Practical discourses concerning death and Heaven discovering the great necessity of a speedy preparation for death : with the danger of neglecting or delaying such preparations : also the excellency, glory, and happiness of Heaven opened and explained as the portion of all true believers after death / by Nathanael Ranew.

An Introduction . Practical Preparation for Death .

CHAP. I.

Of Death in general . Of the sorts and kinds of Death mentioned in Scripture . Death befalls all Men ; there is no withstanding of it , nor any priviledged from it . The time of Death urknown unto us , yet Fixed and Appointed by GOD. Death makes all equal . Sin subjects unto Death .

DEATH is a Subject every Christian should often have in his thoughts , because it is that , unto which he is lyable every moment of his Life ; neither the hearing , thinking , nor speaking of it , can therefore be unseasonable at any time : And tho' Considerations of Death to living Men , are usually most unwelcome , yet are they as profitable to promote the Interest of a Christian as any other ; for no Man can live well , till he can dye well ; and no Man is so prepared for Death , as he who frequently imploy's his Thoughts in the Consideration of his own Frailty and Mortality . Indeed Custom hath made it become almost an improper thing , either for a Minister to Preach of Death , without the Representation of a Funeral , or for one Christian to speak unto another of their Latter End , without it be in the House of Mourning , where an Example of their Mortality is before their eyes : But if the Mouths of Christians were more frequently filled with Discourses of Death and the Grave , to which all are hastening ( but know not who shall get thither soonest ) they would find such Benefit and Advantage thereby ( in the quickning and hastning their Preparations for their dissolution , that they might always be in a readiness when Death shall come ) as would infinitely make amends , either for the unaccustomariness of the Work , or whatever pains and labour they had taken with their hearts , to render them fit for the coming of their Lord .

What Death is , is as little known unto some , as it is consider'd by most ; many take it to be nothing but a Cessation of Life , and all actings in this World ; and it were well , if there were not too many to be found , who think this to be all that Death doth , and when they are thus dead there is an end of them , making themselves no better than the Beast that perisheth . Happy were it for all wicked Men , if Death were no more than this : But though Death be a Cessation of Natural Life , and so of all Natural Motion and Action , yet is it more properly a Separation between Soul and Body , whereby the Body becomes a dead unactive thing , because the Soul which is the Principle of Life and Operation hath forsaken it ; but yet Death , as it reacheth not the Soul at all , for that lives after its Separation from the Body , so it shall not for ever keep Soul and Body asunder , but only until God's appointed Time , and then shall the Body be raised again out of the Grave by the mighty Power of GOD , and united to the Soul , to live together in a state of Blessedness or Misery for ever , according to what they have both been and done together in this World , whether it be good or evil .

But because Generals do not so much affect us unto our Edification , I shall be a little more particular in my Discourse upon this Subject ; and so I shall speak something concerning Death , in a Threefold Sence , as the Scripture holds it forth unto us ; And so there is ,

I. A Death in Sin . II. A Death to Sin : And , III. A Death for Sin .

First , There is a Death in Sin ; this the Scripture mentions often , 5 John 25. The hour is coming and now is , when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God , and they that hear shall live : So 5 Ephes. 14. Awake thou that sleepest , and stand up from the dead , and Christ shall give thee Light . So let the dead bury the dead , Mat. 8.22 . This Death in Sin , consists in the want of a Principle of Spiritual Life , being the deprivation of the Life of Grace and Holiness , which is the Life of the Soul , and without which the Soul is dead . And thus all Men naturally are dead ; because they are without the Spirit of Christ , which enlivens and quickens the Soul to all Acts of Grace and Holiness , wherein this Spiritual Life doth manifest it self , as the Soul enlivens and quickens the Body unto all Acts of Nature , wherein the natural Life doth manifest it self . That all Men are thus dead in Sin , naturally is evident from Scripture , 2 Ephes. 1 , 2 , 3. The Apostle writing to the Ephesians , who by the Almighty Power of God were raised from this Spiritual Death , as he tells them in the First Verse , And you hath he quickned , who were dead in trespasses and sins , that he might beget in them a grateful Sense of God's Goodness towards them herein : He describes to them their former deplorable Condition ; Wherein , says he , in times past , ye walked according to the Course of the World , according to the Prince of the Power of the Air , the Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience : And in Ver. 3. the Apostle puts himself into the Number , Among whom , says he , we all had our Conversation in times past , in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh , and of the mind , and were by nature Children of Wrath , even as others . And then in the fourth Verse he gives them to understand , by whom they were raised out of so miserable an Estate ; But God , says he , who is rich in Mercy , for his great Love wherewith he loved us , even when we were dead in sins , hath quickned us together with Christ ; by Grace ye are saved . Now this Spiritual Death , or this Death in Sin , is the fruit and effect of our first Parents Apostacy from God , whereby we are not only deprived of the Image of God , which is the Beauty ; yea , the Life of the Soul , but are also depraved with the Image of the Devil , which is not only the Deformity of the Soul , but even as Death unto it . And because this is a Spiritual Death , and reacheth chiefly to the Soul ; it is therefore the more hurtful and dangerous , though the effects of it extends it self to the Body also , being that which is the Cause of Natural Death , for therefore the Body is a frail dying Body , because it is joyned to a sinful Soul ; but this is not all the Mischief it doth ; for this Death in Sin , unless Grace prevent , is that which ends in Eternal Death , which consists in an everlasting separation of Soul and Body from the eternal Enjoyment of God in Heaven , in whose presence there is fulness of Joy , and at whose right hand there are Pleasures for evermore .

Secondly , There is a Death to Sin ; of this we read , Rom. 6.2 . How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein ? So in 1 Pet. 2.24 . That we being dead to sin should not live any longer therein . This Death to sin consists in the Spirits indwelling in the Soul , by its sanctifying Operations , enabling the Soul to mortifie sin : Hence the Apostle tells us , Rom. 8.13 . That if through the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live . Such therefore who have felt the Efficacy of an Almighty Power from the Death of Christ , by the Operation of the Spirit , applying of it to their Souls , to break the power and strength of sin , so that it doth not reign in them , they may be said to be dead to sin , because sin is dying in them : As those Persons over whom Distempers have prevailed so far , that they have lost their bodily strength , that it cannot be recovered again , are said to be dead even while they live ; so , tho' sin still live in the godly , by reason of the Remainders of it , yet are they dead to sin , because the Power and Strength of it is abated and lessened , the Spirit of Sanctification prevailing dayly over sin , so that it doth not rule and reign as formerly it did . Thus to dye to sin , is to be made alive to God , and blessed are they that have a part in this Resurrection from the death of sin , to the life of Grace ; for on such the second Death shall have no Power .

Thirdly , There is a Death for Sin , or because of sin . Now this is Two-fold , Temporal and Eternal .

1. Temporal Death : This is contained in that merciful Threatning God gave unto Adam in Paradice , to prevent his Apostacy , Gen. 2.16 , 17. where , after God had so largely expressed his bounty and goodness unto man , in giving him liberty to eat of every Tree of the Garden , restraining him only by a Command from the Tree of Knowledge , for the Tryal of his Obedience , as Ver. 17. Of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat ; which he backs with a Threatning in the next Words : For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye . The Truth of which Threatning the Experience of all Mankind to this day , is a standing Confirmation ; so true is that of the Apostle , As by one Man sin enter'd into the World , and Death by sin ; and so Death passed upon all , for that all have sinned , Rom. 5.12 .

2. There is an Eternal Death for sin , and this follows upon the Death of the Body , consisting in the separation of Soul and Body , from the Presence and Favour of God for ever in Hell , and is in part executed on the Souls of wicked Men at Death , and perfectly upon Soul and Body at the Resurrection , when the Wicked shall be turned into Hell , and punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord , and from the glory of his Power ; which in Scripture is called the Second Death . Rev. 21.8 . Where wicked and unregenerate persons are said to have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone , which is the Second Death . This is the height and perfection of all Misery .

This now is the Substance of what is contained in this Word Death , so far as Words can explain it , which if we consider in all the forementioned Sences , it is that which we cannot comprehend ; all that hath been said of it , is but like the painting of the fire to the eye , which expresseth not the pain and anguish that is in it , unto the Senses : For if we understand by Death , a Temporal , Spiritual and Eternal Death , I may allude to what the Psalmist saith of the Power of God's Anger , Who knows the Power of thine Anger ? So who knows the dreadfulness of the Horror and Pain that is contained in thee O Death , according to our Fear of thee ? So , yea , and much greater , is the Misery which the wrath of God by thee inflicts upon all those that live and dye in their sins .

But though Death be thus terrible , yet is it the more common acceptation of it , that chiefly affects the generality of Mankind ; for , as for Spiritual Death , or Death in sin , because of the present pleasures and Delights which bewitch the Senses ; this they are insensible of : And as for Eternal Death , that is looked upon by many as a Dream , or Notion , as a thing that may never be , or if among some it be credited for a Truth , yet is it looked upon as that which is a great way off ; and if the terror of it doth startle the Consciences of some , yet are they soon quieted with such thoughts as these , Christ dyed for all , and God is a merciful God ; and so they hope all shall be well with them .

But now for Temporal Death , which consists in the separation of the Soul from the Body ; this is so much Death to them , that they think there is no other but that , at least , they apprehend none so prejudicial to them This is a Truth so evident , that which way soever they go or turn , objects of Mortality present themselves before their eyes in the Death of Friends , Relations , and others , whereby the reigning Power of Death over all is visible , sweeping away all Men before it into the Grave , the place of silence and rottenness ; yea , themselves are not without some symtoms of their approaching dissolution , diseases and distempers , as well as business and employments , wasting and consuming their bodies dayly , whereby they may be convinced that they also are made of the same Mould , and must shortly be crumbled into the same Dust with others . Thus Death meeting with them so often , and staring them so frequently in their faces , gives them to understand that there is no way for them to escape its stroke , the thoughts whereof cannot but now and then make them fear and tremble .

But though nothing be more certain than Death , yet nothing is more uncertain than the Time of Death : For though all shall dye , yet all do not dye at the same time , nor after the same manner : To some God gives long Warning , Nature wasting and consuming in them by lingring Distempers ; with others God is more quick , shooting them with an Arrow as it were , and suddenly they are wounded unto Death and Destruction ; Some their hoary Heads are found in the Way of Righteousness , and they come to their Graves in a good old Age ; others arise early to that height of Impiety , that the Earth groans under the burthen of their great Wickedness ; and God is so provoked thereby , that he causeth the Earth to swallow them up quick ; to some the Promise of Long Life , made for an Encouragement to Obedience and Holy Walking , is turned into a Performance , God satissying them with length of days , and then leaves them to depart in peace , shewing them his Salvation ; others God cuts off in the midst of their days , and of their sins also , and they go down quick into the Grave , and into Hell too . Though the days of a good Man , at the most are but few , yet because of some special Goodness , they are often prolonged : so though the days of a wicked Man at the most are but few , yet because of some special Wickedness they are often shortned : The Wise Man proves this Assertion , Prov. 10.27 . The fear of the Lord prolongeth , or adds to days , but the days of the wicked shall be shortned . As every Man because he is a Sinner shall live but few days ; so some shall not live half their days , because they are Notorious Sinners . The short of it is this , Death doth not always give Warning , how many rise in the Morning , that make their Beds in the Grave before the Evening ? How many go well to Bed at Night , whose Sleep is their Death , and they arise no more until the Morning of the Resurrection ? How often have we seen many projecting for themselves and theirs , great things in the World , laying house to house , and land to land , that with the Fool in the Gospel , they might eat , drink & be merry for many year , when on a sudden , or in that very Night their souls have been taken from them ? To presume therefore of Long Life , and thereupon to neglect to prepare for Death , is the great 〈◊〉 piece of Folly imaginable ; for scarce is 〈…〉 Week passeth over our heads , wherein we may not hear of some or other that are suddenly gone into another World , and that which hath been the Case of others may be ours also . It is the sad Condition of a wicked Man , let him dye how and when he will , he dies miserably ; if Death cut him off suddenly , then he goes down quick into Hell , that Gulf of all Woe and Misery : If Death gives him long Warning by a succession of many years distempers , yet all this while he doth but pine away in his Iniquity , and encreaseth his Misery when Death shall cut him off , and throw him into that place of Torment , the pain and anguish whereof is so great , that it cannot be sufficiently expressed , no not by them that feel it But now it is the happiness of a godly Man , let him dye never so suddenly , yet he always dyes happily , because he is in a state of Peace and Reconciliation with God ; it is true , he may dye without a sence and feeling of that Peace , and so his passing thorow the Valley of the Shadow of Death may be terrible to him , but still God is with him ; and though the eye of his Faith be held , so that he cannot discern him to be his God , though his Rod and his Staff do not comfort him , yet they do support and strengthen him , and as soon as Death hath opened his eyes , he beholds the face of God to his everlasting joy and satisfaction . Doth Death then come certainly , and sometimes suddenly ? It is thy Wisdom , O Christian , always to be prepared for it , and then let it come when it will , tho' this Night , thou maist bid it welcome .

But as Mans Life is short and frail , so is his Death sure and certain , for it is the common lot 〈◊〉 Men. Man , saith Job , that is all Men , are good 〈◊〉 dye ; it is the way of all the Earth , it is the end of all Men. Who is he that lives and shall not see Death ? No Man can redeem his Brothers , no nor his own Life from Death ; that he should still live for ever and not see Corruption , such a sufficient Ransome no man can give to God : Christ is indeed become a Ransome for Believers , but it is to deliver them not from the first , but from the second Death ; for as to the first Death , it is appointed unto all Men once te dye . Some have a longer time in this world , and others a shorter , but all dye ; one goes before , and another follows after ; one Man rots in the Grave and makes it empty , that he which is yet alive , may have a place to lye down therein . We all dwell in houses of clay , whose foundations are in the dust , which will shortly tumble down into it . Earthly Tabernacles we have that must be dissolved , and laid in the Earth ; here we have no abiding place : Death and the Grave will shortly take all , for all go to one place , all are of the dust , and all turn to dust again , Eccles. 3.20 . Some are sent before , and others follow after , but all go the same way ; some have a long Race to run , others but a short , but Death is at the end of both . To him that is old Death is certainly near , and to him that is young , Death is not far off : He that dyes not till he is old , travels a long way before he meets with Death ; whereas he that dyes young hath but a short way to his long home , Death meeting him betimes ; but still whither young or old , all must dye , the decree is gone forth , and there is no reversing of it . There is an appointed time to Man upon Earth , as Job speaks , and when that is expired , Death cuts him off and throws him into the Grave , the house appointed for all living . Death is inexorable , it spares none , and the Grave is in atiable , it is not satisfied with any , when it hath the Husband , it gapes for the Wife ; when it hath the Parent , it gapes for the Child ; when it hath one Generation , it gapes for another ; one Generation passeth away , and another Generation cometh , and the latter crowds the former out of the world . No Man hath a dispensation against Death , there must be a dissolution of all things , and therefore , a dissolution of all Men.

No Man hath more Priviledge than another against the Sentence of Death ; the greatest Prince dyes as soon as the meanest Peasant : Neither Power , nor Wisdom ; neither Strength nor Riches , neither Beauty nor Honour , nor any outward Excellency whatsoever , can protect any against the stroke of Death ; these things can do much among Men , yea every thing , but they avail not against Death , powerful Death despiseth them all . Power can do nothing to ward off the stroke of Death from any ; where is Alexander , and Casar , and all the Great Conquerors of the World ; why they and all their Greatness and Power are gone down into the Grave ; and after all their Conquests over others , have yielded themselves up as conquered by Death . There is no Title can be given unto Man , which sets him farther off from Death , than to call him God , and this high Title God himself hath honoured , some Men with , Psal. 82.6.7 . I said ye are Gods , but least they should be lifted up with Pride ; with the same Breath he adds an humbling Consideration to take down all proud and lofty Thoughts , but ye shall dye like Men. Kings and Princes that are the greatest for worldly Power , and have the priviledge to be called Gods , yet have they not the priviledge of God , not to dye like men .

No Mans Wisdom can save him from dying , Death will be too hard for the most cunning Politician : Wisdom is an excellent Gift of God , and renders a Person lovely in the Eyes of all , it makes a mans face to shine ; it sets a Glory and Beauty upon a Mans Person and Actions ; a Man can hardly give a greater Commendation of any Man , than to say he is a Wise Man ; and yet of Solomon , not only the wisest of Kings , but the wisest of Men ; it is said , than he stept with his Fathers , as well as others ; and though he tells us Wisdom excells Folly , as far as Light excells Darkness ; yet we know wise men dye , as well as the foolish and bruitish person : We read indeed of a poor Wise Man , that by his Wisdom delivered a City ; but we never read of any that by their Wisdom delivered themselves or others from Death no , for as there is no work , no levise in the Grave whither we are going ; so is there no Knowledge or Wisdom that can keep a man from going into the Grave , Eccless . 9.10 .

