his fear is not in thee Evil and bitter evil in it self and bitter in its Issue Though sin should seem sweet in the palate stollen waters are sweet yet it is bitter in its Issue yea bitterness in the End May not I write concerning Sin 2 Sam. 2.26 as Abner spake to Joab concerning the Sword Shall the Sword devour for ever Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end Iniquity is grown from a Mist to a Mystery from Ignorance to Arrogance from Nescience to Negligence as if too much light had made men blind Sin is a Cup of poison drink not of this Cup. Look upon Sin as a Monster as a Mountebank look upon it as Deformity it self as Defilement it self I believe that Monk was very much out Isidore who vaunted that he had felt in himself no motion to sin forty years together If this be true then Sin and his Heart were great Strangers But I rather think that he was a great Seranger to his own Heart If ye would prepare for Death ye must through Christ imbitter Sin Pro. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Then God remembers Sin against a Person or against a People when he leaves that Person or that People without the remembrance of Sin Ah! what is yea what is not that Sin which had not a Being from God which cannot have a Being with God which also striketh at the Being of God But candidly suffer a distinct discussion of these things Sin had not a Being from God Sin is a mans own his own Birth his own Babe his own Brat Psa 94.23 He shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness Though Satan be the Father of Temptation yet the Heart is the Mother of Corruption Jam. 1.14 Posse peccare posse nòn peccare non posse non peccare Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and entised As there is Original Sin so there is the Original of Sin which may be a Possibility of Sinning a Potentiality to Sin There was a Possibility of Sinning and this was in a Paradisical state The woman gave unto me and I did eat There is a Possibilty of not Sinning and this is in a Spiritual state In all this Job sinned not Gen. 3.12 Job 1.22 There is an Impossibility of sinning and this is in a Coelestial state Those arrived at Heaven are arrived at perfection The Sprits of just men made perfect Every Man Heb. 12.23 and Woman may say to his or her Sin thou art mine and shall not this be imbittered Sin cannot have a Being with God There is no Sinner in Heaven no Sinning in Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 no Sin in Heaven The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The unrighteous as unrighteous the ünrighttous in a state of unrighteousness shall not inher it the Kingdom of God Heaven is sinless and all there are sinless As is the Place so are the People as is the City so are the Citizens sinless Sin also striketh
able to secure his for an eternity Those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them are lost Christ the Rock of His secures two waies Vnder Danger Peter was in great danger of drowning but Christ secured him and kept his Head above water Dan. 6.22 Daniel was in great Danger when cast into the Den of Lions to take up his Quarters but Christ secured him there stopping the mouths of the Lions From Danger To be delivered in the Fire is a mercy but to be delivered from the Fire looks like a greater mercy Psa 59.10 To be delivered when down of the Plague is a mercy but to be delivered from falling down of the Plague looks like a greater mercy The God of my mercy shall prevent me Christ is a durable Rock Material Rocks they are durable Job 19.24 Rom. 6.9 Job wisheth that his words were graven with an Iron Pen and Lead in the Rock for ever Thus Christ the Rock of His is a durable Rock Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Now Christ is a durable Rock in respect of his Life and Love In respect of his Life Once dying he ever died In that he died Rom. 6.10 he died unto Sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God In respect of his Love As once dying he ever liveth Joh. 13.1 So once loving he ever loveth Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them unto the End Fear not Death for Christ is Thine and he is a Portion Christ is the Portion of a Christan that Jehovah is is evident that Christ is Jehovah is as evident That Jehovah is the Portion of a Christian is evident Thou art my Portion Jehovah Psa 119.57 I have said that I would keep thy words Jehovah is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Gold and Silver which I had in my House Lam. 3.24 are gone into Captivity but my Gold and Silver in Heaven are not gone into Captivity Jehovah is my Portion still They who have Jehovah for their Gold and Silver are happier and richer than Good and Silver can make them Jehovah is my Portion saith my Soul That Christ is Jehovah is as evident Jehovah is my Shepherd I shall not want Psa 23.1 Shall the Sheep want so long as the Shepherd hath it In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Jer. 23.6 and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness Christ is Jehovah and so the Portion of a Christian But what manner of Portion is Christ Quest Sol. Though this be a good Task yet this is a great Task a Task too great for me but though I cannot sound this Bottom yet suffer me to let down my Line Christ is a necessary Portion Martha say Christ One thing is needful But what is this One thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the written Word So Ambrose Calvin Chrysistom But what is the Word without the Spirit Luke 10.42 without Christ it is but as the Instrument without the Hand If this one thing be not Christ I am sure it is not without Christ But what of this one thing It is needful There is Need or Necessity of one thing So the Greek Not benè esse but esse There