THE Princely Prophet Dauid , who was a man after Gods owne heart , 1. Sam. 13. 14. 1. Sam. 13. 14. The chosen of God , Psa. 78. 70. Psal. 78. 70. A man gratious with God , Act. 7. 46 Acts 7. 46. The seruant of God , Ps 89. 20. Psalm. 89. 20. The type of Christ . Acts 2. 25. Acts 2. 25. Nay Christ is called the son of Dauid , Math. 1. 1. Math 1. 1. The sweet singer of Israel , 2. Sam. 23. 1. a man that had tasted the full cup of Gods mercies , and had beene plunged in many troubles , insomuch as hee said : Psalm. 34. 19. Great are the troubles of the righteous , Psa. 34. 19. Hee doth often complaine of his troubles , and that with great griefe and bitternesse of minde , and chiefly in this place . This Psalme is partly narratiue , partly precatiue : In the first part Dauid declareth how hee had purposed with himselfe to take need of murmuring against God , which might arise through the iniuries of men . In the second part he desireth that God would certifie him of the vanitie of this life , and therefore he saith : Psalme 39. 4. Lord let me know my ●●d , and the measure of my dayes what it is : let mee know how long I haue to liue . Psal. 39. 4. In another place hee saith : Psalm 90. 12. Teach vs so to number our dayes , that we may apply our hearts vnto wisdome . Psa. 90. 12. Dauid in these words doth not desire death , but he requesteth that he may be brought to a serious consideration of his mortality , as is euident by the words , Let me know my end : that is , the end of my naturall life , of my daies , which by thy decree I must liue in this world , and then he saith ; Behold , thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth , and mine age is nothing in respect of thee : surely euery man in his best estate is altogether vanity .

Here note 4 things . 1 A note of attention , Behold . 2 A confession , thou hast made my dayes as an hand bredth . 3 An asseueration : surely , 4 An amplification , euery man in his best estate is altogether vanitie .

It is as much as if the Prophet had said ; Behold , I will shew and declare vnto you by a twofold comparison , that the Lord hath made my dayes short ; for they are but as an hand bredth , which is one of the shortest measures , and the time of my life is as nothing , or like to nothing ; and surely euery man , not onely such as are of base condition , but the mighty and the noble are vanity .

[ Behold , ] This word behold , consisteth of few letters , lesse sillables , yet very significant : Sometimes it is a badge of admiration , as Behold a Virgine shall conceiue and beare a sonne , and thou shalt call his name Immanuel , Esay 7. 14. Esay 7. 14. Sometimes a signe of alteration , Reuelat. 21. 5. as Behold I will make all things new . Reu. 21. 5. Sometimes a token of gladnesse ; Behold , I bring you tydings of great ioy that shall be to all people , Luk. 2. 10. Luke 2. 10. Sometimes a point of demonstration , Behold the place where they haue laid him . Mark . 16. 6. Marke 16. 6. Sometimes it shewes a thing vnknowne , Behold I will send you Eliah the Prophet , Mal. 4. 5. Mal. 4 5. Sometimes it is taken scornefully , Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength , but trusted in the multitude of his riches , and put his strength in his malice . Psalme 52. 7. Psalm. 52. 7. Sometimes it is a note of attention , Behold I stand at the dore and knocke , &c. Reu. 3. 20. Reuelat. 3. 20. Declaring his loue to the Laodiceans . In this one word behold , here is comfort for such as faint , and Gods loue is shewed towards such as repent . In this place it is a note of attention , to put vs in minde of the breuity and shortnesse of our liues .

Here obserue , Doctr. that euery word in the Scripture is remarkeable , and this word behold is not a word of course , but a note to stirre vp our attention . It is like the sounding of a Trumpet before some waighty Proclamation , or like the ringing of a great Bell , before the Sermon of a famous Preacher : it is set downe to moue vs to attention to heare for afterward . Esay 42. 23. Esay 42. 23. One figure may stand for many hundreds , one counter for many pounds , one little boxe may containe many iewels : So one word of the Scripture may point out vnto vs many things worthy our obseruation , and what can bee greater then to heare , to learne , and to learne to know how short our life is . Let him that hath an eare heare . Reuel . 3. 6. Reuel. 3. 6.