No Man by his strength can overcome Death : Bodily health and strength are no defence at all against Death : It is true , they are great Mercies where God gives them unto any , a sickly weakly Man is burthensome to himself and others , though God heaps upon him other Mercies in abundance , as Wealth , Honours and Relations , yet he takes little delight in them , the want of Health imbitters all ; whereas a Man that is hcalthful and strong , takes delight in every Comfort and Enjoyment , though it be even poor and mean in comparison of what others have : but though health and strength be so great a Mercy , yet can they not withstand the Power of Death , they may make a man dye with strong pains upon his bed , but they cannot defend him against Death . If God bestow upon any of us a strong healthy Body , it is a great Mercy , and we ought to be thankful for it , but we may be soon laid in the Grave for all that . Death should not be a stranger to us , because sickness and distempers are strange things to us , for we have not long Life , much less can we escape the stroke of Death , because we are bealthy and strong , for in the fullness of our strength we may be in Death ; one dyeth in the fullness of his strength , when his Bones are full of Marrow : As for the strength of any Man , though he be a Sampson , yet this great Leviathan Death counts it but as straw , and the soundest and purest health , but as rotten wood . David complains that the Sons of Zerviah were too hard for him . But there are none such that are too hard for Death ; Death stays not to take men at advantage , when they are weakned with age and sickness , as Simeon and Levy did the Schecemites when they were sore , Gen. 34.25 . No Death can do its work as easily and as speedily in health as in sickness , in strength as under weakness .

No man by his Riches can protect himself against Death ; all the Riches in the world are too low a Value to ransome any from Death and the Grave . Solomon tells us , Money answers all things ; and indeed rich Men can do great things by their Wealth ; many seek the favour of such , their Riches make them many Friends : The Wise Man tells us , The rich mans wealth is his strong City , Prov. 18.11 . by reason whereof they trust to their Wealth , and boast themselves in the multitude of their Riches , thinking they are well provided for against all Evils : What made the rich Man in the Gospel else so confidently say to his Soul , Thou bast Goods laid up for many years , eat , drink and be merry : But Death would not be put off so , for that Night was his Soul taken from him , notwithstanding all his great Possessions . It is in vain to cry out on a Death Bed with that wretched Cardinal Beauford in Henry the Sixth Time , Wherefore should I dye being rich , will not Death be bribed ? Will Money do nothing ? No truly it cannot ; for as Riches profit not in the day of Wrath to pacifie the Justice of an angry God ; so neither will they profit in the day of Death to bribe that King of Terrors .

Beauty , is another outward Excellency that many glory in ; and indeed it is a great Ornament , a Gift of GOD and no small one , it is a taking thing . We delight in things that are beautiful : Beauty to some is a Portion among men , to others a favour from God . It is a silent Eloquence , a tacite Perswasion , and works much upon some : What is said of the Church , Psal. 45.11 . So shall the King greatly desire thy Beauty ; I know it is spoken there of Spiritual Beauty , the Graces of the Spirit of God , which beautifie and adorn the Church in the eyes of Christ ; for it is said the KING's Daughter is all glorious within : But yet it is true also in some me sure of outward Corporeal Beauty , it is a desireable thing , and may duly be an attractive of Love ; it is that which draws the Eyes and Hearts of many , tho' often it is an incentive to Lust , both to great Men and to good Men. Solomon loved strange Women , the Scripture saith , and they turned away his heart from God ; and having smarted severely for it , as a fruit of the sincerity of his Repentance , and to prevent so great wickedness in others he hath left us many Excellent Cautions and Counsels in Sacred Writ , against the ensnaring Temptations and powerful Charms of Beauty But though Men are deluded and deceived by beautiful Objects and Persons , yet Death is not : A beautiful Face is as mortal , and as soon , yea sooner many times turned into duct and corruption , than a face that is deformed . Death regards a goodly well favoured Joseph or Absolom , no more than a leprous Vzziah or Gebazi ; nor doth it spare a beautiful Rachel more than a blear ey'd Leah : Favour is deceitful , and Beauty is vain in this respect , for they profit none in a dying hour ; the beautifulest Person , and the most lovely Complexion is quickly turned into Paleness and Corruption , when once the time of their dissolution is come ; Death soon making those , that for their Beauty and Comeliness were most admired by others become most loathsome and intolerable , and they most desirous with Abraham to bury such dead out of their sight .

By what hath been said , it appears that all Men , notwithstanding all their great Attainmen's in Worldly Excellences , are not exempted from dying : And as no outward , so no inward-Excellency and Perfection can priviledge any from Death , no not Grace it self Grace is as Salt to the Soul to preserve it from Moral Corruption for ever , but it cannot preserve the Body from Natural Corruption in this World : In Heaven , where there shall be nothing but Grace and Holiness in the Soul in perfection , there , there shall be no dying ; but here on Earth , where Grace is insperfect , being mingled with Sin and Corruption , there is a necessity of dying . Death is become domestical to us , we have the Seed of it within us , we carry it daily in our bosoms ; I mean in the body of Sin , as the Apostle calls it ; that we carry about with us , which will never be extirpated and destroyed till the death of the body .

All our Prayers and Tears cannot prevent Death . Prayer can do great things , to instance in particulars of its Prevalency would be endless . Our Lord himself tells us . That whatever we ask the Father in his Name he will give it us , John 16.23 . That is an Astonishing Scripture . Esay 45.11 . Thus saith the Lord , The Holy One of Israel , and his Maker , Ask me of things to come , concerning my Sons , and concerring the Works of my hands command ye me . As if , saith one , God was as ready to do them service , as if they had him at their Command . There is a kind of Omnipotency in Prayer , and therefore it is said of Jacob , that as a Prince he had power with God , and prevailed , Gen. 32.28 . And the Apostle tells us , The effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man availeth much ; how much the Apostle could not tell us , but leaves it to every one to make Observations from their own Experience . But though Prayer can do such great things , yet it cannot prevent Death : We read indeed that the Prayer of Faith doth save the Sick ; but though it can even restore from a sick-bed , yet it cannot raise from a Death-bed . Nay , Christ himself hath not so Redeemed us that we should live for ever , and not see Corruption ; he hath Redeemed us that we shall live for ever in Heaven , but he hath not Redeemed us that we should live for ever on Earth and not dye ; no , it was the Priviledge of Jesus Christ the Redeemer , that he should not see Corruption , and therefore of him only it is said , Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell , nor suffer thy Holy One to see Corruption .

But may some say , this necessity of dying seems not to be unalterably imposed upon all Men ; for some have lived who never dyed ; and some shall live hereafter that shall not dye .

I Answer : It is true , the Scripture makes mention of Two , and but Two , that lived here o● Earth , and by special Grace and Favour were exempted from Death , ascending up unto God , leaping over Death and the Grave as it were in their passage to Heaven , and they are Enoch and Elias concerning Enoch , it is said , That by Faith he wa● transtated , that he should not see Death , Heb. 11 . 5● He was a Person eminent for Holiness ; for it is said , That he walked with God three hundred years and obtained this Testimony before his Translation● that he pleased God , Gen. 5.22 . And being such an Eminent Proficient in Grace , as that there wa● none that we read of like him at that time ; he obtained such Grace and Favour from God , as none did ; for it is said , He walked with GOD , and he was not , for GOD lock him . O the Excellency of Grace and Holiness , how highly doth it ennable and advance a Man ! Enoch walked with God , and God thinks the Earth not good enough for him , and therefore he takes him to himself into Beaven ; nay , this is not all , so much was God taken with the Holiness of Enoch , that he shall not go to Heaven in the ordinary way as other Saints do by Death , but he shall be translated from Grace to Glory without so much as looking into the Grave . The like we read of Elias another eminent and zealous Servant of God , 2 King . 2.23 . That he was taken up in a siery Chariot by a Whirl-wind into Heaven . So great was his Zeal for God and his Glory , and so highly did God esteem it , and him for it , that he must not abide any longer on Earth , but be taken up into Heaven , and that in no other way , but by a fiery Chariot ; a Passage to Heaven that did bear some Resemblance to his Zeal for God while he was here on Earth . The Apostle also tells us , 1 Cor. 15.51 . That at the last Day we shall not all dye , but we shall all be changed ; and 1 Thes. 4.17 . We that are alive , and remain , shall be caught up with him in the Clouds to meet the Lord , and so shall we be ever with the Lord . These Exceptions of some few that have not dyed , nor shall not dye , do not at all make void this general Truth that all shall dye , but rather make for the Confirmation of it . The general Rule or Law saith , all must dye , none escape but by special Grace or Priviledge ; and though the Saints that shall be found on Earth at the Resurrection of the dead , dye not , yet they shall undergoe that which is equivalent unto Death , for they shall be changed . Death is call'd a Change ; so saith Job , All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change shall come : And they that are alive at the Last Day , undergoe a Change also : The Change of Death is a putting off of our Mortality , but the Change at the Last Day , is a putting on of our Immortality ; The one is a Change by being uncloathed , the other is a Change by being cloathed upon , but both is a Change : And thus all dye , or shall be changed .

By what hath been said , it is very evident , That Death befalls all men one time or other , sooner or later . But for the Manner , how , or the Time when any shall dye , this is unknown unto any . The Living may and do know that they shall dye , but they know not when they shall dye . What our Lord saith of the day of Judgment , is true of the day of Man's Death ; of that day and hour knoweth no Man . Many a Man hath been mistaken concerning the purpose of God ; I said says David , in my prosperity , that I shall never be moved , but he was mistaken ; for he adds in the next words almost , But thou didst hide thy face , and I was troubled . Much more may we be mistaken concerning the Time of our Death . I said , says Hezekiah , in the cutting off of my days , I shall go to the gates of the Grave ; I shall not see the Lord , even the Lord in the Land of the Living : I shall no more behold man with the Inhabitants of the World Good Hezekiah thought there was no way for him to escape Death , but he was mistaken ; for afterwards he tells us , God had in Love to his Soul , delivered it from the Pit of Corruption , and he Lived fifteen Years longer after he had given himself over for dead . A Man may have the Sentence of Death in himself , when as to that particular time , God hath given out none against him : So on the other hand , the Rich Man in the Gospel reckons not of Death till many years hence , and he is very liberal to his Soul , because God had been bountiful to his Body ; he had got a great Stock of Riches , and he gives himself a rich stock of Time , even many years , he resolves to make his Life larger , as he had done his Barns ; and because they are full of Corn , he also will be full of Days ; whereas the Word came out against him from God , Thou Fool , this night shall thy Soul be taken from thee , and he that before resolved to Live many years , could not now Live till the next Morning . It is our Wisdom always to be prepared for Death , but it s more than belongs to us peremptorily to determine the Time of our Death , or the Length of our Days .

But though the Time of our Death be unknown to us , yet is it known to , and fixed by God , he hath determined , not only the Time when , but also the Place where , and the Manner how we shall dye , with all the Circumstances relating thereunto . It is God that turns up the Giass of our Time , and puts such a Measure of Sand into it , and no more ; such a Measure , that it may and shall run so long , and no more ; that it shall run no longer than his Appointment . God speaking after the manner of Men , is said in Scripture to have a Book , wherein is written down , not only the Number of our Sins , but also the Number of our days ; and as we cannot commit a Sin but it is written down in some Leafe of his Book ; so can we not live a day , or hour , that hath not our Name written down upon it in Gods Book . That some have the Time of Life confined only to the dark Cell of the Womb , and never see the Light ; that others are strangled in the place of breaking forth of Children , and are only Causes of Grief to them that bear them : that others dy● in their Infancy , without the Knowledge of good or evil , and leave only sad Remembrances to their Parents , that once they were ; that others grow up to years of Discretion , but are cut off in the prime of their days . and in their full strength ; and that others live to extream old Age , till Nature is wholly spent and consumed in them : All this is from the Appointment of God ; they all fill up the Number of those Days , and the measure of that Time , that God hath allotted to them , and then they depart according to his Will. How many have we seen cast upon sick beds , whom God hath there visited with strong pains , bringing them so low , that their Lives seem'd to be brought unto the Grave , and themselves numbred with them that go down into the Pit , free among the dead , and as the slain that lye in the Grave , given over by themselves , and all others for such ; and yet even these God hath raised up again , shewing Wonders as it were to the dead , as the Psalmist speaks , causing them to arise , and praise his Name . What 's the Reason of all this ? Why God's appointed Time was not come , and so Diseases could have no further Power over them : And what is true of Sickness , is as true of Men , who are but like Diseases , Executioners of God's Decree upon Man ; even they have no Power to lengthen Life , or to hasten Death , but what is given them from above . God hath not only set us the bounds of our Habitations , but the bounds of our Living also . Job speaks much to the stating and determining of this Case , Job . 7.1 . Is there not an appointed Time to Man upon Earth : Now in an Appointment of God , there must be a Certainty , or else we make him like unto a mortal Man , that is changeable , which cannot be . Therefore Man having an appointed Time by God upon Earth , he must reach to it , and he cannot go beyond it : But Job further explains it in the next Words , Are not his days as the days of an Hireling ? Now an Hireling is one that hath days or time prefixed or set , which he must fulfil , and then he is discharged from his Employment : And so it is with Man , God hath set him his Time , which when he hath accomplished , Death by God's Appointment comes and dischargeth him from his Work ; so in Job 14.5 . Job tells us , Mans days are determined , the number of his months are with thee , thou hast appointed his bounds , beyond which he cannot pass . And all the days of my appointed Time , saith he , will I wait till my Change shall come . Mans Life is appointed and fixed by God , his days are determined by him : We know not how long we shall live , but God doth ; he gives us out our days and our months by Tale , the number of his months are with thee . Whatever Man is Lord of , he is not Lord of his Time . We cannot dispose of one minute for our selves or others . We live not by our own Wills , if we did , who would dye ? Nor do we live at the Will of others , for who of us then would live , or at least ●ive long ? But we live at the Will of God , Tenants we are at his Will , he gives us the Lease of our Lives , and for what Years he pleaseth ; He is Lord of Time , and therefore he hath Power to appoint to one man a greater , to another man a lesser measure of Time , as seems good unto him . David therefore , when his Enemies were taking Counsel against him to take away his Life , bears up his Spiris with this as a comfortable Consideration , My Times are in thy hands O Lord , Psal. 31 15. The Jews we know design'd the Death of Christ a long time , but they could not accomplish it , till his hour was come , and therefore when he was brought before Pilate to be judged , says Pilate to him , Knowest thou not that I have Power to Crucify thee , and have Power to release thee ; No , says Christ , thou hast no such Power of thy self , neither couldst thou have any such Power , except it were given thee from above . What Christ said of himself , is true of every Man , he lives not after , nor dyes before his hour is come : Our Friends cannot lengthen our days , nor can our Enemies shorten them ; no , it is God that holds our Souls and Lives in being , and when he pleaseth , and not before , we return unto our Dust. God hath determined our days to us , and God keeps the reckoning of our days for us ; and if , as our Lord tells us , That a Sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father , and that the very hairs of our heads are all numbred : Surely then the days of our Lives are numbred . The hairs of the head are the meanest part of us , and indeed but a stringy Excrement , and there are such numerous multitudes of them , that it is a kind of a Wonder that they can be numbred , or any Account kept of them , but yet to shew that the Providence of God extends its self to the least things , it extends to the numbring of our hairs , much more than to the numbring of our days : But.

Though Death observes the Order and Appointment of God , yet it observes no Order among men : It fears none for their greatness , nor spares none for their goodness , nor despiseth any for their lowness . Though Christians are Souldiers , and in a continual Warfare with their Spiritual Enemies , obeying the Commands of the Captain of their Salvation while they live , yet do they observe no Order , nor keep to any Rule in dying . The Old go not always before the Young , nor the Rich before , and the Poor following after . Death hath no Master of Ceremonies , but it takes promiscuously , here a Child , and there a Man ; here a Rich Man , and there a Beggar ; here a strong Man , and there a weak Man ; here a Master , and there a Servant . The Law of Nature saith , that a Man in his full strength is not so likely to dye , as one that is wither'd with Old Age ; it sets Death further off from one whose breasts are full of milk , and their bones moistened with marrow . The Law of Nature saith , O Death , go to the wrinkled face , to the dry bones , to those , the Infirmities and Weaknesses of whose Age are so many and so afflictive , that they seem to have no Pleasure in their Lives , but are desirous of thy presence and company , O Death , for their ease and relief ; But O meddle not with this g●odly young Man , or that beautiful Woman , alas , they are but now in the flower of their days , and in the prime of their years , and therefore spare them . But Death will not Answer nor Regard these Requests ; for Death observes not the Law of Nature , but the Appointments of God , who is the Lord of Nature . We see it therefore daily , Death knocks as often at the young Man's door , as at the old Man's ; and as frequently carries the strong and healthful Man Prisoner to the Grave , as the weak and sickly .

And as there is no Order observed in Death , so is there none in the Grave . Death and the Grave are the two great Levellers of Mankind . While Men live , there is , and there ought to be distinctions among them , God hath appointed it so , and Men ought to observe it , acknowledging the power and greatness of those that are in high Places : For as the Scripture observes , as there is one Glory of the Sun , and another Glory of the Moon , and another Glory of the Stars , for one Star differeth from another Star in Glory , 1 Cor. 15. and 41. And as there is difference in the Celestial Glories , so also is there in the Terrestrial ; there is a Glory belonging unto Kings , there is a Glory belonging unto Noble-Men , and a Glory belonging unto Common People ; all have not , nor ought to have the same Glory , but one Man differs from another Man in Glory . But when Death comes , there is an end of all these distinctions ; the Grave mingles the Dust and Pones of the one with the other : We cannot there distinguish the rich Man's Dust , from the poor Man's ; nor the Bones of Kings , from those of their lowest Subjects . Rich Men indeed descend with greater Pomp into the Grave , and are buried in more eminent Places , and under more stately Monuments . But though great Men's Tombs differ from their Inferiours , yet their Bones do not ; but the Worms feed upon all alike . While Men walk upon this Dust , their distances are many ; but when they lie down in the Dust , they are all alike . Civil Differences then all cease , and Moral Differences only take place ; and according as Men have been or done , good or evil here , so shall they be differenced for ever hereafter .