is One thing not onely needful and useful but also needful above all things useful above all things and that not only to the well-being but also to the very Being of a Christian A Man or a Woman cannot be a Christian without it be satisfied without it be sanctified without it be saved without it Are there not many things without which a person may be and yet live well and do well die well but if this person be without Christ and the Grace of Christ and the Spirit of Christ and the Gospel of Christ he cannot live well and do well and die well but perisheth for ever is undone for ever is damned for ever Tria sunt omnia Vnum est necessarium It hath been said Three things are All things but here One thing is All things There is a necessity of One thing God at first gave ten Commandments but lest these should be too many for Mans Memory Christ reduces them to Two Love to God and our neighbour Yea here All is reduced to One There is a Necessity of One thing 1 John 5.11 Christ perfectly knew mans Memory to be predigiously treacherous and therefore reduceth All to One There is need of One thing Now certainly if this One thing be not Christ yet it cannot be without him For this is the record c. and this life is in his Son There is an indispensible Necessity of him as a portion in a two-fold respect to suffer All for Thee to do All in Thee To suffer All for Thee Oh says the Soul I cannot satisfie Divine Justice God is angry with sinners every day I cannot appease Divine Wrath What are thousands of Rams and ten thousands of Rivers of Oil Can I give my first-born for mine iniquity or the seed of my Body for the sin of my Soul No Soul thou canst not satisfie for one Sin but Christ can satisfie for All hath satisfied for All He hath paid thy Debt if thou beest his and not left thee a penny to pay in a way of merit John 19.30 but in a way of duty It was Christ that said it and God heard him when he spake it It is finished As Christ is a Christians Lord and Law-giver so he is a Christians Soveraign and Surety To do All in Thee Oh says the Soul as I am nothing so I can do nothing Oh I cannot serve Christ as I should serve Christ as I would Oh I cannot Ark in a Christ as I should nor Anchor upon a Christ as I would The Velle as well as the posse what though I have the Habit of Grace what shall I do for the Act of Grace Soul Christ is Actor as well as Author of Grace When the Apostle imposed a working out of Salvation he might as well have imposed the making a new Heaven and a new Earth Phil. 2.12 13. but this is subjoyned It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Christ is God Now the Desire as well as the Deed is from Christ Christ is a Soul-portion The Body is but as the Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel What is the Body without the Soul it is loveless and lifeless What is the Body without the Soul it is at best but an imbalmed Carcass that no Spectator is taken with Now as the Soul is the Life of the Body for the Body without the Soul is dead so Christ Jam. 2.26 is the Life of the Soul Because I live ye shall live also The Life of Saints is not in their private
Life a Taper burning 'T is like the wind that passeth not returning Ah! what is Life a Flood and Ebb and Man Sails then into a timeless OCEAN Ah puzling Theme was Austin at a loss What Life to call let not my Gold be Dross Mans Nostril is a passage for his Breath 'T is then a dying Life or living Death Life 's but a dying Death our Bodies are But living Graves the longest Liver share But in a span of days Death homeward sends A CIRCLE 't is beginning where it ends Ah daring Death the Tribute due to Nature The Law of Mortals not reflecting Stature And of the Universe the Emperess That visit Mortals in a various dress III. The Assertion THE Hebrew Proverb travels very far In Golgotha Skulls of all Sizes are Death 's not a bie but beaten path for All Here Croesus Codrus stumble may and fall One shoots the Gulf yet grounds upon a Shelf A Manuscript deceiveth DEATH it self No distance doth this Law of Nature know But Mortals reap according as they sow Death to the Grave is path for any Foot This common Gulf the mean and mighty shoot They blessed are much more let this take Air In Peter's Chain than He in Peter's Chair Ah Miscreant to refuge in a Lye Ah Monster-Man I see as I pass by Thy Triple-Crown begins to stand awry Down Dagon-like let this fall from on high Break Crown Head Neck this is the common Cry Thus wished 't is that thou may'st ever dye Popes dyed have without a doleful Song Unless it were because they lived long Where 's Adam Abram Isa'c Jacob Where Inventi non sunt they SEPULCRED were What Proto-Adam Yea He was a Man Red-earth I find when that his name I scan This Proto-Man finds Death on Nature enter Thus earth to earth returns as to its Center What Abraham 't is strange 't is true he dies And in the CAVE of Mackpelah he lies What Isa'c too a TYPE so eminent Types Shadows are Death pitched hath his Tent With Abraham Ah when his Days were spenâ— He like a Son unto his FATHER went WHat Jacob too Esau supplanted He One named right for Name and Act agree Ah but Supplanters may supylanted be Him daring Death transplanted have I see Mortality whatever Men suggest Antiquity hath for her native Crest Did not Death reign from ADAM unto MOSES Wher 's Matthew Mark Paul Peter James and Joses Our Fathers where are They the greatest Sage Is slily passing going off the STAGE Well stiled then is Death most aged King Who led the Van and up the Rear does bring Ah read Death's Motto in a Ladies Line My lot's to Day to morrow may be thine And wondâ—r not at that true Celled-sense Amongst these Skulls I find no difference But where 's Methuselah of all most gray Scan but his name the word the man bewray