The vse may reproue such as will not be warned , Vse 1. by any marke or note , nor stirred vp to heare , but become voluntary deafe Adders , refusing the voyce of the charmer , though he be most expert in charming , Psal. 58. 4. 5. Psalme 58 , 4. 5. They will not heare Christ crucified , Gal. 3. 1. Gal. 3. 1. They are enemies of the crosse of Christ , Phil. 3. 18. Phillip. 3. 18. who is able to kill our sinnes , and quicken our soules . When the balme tree is cut in summer , that the sweete liquour drop forth , the inhabitants preserue it in viols : when the Word , which is the spirituall baulme , is diuided by preaching , 2. Tim. 2. 15. 2. Tim. 2. 15. the people should bring empty pitchers with them , as the widdow did at the command of Elisha , 2. King . 4. 5. 2. King . 4. 5. the empty pitchers should be attentiue eares ; but either they are without mouthes , or without bottomes ; without mouthes to let in one drop of grace , or without bottomes that when we haue put it in and looke to see it againe in your liues , behold it is runne throughout , as water through a siue , and scarce leaues any wet behind it . It is not enough to eate meate , vnlesse the stomacke retaine it ; so it is not enough to heare , vnlesse men lay it vp in their hearts , as Mary kept the sayings of Christ in her heart , Luk. 2. 51. Luk. 2. 51. We must haue eares of atention , and hearts of retention . In vaine doth the Preacher open his mouth , vnlesse God open the heart , when God opened Lidiaes heart , then she attended to the things which Paul spake , Acts 16. 14. Act. 16. 14. As men come so they speed , and as the affection is , so is the profite : If they bring empty pitchers they may be filled , but if their vessels be full of wickednesse , they can neuer be filled with goodnesse : As we do Gods workes to holinesse , so we shall finde comfort to holinesse : It is to bee feared , least many go home with vnfallowed Hos. 10. 12. Hos. 10. 12. nay with vnhallowed hearts .

Secondly , for instruction to vs , where God is an admonisher , there let vs be admonished ; where hee is a Teacher , there let vs be schollers ; and if he haue made our daies as an hand bredth , then let vs resolue to die , and prepare for death . It is decreed in the high Court of Parliament , that all shall die , euen in heauen , Heb. 9. 27. Heb. 9. 27. for we must die , and wee are as water spilt on the ground . 2. Sam. 14. 14. 2. Sam. 14. 14. which cannot bee taken vp againe . Wise Salomon , godly Dauid , religious Iosiah , faithfull Abraham , iust Lot , righteous Noah , zealous Moses , trusty Ionathan , dilligent Peter , and carefull Paul , haue dyed ; it is certaine we shall die , but the time vncertaine , and the place . The time is vncertaine , God came to Dauids child in his infancy . 2. Sam. 12. 18. 2. Sam. 12. 18. to the widdowes sonne in his yourh , Luk. 7. 12. Luk. 7. 12. to Iacob in his old age . Gen. 49. 33. Gen. 49. 33. God hath ordained and limited to euery liuing creature his appointed time wherein to liue and grow , and next to decrease and die ; and as it pleaseth God to prolong or abridge their liues , so he disposeth of the second causes , and meanes whereby he will haue it brought to passe , and so euery one hath his certaine limits and terme of life set him . Iob saith , Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth , and are not his daies as the daies of an hireling . Iob. 7. 1. Iob. 7. 1. Againe , Are not mans daies determined , the number of his months are with thee , thou hast appointed his bounds which hee cannot passe ? Iob. 14. 5. Iob. 14. 5. In the same chapter , All the daies of my appointed time will I waite till my changing shall come . 14. God hath appointed how long euery man shall liue , and though foure score yeares be no long course , yet there are but few which hold out to the vttermost end thereof , in regard of them that stay by the way . Some are cut off euen before they haue begunne their course , and some in the mid-way , and that through so many sorts of sickenesses , with other inconueniences and accidents , that a man cannot possibly comprehend , or conceiue them all . As death spares not any person , so it respects not any place . A man may be murthered in the field as Abel was , Gen. 4. 8. Gen. 4. 8. A man may fall backeward sitting quietly in his chaire , and breake his necke as Eli did . 1. Sam. 4. 18. 1. Sam. 4. 18. Or dye in the Temple as Senaherib did Esay 37. 37. Esay 37. 37. Or at the Altar as Ioab 1. King . 2. 34. While Iobs sonnes were feasting , 1. King . 2. 34. the house fals vpon them Iob. 1. 19. Iob. 1. 19. While the scoffing boyes were mocking , Beares came from the wildernesse and deuoured them 2. King . 2. 24. 2. King . 2. 24. While Corah and his company were contending , the earth opened and swallowed them vp Numb . 16. 31. 32. Num. 16. 31. 32 While the Captaines and their fifties were fetching the Prophet perforce to the King , fire fals from heauen and consumes them . 2. King . 1. 10. 2. King ▪ 1. 10. Thus death doth follow vs wheresoeuer we goe , and is ready to ceize vpon vs wheresoeuer we are .