If it be demanded now , how Man came to be notal ;

I answer , Not by Creation ; for he was created , as in a holy , so in a deathless State . Immortality was a part of God's Image at first imprinted upon Man . God's Image being defaced by Sin , Mortality took place . Man never had an Impossibility not to die , but he had a possibility not to die , and that was the State of Man's Immortality . In his State of Innocency , his Life was made as long as his Obedience . In God's dealing with our first Parents , he back'd his Command with the threatning of Death , Gen. 2.17 . Of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat ; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die . Our first Parents disobeyed this most righteous and equitable Command of God , and thereby brought Death upon themselves and all their Posterity : For though God formed Man , as the Holy Story tells us , out of the Dust of the Earth ; yet so long as Man stood , he never said , to Dust thou shalt return ; but only put in a supposition or threatning , that in case he did fall , he should surely die . But when by Sin he had fallen from God , then he hears what he must be , Dust thou art , and unto Dust thou shalt return . So that the Justice of God stands engaged to inflict Death upon every Transgressour . And to this the Apostle ascribes it , Rom. 5.12 . By Sin Death entered into the World , and so Death passed upon all , because all have sinned . Death therefore seizeth upon us not as we are Men , but as we are Sinners . To die , is a penalty inflicted upon Man for Sin . If Man had not sinned , he had not been under a necessity of dying ; but by sinning , he became mortal . Sin therefore is not only the Sting of Death , but the Cause of Death : It is that which gives it not only its Terror , but it s very Being ; and therefore it is somewhat remarkable , that among all the Creatures in the World Man only is termed mortal . It is certain other Creatures decay and perish as well as Man ; yet among all perishing things Man only hath the wretched Denomination of being mortal , and there is good Reason for it ; since he alone of all perishing things , being created immortal , voluntarily subjected himself unto Death , and by his own default brought upon himself the Name of Mortal , as a brand of perpetual Infamy .

CHAP. II.

Thoughts of Death ought to be laid to heart by all . It is a Christian's great Wisdom , and ought to be his greatest care to provide for Death . The great folly and danger of neglecting or delaying such Preparations upon hopes of long life . Sickness a very unfit time for such a work . Men very prone to put off thoughts of Death and Preparation for it , with the Reasons thereof . Time short , though long enough for our great work , if diligently improved . Excellent Effects that the Consideration of our latter end would produce . It is a very comfortable thing to have all things set right between God and the Soul before a dying hour . Time ought therefore to be valued , and our days wisely to be numbered .

THough the Life of Man be very short , frail . and uncertain ; though Death hath nothing of a peradventure in it , but is that which will most certainly over-take all Men ; none being able to withstand it , nor any priviledged against it . Yet how strangely besotted are the generality of Men in putting far from them this evil day ; as if because God hath not told them the exact time when they shall die , they were not bound to take any notice that they shall die ? But doubtless this is as great a piece of Folly as most we can be guilty of : For why doth God so often visit us with Pains and Distempers upon our Bodies , which threaten Death ? Why are we so frequently called to the house of Mourning , to accompany others unto their long home ? Is it not that hereby we might reflect upon our own Mortality with the most serious thoughts , by beholding the Death of others ? Doubtless much of a Christian's Life , should be spent in the thoughts of Death , and in a right numbring of his days , so as to lay to heart his latter end : It is not that which should be forced upon us by some unexpected Providence of God , in snatching some away out of the World by some sudden stroke , by the hearing whereof we are amazed , and by whose Funeral the thoughts of Death force themselves into our Minds , but we should make it the Matter of our daily Meditation , the thoughts of which we should accustom ourselves unto ; and that not only when with old Barzillai we have not long to live , when by Reason of Age our Strength is departed , when Infirmities and Distempers upon us are so many , that we can taste no sweetness in any outward Enjoyments ; but even with Joseph of Arimathea , who made his Sepulchre in his Garden a place of Pleasure : so should we in the midst of all our Delights and Recreations , and when we are best able to relish what sweetness there is in them ; even then should we check all such Inclinations in us by accustoming our Minds unto the frequent , serious , awful thoughts of our latter end . For this we have the practice of our blessed Lord , who when he was transfigured before his Disciples , the Glory whereof was so great , that St Peter's weak Eyes were not able to behold it ; yet he then thought no Subject so fit to be discoursed of , as that of his Death which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem , Luk. 9.31 . It is therefore a wicked Proverb that is frequent in the Mouths of many , They thought not of such a thing no more than they thought of their dying Day . Alas poor foolish Man , what , not think of thy dying day ? Dost thou know what thou sayest ? Is the day of thy Death of no more Concernment to thee than so ? What , not so much as to think of it ? Dost thou not know , Oh vain , trifling Man that thy dying day will be to thee the beginning of a state of Happiness that shall never cease , or an entrance on a state of Misery that shall never know an end ? And what , is it not worth thy bestowing a thought upon it ? For Shame , O foolish Man , ( for I scarce know how to call thee , Christian , ) thy talk is so profane , and thy Life so loose , that it savours little of Christianity ; to be sure not of the power of Godliness , if thy ways be according to thy Words . It is said of the Old World , that they eat , they drank , they married , and were given in Marriage until the day that Noah entred into the Ark , and they knew it not , till the Flood came and swept them away . What , was the Old World destroyed , because they knew not of the coming of the Flood ? No , Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness , and doubtless he had told them of it many a time ; but yet , it is said , they knew it not till the Flood swept them away ; that is , they knew it not , so as to consider , and make Provision against the Deluge came ; so they knew it not . So is it now with many in this Case ; they are not undone eternally , by not knowing they shall die ; for there are none how profane and Atheistical soever , but will own that they must die ; but this ruines them for ever , that they consider it not so as to make timely provision for a dying hour .

The Care and Wisdom of a Christian discovers it self much by his Preparations for Death . The Prudence of a Man appears in nothing more than in making a good choice for himself : Now there are two Estates that do abide all Men , a State of Happiness in Heaven , and a State of Misery in Hell ; and these are both of them eternal . Life is the time of our choice ; Death , which comes at the close of our days , discovers what our choice hath been : The daily Improving of our Time in the preparing our Souls for our Dissolution , is a good Evidence of a wise and happy choice . Job complains of some that die without Wisdom ; the Reason is , because they live not wisely , that is , they do not with Care and Wisdom prepare themselves for Death . This Wisdom is wanting in most Men ; in regard whereof we may say of them , as the Psalmist , Psal 49.20 . Man that is in honour , and understandeth not , is like the Beasts that perish : That is , though in their Lives they be Men of great Honour and Excellency ; yea , though wiser in their Generation , as our Lord speaks , than the Children of Light : Yet they perish like a Beast ; for he that dies unpreparedly , dies foolishly . For the Wisdom of a Man discovers it self much in serious Meditations of , and diligent Preparations for his great Change . This was that which God so passionately wish'd for his People of old , Deut. 32.29 . Oh that my people were wise that they understood this , that they would consider their latter end . And the truth of it is , it is a great piece of Wisdom , and a high attainment in a Christian , with Care and Prudence to consider of and prepare for his latter end ; yea , so great is it , that it is too wonderful to be gained by Art or Study , we must get it upon our knees by Prayer . Holy David therefore , as one convinced , both how necessary and profitable this Wisdom would be ; and being sensible also of his own inability for to attain it , makes it his earnest Prayer unto God , that he would instruct him herein , Psalm 39.4 . Lord , make me to know mine end , and the measure of my days , what it is that I may know how frail I am . As if he had said , Lord , I have taken this and that and the other thing into my thoughts ( for possibly his mind had been in the dust , and he had been handling the Clay , out of which he was taken ) yet by all these Considerations of the Natural Constitutions of my Body , and my Subjection thereby unto Death , and the Grave , being a poor feeble Creature , I cannot bring my Heart to be so thoroughly sensible of my frailty as I ought : Lord , therefore do thou make me to know it . The same Holy desire we find breathed out , by Moses , in Psalm 90.12 . So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts unto Wisdom : as if he had said , Lord , I have been at the work my self , I have endeavoured to number my days , to count over the time of my life , but by what I can do , I cannot tell how long or how short my life will be ; it is true I can tell to threescore or fourscore years , which usually is the longest term of Man's life , and I can tell no farther , but yet for all that I cannot apply my heart unto Wisdom ; this I must have from thee ; therefore , O Lord , teach me . Though we need but little Arithmetick to number our days Naturally , yet we need a great deal of Grace to number them Spiritually . Dying is a great work , and requires great care and circumspection . We can die but once ; how careful should we be then that we die well ? Man had need be very exact in doing that which he cannot do a second time , and such is the work of Dying . An Errour in Death is like an Errour in War , which we cannot commit twice . O what Reason have we then to be careful that we do not Err at all , where it is impossible of Erring again ? Actually to Err twice , is more sinful , but not to have a possibility of Erring twice is most dangerous . We transgress the Laws of living a thousand times over , but the Laws of dying , no Man ever transgress'd a second time . And that we so often transgress the Laws of Living is an aggravation of sin upon all Men ; and that we can transgress the Laws of Dying but once is the Seal of Misery upon most Men. How should we then cry unto God for Wisdom to make us careful always to live so that we may be prepared for a dying hour ?

If now the Wisdom of a Christian consists in making preparations for Death , then those Persons are guilty of great folly and run desperate hazards who upon hope of long life , neglect such Preparations . Yet if a Minister in a great Congregation should go from Man to Man , and ask them whether they are prepared to die , would not , must not most , if they will speak the Truth , be forced to say they are not ? if upon this you deal faithfully with them , and shew your selves a true Friend to their Souls , laying before them , their great folly and danger herein , by such Strong and Powerful Convictions that their Consciences are forced to yield to you , and themselves brought with Tears to confess their foolishness ; hereupon what Resolutions do they take up , and what Promises do they make , binding their Souls to God by many Vows , witnessed with many Prayers and Tears , that they will make it the business of their Lives for the time to come , to prepare for Death : but alas , how soon do these seemingly strong Resolutions die and come to nothing ? and Death that under those Convictions they feared was ready to seize upon them every moment , is now as far from their Persons they hope , as he is from their thoughts . He threatens them not as formerly , and therefore they fear him not as formerly . Distempers of Body which sometimes frighted them into an awe and fear of Death are now departed from them , and so is Death with them , at least as to their Apprehensions . They have now a Healthful strong Constitution of Body , and what doth this Prognosticate but long Life and many days yet to come they hope ? Doth not the Word of God say that the Age of Man is Threescore years and Ten , and many times by Reason of Strength , which they feel no want of , it is Fourscore ; and for their parts they have not lived above Thirty or forty years as yet , and therefore surely they have a great deal of time still to come , and then they will bethink themselves of dying , and that will be time enough . But O foolish Man , what vain confidence is this in which thou trustest ; who gave thee this Knowledge of thy Life and Time , that thou art thus strangely bold and presumptuous as if thou hadst the Lease thereof in thine own hands , and at thine own dispose . Indeed we read of good Hezekiah , that upon his recovery from a fit of Sickness , God gave him a Lease of his Life for fifteen years , but who ever had the like Scripture and Experience , speak of nothing more plainly than the Frailty and uncertainty of Man's Life . It is therefore compared to the Wind , to a Leaf , to a Flower , to a Shadow , to a Vapour ; by all which the Spirit of God sets forth to us , the Frailty , Brevity and uncertainty of Man's Life endeavouring hereby to take us off from all foolish conceits and vain hopes of long life ; for what is our Life , but a Vapour that appeareth for a while and then vanisheth away ? a little breath turned in and out by the Nostrils , a narrow passage that is soon stopt and we are gone . We have no Assurance of our Life , no not for a moment , Death lies in Ambush every where for us . We have a Proverb , that the young Man may die , but the old Man must die ; whereas Observation will inform us , that incomparably more die young than old . And did we but seriously consider , by what small pins this Frame of Man is held together , it would appear no less than a Miracle , that we live one day or hour to an end , so many dangers , so many Casualties do we pass through every moment : and are the thoughts of Death and thy preparation for Death and that Eternity that follows it , to be put off to such uncertainties . Are not all thy days on Earth few , and thou hast spent some of them already , and possibly those few days of thine that are already past and gone , are all the days thou hast to pass : say not then to God , to thy Conscience , or to others that put thee upon a present preparation for Death and Eternity , I will do it to morrow , or hereafter ; boast not thy self , O vain Man , of to morrow , for thou knowest not even what this day may bring forth to thee ; possibly this day may bring forth thy death , and where then will be thy to morrows preparation for it ?

But suppose Death should not cut us off suddenly , but give us warning of its approach by Sickness and Distempers of Body ; yet how unfit a time is that to prepare for dying ? for Diseases sometimes come with that Violence , that they quickly take away Mens Senses and Vnderstandings , and having lost the use of their Reason they are fit for nothing And hast thou , O presumptuous sinner , that trustest to a Sick-bed preparation for Death and Eternity , and Assurance , that this shall not be thy State and Condition then ; nay , thou hast just cause to fear that thus it shall be , because in the time of thy Health and Strength when God called after thee to look towards himself , and to mind thy Everlasting Concernments , thou wou'dit not : therefore now that thou art come to lie upon a Death bed , and thy Conscience is awakened with horrour , because of thy former negligence , and the prospect of thy future Misery ; that now the Violence of thy Distempers should be so great , as to render thee uncapable of such a Work . Or if God should be so merciful to thee , ( which thou hast no reason to expect ) as to continue to thee the use of thy Reason and Vnderstanding , so that being apprehensive of the approach of Death , and Conscience also be awakened and terrifying thee with the fears of a strict account , that thou art going to give unto the Great God of all that thou hast done in the Body , whether it be good or evil ; dreading also what the Consequences thereof may be ; by reason of thy negligence and carelessness in the time of thy Health and Strength , to make preparation for thy Eternal State . It being thus with thee , and thine Eyes being opened to see whither thou art going , thou art very desirous it may be now to set thy Soul in order , because thou fearest thou shalt die , and not live . Yet thy Sickness may be so sharp , and pains may come upon thee with that Extremity , that all thou canst do will be little enough to mind thy Body . God may visit thee with such strong pains upon thy bed , as may make thee cry and roar with such horrours , as may make thee a terror to thy self and to all that come near thee ; so that all thou canst do for thy self , or what others can do for thee , may not be able to give thee any ease , or relief . And is this the time thou choosest to prepare thy self for Death and Eternity in ? What , when thou canst hardly tell how to turn thy Body upon thy Bed , for a little ease ? Dost thou think this a fit time to turn thy Soul fron Sin unto God in ? Suppose thou wert now cast upon a Sick-bed , and thy Body full of pains , if any one should come and put thee in mind of some Worldly Business , wouldst thou not think it a good excuse , to say , Pray trouble me not now , because I am Sick ; Speak to me of these things when I am Well again ? And dost thou think it Reasonable to be excused from Worldly Business , because thou art Sick ; and yet dost thou Judge it the best time for thee to be employed about thy Spiritual concerns when thou art sick , yea when thou art dying ? Surely desperate folly and madness is in the hearts of these Men , who thus live , and thus think to die . Alas , the time of Sickness is a time of spending not of getting ; it is not a time to gain Evidences for Heaven , but to use them , and to take the comfort that flows from them . Alas poor Man , thou shouldst now be solacing thy Soul in God as thy Father reconciled to thee in Christ ; and having made it the business of thy life to serve and please him sincerely , though not without weaknesses and imperfections ; thou shouldst now be able to say , thou hast through Jesus Christ received the Atonement , and art continually rejoycing in hopes of the Glory of God ; the comfort whereof should be so great , as to swallow up all thy Bodily pains and distempers , and carry thee chearfully through the Pangs of Death ; so as that thou shouldst be able to say , Blessed be God I am not sick , for mine Iniquities are forgiven me . This should be thy State and Condition upon a dying bed . But if thou hast thy work to do , thy Preparations for Heaven and Eternity to make when thou art upon thy Sick , yea thy Death-Bed , Oh how miserable , I had almost said , how desperate is thy Case ! How many Gracious Souls have found it work enough upon a Death-bed to attend the Pains and Distempers of their Bodies ? and believe it , O Sinner , who ever thou art , thou wilt find it a great truth , that to suffer , and be sick is work enough for any Man at one time .