Years lived he Nine hundred sixty nine But dyed then no longer was his Line Though many now on Beds of IVORY Do stretch themselves yet these must also lie In Beds of Earth this Tribute pay they must And for their Heads a Pillow have of Dust The great Mogul erects his Nest on high But liveth he that shall not also dye All dyed have that lived have or have Translated been and so deceiv'd the Grave Thus dye shall All that live or changed be From ADAM all derive their Pedigree Now Reasons take from one so low in Stature Why Death should be a Tribute due to Nature IV. The Reasons 1. The Decree of God DEath seizeth All for this is God's Decree She seizeth but will not surrender Thee Death Heavens Statute is in Scripture-sense Each mans line meets in this Circumference Earth Heaven Hell their Laws are different If writing thus be not impertinent Earths Law municipal is once to dye But Heavens is to live eternally Hell also hath a LAW to dye for ever Take prospect here of three Once alway never 2. The Matter of the Body ADd nextly now the Matter of the Man This Fabrick then Eternize if ye can Ah mortal Man made up of Elements Earth Air Fire Water are Ingredients For Man to dye to me appeareth just Who at the first was reared out of dust The Breath of God the Soul I find to be The Work of God the Body seems to me The Building 's Clay the Basis also Dust The Creature to the Center dying must 3. The Merit of Sin ALl sinned have and therefore All must dye This must be true or Truth must be a Lye The Soul dyes not 't is an immortal Spirit The Body dyes 't is Sins undoubted Merit Sins venial and mortal Papists make But this distinction is a gross mistake As Adam's bounds were set and Soul endued So breaking these a double Death ensued 'T is better thus infernal Sophistry To naus'ate than a double Death to dye V. The Uses THree Uses now of daring Death be making High Prudence 't is right Measures to be taking I. Of Trial. TRy mortal Man come to the Test and try Stage Persons also Things yet Man must dye Can any PERSON Or can any THING That Persons deck match Death this timely bring I. Of Beauty CAN Beauty that 's a Snare from Death's Arrest Bail MORTALS No as Ages do attest Can Beauty so admired by the Tall No mortal Man for Nature caught a Fall When she was young as did a petty Prince Which caused hath her halting ever since She 's courted painted spotted yet I see 'T is native Beauty without sports to be Some try to mend but while they mend they marr For Beauty-spects the SPOTS of Beauty are Fade Beauty will like Flowers of the Field Not shot-free girded with an Ajax's Shield She fades faints falls and running of her Race Hath for her Soutch'on but a wrinkled Face Where 's Sarah that the Court of Pharaoh charm This daring Death this Beauty doth alor'm Where 's Absalom the Beauty of his Age He acts his part and gooth off the Stage From Head to Fóót no Blemish could be found But Beauty dyes Death marching is her Round This Tribute due to Nature payed He The Halter was his Hair upon a Tree Here Isr'el's Mirror had his mortal Stroak Will others now call this the Royal Oak II. Of Men and Means CAn Men or Means each Creature in its Station From Natures instinct plot its Conservation What Drug by Galen could prescribed be Or could Hippocrates by DOSES free His Pat'ents No they differ as to Stature Yet payment make of Tribute due to Nature For Spirits Chymists are Phlebotomy A Monster seems in that extracting eye They breathe no Veins rare Spirits they apply But salved is not DEATH by Chymistry Two wayes there are Diseases for to cure But neither can face-paling Death allure Is Sympathy the way the Arrow 's wide For Digby that admired Artist dy'd Or is A NTIP ATHY ah but undarted Is still the White beloved Luke's departed Speak Borgius that I may hear the sound Who
whom will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him To whom will ye compare Christ He is a Beauty without a spot Cant. 5.10 He is white and red the Armour-bearer among ten thousand White and red as they are the best Temperature of Man so they are the natural and the native Badges of Beauty Isa 49.6 Hos 13.4 I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the Earth Christ hath no Competitor in Salvation There is no Saviour besides me Christ is an invincible Saviour Oh say the soul I am weak weak as water But Soul 1 Sam. 15.29 Margent Christ is strong strength it self The strength of Israel will not lie nor repent The strength of Israel the Eternity or Victory of Israel Oh say the Soul I am not a match for those Temptations without nor for these Corruptions within But Soul Christ is a match for both Thou art Peter Mat. 16.18 and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Thou art Peter thou art but a Fisherman Super hanc Petram not super hunc Petrum 1 Cor. 10.4 at best but a Fisher of Men Not upon this Peter but upon this Rock It is not called a Rock of Peter but he is called Peter of a Rock as we call Christians from Christ The Church is not built upon Peter but upon Christ the Rock of Ages They all drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Upon this Rock will I build my Church 1 Cor. 1.24 and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it All the Power and Policy of Hell shall not prevail against it Christ is not only the Power of God but also the God of Power All Power in Heaven and Earth is devolved upon him But take a Tast of the Power of Christ Christ hath engaged the world and overcome Be of good cheer I have overcome the world Jo. 16.33 Christ hath engaged the Heart and overcome The Lord opened Lydia's heart Acts 16.14 that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul Paul was the Preacher but Christ was the Opener Paul preached to the Ear but Christ opened the Heart