Thou hast made my daies as an hands bredth . Some say thou hast set my daies short , some thou hast made my daies mourning ; some , thou hast made my daies of foure fingers wide , Taphat signifieth the measure of the palme of the hand , which is of foure fingers . The meaning of the Prophet is this : Thou Lord hast made my life short , like the palme of an hand , which is of foure fingars , which is one of the shortest measures .

Seeing the life of man is but as an hand bredth , Doctr. it affoordeth this doctrine , that mans life is short , and of no long continuance . Our life is compared to grasse Esay 40. 6. Esa. 40. 6. which withereth . To a shadow which passeth Psalme 102. 11. Psal. 102. 11. To smoake that vanisheth , Hos. 13. 3. Hos. 13. 3. To a bubble that is dissolued : To a weauers shuttle for swiftnesse , Iob. 7. 6. Iob. 7. 6. To a spiders web which is soone swept away . To a cloud that goeth away . Iob. 7. 9. Iob. 7. 9. To a flower that fadeth , Iob 14. 2. Iob. 14. 2. To a vapour which is soone dispearsed , Iam. 4. 14. Iames 4. 14. Remember that my life is but a winde Iob. 7. 7. Iob. 7. 7. No meruaile if when the winde bloweth the leafe fall , if when the death appeareth , the night end . There is one saith , our life is an heauy sleepe , fed with false and imaginary dreames , and he calleth it a Comedy , or rather in our daies a Tragedy of transitory shewes and disguised persones . Sometimes to a birds nest made of straw and dung , that the winter soone dissolueth . There is another calleth it a childs game , that buildeth houses of sand on the shore , where euery waue washeth them away . Is our life so short ? then it is better to die then to liue , and the day of death is better then the day of birth . Eccles. 7. 3. Eccles. 7. 3. The day of death is not a perishing but a parting . The soule is not lost to the body , but onely sent before it to ioy . If the soule bee painefully laid off , it is ioyfully laid vp . Per natiuitatem ad stadium per mort●m ad breuium peruenimus . Through our natiuity wee come to the race , through death to the reward : through birth to the floud , through death to the hauen ; through birth to the fight , through death to the victory ; through birth to labour , through death to rest ; by birth to sorrow , by death to ioy ; by birth to life , which is full of all sorrowes and troubles , by death to life eternall which is free from all sorrows . Death is rather the flight of sinne , then the detriment of man dying , because to the iust death is not the end of nature , but of sinne , as a Father saith . To leaue this world and inherite a better should seeme nothing . Death is a passage from sinne and corruption to glory and immortality , from this earth to heauen , from the company of sinners , to the company of Saints ; from sorrow , to solace ; from paine , to peace ; from sicknesse , to safety ; from persecution , to triumph ; from the bondage of Pharoah , to the liberty of the sons of God . The consideration heereof made Salomon , who for wisedome might seeme a God , for gouernement deseruedly might be King , and for learning might bee a Prophet , to say ; All things vnder the Sunne are vanity and vexation of spirit . Eccl. 2. 11. Eccles. 2. 11. Seeing all things in the world are vanity , better is a good death then a bad life , and the day of death better then the day of birth . When we are borne wee are mortall , but when wee shall rise againe , wee shall bee immortall : wee are aliue in the wombe , to die in the world , but dead in the graue to liue in heauen . Our life is not compared to an ell or yard , to a pace or to a cubite , to a mile or to a furlong , to a fathome or to a foote , but to an hand bredth , a very short measure . Man that is borne of woman is of short continuance . Iob. 14. 1. Iob. 14. 1. Few and euill haue the daies of my life bene . Gen. 47. 9. Gen. 47. 9. The time of our life is three score yeares and ten , Psal. 90. 10. if a man come to foure score , then there is nothing but weaknesse . As Ionah his gourd was soone come and soone vanished , Ionah 4. 6. Ionah 4. 6. 7. so man is soone borne and soone dead . This world is as a Stage , and man as an Actor , when he hath plaid his part hee is gone . Our liues shorten as if the booke of our daies were by the pen-knife of Gods iudgement cut lesse . Before the Floud they were in Folio , they liued almost a thousand yeares , Methushelah liued nine hundred sixty and nine yeares , Gen. 5. 27. Gen. 5. 27. the whole chapter will shew vs how long the men liued before the Floud . After the Floud in Quarto , then they liued an hundred and twenty , and an hundred and seuenty . Gen. 25. 7. Gen. 25. 7. In Dauids time in Octauo , three score and foure score yeares , but with vs in the daies of the Gospell , in Decimo sexto in the least volume , now at forty , fifty , or sixty yeares , old men , and so we are dying almost so soone as we beginne to liue . The Elements are more mixed , drossie , and confused , our new sins call for new plagues ; the aire is more infected and contagious , and our sinnes of drunkennesse and surfeiting do not want to second all the rest : we may obserue that neither planers aboue , nor plants below , yeeld vs expected comfort . So God for our sinnes doth cause the heauen to be as Brasse , and the earth as Iron , and the aire with the winds to bee tempestuous , and so almost euery thing which was created for mans vse is become his enemy , and all because wee turne all things to vices corruption , which were giuen for natures protection : and therefore what wee haue diuerted to wickednesse , God hath reuerted to our reuenge . Wee are sicke of sinne , and therefore the world is sicke of vs . How soone doth the sand runne downe in the houre-glasse , how quickely doth the Sunne beginne to set ? so speedily doth our time passe away . Future things are alwaies beginning , present things alwaies ending , and things past are dead and gone ; while wee liue we die , and then we leaue dying , when we leaue liuing : Better it is therefore to die to life , then to liue to death , because our mortall life is nothing but a liuing death , and life continually flyeth from vs and cannot be with-held , and death hourely commeth vpon vs and cannot be with-stood : No armour resisteth , no threatning preuaileth , nor no entreaty profiteth , against deaths assault . If all perils spare our life , yet time and age in the end will consume it . As a riuer that riseth in the Forrest passeth by many rockes , runneth and tumbleth , and maketh a noise , yet in the end entreth into the sea : so fareth it with mans life , he commeth into the world with paine , and beginneth his course with pittifull cries , and is daily molested with sicknesses , and neuer ceaseth running , till in the end he fall into the sea of death : As euery man hath his Genesis , so hee must haue his Exodus , and as we are borne to liue , so we are borne to die . Our dying on earth is but the taking of our iourney to heauen : Why are we vnwilling to loose that , which cannot be kept ? The good Pilot sitteth at the sterne to guide his ship ; and so a good Christian to direct his life must thinke on death : death is the dore whereby we must go out of bondage , and therefore as he that is in prison taketh great comfort to sit vpon the threshold , that when the doore is opened , he may the sooner get out : so we must alwayes haue our mindes fixed vpon death , for passe wee must , but how or when wee know not . Emosinarius hauing his Tombe in building , commaunded that it should bee left imperfect , and that his seruants euery day should put him in minde to finish the same , that so hee might prepare to dye .