But suppose God should be so Gracious to thee , as by some lingering and gentle sickness for many days , yea months together , give thee warning of thy approaching Dissolution ; and thy Conscience also should be awakened to stir up in thee some serious thoughts and endeavours to prepare thy self for thy departure hence ; yet since thou hast so often turned thy back upon God , and refused to hearken unto those many Calls that he hath vouchsafed unto thee in the time of thy life , to be Wise for thy self by considering thy latter end , but thou wouldst not ; how justly may he now reject thee at the time of thy death , though thou follow'st him with never so many earnest cries , yea and Tears also ? That is a most dreadful place of Scripture , Oh that it were Engraven with a Pen of Iron , and with the Point of a Diamond , upon the heart of every careless negligent sinner ! Proverbs 1. from 24. to 31. Because I have called and you have refused , I have stretched out my hand , and no Man regarded . But you have set at nought all my Counsel , and would none of my reproof . What then O dreadful , O Soul confounding words ! I also will laugh at your Calamity , and mock when your Fear cometh . When your fear cometh as Desolation , and your Destruction as a Whirlwind . When Distress and Anguish cometh upon you . Well , but what follows upon this ? will not God be Entreated ? cannot Prayers and Cries do any thing with God ? No , for it follows in the next words ; Then shall they call upon me , but I will not Answer ; they shall seek me early , but they shall not find me ; for they hated Knowledge , and did not choose the fear of the Lord : They would none of my Counsel , they despised all my Reproof . What 's the Conclusion of all this ? why , that we have in the next words , therefore shall they eat the Fruit of their own ways , and be filled with their own Devices . Whoever thou art that Readest these Lines , if through thy carelessness this should ever come to be thy Case , because thou wilt not take warning , I have only this doleful Word to leave with thee for thy serious thoughts and meditations , and from my Soul I wish it may do thy Soul good ; this State , that I am speaking of , will be a State so full of dismal anguish , and perplexing horrours , that no words are able to express the misery of it .

Moreover , a sick-bed Repentance , and Preparation for thy Eternal State is very questionable . How hard a matter wilt thou find it then to satisfie thy own Conscience , or to convince others , that what thou now dost is done in the uprightness of thy Heart , and not in Hypocrisie ? Alas the present feeling of the wrath of God , and the future expectations of fiery indignation in Hell , may constrain thee unto all that thou dost . It was a very sad Relation , ( and I wish the reading of it may do some Soul good ) which once I received from the Mouth of an eminent Godly Minister , of many years standing in the Ministry : I have , says he , been called to visit abundance of Persons upon their Death-beds , who reflecting back upon the wickedness of their lives , hav professed a great deal of grief and sorrow , and made many Promises what they would do , and how they would live , if God would restore them to their health again ; but among them all , says he , thus dying , I could never yet meet with one that could give me good ground to believe the Happiness of their future state and condition in another World . O let the consideration hereof cut thee to the Heart , O thou slothful and delaying Sinner .

But if thou shouldst be sincere then in thy turning unto God , and thy Preparations for Death and Eternity , such as are sound and not hypocritical and feigned ; and God should be graciously entreated of thee in this last and greatest hour of thy distress ; yet will it not wound and pierce thy Soul to consider what Peace of Conscience , what joy in believing , what comfortable testimonies of God's loving kindness to thy Soul thou hast lost ; the sweetness and delight whereof would have born up thy Soul in a dying hour , and have carried thee triumphantly through the gloomy valley of the shadow of Death , so that thou shouldst have feared no evil . But now instead thereof , by reflecting upon the former course of thy life , which hath been a continual trade of Sin and Wickedness , whereby God hath been dish moured and provoked by thee all thy days , he now appears to thee as thy dreadful Enemy , visiting thee with nothing but terrible Rebukes of horrour and wrath in thy Conscience : And though God may have mercy upon thy Soul eternally , and the state of thy future Happiness may be sure and certain in it self ; yet thy passage to it may be very uncomfortable ; insomuch that as to thy sense and feeling thou art but leaving Earth to go to Hell , God's bringing thee to Heaven being by the Gates thereof .

But though delays in this case are dangerous , and sick-bed preparations for Heaven and Eternity at best , but uncomfortable ; yet how prone are most Men to put off the thoughts of Death and their Preparations for it ? Solomon tells us , Eccles. 7. That it is better to go to the House of Mourning , than to the House of Feasting , for this is the end of all Men , and the living will lay it to Heart . We ought indeed daily to familiarize Death to our Souls , by frequent thoughts and meditations of it ; but when we go to the House of Mourning , to see any laid in the Grave , this is a special proper time and season for the living to lay Death to Heart ; and it is probable if Men will at any time lay Death to Heart , surely they will do it at such a time as that is ; for when will Men think of Death , if not when they see it before them ? It is true , some do lay Death to Heart , when they are called to such Solemnities : O then they have a fit of grief upon them ; but as soon as they have vented their Passion , the fit is over , and so is their thoughts of Death with it . And though Solomon seems to promise for the living , that in the House of Mourning they will lay it to Heart ; yet there are very many , that have been so often there , that they are grown familiar with Death ; but in a bad sence ; for the frequency of such occasions , have worn off all impressions of Mortality from their Hearts ; so that now they can go to the Grave again and again , and not be affected with it ; they look upon it as a matter of Custom and Formality for Men to die and be buried , and when the solemnity of the Funeral is over , the thoughts of Death are over with them ; and as soon as they can get out of the sight of the Grave , their Preparations for the Grave are out of their Mind . The Holy History tells us , in 2 Sam. 10.12 . that when Amasa was slain by Joab , and lay wallowing in his Blood in the midst of the high way , every one that came by stood still , being astonished to behold so dismal a Spectacle : But afterwards we read , that Amasa was removed out of the High way into the Field , and a Cloth cast upon him : And what then ? why , the Holy Text tells us , All the People went on after Joab . So is it with us , if we behold a Person lying upon a death-bed , gasping and bleeding , and with dying groans ready to expire his last breath ; here we make a stop , and pause with some astonishment at so sad a sight ; but let a Cloth be thrown over the Dead , and the Corps drawn aside into the Grave , and covered with Earth ; presently we go to our employments and trading , and possibly some to their sinful Practices again ; as if the last Man that should die were now buried .

Now the Reasons of this stupidity and carelessness may be such as these .

First , The great Love and Affection Men have to the World , and the things thereof . These take up all the thoughts and time of some Men , so that they have no leasure nor desires to think of Death , or to make Preparations for another Life . The Pleasures , Honours , and Profits of the World are fine things in their Eyes , they please their Fancies , and so possess their Minds with a fond desire of long Life , that they may delight their senses in these earthly things , and these ardent , earnest desires of theirs will let them think of nothing less than many days to satisfie their sensual part in these delightful enjoyments . If we should look abroad into the World , we may easily perceive which way the Inclinations of most Men carry them ; How eagerly do some pursue the Pleasures of the World ? How unweariedly do others follow the Profits of the World ? And how impatiently do others thirst after the Honours and Preferments of the World , as if their Happiness were wrapp'd up in these outward Accommodations ? Whereas our Lord tells us , that a Man's Life consists not in the abundance of the things that he enjoys here in this World . And by these things the thoughts of Death are not suffered to come into Men's Minds ; and if they will crowd in upon them sometimes , they are soon cast out again as unwelcome Guests , that come to disturb their Peace .

Secondly , Men put off the thoughts of Death and Preparation for it , because they generally look upon it as that which is afar off : And this is the greatest sottishness in the World . If you go to those that are young , and tell them that they must die ; it is true , say they , and Old Men ought to consider it , and prepare themselves for it ; but surely for us there is no such hast yet . Alas , they think they must of right and course live till they are Aged . If you go to Old Men , and tell them that they must die ; alas , their Age tells them so , they cannot deny it ; but though God visit them with weakness and infirmities , the Companions of Old Age , which impair their Health , and waste their strength continually ; yet they Hope these decays are not so great , nor so violent , but that they may yet weather out a few years more ; those that are healthful and strong think they need not prepare for Death , till they have warning given them of its approach by Sickness : And those that God doth summon to the Grave by Sickness and Diseases , they have a secret hope , that because they have formerly escaped from other distempers , therefore they may do so again . Thus now most Men thrust Death from them , and put the evil Day afar off . And it is a true saying , that usually the hopes of a long life , is the cause of an evil life ; for because Men hope they shall live long , therefore they are careless how they live at present , presuming they may have time enough to repent and amend all hereafter .

Thirdly , Men put off the thoughts of Death , because such apprehensions bring a great deal of Fear and Terrour with them . Death is that which Nature abhors to think of ; it cannot endure the thoughts of Separation , between those near and dear Companions of Soul and Body . Oh to think that this Body , that is here pamper'd and made so much of , should become vile and loathsome in the Grave , laid in a Bed of stench and rotteness , covered with Worms , mouldring away into the dust of Oblivion ! This is a sad and melancholy subject for our thoughts to muse upon ; O this King of Terrours , Death ! How un●● come is he unto the thoughts of most men ; especially considering him as having his sting in him which is Sin : O then it is no wonder that those wh● are Conscious to themselves of 〈◊〉 ●●●●ing , guil● dare not think of standing before the dreadful Tribunal of God , whither Death , God's Serjeant ; will bring them ; but cry out with Horrour , Who among us can dwell with devouring Fire ! Who among us can dwell with everlasting Burning ! 〈◊〉 it is no wonder that such put far from them th● thoughts of Death , because they know that day whensoever it comes , will be to them ●n evil day .

But if Men would seriously consider , how shou●● their time in this World is , the hazard and danger● they run by their delays would be prevented . Surely they that have a lively sense of the things of Eternity upon their Hearts , that know their time her● to be but short ; and believe that upon the improvement of this short time , their misery or happiness for Eternity doth depend , will not be so foolish as to put off their Preparations for Death and Eternity till hereafter , when they have no assurance of their lives , no not for a moment . This is so weighty a consideration that if it were laid to Heart , would , prevail with all Men that have the right use of their Reason and Vnderstanding ; Our time in this World is short and uncertain , yet is our work very great : We are but of yesterday , and possibly before to Morrow we may not be , and the Great God hath suspended Eternity upon the improvement of this moment ; a few days , or a few hours , nay possibly a few minutes , will determine our everlasting State and condition ; and according as we are in spending of them ; so shall our Doom be either to Eternal Happiness , or to Eternal Misery ; and why , Oh why should our precious and immortal Souls be so vile in our Eyes , as to lose them by sloth and carelessness ? Why should any of us be such Fools and Mad-men , to hearken to the sollicitations of the Flesh , or to the allurements of a flattering deceitful World , so as to put off and neglect our everlasting concerns ? Should we not rather say to the World , or whatever it be that would hinder us in our great work ; Stand off , for we are working for Eternity , an Eternity that is but a few days , it may be but a few hours hence ; a boundless , a bottomless , endless state and condition , into which we know not how soon we may be cast ; and therefore we have no time to dally in , or to trifle away .

But though our Time be short , yet is it long enough for our great Work , if diligently improved . We have so much time allotted us , as will serve to do our real business in , and to answer the ends of living . A Christian's Work in this World , is not to incumber himself with many things ; or to vex himself about the accomplishing of great designs for the World , to get a great Estate , to abound with Pleasures , to grow great in the esteem of Men ; these things are as much below a Christian's Work , as they are below his Reward : And whoever thou art that designest these things for thy self , thou maist not have time enough for the attaining of them ; but yet Heaven may be got in that time that the World cannot ; thy Salvation may be wrought out , God may be made propitious to thee through Christ , the one thing needful , the better part that shall never be taken away from thee ; these may be obtained by thee , and secured to thee as thy Portion , in that time that God hath given thee , if thou art diligent in improving of it : Do not sigh and mourn therefore that thou canst number no more days ; do not murmur and complain at the shortness of thy Life : What wouldst thou do if thy days were more ? What use wouldst thou make of thy time , if it were longer ? Is it that thou mightest save thy Soul , and make thy Peace with God , that thou desirest more time ? Why thou needest not more time for these purposes than God hath allotted thee already ; thy Life is long enough if thou didst use it aright . It is not a little time that we have ; but it is a little that we use : God hath not given us a little , but we throw away much . Our Portion is not small ; for what we are to Trade , but our mispence is exceeding great . God is not niggardly and sparing in wha● he hath given us ; but we are prodigal and profuset foolishly wasting away our hours ; they that have , abundance of time given them , through their Imprudence and Mispence are utterly undone ; and then they whine like Beggars , as if they had had no time ; whereas those that have less time than others , that make these Complaints , have so improved that little , that , Thanks be to God , they are rich in good Works , and say it is enough , let God call for them when he pleaseth .

If now upon the serious Consideration of the shortness of time , any shall be stirred up and provoked to a diligent Improvement of it , so as to prepare themselves for their latter end , they shall find such Benefits as these redounding to their Souls thereby .

First , It will be a great means for the Prevention of much Sin . He that shall seriously consider with himself , I must shortly die , how soon I know not , will presently reflect upon himself under a Temptation to Sin , and say , Why should I commit this or that Evil , which if it be not a means to hasten my end , yet will certainly make it more uneasie and uncomfortable , when I come to lie upon a Death-bed , and consider what I have done amiss : Possibly I may die to morrow ; for who knows what a day may bring forth ? O why then shall I venture to commit that evil to day , which will be as Gall and Wormwood , and like Bitterness and Vexation to my Soul then ! Would I do it did I believe that I were to die to morrow ? Why should I then do it to day , that know not whether I shall live till to morrow ; for it is possible this may prove the last day of my Life ?

Secondly , He that shall seriously consider his latter end , and shall diligently employ himself and his time accordingly , shall find his life most comfortable and contentful , and his Death most easie and peaceable . As for the Contentment of Life ; if you look abroad among Men in regard of their outward Estate and Condition , you shall find that that Man , who by his Industry hath got to be aforehand in the World , hath much more Peace and Quietness in his Life , than he that is behind-hand or gone back , and is continually struggling with Necessities and Wants . So is it in Spirituals also ; he that hath been wise in improving the Opportunities that God hath vouchsafed him for the getting of Grace , and making his Peace with God through Christ ; he that hath done thus , a great part , yea a chief part of the business of his Life is done ; he is prepared in some measure for all Conditions the wise Providence of God may dispense to him , be it Sickness or Health ; be it Life or Death ; for he is aforehand , as it were , in the business of his everlasting Concerns ; so that if God lengthen out his Life in this world , he carries on his great work and business unto greater degrees of Perfection , not only without Trouble and Disturbance , but with great Ease and Pleasure : Or if God see good to cut short his days ; and call him to give an Account of his Talents , his great business is not now to go about , but his Accounts are ready , and he in some measure prepared to give them up unto his Lord and Master ; and , O blessed is that Servant whom his Master when he comes shall find so doing .

But this is not all , the frequent considering our latter end brings Ease and Peace in Death ; it abates , if not removes the fears of it . Death in Scripture is called the King of Terrors , and many times the fear of Death is more terrible than Death it self : Now that which makes Death thus terrible to us , is the knowledge of our Guilt , and the Apprehensions of God's Wrath and Displeasure justly deserved thereby ; this gives Death its Sting and Terror . Now he that makes it his business to live in constant Preparation for Death , by Acts of Repentance for former Sins , and by frequent Applications of the Blood of Christ to his Soul by Faith , he removes both the Sting and the Fear of Death at once : For how can he be afraid of Death , whose frequent Thoughts and Meditations of it make it familiar to him : And as for the Sting of Death , that cannot hurt him neither ; for where Sin is truly repented of , it is really pardoned ; and Sin being pardoned , the Power and Sting of it , whereby it hurts and wounds others , is taken away as to him ; so that though others are held in Bondage under the fear of Death all their lives , and feel the deadly Sting of it when they come to die ; yet he fears not either the suddenness of its Approach , nor the power of its Sting .

Now dying being a work of great weight and difficulty , it is not only of great Concernment , but it will be full of Sweetness and Comfort to us when we come to lie upon a 〈◊〉 had to be able to say , that all things are set straight and right between God and our Souls : Such Persons are no small Proficients in Grace and Holiness , but are strong in the 〈…〉

CHAP. III.

The State of Man considered under Death . What it is to wait for Death , with Reasons why we must prepare for it . Dying is an important , difficult Work . Death continually hastning towards us , yet few consider how suddenly themselves or others may Die. Death comes violently to Wicked Men , yet no Man dies before his time ; however in Scripture some are said so to do . An Exhortation to prepare for Death , with Motives to quicken Christians thereunto , and Directions to help them therein .

HAving spoken something of the Life of Man , as it hath Relation unto the Subject I am speaking to , which by Reason of Sin is become short , frail , and uncertain ; I shall now consider the State of Man under Death , which is the end of his Temporal , but the beginning and entrance upon his Everlasting State ; which that Christians may with the more profit and advantage meditate upon , I shall reduce all that I have to say of it unto three particulars . The State of Man under Death is a State that admits of no returning unto Life ; a State that admits of no amendments ; and a State that is fixed and determined .