Christ hath engaged Hell and overcome I am he that was dead and am alive Rev. 1.18 and behold I live for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and of Death The Keys are an Emblem of Power a metaphor either taken from Stewards who have the Keys of the House to let in or keep out whom they please or from Conquerours who having entred a City have the Keys delivered up to them in token of Conquest Christ hath engaged Heaven and overcome Christ hath cancelled the Bond hath crossed the Book hath discharged the Debt hath given a plenary and perfect Satisfaction to Divine Justice by his active and passive Obedience Christ was Man that he might suffer and God that he might satisfie God being offended with Man He who was God and Man 1 Thes 1.10 satisfied God for Man And to wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Now did Alexander the Great say when his Army was low for how many do ye reckon Me May not Christ then say when Zion is reduced unto an astonishing Ebb for how many do you reckon Me Christ is so Many that he may well stand for All. No Arithmetick upon Earth will reach Christ he is a match for the Vniverse he is invincible Christ is a full Saviour Christ is a Fountain and that is full 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.9 alwaies full In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally really substantially Though the stream should be cut off yet the Fountain is full though the Chanel should be empty yet the Ocean is full There is in Christ for those that are Christs Joh. 1.14 Non Specie sed Gradu a fulness of Grace Christ is full of Grace and Truth Grace is such a pearl that the Vniverse is not able to weigh against and yet Christ is full of Grace Grace differs nothing from Glory but in name and in degree it is the same state in another stature Grace is Glory militant and Glory is Grace triumphant That there is a fulness of Grace in Christ is evident and that this fulness of grace in Christ is for those who are Christs Joh. 1.16 Plenitudo Abundantiae Redundantiae is as evident Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace There is in Christ not only a fulness of Abundance but also of Redundance there is an overflowing fulness in Christ Jesus Grace for Grace A cumulation of grace grace upon grace As the Paper from the Press receiveth Letter for Letter or as the Wax from the Seal receiveth Print for Print or as the Glass from the Image receiveth Face for Face so Christians receive from Christ Grace for Grace There is in Christians in some measure and proportion a grace answerable and agreeable to the same in Christ. Thus generally but now particularly There is in Christ for those who are Christs a fulness of Power All power in Heaven is given unto Christ He is the Object of the Angels adoration He hath the Angels at his Command and can send them forth as an heavenly Host to assist his people Mat. 26.53 Peter saith Christ thinkest thou not that I can now pray to my Father and he shall give me more than twelve Legions of Angels The Roman Army consisted ordinarily of twelve Legions such an Army of Angels could Christ have had and this had been a vast Army A Legion they say is six thousand armed Souldiers but here are more than twelve Legions it may be a definite number put for an indefinite more than twelve Legions of Angels seem to import an infinite number of Angels But as Christ hath power in Heaven so on Earth As he is the Object of the Angels adoration so of the Saints admiration Christ hath power over the Princes and Potentates of the Earth how magnificent and mighty soever they be in their own eyes or in the eyes of others Rev. 17.14 He is therefore stiled King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ also hath power over Hell That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.10 both things which are in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect and on Earth Saints and Sinners and under the Earth infernal spirits As Christ is the Object of the Angels Adoration and of the Saints Admiration so of the Devils Consternation There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of pardon Sin is evil all evil alway evil the pardon therefore of sin must needs be a singular and a signal mercy a precious Luk. 5.20 John
give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Interest in Christ cannot be lost Interest is a great thing and will not lie Interest some way other at some time or other byass persons As Thou hast Interest in Christ so Christ hath Interest in Thee Joh. 17.12 and this cannot be lost All that thou hast given me I have kept and none of them are lost A Being in Christ cannot be lost Inheritance with Christ cannot be lost Art in Christ then though thou mayest leave the Earth yet thou shalt not lose Heaven To an Inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. 1.4 and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you Would ye prepare for Death be then in the reflection of Eternity Time passeth Eternity standeth Eternity is a fixed Now. Of Eternity there is no Finis Xeuxis Aeternitati pingo A famous Painter being asked why he was so curious and long in drawing his Lines answered I paint for Eternity Thus what we do we should do for an Eternity we should meditate and pray for an Eternity we should preach and hear for an Eternity Should any one ask me what Time is might I not answer it is nothing else but a meditation of Eternity Psa 27.13 Job 10.22 There is a Land which is called the Land of the living so there is a Land which is called a Land of darkness as darkness it self There is a two-fold Eternity that of the Blessed that of the Cursed There is a two-fold life after death a life in eternal Triumph or a life in eternal Torment a life in eternal Gain or