The vse of this doctrine is , Vse 1. forasmuch as our life is short , and nothing almost shorter , let vs prepare for death , Luke . 12. 40. for we must dye . Bee yee prepared , for the sonne of man will come at an houre when yee thinke not , Luk. 12. 40. All estates of men are exhorted to prepare , old and young , rich and poore , Prince and Peasant : the danger is great , if men be found vnprepared : as death leaueth men , so the day of iudgement shall finde them . If the tree fall toward the South , Eccles. 11. 3. or toward the North , in the place that the tree falleth , there it shall be . Ec●le . 11. 3. As Ishbosheth being found asleepe , 2 Sam. 4. 6. 7. was killed by Rechab & Baanah , 2. Sam. 4. 6. 7. euen so if we be asleepe in sin , and vnprepared , we shall be killed by Sathan . Because the fiue foolish virgins had not oyle to maintaine their lampes , Matth. 25. 12. the Bridegroome said , I know you not . Mat. 25. 12. Because the man which came to the wedding was not prepared , Matth. 22. 13. he was cast into vtter darknesse , Mat. 22. 13. As he is left behind that is vnprepared when the winde serueth , and the ship vnder saile , euen so he is left in damnation that is not prepared for the Lord when death commeth . Many men prepare for life which is vncertaine , and forget death which is certaine . Marke 13. 37. I say vnto all men , Watch , Mark . 13 37. The day of the Lord will come as a thiefe in the night . 2. Pet. 3. 10. 2. Pet. 3. 10. a thiefe as well for stealing on vs , as stealing from vs : he comes in the darke when no body sees , treades on wooll , that no body heares , watcheth an houre that no body knowes . It may be he will come when men are banqueting , as on the old world , Luke . 17. 27. Luk. 17. 27. Or when they are drunken , as on Belshazzer , Dan. 5. 25. Daniel . 5. 25. Or when they are committing filthinesse , Numb. 25. 8. as on the Israelitish man , and the Moabitish woman . Num , 25. 8. Or when they are coueting , Luke 12. 20. as on the rich man , Luk. 12. 20. Or when they are gormandising , Luke 16. 22. as on the glutton , Luke . 16. 22. Or when they are lying , Acts 5. 5. as on Ananias , Acts 5. 5. No thunder now can beat into them a feare of that which then no power shall ease them of . We know Christ will come , let vs prepare for his welcome . We are all housholders , our bodies are our houses , our soules our goods , our sences are the doores and windowes , the lockes are faith and prayer . The day of our death will come as a thiefe ; a thiefe commeth when men do not looke for him : so the day of death commeth suddenly . A thiefe commeth not when the maister of the house is watching , but when he is asleepe : so many times the day of the Lord commeth on men , not when they seeme to watch , but when they are secure and carelesse : let our repentance watch , let it neuer sleepe , least we perish . But men now put farre away the euill day , Amos 6. 3. and they flatter themselues with the remotenesse , the vision that he seeth , is for many dayes to come , and he prophesieth of the times that are farre off , Ezek. 12. 27. Ezek. 12. 27. Surely there is no peace to the wicked , Esa. 57. 21. Esay . 57. 21. Their rose buds are not withered , their dances are not done , sleepe conscience , lye still repentance , they will not prepare for death . God made garments for Adam of dead beasts skins , Genes. 3. 21. Gen. 3. 21. to put him in minde that he was condemned to dye , and to make the remembrance of death familiar vnto him , that the losse of life might not affright him , who alwayes ware the liuery of death vpon him : so we feed daily vpon dead creatures , this should teach vs to prepare to feed dumbe creatures .