First , The State of Man under Death is a State that admits of no returning unto Life again . When once the Sun of this Life is set , it will arise no more upon thee for ever . Are not my Days few , says Job Cease from me , that I may take comfort a little , before I go whence I shall not return . And Job 10.20 . When a few Days are come , says he , I shall go whence I shall not return , Job 16.22 . That 's a strange Journey indeed that admits of no return . That which pleaseth us while we live , is the hopes of returning to our Homes again ; but when we die , we take a Journey whence there is no returning ; for there is no recovery out of the Grave , when once we are Dead . Indeed it is a fundamental Article of the Christian Faith , to believe the Resurrection of the Dead ; for the Scripture tells us , that all Men shall stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ , to receive according to what they have done in the Body : Now if there be not a Resurrection of the Dead , how can this be ? therefore our Lord tells us plainly , John 5.28 . that the hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth ; but this time is not yet come , and till this time comes , the sentence of Death is irreversible upon all . And though God hath already stretched sorth his hand to the Grave , for the raising of some Persons from the Dead miraculously ; yet , as those few that have escaped Death , make no breach upon this general Truth , that all must Die ; so it doth not at all infringe this general Truth , that God will not now by the manifestation of the same miraculous Power , raise any from the Grave , because some have been raised and recovered out of it .

Secondly , The State of Man under Death admits of no amendments or alterations . Life is the Time of Working , in Death we receive the Reward of our Work . Our Lord tells us of himself , I must Work the Works of him that sent me , while it is Day , for the Night comes wherein no Man can Work , Joh. 9.4 . Death puts an end to all Works whether they be Natural , Civil , or Religious . There is no eating or drinking , nor any pleasure to be taken in any outward enjoyments in the State of Death : there is no buying , or selling , or getting gain when we are Dead ; nay , Death puts an end to all Spiritual Works ; those Duties that upon Earth were the Saints exercise , in the Grave there is an end of them ; there is a dying and perishing for ever , in respect of Faith and Repentance , in respect of praying and hearing the Word , these are Heavenly Works ; but the Time for the performance of them is while we are here upon Earth . None of these Labours are in Heaven or in Hell , no nor in the Grave , whither we are all going . In Heaven there is nothing but rest ; in Hell though there be no rest , yet there is no labour : In Hell there is nothing but Wages , in Heaven there is nothing but Reward ; our whole Work lies in the few Days that are on this side both . What we do for the obtaining of Heaven , or for the avoiding of Hell , it must be done now , for there is no Work , no Device in the Grave , whither we are all going .

Thirdly , The State of Man under Death is a State that is fixed and determined . He that dies under the Guilt of Sin shall never have it forgiven him , The Blood of Christ that was appointed for the Pardon of Sin , and for the Justification of a Sinner , shall never make God propitious to a Soul that dies under the Guilt of Sin ; though that Blood now speaks better things than the Blood of Abel ; and crying aloud to Heaven , nay in Heaven , for Mercy , hath obtained Pardon and forgiveness for thousands of Souls now in Glory ; yet hath it no virtue in it that shall be applicable to any Sinner for the remission of his Sins , when once the Sentence of Death is executed upon him . There is a Sacrifice appointed by God , to take away Sin in this Life , even the Blood of Christ that cleanseth from all Sin ; and now he intreats and beseecheth Sinners to come unto him , that they may have Life by him : but those that will not now accept of his Gracious offer , but continue in Sin , and Disobedience all their days , and die under the Guilt thereof ; there remains no more Sacrifice for them , and it is impossible they should ever be Pardoned , because the Sufferings of Christ were never Ordained as an Expiatory Sacrifice for their Sins . His bleeding and dying upon the Cross will do them no good at all now ; the Time and Season of Mercy and Grace with them is gone and past for ever . Nay , let me add a dreadful word unto all such , instead of any Benefit and Advantage that will come to them by the Blood of Christ , it is that which cries loudly against them for the Wrath and Vengeance of God to fall upon them to Eternity . Besides , he that dies under the guilt of Sin , dies also under the filth and pollution of Sin , from whence he shall never be cleansed . We read in Scripture of a Refiner's Fire ; but Hell Fire is not of this Nature , it enrageth the Sinner , but it doth not Refine him . No , that Sin or Holiness that accompanies Men out of this World , shall abide with them for ever ; he that dies in a State of Sin , his guilt remains upon him for ever : there are no Seasons of Grace to be enjoyed in another World , nor are there any Operations of the Spirit of God , vouchsafed to Renew and Change Men hereafter . Whilst we are in this World , though the Law Condemns us for our sin and guilt , and the Gospel disowns us for our filth and pollution ; yet even such as we have been Washed , have been Justified , have been Sanctified ; and so may we , for the Blood of Christ is still a Fountain open to wash in for Sin and for uncleanness ; and the Infinite though Provoked Majesty of Heaven condescends so low as to entreat us with more Earnestness and Affection to pity our own Souls and accept of a Pardon , then Guilty Condemned Sinners desire to obtain it : but when this Life is at an end , there shall be no more Offers of Mercy , but the Blood of Christ , shall then be a Spring shut up , and a Fountain Sealed that none can wash in it and be Cleansed . Death Seals up the State of a Sinner for ever . You know what Abrabam tells the Rich Man in Hell , in Luke 16.26 . Between us and you says he , there is a great Gulf , fixed , so that they that would pass from hence to you cannot , neither can they pass to us that would come from thence . The State and Condition that Men enter upon after Death , is fixed and unalterable . Therefore O Sinner what thou dost for God , for Heaven , for thy Soul , do it quickly , for this is the only Time and Season for thee to work in , and as thou now Sowest so thou shalt Reap for ever .

The State of Man under Death being thus , it greatly concerns all Men to wait for Death . Job tells us , it should be his Practice , Job 14.14 . All the days of my appointed time , will I wait till my change comes . Now waiting as it relates unto Death may include three things . Meditation , Expectation , and Preparation .

First , Meditation . He that waits for the Accomplishment of any Worldly Business , especially if it be of Concernment to him , how busie will his Mind and Thoughts be in musing upon it ? He now that is waiting for the coming of Death , considering both the certainty of it , that it will come , and the uncertainty of it , when it will come , and believes withal that Eternal Happiness , or Eternal Misery , will be that State to which Death will bring him , cannot but have his Thoughts much taken up about it . This will make a Soul Truly and Spiritually Wise , and therefore the Psalmist Prays , Lord teach us to number our Days , that we may apply our Hearts unto Wisdom . He that is truly Wise will Meditate of Death , and he that Meditates of Death , will be truly Wise . The more we number our Days and think of our Time ; the fewer Sins we shall have to number ; for as a Copy is then safest from blotting when dust is thrown upon it , so are we from Sinning , when we remember we are but Dust .

Secondly , Waiting includes in it Expectation . That which we wait for , we are in Expectation of ; and that Man , may be said to wait for Death , that in every Action of his Life , in every Alteration of his State and Condition , saith to himself , well , I must Die ; when though his Bones are full of Marrow , though Riches come in upon him like a Flood , yet saith he , I must die , I have no abiding Place here , I am but a Stranger and Sojourner in this World , as all my Fathers were . I have now Wife and Children , Friends and Lands , but I cannot enjoy any of these for ever ; no nor my Life it self , for I have but a Lease of it , and that but a short one too , which will soon expire . I expect Death daily , even in the midst of all my Enjoyments ; I am but a Steward of all that I have here , and I must shortly be called to an Account ; such and such are gone before me , and I am following after . The other day Death snatched away such a dear Relation from me , this day it hath seized upon such a Friend and Acquaintance , and to morrow the same Messenger may come for me . It is that I expect , and therefore I wait for it .

Thirdly , Waiting includes in it Preparation . He that waits for Death , ought to be preparing for it . This now is exceeding Requisite , because it is above the reach of Words to express how much depends upon this Preparation ; it is that our whole Life should have respect unto ; every thing that we do , ought to have a tendency in it to make Death Comfortable . But of this Preparation for Death , I shall speak more hereafter in its proper place .

This waiting for Death by way of Meditation on it , by way of Expectation of it , and by way of Preparation for it , is very necessary , considering what an Important difficult Work the Work of dying is ; and this will appear if we consider two things . First , what Death is . Secondly , what Death doth . First , what Death is , and here are three things considerable . Death is a Deprivation , Death is a Desolution , and Death is a Destruction . All which make Death terrible , and the Work of dying difficult .

First , Death is a Deprivation . It strips us of all those Comforts that in this World did Refresh us . Friends , Relations , Lands , Houses ; these have often delighted us while we live ; yea it may be too much , by setting our Affections inordinately upon them , and now what Grief of Soul doth it create to us , violently by Death to be torn from them ? but part we and they must whether we will or no , and that for ever . Job tells us , We came naked into the World , and we shall return naked out of it . The Apostle indeed seems to intimate as if some Men in our days could scarcely believe it , and therefore to beat Men off from such a conceit , he tells them , 1 Tim. 6.7 . We brought nothing with us into this World , this is true , and all Men will grant it ; and says the Apostle , it is certain we shall carry nothing out of it . Death makes all lie equal in the Dust .

Secondly , Death is a Dessolution . In Life Soul and Body are united , and live lovingly together ; there is a near union between them ; a union , which because of their long Acquaintance and Co-habitation together , is become so dear , that no union can be more desirable as to the continuance of it , nor no union more dreaded as to the Dissolution of it , except it be the Spiritual union between Christ and the Soul . There are several kinds of unions , and generally Love is the ground of them all . There is an union of Friendship between one Friend and another , whom Love hath united so strongly , that they seem to Act as if one Soul animated them both ; so Jonathan loved David even as his own Soul : This is a strong union . There is also a Relative union between Parents and Children ; so Jacob loved Benjamin , so that it is said his Life was bound up in the Life of the Lad : This is a stronger union than the former . There is also a Marriage union between a Man and his Wife , and this is a stronger union than either of the former , Man and Wife making but one Flesh , as the Scripture speaks . But yet there is a union that is stronger and nearer than any of these Vnions , and that is the Vnion between Soul and Body , for these two make but one Person . Now all dis-unions are uncomfortable , and some dis-unions are dreadful ; and as some dis-unions are dreadful , so those dis-unions are most dreadful which rend that from us that is nearest and dearest to us . For Friends to be parted , never to see the Faces of one another again , this is sad . And therefore when St. Paul was taking his leave of the Saints in Macedonia , in Acts 20.38 . it is said , They fell on his Neck and kissed him , sorrowing most for the words that he spake , that they should see his Face again no more . But it is sadder for Parents and Children to be disunited . David found it so , when he cryed out so Passionately for his Son , 2 Sam. 18.33 . O Absalom my Son , my Son , would God I had died for thee , O Absalom , my Son , my Son . It is yet more sad to have a dis-union made between a Man and the Wife of his Bosom , when God shall take away with a stroke the desire of his Eyes , one that hath been a meet and fit Yoke-fellow in the Lord ; whose Eyes can refrain from weeping , or their Hearts from bleeding under such a sad stroke of Providence . But yet there is a dis-union , that comes nearer than all these , and that is a dis-union between the Soul and the Body , those two Old , Sweet Intimate Companions , born together into the World , and who have lived in sweet Society together all their Days ; for Death to come , and make a Dissolution between two so near and so dear together , by a violent rending and tearing the Soul and Body asunder : Oh this is exceeding sad and dreadful indeed , and that which must needs make the Work of Dying hard and difficult .

Thirdly , Death is a Destruction . So David calls it , Psal. 90.3 . Thou turnest Man to destruction . That Excellent Frame of Man's Body which David tells us , was fearfully and wonderfully made in secret , and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the Earth , by God himself , and that with Infinite Power and Wisdom , Psal. 139.14 , 15. Sickness will not only stain its Glory and make the Beauty of it to consume like a Moth : But Death will Demolish and pull it down to the ground , turn it into Corruption , and Putrefaction , yea into Dust it self , utterly destroying it so that it shall not be any more , until by the Power of God , it shall be raised up again at the last day . Death now being so destructive a thing unto Man , that nothing will content it less than his Annihilation in the Grave , dying must needs be a hard and difficult thing unto Flesh and Blood .

Secondly , Dying is an important difficult Work , if we consider what Death doth : now this I shall explain by opening these two things . First , Death occasions our Spiritual Enemies to assault us . Secondly , It awakens Conscience against us .

First , Death occasions our Spiritual Enemies to assault us most fiercely . Now these Enemies are two , Sin and Satan .

First , Sin . When doth the Guilty Prisoners Crimes come into his Mind , but when he hath a Summons to appear before his Judge ? And when doth the Guilt of Sin fly in the Face of a Sinner , but when Death hath him under his Arrest , to carry him before God , the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth ? Multitudes of Sins , that before lay hid , and seem'd to be quite forgotten , now shew themselves , and come fresh into a Sinner's mind , as so many Witnesses against him , which upon the Review , he cannot but Remember , though formerly he had forgot them . Oh what a number of horrid Wickednesses do now haunt his Thoughts , with dismal apprehensions in the dark night of Death , walking up and down like so many Frightful Ghosts , scaring and terrifying his Soul ! Well may an Impenitent Sinner say then unto Death , hast thou found me O mine Enemy ? art thou come O Death to call my Sins to Remembrance and to slay my Soul ?

Secondly , The Devil will then be very fierce and furious in his Assaults . His Time now is but short , and therefore his Rage is great : This is his hour ; yea , his last hour , and therefore the Power of the Prince of Darkness is now most put forth ; he knows he hath but a few hours more to wait , and if he can but keep the Sinner so long , he is then his for ever . Assure thy self therefore O Sinner , he will be diligent in watching thy Sick-bed both by night and by day ; and if all the Power or Policy of Hell can prevent it , neither Cordial shall benefit thy Body , nor Counsel and Advice profit thy Soul . The Devil is the great Enemy of Souls , and because he is miserable himself , he therefore labours that all others may be as miserable as he is : now the ways by which he expresseth his Enmity against Souls , that he may keep them from Eternal Life , are these : Sometimes by obstructing the Work of Grace in the Souls of Men ; and thus he works with all his might , by all his Wiles and Devices that he can to draw men unto and keep them in a way of Sin , that they may not set their Faces towards Heaven , much more that they may not with earnest endeavours of Soul seek to obtain it . It is true , God always hath the Devil in a Chain , and can if he pleaseth , restrain and hinder him in all his Malicious Attempts against his Children , and many times he doth manifest his Power and Grace towards his Servants in a dying hour , by curbing in the Malice of that Evil one , that he shall not be able to trouble and molest them in their Passage into Heaven . But yet sometimes God doth then permit the Devil to shew his Malice against his People ; and then how fiercely and furiously doth he make his Assaults upon them ? Then it is they meet with the sorest Trials ; and because he could not prevail upon them formerly as a Tempter , now he turns to be their Accuser , charging all their Sins upon their Souls , with all the bloody aggravations of them , upbraiding them with all their Profession , as if they had been but Hypocrites in all that they had done . This God sometimes permits him to do , that their Grace being exercised , the Trial thereof may appear to be more precious than Gold that perisheth , being found to the Praise and Glory of God , and the Shame and Reproach of their Adversary the Devil in a most Glorious Conquest over all his Temptations ; for through the Grace and Strength of Christ they overcome him in all his Accusations , and notwithstanding all , they go not only quietly , but sometimes Triumphantly into Heaven and Glory .

Secondly , Death awakens Conscience . The Practice of a Sinner is to lull Conscience asleep , that he may the more quietly and undisturbedly go on in Sin ; but when Death comes , usually the Conscience of a Sinner is awakened , if the Sinner be not past feeling , & given over to a reprobate sence . Conscience hath its Times and Seasons of stirring in the Souls of Men ; as sometimes under the Preaching of the Word Conscience begins to stir within a Sinner , and tells him that those Duties that have been laid before him by the Minister , are the Commands of the Great God , and therefore ought to oblige him to Obedience : Here Conscience is an honest Informer . Sometimes when a Sinner is taking the Word of God into his hand and falls a Reading of it , where he meets with some things Commanded by God , which possibly through ignorance or heedlessness he did not take notice of before to be his Duty , Conscience at such a time takes part with the Word of God , and by its Admonitions , helps forward the Convictions of the Word upon the Heart of a Sinner , that so there may be an Obediential Conformity thereunto : Here now Conscience is a Faithful Monitor . At another time , when a Sinner hath , not only through carelessness , but through wilfulness and presumption fallen into the Commission of some great and horrid Sin ; possibly at such a time some Friend comes to him and deals plainly and freely with him by reproving him sharply and severely for his Sin : Conscience now joyns in with the Reproof , and becomes as true a Friend unto the Sinner as any he hath , if he will but hearken unto him ; here now Conscience thunders out both the Threatnings of the Law , and the Vengeance of the Gospel ; telling the Sinner , that they that do such things , are worthy of Death ; nay , that they deserve Hell , for because of these things sake , says Conscience , cometh the Wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience . Conscience here now shews it self an exact and upright Reprover . But then there is another Office that Conscience hath , and that is to be an Accuser , and this Office it commonly makes use of when it is throughly awakened upon a Death-bed ; for when a Man comes to lie upon a Sick-bed , and sees the Visions of Death and the Grave before him , the Charges of Conscience at such a time upon a Sinner , are most quick and smart : for Conscience being just as it were a going to give up its Accounts unto the Great God , the Judge of all Flesh , where it will speak nothing but the Truth , begins now to give the Sinner some Account of what it must and will say before the Tribunal of God then . And this is one Reason , why Conscience is so strict and so severe in its Charge against the Soul , that it will let nothing pass that comes into the mind of a Sinner , without leaving some stinging Remembrances of its former guilt , even such as are more bitter than Death it self . This now makes Dying to be so hard and difficult a Work . O happy Souls are they who at such a time have their hearts sprinkled from the Evil of an Accusing Conscience by the Blood of Jesus Christ , for they only can have Peace and Comfort in the hour of Death .