a life in eternal Loss Mat. 25.46 And these the Goats shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous the Sheep into life eternal It is prudential therefore in this short life to think upon that life which will be endless Trismegistus Plato Drexelius of Eternity p. 3 4. Ex hoc momento pendet Aeternitas The Soul saith one is the Horizon of Time and Eternity What another saith of God that I may say of Eternity what God is that I know not what God is not that I know So what Eternity is that I know not what Eternity is not that I know It is good in Time while we are sailing to have an Eye still upon our Compass and think upon Eternity Cast but an eye upon some Dials and you may find this Inscription Vpon this Moment hangs Eternity Our Glass is running our Time will go into an Eternity be therefore much yea much more in the reflection of an Eternity Would ye prepare for Death improve then the Spirit As the Soul is the Life of the Body so Christ is the Life of the Soul and his Spirit the Soul as it were of our Souls Light is in the Air but dwells in the San Good if Christ be thine is in the Flesh but dwells in the Spirit It would argue great power to convert Clay into Gold and a Pebble into a Pearl a greater change is wrought in the Soul and requires greater power It is as great a Miracle to see Grace growing in the carnal and corrupt heart of man in the dark and dead heart of man in the treacherous and timpanious heart of man in the wanton and worldly heart of man as to see the Stars growing upon the Earth and yet this the power of the Spirit doth The Spirit is the principal Verb in the Sentence be much then in the improving of this Spirit But what manner of Spirit is this Spirit Quest Sol. There are three Divine Subsistences in one Divine Essence Father Son Spirit As there are three that bear witness on earth the Spirit and the Water 1 Joh. 5.7 8. and the Blood and these three agree in one so there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word the holy Spirit and these three are one They are not three Gods but one God A Trinity in Vnity and an Vnity in Trinity looks like the Mystery of Mysteries 'T is called the eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God 'T is also written The Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is 2 Cor. 3.17 there is Liberty I am writing of this Spirit Officially and the Offices of this Spirit follow 'T is an enlivening Spirit All men in their Naturals are dead dead in Sin Persons in red Letters while they live in the Region of depraved Nature are dead they are at most and at best but imbalmed Jacobs and Josephs lifeless and loveless motionless and actionless There may be an artificial Motion but there cannot be a natural Motion without natural Life Joh. 6.63 A Watch may go a Clock may go a Jack may go but these go not as a man goeth It is the Spirit that quickeneth 'T is an enlightening Spirit As God and Christ so the Things of God and Christ are out of the Viow of a person Godless and Christless It is the Spirit of God that unmasks and unveils God that discovers the things of God The Apostle speaking of those things which were invisible inaudible and inconceivable connects 1 Cor. 2.9 10. and connexes this But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God In these words there is an Assertion and the Reason for that Assertion The Assertion God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit The Reason for that Assertion Now herein ye have the Conclusion and the Comment The Conclusion The Spirit searcheth all things The Word here search is metaphorical taken from such as search in Mines for Gold and Silver they will dig deep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will break the several Clods and Clots of the Earth all to pieces to find out the Golden Ore The Comment Yea the deep things of God the Depths of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek Some men are born naturally blind but all men are born spiritually blind and cannot see the Depths of God without the Spirit of God 'T is a bearing Spirit The Spirit is not a barren but a bearing Tree Gal. 5.22 23. it bears Variety The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law no law of Condemnation 'T is a Witnessing Spirit He that believeth hath the witness in himself Evidences quoad extra 1 Joh. 3.24 Rom. 8.16 He that hath the Fruit hath the Tree that hath Faith hath the Spirit for Faith is a fruit growing upon this Tree There are many things subordinately evidential but the Spirit is primarily and principally as well as infallibly evidential as to interest in Christ. By this we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit that he hath given us The spirit himself witnesseth together with our Spirits that we are the
4.29 see a man that told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ He who is Omnipotent must be God but Christ is Omnipotent Matth. 