Secondly , Reuel. 14. 13. because our liues are short and sinfull , it should worke in vs a willingnesse to dye . Blessed are they which die in the Lord . Reu. 14. 13. First , they are blessed in respect of the place : for if we consider the world wherein we liue , it is a vale of misery , a prison , and a place of vexation and trouble , as the Apostle saith , Rom. 8. 22. Wee know that euery creature groaneth with vs also , and trauelleth in paine together vnto this present , Rom. 18. 22. But heauen is a place of ioy , rest , and of comfort . This place is of no certaine continuance , here we haue no abiding Citty , but wee looke for one to come , Heb. 13. 14. Hebr. 13. 14. But heauen is of continuance : for the foundation thereof is God . Secondly , they are blessed in regard of their company : for here we liue among the wicked and sinfull men ▪ but there we shal enioy the company of innumerable Angles , Heb. 12. 22. Hebr. 12. 22. It was an excellent change when Dauid was called from a Sheepheard to be a King : so was it an excellent change in Saul when hee was called from seeking his fathers Asses , to be a King ; yet this is nothing in respect of their estate which are called from this world to heauen , where there is light without darknesse , wisedome without ignorance , vnderstanding without error , reason without obscuritie , memory without obliuion , and ioy without sorrow , where , whatsoeuer shall be desired , shall be present ; neither shall any thing bee desired which is not comely : where God shall be seene without end , loued without lothing , and praised without wearying . Thirdly , in regard of their condition they are blessed , for they rest from all their labours : for they which dye in the Lord , or for the Lord , are with the Lord. Paul desireth to be dissolued , and to be with Christ , Phil. 1. 23. Philip. 1. 23. Death considerd in Christ , and ioyned with a good life , is to Gods elect an aduantage , Phil. 1. 21. Philip. 1. 21. nothing else but a bridge ouer this tempestuous sea to Paradice , Gods mercy made it so ; not by making death in it selfe good , but an instrument of good to his . Why is any man vnwilling to dye ? Death doth not separate vs from God , but it maketh vs draw neere to God : then doe wee draw neere to God , when we are separated from the body . Genes. 40. 21. As Pharaohs Butler could not see the face of the king when hee was in prison , but beeing loosed from his bonds , he both saw him , and gaue the cup into Pharaohs hand , Gen. 40. 21. So as long as we are in the prison of our bodies , we cannot see the face of God ; but being loosed , we shall see God face to face , 1. Cor. 13. 12. 1. Cor. 13. 12. and enioy that vnspeakable good which God hath prepared for them that loue him . 1. Cor. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 2. 9. Hast thou feared God in life ? then do not feare death : for the sting of death is taken away by Christ , so that as hony is not truely hony when it hath lost its sweetnesse ; nor vinegar truely vinigar , when it hath lost its tartnesse ; nor Aloes truly Aloes , when it hath lost its bitternesse : so the death of the righteous is not truly death , hauing lost his sting , fearfulnesse and terrors in the godly . The dying out of this world is not a death , but a life rather , and therefore as Iulian said to Christ ; Vicisti Galilae . O Galilean , thou hast ouercome me : so may death say to them , O Christian thou hast ouercome me . Vicisti Christiane . What is death that thou fearest it ? it is a departure from this wicked world , a dissolution of the bodies of the godly from bonds , that they may be with Christ ; it is a returning to our heauenly Countrey from this pilgrimage , it is a deliuerance from the misery of the world , it is a returne from banishment to our fathers house , it is a preparation for the glory of the resurrection . Why dost thou feare death ? Death hath onely the name of death , not the sting of death . Numb. 21. 