This Work of dying though it be so hard and difficult a Work , yet is it that we must all undergo , for Death is continually hastening towards us . The Blessed Apostle St. Paul thought Death always to be near , it made such speed to him , that he lookt upon himself always as a dying Man , and therefore he tells us , That he did die daily , 1 Cor. 15.31 . and in Rom. 8.36 . For thy sake , says he , we are killed all the day long , we are counted as Sheep for the Slaughter . And if we make Hezekiah's Reckoning to be our own , ( though he was under a fit of Sickness when he said it , but we are in Health ) yet we shall not be much mistaken in the Account , when he tells us , From day even unto night , says he , thou wilt make an end of me . What though Death hath not laid his cold hands upon us by some Mortal Disease , yet may he not lie in Ambush for us , and cut us off suddenly ? Time hath Wings and flies away swiftly from us ; and truly Death doth not creep , but with the same swiftness posts towards us . Man is wasting and consuming every day ; his Body wastes , his Strength wastes , his Parts waste , his Time wastes ; yea , his very Life wastes ; and whither tend all these Consumptions and Wastings , but only to the hastening of Death ? neither will these end till they terminate in Man's Dissolution .

But though Man in this Life is always hurrying on unto Death , yet how few are there that consider , how suddenly themselves or others may die ? we easily and slightly pass over the Thoughts of Death , and the suddenness of its approach , because it is that we have no mind to . We would not yet die our selves , and therefore we will not think we shall . Guests that are unwellcome to us , we either keep them out of our Houses , or turn them out as soon as we can . Such are the Thoughts of Death , either of our own or others , and therefore if possible we endeavour to keep them out of our minds altogether ; but if sometimes they will thrust in upon us , we turn them out again as soon as we can , filling our Thoughts with some other things . But alas this will not do always , for the Thoughts of Death will return again upon some occasions or other . God by some Providence may be will awaken Conscience , and stir up Thoughts of Death in our minds , let us do what we can to hinder them ; yea , though we do what we can to stifle them ; but this is no thanks to us , for of our selves we will not be brought to think of , or regard how suddenly others do and our selves may die , till by some sad Providence , we are brought to the Sick bed of some Friend , whom Death hath bedewed with cold Sweats , and rackt with Convulsims , so that he lies gasping and dying before us : till our Eyes be brought thus to Affect our Hearts , our Hearts are seldom Affected as they ought with the Sence of our Mortality .

Now as Death comes suddenly upon many , so commonly it comes violently upon wicked Men , their Souls are not surrendred or delivered up unto God , but they are rent and torn from them by Force and Violence . A wicked Man cannot commend his Soul into the Hands of God when he is dying . Indeed we have a form of making the Wills of dying Men , wherein the Person that lies upon his Death-Bed , says , I commend my Soul into the Hands of God which ( in the Judgment of Charity ) : because we have nothing to do to Censure Mens Eternal State ) in the General we must not wholly Condemn ; yet it is to be feared , that few that say those words , do it heartily and sincerely , and upon such Grounds , as God will accept and receive , when they leave their Bodies . There are some who have lived in Sin all their Days , yet have strong presumptions of the Mercy of God upon their Death-beds . God is a merciful God say they ; and therefore with boldness and confidence they commend their Souls unto him , relying upon his Mercy for Salvation : But such are strangely Ignorant of the method of God in saving Sinners , and by Custom in Sin , and the Judgment of God upon them for it , they are become insensible , their Consciences are seared and asleep , and so neither their Sin , nor the misery they are liable to for Sin , doth in the least trouble them . But otherwise the Death of a wicked Man is violent , he doth not resign up his Soul unto God , but it is forced from him whether he will or no.

But though a Sinner's Death be violent , yet no Man dies before his time , though some in Scripture are said so to do : Hence we read that Caution of the Wise Man , Eccles. 7.17 . Be not wicked over much , why shouldst thou die before thy time . And God threatens , Psal. 55.23 . Bloody and deceitful Men shall not live out half their Days . And it is a common saying among us , that such a one is cut off in the midst of his Days .

To all which I shall only return this short Answer , That simply and in it self considered , it is impossible but that the whole tale of Days , that God hath appointed to every one , must be fulfilled , according to the Number of them . They are set down by God , and no Man can die before God's time . It is true a Man may die before his time , that is , before he is prepared by Grace , or before he is ripened in the course of Nature : Such expressions as these denote no more , than either , that God cuts them off in their full strength , and in the vigour of their years , when yet they might according to humane probability have lived much longer ; or else , comparing the shortness of their lives with the length of others , God seems as it were to break it off in the very midst before he hath finished it .

And is Death the lot of all Men sooner or later ? Though all die not the same way , and after the same manner , nor at the same time ; yet is Death the end of all Men ? Doth Death pass upon all because all have sinned ? Why then , let every one prepare for Death . The Spirit of God tells us , that all flesh is grass , and the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field , which soon withers and dies . And is it so with these Bodies of ours , that they are frail and dying ? The Wisdom of a Christian then should manifest it self ; not in labouring to avoid the stroke of Death , for that is impossible ; nor yet in spending too much time in daubing over a House of Clay ; or in repairing and propping up of an Earthly Tabernacle , which when we have done all , will at length crumble into dust ; but seeing the Body is appointed for and will turn to dust , to be sollicitous that when it dies , it may die happily and comfortably .

Christian , whoever thou art , into whose hands these lines may fall , know that I am come to acquaint thee with a message from the True and Faithful God , that cannot lye , that the Lease of thy Life is almost expired , and that the time of thy departure is not far off : What habitation hast thou provided for thy precious and immortal Soul , that it may not at its departure out of thy Body take up its dwelling with Devils and damned Spirits for ever ? It may be thou hast provided well for thy Wife and Children , heap'd up much Silver and Gold together for them , added House to Land , that they may dwell upon the Earth ; it may be thou hast settled thy Estate , so as to prevent all disputes and quarrelings when thou art dead : I cannot say but thou hast done well , and that these things ought to be done , I condemn thee not : But what hast thou done for thy Soul all this while ? Hast thou not laid out much more care and pains for thy never dying Soul , than thou hast for thy perishing Body ? If not , let me say unto thee , O careless Sinner , as the Mariners said unto Jonah in the Storm , What meanest thou , O Sleeper ? What meanest thou O drowsy stupid Sinner ? Arise , for God's sake , and for thy Soul's sake , and bestir thy self ; look about thee ; Whither art thou going ? What will become of thee ? Is not Eternity before thee ? And must not thy State and Condition be for ever hereafter , as thy Preparations are now ? O that God would open thine Eyes , that thou mayest see what will make for thine Eternal Interest , before Death open them , when it will be too late .

Now that I may press this Exhortation the more home upon thy Conscience , I shall lay down two or three Reasons for thy more thorough Conviction , that it will be much for thy Interest and Advantage to be ready and prepared for Death .

First , Consider , Conscience will then be very busie and active in reviewing thy Life . Now if for the most part thereof thou hast walked uprightly with God , Conscience will then give thee some measure of boldness towards God . But now if at such a time , when Conscience is reflecting back upon thy former Life , it cannot but say , if it will speak the Truth ( as usually upon a Death bed it doth , ) I have been considering thy former ways , and the Account that I can give of them in general is , that they abound with multitudes of Sins and Provocations , which no Man can number ; to particularize them would be endless ; but if it may tend any way to thy Repentance , before it be too late : Remember , O Sinner , ( for I do , ) how long God hath lengthened out thy Life , how many tenders of Christ and Salvation by him he hath made unto thy Soul , which thou hast rejected . How many years of Sabbaths hast thou enjoyed ? How often hath the Spirit of God moved upon thy Soul , and stirred up holy motions in thy Heart , which thou hast resisted and quenched ? What multitudes of mercies , wherewith God would have drawn thee to himself , hast thou slighted and abused ? How many corrections and afflictions hath God laid upon thee , wherewith he would have imbittered Sin unto thy Soul , that himself might have been more sweet , which thou hast despised and grown more hardened in Sin under ? How hath the Patience of God been even wearied with waiting upon thee , whilst thou hast pressed him with thy Sins , even as a Cart is pressed with Sheaves , and yet thou wouldst not forbear thy wicked ways ? Doest thou not remember the particular times and days , the several seasons and occasions wherein it hath been thus and thus with thee ? Surely , says Conscience , thou canst not forget it , these things are all down in my Book , though thou thoughtest I took no notice of them , and I am now a going to open this Book to shew it to thy Judge , where I shall justifie them all to thy very face ; for I do very well remember every one of them : O that for thy Soul's sake I could say , I do as well remember thy praying , thy hearing , thy reading , thy Meditation of holy and heavenly things , with the sincerity ; yea , the fervour and earnestness of thy Soul expressed in all these ; that I could bear Witness to thy Faith , to thy Humility , to thy Patience and Self denial , to thy Repentance and Godly Sorrow for Sin , to the daily longing and breathing of thy Soul after the being rid of a Body of Death , that thou mightest never offend God any more ; but I cannot say these things of thee , and I dare not now flatter thee and tell thee , that I can , when I cannot , and if I should it would do thee no good at all ; for the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth , before whom thou and I are now going to appear , knows all these things that I have now told thee of to be true , and will quickly undeceive thee , whatever thy hopes are now , and make thee know these things unto thy everlasting confusion ; unless out of the infinite Riches of his Grace and Mercy he give thee Repentance presently , which thou canst have very little hopes of now at Death , since thou didst not turn to him in thy Life .

Secondly , Consider , when thou comest to die , thou wilt then have to do with God himself immediately . It is true , while we are here in the Body we have to do with God , and all our Affairs whatsoever are transacted under his Eye and in his presence ; therefore we read in Heb. 4.13 . That all things are naked and open unto the Eyes of that God with whom we have to do . There is no Prayer we make , no Sermon we hear , no Holy Duty we perform , no Mercy we enjoy , no Affliction we lie under , nor any Action we do in our whole lives , but we have to do with God in it : But when we come to die , we have to do with God in another way and manner than what we have to do with him in this World ; here we have to do with God in Duties and Ordinances ; but it is in such a way as is becoming our present state of distance from him ; of which I may say , as the Prophet doth in another case , it is neither clear not dark , insomuch that Faith it self hath much a-do sometimes to discover God unto the Soul ; and no wonder then , if a Carnal Eye cannot discern him : But when as the Wise Man speaks , the Soul shall return to God that gave it , the Soul then goes into the immediate Presence of God , having to do with him in such an immediate way and manner , that there is nothing in the Eye of the Soul to obscure or hinder the sight of the Divine Presence ; no vail of Flesh between God and it , but naked Majesty and Glory discovers it self to the Soul with the rays of its own light , which is so full of wonder and astonishment , that we know not now how to conceive of it , much less to express it . And if a holy Prophet , seeing but a Vision of God , crys out , Wo is me , I am undone , for I am a Man of unclean Lips , and mine Eyes have seen the King , the Lord of Host , Isai 6.5 . O how much more may it overwhelm a Soul , when stripp'd of its Body , to see not only a Vision of God , but to see God himself as it were face to face ! But this is not all ; for the Soul is not by Death barely brought before the Great and Glorious God , but it is brought before him to be judged to an Eternal State . In this Life we come into the presence of God upon a Treaty of Peace , between God and our Souls . God is now in Christ reconciling Sinners unto himself , and is willing not to impute their Sins and Trespasses unto them ; and if they will accept of his terms they may make Peace with him , for he saith now unto Sinners , let them take hold of my strength and so make Peace with me , and they shall make Peace with me ; but if Sinners will not throw away the Weapons of their Rebellion out of their Hands , I mean their Sins out of their Hearts , whereby they fight against God ; but Death comes and strikes them dead with their Weapons in their Hands , I mean in the embracements of their lusts ; God and they must treat after another manner , not upon terms of Peace , but upon terms of Judgment ; for away they go immediately after Death before God as a Judge , the Spirit then returning unto God that gave it , to receive a determinative sentence of Happiness or Misery for ever . And who would not then be always prepared for the stroke of Death , that carries the Soul into the presence of such a Judge , who hath power to , and who will determine its everlasting State ?

Thirdly , As a farther Argument to perswade Christians unto a preparation for Death , Consider the misery of those who when Death comes upon them are unprovided for it : And this I shall do in these following particulars briefly .

First , An unprepared Sinner at Death loseth all his outward comforts and enjoyments . In this Life it may be Providence did abound towards him with variety of outward enjoyments , as Riches , Relations , Pleasures , Profits , and the like ; but Death is now come and hath swept away all of these things that were desirable . It was a doleful expression of Ahraham unto the Rich Man in Hell , Luke 16.25 . Son remember thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things . Oh what a cutting word was this to his Soul , when he was passed into another World ? And will it not wound thy Soul as deeply , O Sinner , who hast not made thy Preparations for Eternity , when thou comest to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death , to consider thou hast received all thy good things already ? yea , and having received them , if thou couldst always live with them , and keep them always with thee , it might be something to thee ; but alas thou canst not ; for when Death comes it will turn thee out of all thy possessions and enjoyments ; when thou diest thou shalt take nothing in thy hand with thee of all thy labour , as the Wise Man speaks , Eccl. 5.15 . The things of this World will not go one step with thee beyond this present Life ; and think , O Sinner , if thou canst , what a doleful thing will it be for a poor Soul to be 〈◊〉 down naked upon the vast Ocean of Eternity , having nothing to relieve and support it self with , all its Riches and Treasures being left behind it in another World .

Secondly , The Misery of an unprepared Sinner for Death appears in this , that then he shall be deprived of all the Seasons and Opportunities of Grace . It is no mean Mercy to thee , O Sinner , hadst thou a Heart to improve it , that thou now enjoyest the Ordinances of Life and Salvation , that thou hast the tenders of Mercy , the entreaties of Ministers , the motions of the Spirit , invitations to come unto Christ , leave and liberty to cast down thy self at the Feet of God , and by Prayer and Supplication seek his Face , and be as earnest and fervent as thou wilt or canst be for Mercy : But let me tell thee at Death the door of Mercy will be for ever shut , there will be no Praying , or Preaching , or Hearing in the Place whither thou art going ; no declaring this loving kindness of God in the Grave , nor this faithfulness of his in Destruction . Now the Ordinances of God , though precious to others , yet are they tedious and irksome unto thee ; the Church of God to thee is little better than a Prison , the Sabbath-day is the longest day in the Week in thy Account , thou wouldst fain be rid of it ; the Commands of Christ , which to a Gracious Soul are sweet and delightful , are no better than Bonds and Fetters unto thee , which thou wouldst fain break asunder and cast away from thee ; the Language of thy Carnal Heart is this ; ( though the Sermon be commonly measured by the space of an hour ; ) yet thou cryest , when will the Glass be out , when will the Duty be done , when will the Sabbath be over , that we may follow the World again ; thou thinkest Prayer too long , and Sermons too long , and Sabbaths too long : Well , be patient , O Sinner , for a while , and in a short time thou shalt never be troubled with these long painful Duties any more ; Death will ease thee of all these Burthens ; that Night is coming upon thee , wherein there shall be no more of these Works done for ever ; and then though with Esau , thou shouldst carefully seek a place of Repentance , with Tears , to bewall thy former Folly , yet thou shouldst not find it .

Thirdly , The Misery of an unprepared Sinner for Death lies in this , that he then ioseth all his hopes and expectations . Hope , it is the Anchor and Support of the Soul in time of Trouble ; sometimes the Soul is brought to such straits , and under such sore pressures , that it hath nothing to live upon but Faith and Hope ; Faith believes there shall be a happy issue out of those troubles the Soul is under , and therefore Hope encourageth the Soul to wait patiently till a time of Deliverance doth come ; it will come , saith Faith , for God is Faithful who hath promised ; I will wait therefore , saith Hope , and my expectations shall not be in vain , for they that wait upon him shall not be ashamed : But now all the Hopes of a Sinner will fail and disappoint him at Death ; for indeed he had no true well-grounded Hope . We read in Scripture of a true and lively Hope , 1 Pet 1.3 . but this is found only in the Saints , Blessed be God ( saith the Apostle ) who hath begotten us again to a lively Hope , by the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead : But a Sinner's Hope is not a lively but a dead Hope ; and what can the Fruits of such a Hope be but shame and disappointment ? When a Wicked Man dies , says the Wise Man , his Expectations shall perish . Prov. 11.7 . And what is the Hope of the Hypocrite , says Job , though he hath gained , when God taketh away his Soul , Job 27.8 . why nothing but shame and disappointment . And if Hope deferred , maketh the Heart sick , as Solomon tells us , then Hope frustrated , especially a Hope of Heaven and Happiness , must needs kill , even as with a thousand Deaths .