28.18 therefore Christ is God All power in Heaven and in Earth is devolved upon Christ Christ is the power of God yea the God of power The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.6 This power can over-power all power He who is Omnipresent must be God Psa 139.7 Hic ubiquè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.10 but thus Christ is therefore Christ is God Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Christ as God is Here and every where He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all Heavens To what end That he might fill or fulfil all things for the Greek word signifieth both He is ascended far above all visible Heavens into that Heaven which is invisible to us on Earth But to what end In order to the filling of Heaven and Earth with his presence in order also to a fulfilling of all the Prophecies concerning Himself He who is All in All must be God but Christ is All in All therefore Christ is God Col. 3.11 Where there is neither Jew nor Greek Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but all things and in all things Christ. Thus Christ is the way from the Father and the way to the Father Christ is the way from God to the Soul I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 49.6 that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Christ is the way for the Soul to God I am the way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 no man cometh unto the Father but by me If Christ be thus then he is God He that shall come from Heaven waited by Angels 2 Thes 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whose Voice shall raise the dead must be God but thus Christ shall come and do at his comming He shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels The Angels of his power Greek And that his Voice shall raise the dead is as evident Marvel not at this Why Joh. 5.28 29. for the hour is comming and new is when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that dave done evil to the Resurrection of damnation He who is all Eye must be God but Christ is all Eye therefore Christ is God Christ is all Eye Bernardus non vidit emnia Joh. 1.48 Act. 9.11 and seeth all things as if he had but one thing to see When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee Man seeth not all things but Christ doth He is light of life and life of light As he saw Nathaniel under the Fig-tree so he saw Paul in the Closet Go for behold he prayeth Bernard had a film upon his Eye but Christ hath none he seeth all things at once He who is all Ear must be God but Christ is all Ear therefore Christ is God This poor man cryed Psal 34.6 and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Though Christ be in Heaven he can hear thee in a wood hear thee in a wilderness hear thee in the Church or in the Closet hear thee in the City or in the Country hear thee upon a Common or in a Cottage Psal 34.15 The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry Christ is all Ear and heareth all things as if he had but one thing to hear He that can forgive sin must be God but Christ can forgive sin Mark 2.5 therefore Christ is God Who can forgive sins but God only Pardon of sin is a singular mercy of the plural number Aug. Psa 103.3 to a convinced and converted soul to a desponding and despairing soul to a distressed and deserted soul Lord saith one here beat me or buffet me here break me or banish me here bleed me or burn me so thou wilt hereafter save me Who forgiveth all thine iniquities He that shall judge the world must be God but Christ shall judge the world therefore Christ is God The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Ah! how amazing and amusing how confounding and consternating will that Day be when He who is anothers Saviour shall be thy Judge He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also Joh. 5.27 because he is the Son of Man Christ is such a Judge as that the power of the powerfullest cannot daunt the wealth of the wealthiest cannot bribe the wit of the wittiest cannot delude Christ is such a Judge as that there is no appealing from his Sentence nor repealing of his Sentence I charge thee therefore before God 2 Tim. 4.1 and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Now He who is Judge is God but Christ is Judge therefore Christ is God Fear not Death for Christ is thine and he is a Guide Christ is a person of the greatest Conduct and those actually his are under his conduct from Earth to Heaven from Grace to Glory That Christ is the Leader of his Joh. 10.3 is evident He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out That Christ is the Leader of his from Earth to Heaven from grace to glory Rev. 7.17 is as evident The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes In Heaven there are Triumphs without Tears and Tunes of Joy without Tones of Sorrow Psa 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory But what manner of Guide is Christ Quest Sol. 1. Christ is an incomparable Guide Some have been excellent for conduct for conduct at Sea for conduct at Land but Christ exceeds and excels all No wonder now ye have that negative precept Trust ye not in a friend Mich. 7.5 put ye not confidence in a Guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom Christ is a careful Guide There was never any one so careful of Souls as Christ was Oh how careful was he of the Jews Why will ye die oh house of Israel Is it not enough that I die but will ye die also Let me die that ye may live let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be made a curse that ye may have a crown Why will ye die oh house of Israel Oh how careful was Christ of the man that fell among Theeves Luke 10.33 34 35. He bound up his wounds poured in Oil and Wine set him upon his own Beast brought him to an Inn paid his Reckoning took