9. As the brazen serpent in the wildernesse had the forme and shape of a serpent , but not the life a serpent , nor the sting of a serpent , Num. 21. 9. So death hath the likenesse and semblance of death , but it hath no sting , it hath no venome , it hath no poyson . If a Bee sting a dead carkasse , she looseth not her sting ; but if she sting a liuing man , she looseth her sting : so death stinging vs which were as dead flesh , did not loose his sting ; but stinging Christ , he hath lost his sting : therefore we may now say ; 1. Cor. 15. 55. O death where is thy sting . 1. Cor. 15. 55. Thy sting is no sting vnto vs , but a crowne of reioycing . 1. Thess. 2. 19. 1. Thess. 2. 19. It is a Midwife to bring vs out of the wombe of this world , into the land of the liuing , Psalm. 27. 13. Psa. 27. 13. Death is as a ship wherby we faile from earth to heauen . Do not feare the graue : for thou sowest but a carnall and corruptible body , to reape an incorruptible and spirituall in the resurrection . Be willing to change drosse for gold , and corruption for incorruption . If one enemy finde fauour at another enemies hand , why should a dutiful child feare to go home to his heauenly father , a penitent soule to his sweete Sauiour , and an obedient member to be ioyned with his head ? If he came into this world to redeeme vs , why should we doubt but at our death he will receiue vs . He that accepteth his enemies , will hee reiect his friends ? He that bought vs so deere , will he refuse his penyworth ? If he affected our company so much on earth , ( as that hee sayd ) My delight is to be with the children of men , Pro. 8. 31. Hath he now so forgotten his old loue , Prou. 8. 31. as not to admit vs into his company in heauen . Hee came hither to buy vs an inheritance , and hee went from hence to prepare it for vs . Ioh. 14. 2. Iohn . 14. 2. And when wee are to enter into possession , will he exclude vs ? No , no : Psal. 32. 18. 19. The eyes of the Lord are vpon them that feare him , to deliuer their soules from death . Psalm. 116. 15. Psa. 32. 18. 19. Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints , Psal. 116. 15. Pretious , as the end of labours , as the consummation of victory , as the gate of life , and the ingresse of perfect security . Let vs remember his loue in adopting , his truth in promising , and his power in performing , and our feare of death wil soone be altered into a desire of the same . He come to open heauen gates , and what meant he , but that wee should enter in ? He came to vs on earth to innite vs to him , and why departed he from the earth , but to haue vs follow him ? He abandoneth none , but abandoned by them . Hee is easily found where hee hath been carefully sought . Well , death to the good is counted a quiet hauen , and to the bad it is counted shipwracke , The wayfaring man doth willingly demand where his mansion and stay shall be . The seruant doth often account when his yeare is ended , the husbandman doth alway expect haruest , and a woman with childe doth wait for her time of deliuery : so the seruants of God do thinke of their death , & so looke where their treasure is , Matth. 6. 21. there will their heart be also . Math. 6. 21. If a Prince should command a Beggar to cast off all his ragges , and bid him prepare himselfe to come into his presence , and liue daily in his company , would the beggar delay , or be sorry because hee shall enioy the company of a Prince ? Much lesse should wee delay , or bee sorry , when God , the Prince of Princes , calleth vs by death into his priuy chamber of heauen . Therefore let beasts , and heathen , adulterers , and murtherers feare death , because they thinke , and it is certaine , that all their ioy ends with their death ; and let not Gods children feare death , because it is an entrance into ioy , and eternall felicity in heauen .