Fourthly , An unprepared Sinner at Death loseth his Soul ; and this is such a Jewel that its worth and value is not known on Earth , but shall be fully known in Hell . Were it possible for thee , O Sinner , to understand what is included in the loss of thy Soul , it would be as a Dagger at thy Heart ; the thoughts of it would make thee mingle thy drink with weeping , and imbitter all the Comforts of thy whole life unto thee . In Matt. 16.26 . What is a Man profited if he gains the whole World , and lose his own Soul , or what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul ? Behold here , O Sinner , of what an incomparable worth and value thy Soul is , and what an irreparable loss it is if thou losest it ; this is such a loss , as there is none like it , for the gain of the whole World cannot balance the loss of one Soul . It is also an irrecoverable loss : God hath given thee two Eyes , two Hands , and two Feet , and if thou losest one Eye thou hast another , or if thou losest one Limb , thou hast more ; but God hath given thee but one Soul , and if thou losest that , thou hast no more . If thou losest thy Estate , by thy diligence and the Blessing of God upon thy endeavours , thou mayest recover it again : yea , if thou losest thy Life , thou mayest be a gainer by it , for thou mayest find it again , for he that loseth his Life for my sake , says Christ , shall find it . How so , shall he live again here on Earth ? no , but he shall find it with infinite gain and advantage in Heaven ; for instead of a Temporal Life , he shall gain an Eternal Life . But if thy Soul , O Sinner , be once lost , thou art undone for ever ; this is such a loss , that the thoughts thereof may make thy Hair stand on end upon thy Head ; yea , it is that which when ever thou readest or thinkest of , may make thy Heart to ake ; do not thy Ears tingle , and thy Loyns tremble to hear of it ?

Having thus laid down some quickning Considerations to stir up Christians to prepare for Death . I shall in the next place endeavour to propound such Directions as may , by the Blessing of God , be helpful to them in their Preparations for their latter end .

Now the General Direction for a Christian's Preparation for Death is to get an Interest in Christ by a Work of Conversion , changing the State and Condition of the Soul . This now is the main Work of a Christian , without which he is no real Christian . Profession of Christianity gives a Man the Name of a Christian , but it is only Implantation into Christ by believing , that gives a Man the being of a Christian . It is Essential to a Christian as a Christian , that he be in Christ . By Nature all Men are Strangers ; yea , Enemies to God and Christ ; and therefore it is necessary , that there be a Manifestation of the Power of Converting Grace to change our Hearts , and Sanctifie our Natures , and till this be done , we are but Nominally Christians ; we have only a Name to live , but we are dead . He that is not in Christ , is not a Christian in Deed and in Truth . Now this being in Christ , which is always accompanied with Conversion and Sanctification , is that which makes Life comfortable , Death easy , and Heaven sure and certain . He that hath an Interest in Christ , may live joyfully in any Condition , if he knows but his own Happiness , he need not be troubled , let what will befal him ; whether he hath more or less , he hath it with the Love of God ; all his Mercies come swiming to him in the Blood of Jesus , and therefore he may well sit down and be content ; yea , be thankful and rejoyce , knowing that all things shall work together for his Eternal Benefit and Advantage ; there being no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus . And as for Death how easy a thing is it to such a Soul ? I confess Death is very terrible to one that is out of Christ , but to one that is in Christ , Death is his Friend ; yea , his best Friend next to Christ ; what says the Apostle of such , 1 Cor. 3.21 . All things are yours , that is for your Benefit and Advantage , whether Paul or Apollo's , or Cephas , or things present , or things to come , or Life , or Death , all is yours . But how comes all this about ? why because you are Christ's , and Christ is God's . Death therefore cannot hurt such . The Happiness of those that are in Christ , lies in the Manifestation of the Divine Love and Favour unto their Souls ; now this Death cannot hinder them of . I know many of God's People , have not the Light of his Countenance liftted up upon their Souls in Death , but their passage to Heaven is dark and uncomfortable ; God loves them , though they know it not ; yet by this darkness and uncomfortableness which Death brings upon them by their passage through it , Death is but bringing them to the most clear Discoveries of the Love of God to their Souls in Heaven , with which they shall then be filled and satisfied to all Eternity . Our Comfort in Death lies in the Knowledge of our Interest in Christ , but so doth not our Happiness , that lies in our Interest in Christ , whether we know it or not . Our Consolation in a dying hour springs from our Assurance that Christ is ours , and we are his , but our safely and security in that hour , ariseth from the certainty of our Interest in Christ . Indeed our Ignorance that we are in Christ when we come to die , may prejudice our present Peace and Comfort in Death ; but it shall not prejudice our future Happiness after Death . They that are in Christ are always in a safe Condition ; they may die uncomfortably indeed , but they cannot die miserably ; they are built upon the Rock of Ages ; and therefore though they fall by Death into the Grave even as others , yet they perish not with others . Death may kill them , but it cannot hurt them . He that hath an Interest in Christ , being united to him by Faith , need not fear what Death can do unto him . True and thorough Conversion from Sin unto God , is a sure Foundation for Peace and Safety both in Life and Death . He that is interested in Christ is built upon a Rock that is Impregnable , the Gates of Death and Hell shall not prevail against him . To behold a Man dying that is in Christ , this is Comfortable ; for such a one dies that he may live for ever , and changes only a Temporal for an Eternal Life . To behold a Christless Person , but not in a dying condition , this is something tolerable , for who can tell but that the next Sabbath , or the next Sermon , God may make it a time of Love to his Soul , even such a day of his Power and Grace towards him , as thereby savingly to draw him unto Christ . But to behold a dying Man , and a Christless Man also , this is dreadful ; yea , even intolerable , for such a one dies from Earth to be Damned in Hell . It was a sad and doleful Complaint ( and Oh that it might startle and awaken some secure Sinner to look after Christ ) that was once uttered by one upon a Death-Bed , being just a dying , Oh I want nothing now but a Christ to Save me . O miserable State and Condition indeed , for in having him , the Soul hath all that can do it good , or make it good ; but in wanting of him , the Soul hath nothing that can do it good here , or make it happy hereafter . Interest in Christ is the only true Preparation for Death . This now is the general Direction for our Preparation for Death , without which there is no dying happily or comfortably . But the more particular Directions are these that follow .

First , Wouldst thou be prepared for Death , then die unto Sin , by daily and constant endeavours to mortifie and subdue the Power and Strength of it in the Exercise of a Holy Life . The Apostle tells us in Rom. 6.23 . That the wages of Sin is Death . By which he means Temporal and Eternal Death : This now is the Fruit of Sin , for Lust when it hath conceived , bringeth forth Sin , and Sin , when it is finished , bringeth forth Death . But is there no way to escape this Death ? yes , from Spiritual and Eternal Death , there is a deliverance , and therefore the Apostle tells us , in Rom. 6.13 . That if we through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body , that is the deeds of the Body of Sin , then we shall live and not die ; that is we shall live Spiritually , and not die Eternally ; and as for a Temporal Death , though we cannot scape the stroke of it , yet we shall be free from the Curse and Sting of it . Wouldst thou therefore , O Christian , be prepared for Death when it comes , then take from it now its Power and Strength . When the Philistines saw Sampson was too strong for them , they labour to know wherein his great Strength lay , and when they found it was in the Hair of his Head , they would not be quiet till they got his Hair cut off . Every Christian hath to deal with a dreadful Enemy unto Nature , and that is Death . Assault he will all of us at one time or other ; yea , and be too hard for us . If now we would overcome him , we must find out where his great Strength lies ; the Spirit of God now tells us , that the Power and Sting of Death is Sin , so we read in 1 Cor. 15.56 . The Sting of Death is Sin . And the Power and Sting of every Mans particular Death lies in his own Sins . Death cannot hurt any of us but by that Power and Strength that our sins put into its hands . Christian , the way how thou mayest overcome thine Enemy Death , is set open to thee , his Strength is discovered to thee , that thou mayest have thine Advantage against him , to weaken him , and to take away his Strength , and that is by dying unto Sin , this will be the Death of Death . Yield not therefore at any time to its Solicitations , for this is but to make Death the more strong and Powerful to wound thy Soul and Conscience . When therefore thou art tempted unto any Sin , though it may seem pleasant and delightful , yet before thou yieldst unto the Temptation , say to thy self , O my Soul , how will this relish with me when I come to lie upon a Death-bed , and my Soul sits trembling upon my Lips ready to take its Flight unto the Tribunal of God ? What Peace and Comfort will it procure to my Conscience then ? Will not the Remembrance of it prove more bitter than Gall and Wormwood , and the grating Reflections of Conscience more stinging and tormenting to the Soul , than a thousand Deaths could possibly be ? Wouldst thou not have Death bitter then , let not Sin be sweet now . Part with Sin betimes , get that removed that is the troubler of a Death-Bed , and the Sting of Death ; and that is Sin . Make it your daily business to be dying unto Sin . Now this dying unto Sin implies our constant endeavours to subdue the Power and Strength of Sin , and this is done by daily Mortification . It is true in the People of God Sin doth not Reign , and that is Comfortable to consider . Sin in the Work of Conversion hath received such a Wound as is incurable ; but yet wherever Sin is in any Soul , it doth not use to lie dormant ; but where it cannot Reign , it will molest and struggle ; yea , and it may be , prevail to a Victory sometimes , even over those , over whom it shall never prevail unto Condemnation . This now calls for a constant work of Mortification . Every day there are corrupt Inclinations and Propensions to be kept in , sinful thoughts to be contended with , Evil motions to be supprest ; and it is not the meer Habis and Principle of Grace received in our first Conversion , without the vigorous and constant Exercise of it in a way of Mortification , that will overcome all these . Though Regeneration hath given Sin its Deaths wound , yet Mortification must daily weaken and subdue its Power and Strength ; and according as the work of Mortification is successful in the Soul , so will be our Peace and Purity in Life , and our Joy and Comfort in Death .

Secondly , Keep Conscience clear , that it may not have the guilt of any known sin to charge you withal . Now Conscience may then be said to be clear , when it is pure , and when it is a Peaceable Conscience that is peaceable must be pure , and a pure Conscience , usually is a peaceable Conscience . When Conscience is free from all known and willful defilements , and not justly burthened with the guilt of Sin , then is Conscience clear . If it be possible do not wound Conscience , and if you would not , have a care of Sin : he that is not watchful to avoid Sin , cannot have a clear Conscience . It is impossible for us , while we are surrounded about with Infirmities , and oppressed with a Body of Sin and Death ( which the Apostle complains of ) to keep our selves free and unspotted from all Sin , for in many things we offend all . Those Sins now that are Sins of weakness and Infirmity , as they are usually small Sins , and so hardly discernable many times by our selves nor others ; so they do not break our Peace with God , nor obscure the clearness of our Consciences ; but they are known and willful sins that waste and wound the Conscience , and they that are not careful to keep themselves from sinning thus , can never have a clear Conscience , nor be in a prepared State for Death ; for how can Conscience speak Peace unto the Soul upon a Death-bed with the guilt of any known sin upon it ? If you wound Conscience by sin now , Conscience will wound you for sin hereafter . Any known sin committed against Conscience , will exceedingly discompose and trouble the Soul in a dying hour . Reader , doth thy Conscience reprove thee for living in any sinful way , or for being careless and remiss in looking after Heaven and Eternity ? hearken unto Conscience now , that Conscience may hearken unto you another day . O Sinner , when thou shalt come to lie upon a Death-bed , and begin to examine thy Conscience how things are with thee , and how it is like to go with thee for ever ; thou wouldest then be glad to have Conscience give thee a comfortable answer , and say all is well , and all shall be well with thee to Eternity ; thou hast been Faithful in following my Counsels and Reproofs , that from the Great God according to his Word I delivered unto thee , and now I will be as Faithful in declaring to thee , the Truth of things as to thy future State , fear not therefore , for it shall certainly go well with thee for ever . Wouldst thou now have Conscience speak thus comfortably to thee at Death ? hearken to what Conscience saith to thee now ; for if thou dost not hearken unto Conscience in thy life time , when it Faithfully Admonisheth and Reproves thee ; Conscience will not hearken unto thee at thy Death , to excuse and acquit thee , but will prove thy great Accuser and Condemner . Guilt lying upon the Conscience , makes the Soul ashamed and afraid to come before God even in this Life , much more at Death . A Guilty Sinner chooseth rather to run away from God , that if it were possible God might not find him . Thus we imitate our Grand-Father Adam , who as soon as he had sinned , endeavours to hide himself from God among the Trees of the Garden . And who of us is there but may observe the same by himself ; what slavish fear , what dejection and sinking in our Spirits doth seize upon us when we come before God in the Performance of a Duty after we have provoked him by some known sin ? with what Doubtings , with what Fears and misgiving of heart do we come into his Presence , as if we were not willing that God should take any notice that we are before him ; and if we are not in continual pain while we are performing the Duty , yet we would willingly enough that the Duty were done and over . And if we cannot tell how to engage in Duty with a guilty Conscience ; how shall we be able to contend with Death with a guilty Conscience ? If the Presence of God in Duty be so dreadful and terrible unto the Soul under the Apprehension of some known sin committed by it and not pardoned to it , that it makes it quake and tremble to come before him , what then will the Presence of God in Death and Judgment , when Conscience shall be awakened to make terrible Reflections , not upon a particular sin , but upon the sins of a whole Life , if not Repented of ? Oh with what horrour and amazement , with what Consternation and Confusion must such a Soul be filled withal ? But now he whose Conscience is clear , Oh how doth he Rejoyce to draw nigh to God , how glad is he to go up unto the House of the Lord , as David speaks , with what delight doth his Soul hasten unto God in Duty , that it may taste how good the Lord is , that it may see the Power and Glory of God , so as it hath sometimes done in his Sanctuary ; O with what Peace and Contentment of Mind , shall I say ? alas these are Expressions of too low and too mean a Signification , to represent the workings of such a Soul towards God ; rather with what Joy and Rejoying , with what Triumph and Exultation , doth such a Soul make its abode and stay with God in Duty , where it enjoys the sweet and refreshing Smiles of his Countenance , and sits under the delightful Banner of his Love . Thus it is with a Christian in Duty , that hath a clear Conscience . And if it be thus with him in Duty , and Conscience continue to keep its clearness and inoffensiveness in an upright walking with God daily ; it cannot be bad or ill with such a Soul at Death . A Conscience kept clean and pure in Life , will be quiet and peaceable in Death ; nay , let me say more , he who hath made it his care and business to walk continually with a clear and inoffensive Conscience in his Life , shall certainly have much boldness ; yea , and usually a great deal of Joy and Rejoycing in Death ; and though the Devil may and will labour to disturb such a Soul's Peace and Comfort then ; yet a Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of Christ , shall be too hard for him . And what Conscience doth in God's Name on good grounds upon a Death bed , God will confirm and enlarge to the Soul's everlasting Comfort and Consolation , when Death shall bring it to appear before him .

Thirdly , Would you be prepared for Death , get sin pardoned , and labour much after the Assurance of it . Sin is the cause of death , the means by which Death came into the World ; had there been no sinning , there would have been no dying : but sin coming into the World , death came along with it . Rom. 5.12 . As by one Man sin entred into the World , and death by sin , and so death passed upon all Men , for that all have sinned . By sinning against God , Man is come under a necessity of dying . The wages of sin , says the Apostle , is Death ; nay sin is that which gives Death its sting ; so we read 1 Cor. 15. and 56. The sting of Death is sin . This is it which gives Death its power , and makes it so dreadful ; and because of Guilt lying on the Soul , makes it unfit to die . But now where the Soul is sprinkled with the Blood of Christ , the Guilt of Sin taken away by an Act of Pardon and Forgiveness , that Soul is prepared to receive and entertain Death whensoever it comes ; and though it make not that Death shall not be , yet it makes that Death shall not hurt , for Sin is pardoned . Sin is that which makes the Soul cry out bitterly under the Apprehonsions of Death , and of the Wrath of God . Oh , that I had never committed such and such Sins ! Why know , O pardoned Sinner , thou hast thy wish ; for God when he pardons Sin , makes it to be as if it had never been committed . Things forgotten are no more to us than as if they had never been . Why now says God , I will forgive their Iniquities , and I will remember their Sins no more . And doth God , O fearful Soul , make thy Sins to be as if they had never been by his pardoning Grace and Mercy ; and shall not thy former fears of Sin , and of Death by Reason of Sin , be now as if they had never been . Thou need'st not fear , O trembling Soul , that thou shalt ever be questioned again for those Sins that God hath once forgiven thee . God's Acts of Oblivion can never be repealed ; for the Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance . Guilt binds a Sinner over unto Punishment , no wonder then that an unpardoned Sinner who is unfit to die , is afraid of Death ; for whenever Death comes to such a Soul , it comes with a deadly incurable Sting . Death to an unpardoned Sinner , is Death with a witness ; for it is Death and Hell in to the Bargain . But now to a pardoned Sinner , let Death come when and how it will , he is prepared for it , his Condition is safe , he cannot be miserable ; Death may kill him , but it cannot hurt him ; and therefore what need he fear it . Now if you would know the Safety and Happiness of your Condition , labour for an Assurance that your Sins are pardoned . Your future Happiness depends upon the pardon of Sin , but your present Comfort depends upon your Assurance that Sin is pardoned . He whose Sins are pardoned dies safely , but he who knows his Sins are pardoned dies comfortably . Pardon of Sin frees from Condemnation , but it is Assurance of Pardon that brings Peace and Comfort . That Man is not so ready to die , nor in such a prepared Frame of Soul for Death as he ought to be in ; who , though his Sins are pardoned , and thereby he hath a Right and Title unto Heaven , yet walks in the dark , and is at Vncertainties whether his Sins are pardoned or not ; for as our pardon of Sin is necessary to our dying happily , so the Assurance of our Pardon is necessary to our dying comfortably . Take a Man that is at a loss and under Doubts and Fears that his Sins are not pardoned , if Death should come to him while he is under those Doubts and Fears , with what difficulty would he make a shift to die ? How hardly would he be brought to it ? What Pretences and Excuses would he make ? Alas , says he , I know not where I am , nor what Death will do with me ; and though I am so sick that I cannot live ; yet I am so afraid I dare not die ; for I know not whither I am going , nor where my Dwelling shall be for ever , whether in Heaven or in Hell . O what shall I do therefore . But now he whose Sins are not only pardoned , but he walks daily under the comfortable Assurance thereof , it being sealed and witnessed to him by the Spirit of God , which Spirit as the Apostle saith , witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God : If Death comes to him he rejoiceth ; for , saith he , I know that if my earthly House of this Tabernacle be dissolved , I have a Building of God , an House not made with Hands , eternal in the Heavens . The Sum of all is this ; Pardon of Sin is very good , for it is our Safety ; for they that are pardoned shall certainly be saved : but to have Sin not only pardoned , but to have the Assurance that it is pardoned , this is much better . For God to love us so as to pardon and accept us , is the ground of our Hopes for Heaven hereafter : But to have God manifest his Love , and to assure us that he loves us , is our Heaven on this side Heaven . And the more we have of this Assurance , the more joyfully and comfortably shall we be able to pass through a dying Hour .