dress it for me and my Son that we may eat it and die Ah poor Woman Little did she think that by Sustaining the Man of God her Self should be Sustained by the God of Man I go to dress this for my Self and my Son and eat it and die As if she had said when this is eaten we have no more to eat but must die when this is gon all is gone and we must go into an Eternity The outward wants of Believers are somtimes great Oh say the Soul I live in a Cottage live upon a Common and have short Commons But Soul Evangelical promises are greater than thy External wants Psa 34.10 The young Lions shall lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing If any Creatures in the World can preserve themselves from Hunger Lions can if they do but roar the Beasts will fall down as a prey before them but yet saith God These even these shall rather perish for hunger than any one that feareth me shall want But as Believers sometimes want outward Mercies so many times want inward Refreshments Oh! say the Soul I am like a Pelican in the Wilderness and like a Dove in the Valley mourning until I can mourn no more for the Sun of Righteousness Mâ—l 4.2 2 Cor. 4.6 for a light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ But Soul divine Promises are greater than thy inward wants Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Here is a supply and that from God but of what of need yea of all need But saith the Soul if all outward wants should be supplied yet there are inward and if all inward wants should be supplied In terminis totidem verbis Psa 84.11 yet there are outward It is true yet in so many words a supply for internal external wants is laid under Promise Jehovah God is a Sun and a Shield Jehovah will give Grace and Glory Here is Grace and Glory a supply of all inward wants Is here all no if here be not enough ye shall have more a supply of outward wants is laid and left under promise also No good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly God will supply his with all good that is for their good Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers weaknesses There are few Believers that are strong in every Grace yea few Believers but are weak in every Grace It is true some Believers are stronger in some Graces than other Believers are yea stronger in some Graces than Themselves are in other Graces for as there is the master-sin so there is the master-grace in every Believer thus Faith was the great Grace of Abraham Meekness of Moses Patience of Job and Love of John but weak Grace may be true Grace a spark of Fire is true Fire and the Furnace is no more a drop of Water true Water and the Ocean is no more It is pity that a Believer should be weak in Faith for if that Grace be weak no Grace is strong and yet weak Faith is true Faith Rom. 14.1 Him that is weak in the Faith receive not reject but not to doubtful disputations I am this day weak saith David though I be anointed King Oh! saith the Soul I am this day weak though I am in Christ Oh! saith the Soul I am weak weak as water The pulse of my Grace doth not beat or it beats so weakly that I can scarcely tell whether I be alive or no. But Soul divine Promises they are greater than thy weaknesses If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself This 2 Tim. 2.13 is not spoken of an unbelieving man but of a man that hath much unbelief if we believe not though Faith be at ebb and Vnbelief at flood yet Christ abideth faithful and cannot deny himself Though Peter deny Christ yet Christ doth not deny Peter It is said of an Emperour that he never minded to do what he promised Tiberiuâ— but this cannot be said of Christ for he cannot deny himself Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers Fears The Fears of Believers are many times great very great exceeding great A Pannick Fear is a cursed weed but is not he a Miracle among men that hath not sometimes a pang of forbidden Fear When the Corps of a Scottish Minister was put into the Grave an Earl being there said here lays the Body of one Mr. Knox. Earl of Murray who in his life never feared the Face of any man But can this be said of every Member of Christ Nay of every Minister of Christ It was also a great word of another Athanasius Though an Army should encamp me yet will I not fear The Fears of Believers are many times great very great exceeding great so great that they may reach the Heart and Heart-Fears are the greatest Fears but now there is enough in one promise to dissipate the cloud of a thousand Fears Oh! says one I shall one day fall by the hands of this Saul of this Goliah of Gath but if I do not fall by the hands of man I shall fall by the hands of God Oh! says another I fear my carkass will fall in the wilderness I fear I shall die by the way I fear I shall not enter into the Land of Promise Oh! says a third Presence I fear that I shall be impoverished or imprisoned that I shall be banished or burned But Soul the Promise Propriety in the greatness of it out-bids and outvies the greatness of Fear Fear not why for I am with thee Isa 41.10 there is presence Be not afraid why for I am thy God Is here all No I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Promise But what says a third Oh! my fears are great it is night now and I fear it will never be day more Oh! the Sun is gone down upon my Horizon and I fear it will never rise more But Soul there is enough in the promise to scatter this Fear Mal. 4.2 Vnto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall Is not the firmamental Sun as constant in rising as in setting and is not the Day as constant as the Night Oh! saith a fourth my fears are great my Neighbours have left me my Familiars have left me my Relations have left me yea my God hath left me and that is a sad leaving indeed Isa 49.14 The Lord hath forsakâ—n me my God hath forgotten me I am not only out of the Hand of God but also out of the Heare of God I am not only forsaken but also forgotten God is not only gone