And my age is nothing in respect of thee . Some read it age , some substance , some life ; in the originall , My time is nothing in respect of thee ; nor this life nothing in respect of the life to come . It is some thing in the eyes of men , which see onely things present ; but before God , which seeth things to come , which is eternity , which wanteth all measure , it is altogether nothing .

This teacheth vs , Doctr. that our life , how long soeuer it be , being compared with the eternity of God , is as nothing ; and worldly prosperity beeing compared with eternall felicity , is as nothing . God is infinite , and our life is finite : it were a most vnequall valuation to compare , and much more to preferre things which are in no proportion of goodnesse to the things which are vnder-valued ; for betweene temporall and eternall , heauenly and earthly things , can be no proportion . One day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares , and a thousand yeares as one day . 2. Pet. 3. 8. 2. Pet. 3. 8. I am Alpha and Omega ( saith God ) Reu. 1. 11. the first , Reuelat. 1. 11. and the last , without beginning and without end . But man had beginning , for hee was made of the dust of the earth , Gen 2. 7. Gen. 2. 7. and man shall haue an end of his time , for hee shall returne to dust , Gen. 3. 19. Gen. 3. 19. What proportion is there betweene God and man ? God is the Creator , man the creature : God is Immortall , man mortall ; God the Maker , man made by God ; God the Potter , man the vessell of earth ; God is mighty , man is weake . If persecution happen , saint not , God is mighty ; if pouerty , shrinke not , God is wealthy ; if thy conscience grieue thee , runne to God hee is mercifull ; if thy ignorance dismay thee , run to God hee is wisedome : Worldly prosperity is of short continuance , but heauenly happinesse shall continue for euer .

This serues to instruct vs to preferre the life to come before this life , Vse 1. for in the world to come there is life without death , rest without labour , health without griefe , light without darkenesse , day without night , and happinesse without end . The eye hath not seene , the eare hath not heard , neither came into mans heart , what God hath prepared for them that loue him . 1. Cor. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 2. 9. In heauen there is no sickenesse nor sorrow , Reuel. 31. 23. no crying out nor complainig . There is no neede of the Sunne , neither of the Moone to shine in it , for the glory of God did light it , and the Lambe is the light of it . 24 And the people which are saued shall walke in the light of it , and the Kings of the earth shall bring their honour and glory vnto it : 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut by day , for there shall be no night there . Reu. 21. 23. 24. 25. As God is our light heere , so hee will be in heauen , Hee is the Sun which borroweth not light from another . Hee is the Way . Ioh. 14. 6. Ioh. 14. 6. The Dore , Ioh. 10. 9. Ioh. 10. 9. The Vine , Ioh. 15. 1. Ioh. 15. 1. The liuing Bread . Ioh. 6. 51. Ioh. 6. 51. Hee is the light by participatton here , and by fruition in heauen . Our Sauiour said , I will be with you to the end of the world , Math. 28. 20. Math. 28. 20. that is , hee will be with the godly , as long as any be on earth , and hee will be with them for euer in heauen . Christ will not be light to the wicked in this life , and therefore he will be no light to them in the life to come . Hee will bee life to none that are appointed to death , nor the bread of life , to such as had rather the Onions and Garlicke of Aegypt , then Milke and Hony in the heauenly Canaan . To whom God doth giue the light of Grace heere , to them hee will giue the light of glory in heauen ; to whom hee denyeth the one , hee will neuer giue the other : If God make vs partakers of Christs Ignominy , he will make vs pertakers of his Glory .