Rom. 9.5 Over all God blessed for ever Amen If God sit down first Christ as Mediator of the Covenant may sit down next They say where Natural Philosophy ends there the Physician begins Christ is a Person so great that he begins and ends where he begins to cure a person Christ is an Asa a Physician or Healer of diseases as the word signifies A mortal King may engage to cure the Body a Tumor in the Flesh but Christ the King of Kings engages to cure the Treachery and Tympany of the Soul Mamulus Fuller 's Holy War p. 477. One told the Adorers of Andronicus that monstrous Miscreant That it was just they should dye of the Physick who made a God of the Physician But now it is no wonder that those actually Christs should live by the Physick for a God is their Physician Christ is a costly Physician They were the men of Judah 2 Sam. 19.42 that said unto the men of Israel Have we eaten at all of the King's cost or hath he given us any Gift But none actually Christs can say that they have not eaten of his cost that they have not had his Gift David told Araunah That he would not offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord his God Chap. 24.24 that should cost him nothing At some cost was Christ with the man that fell among Thieves between Jericho and Jerusalem but at far greater cost than this hath Christ been He is not onely the Physician of the Soul but his blood also goes for the Physick of the Soul Joh. 10.15 Fuller 's holy War p. 471. I lay down my life for the sheep Tyranous Andronicus sported himself in shedding innocent blood which he wickedly called his medicine for all maladies But Christ as he is a Soul-Physician so his Blood is Soul-physick this is a Remedy for every Disease a Salve for every Sore a Medicine for every Malady It is written of One Admiral of France That when the War was finished and he returned to Rochel not a day passed over his head wherein he did not morning and evening read over one of Calvin's Sermons upon Job which History he called his Panchrestum or Physick for all Diseases a Salve for every Sore What then may be said of Christ's Blood Certainly he was at great cost who did not onely spend his breath Heb. 13.12 but also spill his Blood He suffered without the Gate Christ is a cheap Physician Physicians here below are dear very dear the Rich onely are qualified to be their Patients no Purse no Physick they will have much though they do little but Christ is a cheap Physician Wine and Milk without money and without price I will give to him that is at hirst of the fountain of the water of life freely Rev. 21.6 Now this saith one is The Grace of the holy Spirit which is now given by drops but in Heaven unto fulness Guttatim Joh. 4.14 according to that The water that I will give him shall be in him a Well of water springing up into everlasting life Or A Fruition of God who is the life of his according to that With thee is the fountain of life Here Psal 36.9 is water and that is necessary yea water of life and that is of necessity yea Pool in loc the fountain of the water of life now water at the fountain is purest and plentifullest there water for quality and quantity is ever the same yea this water is in a way of Gift I will give to him that is athirst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the fountain of the water of life and that freely without compensation without merit Physicians here below indent with their Patients so much down and so much when the Cure is made but Christ the Physician of greatest value does not indent with his Patients Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Whosoever hath a will from Christ for Christ let him take Christ and the Grace of Christ and the Spirit of Christ and that freely without price or any merit of his own Christ is an appointed Physician Some go yea run Joh. 12.45 without sending but Christ did not He that seeth me seeth him that sent me As God appointed the Passeover so he appointed this Physician I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles Isa 49.6 that thou mayst be my salvation to the ends of the earth Christ is under a designation and that from the Father in order to the sanctification and salvation of a sinner The God of our Fathers Acts 5.30 31. raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree Him hath God exalted with his right hand But to what end To be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins Christ is an approved Physician There are some men approved of men but the Man Christ Jesus is approved of God Acts 2.22 Ye men of Israel hear these words Mat. 14.30 31. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you c. Christ hath been tryed tryed to purpose Thus Christ hath been tryed Relatively He was tryed in the water and kept Peter's head above water He was tryed in the Fire and kept the three children there Dan. 3.24 25. Did we not cast three into the Fire True Oh King Behold I see four and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Christ and the Christian in the Ship together in the Shop together Christ and the Christian in the Field together in the Fire together Is not this sweet Oh this is sweetly sweet But as Christ was tryed Relatively so he was tryed Personally Some men have been greatly tryed Thus Job was thus Paul was but who so tryed as a Christ in his life Being in an agony the word signifies a striving or wrestling against something as two Combatants or Wrestlers Luk. 22.44 do each strive against other he prayed more earnestly and his swea◠was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground And who so tryed as a Christ in his death My God my God Mat. 27.46 Athanasius Non solvit Vnionem sed subtraxit Visionem Isa 28.16 why hast thou forsaken me He spake this saith One in our person They are not words of complaining but expressing his Grief The Vnion was not dissolved but the Vision was restrained God left him in great distress withdrawing from the humane nature pouring his wrath upon Him as the Surety of His. Thus Christ hath been tryed in life and to the life thus Christ hath been tryed in death and to the death No wonder now He is called a tryed stone Christ is a loving yea ever-loving Physician Physicians here below do not love their Patients as they love themselves they had rather a thousand Patients should dye than themselves should dye But Christ is such a Physician that he loves his Patients