Fourthly , Would you be prepared for Death , labour for Hearts and Affections crucified to the World , and all things here below . It is impossible we should ever be willing to leave the World , when God calls us hence , till we have first learned to use the World as if we used it not , 1 Cor. 7. and 31. For if our Affections are set upon worldly Things , and our hearts engaged in an eager prosecution of them , it will be as Death to us before we die to think of parting with them ; and much more unwilling shall we be to take our everlasting Farewel of them , when Death comes to us in good earnest . This is commonly the Temper , or rather the Distemper of most Men , the Delights and Accommodations that God affords them for their more comfortable passage through this World , and to encourage them with greater Chearfulness to serve him ; have got such an Interest in their Hearts and Affections , that they prize and value them above measure . The Love of the World , and the things of the World is grown so prevalent with many , that if they might have their Desires , they would not care for , nor trouble themselves with any other Heaven , but would be content to live here always ; saying , Let us build Tabernacles ; nay , let us have a continuing City here : But , O Lord forgive them , for they know not what they say : They never experimentally tasted the Excellency and Sweetness of Heaven , and heavenly Things , and that is the Reason they are so in love with Earth and earthly Things . Now what wonder is it , that those who place their Happiness in the Things of this World , should be unwilling to die ; that the Thoughts of Death which parts them and their Happiness , should be bitter and unpleasant ? This now is naturally the Temper of all Men , till God opens their Eyes , and discovers to them more excellent Things , even Things of a spiritual and divine Nature , which as they are more suitable to their Souls , so are they more durable and satisfying ; and having once tasted what present Sweetness , Peace and Joy there is in God , and in ways of Holiness , besides what is laid up for them hereafter in Heaven ; their Hearts and Affections are now become dead to the World , and all worldly Things , so that they have no relish and savour of these Things upon their Spirits : But as St. Paul saith of himself , so it may be said of them ; they are now crucified unto the World , and the World is crucified unto them : The World sees no Glory , or Beauty in them , and they see as little in the World . How easily now can such take their leaves of it , when God by Death calls them to it . The Apostle tells us , for his part he did die daily , 1 Cor. 15. and 31. And did we die daily in our Desires and Affections unto the World , and the Things thereof , it would not be so hard for us to die when we come to it in good earnest . When Death comes to a Man whose natural strength and vigour hath been wasting and consuming a long time by lingring Sicknesses and Distempers , his Death is not so hard and strong , as that Man's Death is , whom a few day's Sickness cuts off in the midst of his strength and Vigour , Nature being strong in him to make resistance against it , whereas in the other the strength of Nature is wasted and consumed , and so Death to him is more easie . So is it here , the Christian whose Love and Affection to the World , and the Contentments of this present Life , hath for many years been consuming and dying , will more freely and readily part with them at Death , than he whose Love and Affections are strongly and eagerly bent upon them ; such a one must be rent and torn from them by force and violence in the hour of Death . When our heart 's set loose from all things that are desirable under the Sun , and there is nothing upon Earth that insnares and intangles our Affections towards it , one Difficulty ; yea , and a great one too , in our way of dying is then removed . Death will rend and tear that heart that is glued in love to any thing in this World .

Therefore , O Christian , as to all thy worldly Enjoyments , possess them as if thou possessed'st them not , rejoice in them as if thou rejoicedst not , and use the World as not abusing of it ; for the Fashion of the world passeth away . How dreadful will Death be to one , who as the Apostle saith , minds earthly Things ? and how easie will Death be to one , whose Mind and Conversation is in Heaven ?

It is good therefore for us to consider , that we are but Strangers and Pilgrims here . Heaven is the proper Place and Dwelling for holy Souls . Make provision therefore by a holy weanedness of Heart and Affections for your departure bence ; send your best things to Heaven before-hand , that is your Heart , your Love , your Delight , and then you your selves will the more readily and willingly follow after them .

Fifthly , Would you be prepared for Death , live every day then as if it were your last , doing nothing therein , but what you would be willing to be found doing at Death and Judgment . He that shall every day seriously consider with himself , for ought I know this may be my last day : The shadows of Death may stretch themselves over my Life , before the shadows of the Evening overtake me . I have no Assurance of my Life here , no not for a moment . How is it therefore with thee , O my Soul as to Eternity , what is thy daily Work and Employment ? Is it that wherein if I should meet with Death at the end of it , I can comfortably give an Account thereof unto the Great God ? If I knew this to be my last Day , would I be thus employed as I now am ? If not , why do I venture upon the doing of that , which I would be loath Death should find me a doing ; since I know not but Death may overtake me , before I have finished what I am about . Reader , whoever thou art , possibly thou mayest be guilty of no very great mistake , if thou shouldst think with thy self , as healthful and as strong as now I am , yet there may be some secret , invisible Hand of Death stretched out towards me , possibly this very day I may feel some Symptoms and some Fore-runners of it , some mortal , incurable Disease may seize upon me before Night , and cast me upon a sick Bed , which to me may prove a Death bed . Supposing now that this were thy very Case , and that thou hadst received the Sentence of Death , though not as Hezekiah did , by a Messenger sent immediately by God unto him , as he had , but by the Violence of some Distemper , accompanied with those Signs and Tokens that usually are and have been presages of Death unto others ; How then wouldst thou spend those few small Moments of Time , that thou hast yet left thee on this side Eternity ? How would thy Thoughts work ? What would thy Words and Discourses then be ? Surely thou wouldst not be so abominable stupid and secure , so wretchedly careless and negligent of thy Soul , and of thy eternal Interest and Concerns , when thy Soul is as it were sitting upon thy Lips , and looking over into Eternity , being ready to take its sudden flight thither ; as to be plodding and contriving in thy Thoughts how to enjoy the Pleasures , Profits and Delights of the World , which you now find to be nothing but Vanity and Vexation of Spirit ; nor yet would you be so desperately mad and bold , as to send then for your vain and wicked Companions , with whom you have consumed so many Days and Years in Sin and Wickedness , that you and they might now laugh and waste away your last Hours ; together also . No , certainly there is no relish and savour now in any of these Things , unless it be that which is bitter ; yea surely the Remembrance thereof will then be more bitter to the Soul than Gall and Wormwood . Oh now the Consideration of the Wants and Exigences of the Soul begin to thrust and force themselves into the Mind and Thoughts of a Sinner ! O the sight of a righteous and a severe Judge , of a strict Account , and of a dreadful Tribunal ! Oh the bitter Vpbraidings and Terrors of an accusing Conscience , the fearful Reflections upon past Sins , and the Expectations of future Torments , the Fears and Thoughts of these Things do now fill the Mind and perplex the Soul , and make a Sinner cry out , O what shall I now do to be saved ? Were you never in all your Lives by the Death-bed of a careless , negligent Sinner , whose Conscience was then awakened under Horrors and Desperation ? If you have not , others have ; and what hath been their dying words ? Oh , that God would pardon their sins ; that he would Sanctifie and Save their Souls ; that he would spare them a little space ; that he would grant them a little time longer , that they might recover their Strength , that they might Repent of their Sins , and Reform their Lives , or else that he would graciously manifest his Love and Favour to their Souls , and receive them to his Mercy . This is the Language , these are the Thoughts and Cares of Men upon a Sick bed , when they see death coming near them , and staring them in their Faces . And if this were thy Case and Condition , O Sinner , that thou didst now lie tumbling and tossing upon a Sick-bed , yea upon a Death-bed ; would not these things be in thy mind ? would not the same Thoughts and Cares possess thy Soul , and the same words and discourses fall from thy Mouth ? why let the same Care , the same Thoughts , the same words , take up some part of every day and hour of this Life now ; for thou knowest not , but that this moment thou art as near death , as if thy Friends and Relations , yea and thy Physicians also despaired of thy life , and had given thee over for dead . O if we could thus spend every day , as if it were our last , we should then hardly be brought to the doing of any thing , but what we would be willing death should find us doing ; and how exceedingly would this further our Preparations for a dying hour .

Sixthly , He that would be in a readiness for a dying hour , must frequently meditate of his own death and of the death of Christ . To Meditate of our own death , will make us Studious to prepare for it ; and to Meditate of the death of Christ , will Arm us against the Fears of our own Deaths . He that by frequent Meditations of his own death , and of the death of Christ , hath made death familiar to his Soul , is not only prepared for death , but in a great measure also freed from the fears of death . As to the considering of our own death , the Scripture is often in calling upon us to lay the thoughts of it to our hearts . Oh that my People were wise , says God , that they understood this , that they would consider their latter end . And though a Man lives many years and rejoyces in them all , yet let him remember the days of darkness , for they shall be many . Eccle. 11.8 . By days of darkness we are to understand death , or the State of death during the abode of our Bodies in the dark Grave , or in the darkness of the Grave . He that frequently ponders of his ways , will at length be brought to turn his feet unto God's Testimonies , as David speaks of himself . So he that often thinks upon death , will by the serious thoughts of it be stirred up to make some timely preparation for it , this being the end to which the Contemplations of death doth tend . This is that Wisdom which Solomon tells us , the Living gain by going often to the House of Mourning , even so to lay to heart the thoughts of death , so as to make preparation for it . It is sad , that the Goodness and Mercy of God should occasion our forgetfulness of him and of our selves , and yet it is commonly so with us . When God lays his Afflicting hand upon us , especially under some smart stroke ; we are then brought to seek God , as the Prophet speaks , In their Affliction they will seek me early . There is some tendency in Afflictions to make us mindful of God , and of our own Interest and Concerns , which is the design God aims at in Afflicting us . But when God is pleased to open his hand towards us , as the Psalmist speaks , and fill us with his Blessings , then we are very prone to forget both him and our selves ; we forget God , because when we are full , we are ready to deny God , and say who is the Lord ? and we forget our selves , because we return not that Duty and Obedience which such Goodness and Mercy should engage us to . And because the Streams of Mercy now run pleasantly about us , we consider not how many the days of darkness are that will overtake us shortly , but put far from us the thoughts of death and the Grave ; and this is the Reason , why when death comes it finds us so unready and unprepared , and we so troubled and discomposed in our Spirits , and under so many fears and doubts as to our Spiritual and Eternal concerns . Frequently therefore , O Christian , make thy private Retirements , Commune with thy self alone , visit Death and the Grave in thy thoughts ; take a walk now and then in the Valley of the Shadow of Death , suffer not thy thoughts to be estranged from such Meditations : If thou findest thy self shy and unwilling to engage in such a work , yet bring thy heart to it , inure thy self to the thoughts of Death in general , and of thine own death in particular . And that thou mayest not be afraid of it , to the Meditation of thine own death , joyn the Consideration of the death of Christ , who hath Conquered death , took away its Sting . By dying he slew death , was the death of death , as it was Prophesied of him , in Hosea 13.14 . O Death I will be thy Plagues , O Grave I will be thy Victory . He now that by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is interested in his death , may say , when ever the time of his departure comes ; thanks be to God through Christ , I am ready and prepared for it . Muse therefore much upon the Death of Christ , for herein lies thy support and comfort , O Soul , against thine own Death .

Seventhly , He that would be prepared for death must labour for an assurance of a better life , always living by Faith in the Contemplation of the Glory and Happiness of Heaven . He that is assured of an Eternal Life in Heaven , need not , nay will not much fear a Temporal death here upon Earth . Christians , the time is coming when you and all things and persons in this World must take your leaves one of another and part for ever ; what then , O Christian , will bear up thy Spirit at such a time ? why nothing less than the sense and hopes of the love of God , and of thy Interest in Christ , some Evidences of a work of Grace upon thy Soul , which is an earnest and foretaste of Heaven and Glory : These are the only things that will bear up thy Soul in a dying hour . When a Man hath attained to some well grounded Assurance of his Interest in God and Christ , and thereby of his Right and Title unto Heaven , then are things in a good posture with him , and he in a readiness for Death and the Grave : And how light will that Soul make of death , that hath the assured hopes of Heaven and Glory to encourage him to go through it ? He that by Faith lives in the daily Contemplations of the Glory and Happiness of Heaven , walking in the Light of God's Countenance , and is able to say , I know that my Redeemer lives , and that when this Earthly Tabernacle of his Body shall be dissolved into dust , that he hath a Building of God , an House not made with hands , Eternal in the Heavens , which death will bring him unto , and this is all the hurt death can do him ; he that hath such an Assurance as this is , cannot but welcome death , and embrace it not only with Contentment , but with Delight and Joy , and even then when his Soul is struggling and striving to get loose from his Body , with what Holy Longing and vehemency of desire will he cry out and say , come , Lord Jesus , come quickly .

CHAP. IV.

Of willingness and unwillingness to Die . Difference between Christians in reference unto Death . Whether it be lawful to desire Death . In what cases it may , and in what not . A willingness to Die may be even in Wicked Men , and sometimes they may Die peaceably and quietly , though Death is never comfortable and happy to them . In the Best there may be an unwillingness to Die , though a Saint , as a Saint , is always desirous of Death . Reasons that should encourage the People of God always to be willing to Die . Believers should not only desire to Die , but they should long for Death .

DEath in it self is not desirable , nor can it be ; Nature not only shuns , but abhors it ; nor is it possible that Nature should be reconciled to that which seeks its Annihilation and Destruction , as Death doth : And accordingly as these Fears are either strengthened and increased by Sin and Guilt , or conquered and overcome by Grace , so are we more or less enclined towards , or averse from Death . To be willing to Die , when God calls us to it , is a thing greatly to be desired , and argues no small attainment in Grace , when we do it upon good grounds : And yet sometimes to be unwilling to Die is not to be condemned as evil and sinful . To be willing to Die , that we may be with Christ , when God calls us to it , is a frame of Soul , in which the People of God should always be desirous to be found ; but yet to be desirous to Live , when either the Great Work of a Christian is not finished , or when his Life may tend to the Glory of God and the Good of his Church , is that which is not sinful or unlawful ; we may see this Truth both in David and Hezekiah ; in David in Psal. 6.4 , 5. Deliver my Soul , O Lord , spare me for thy Mercy-sake , for in Death there is no remembrance of thee . David at this time being troubled in Mind , under the apprehensions of God's Wrath , and so wanting the assurance of his Love , as you may read in the Psalm , prays that he might be spared . And so Hezekiah , Isai. 38.2 . prays for a longer time of Life ; as for other Reasons , so for this as one , because having begun a Reformation in the Church of God , he was desirous to live , that he might carry it on farther to the Glory of God and the Good of his Church . A Christian ought so to live , not only as to be prepared for Death , but so as to be willing to die ; but yet he is a true Christian , who though he doth not die so willingly , yet dies preparedly ; he that dies preparedly and willingly , dies most comfortably ; but yet he that dies preparedly , dies safely and happily .

In reference unto Death , there is a great difference between Nominal Christians and Real Christians ; and also between one true Christian and another . There is a difference in reference unto Death , between those that are called Christians , but yet are not truly so : Some there are whose Consciences are so awakened upon a Death-bed , setting their Sins before their Faces with such horrible bloody Circumstances , and withal representing the Wrath of God , and the Everlasting Torments of Hell , as due unto them for their Sins , that they cry out in Horrour and Despair , their Sins are greater than can be forgiven ; and feeling a Hell in their Consciences here , they die under Desperation of ever escaping Hell hereafter , or of obtaining Mercy and Pardon from God : This was the case of Judas , who under Horrours of Conscience , despairing of Mercy , endeavours to ease his Conscience , by laying violent hands upon himself , and is , as the Scripture saith , gone to his own place . Others there are , who though they would be called Christians , yet are not so indeed ; but yet are so bold and confident in Death , that Heaven is theirs , as if they were in the possession of it already ; Our Lord tells us of some , in Luke 13.25 . who had such strong presumptions of Heaven , that with a confident boldness they knock at Heaven's Gate , crying , Lord , Lord , open unto us ; as if there were no more to be done , but only the opening of the door , and letting them into Heaven ; but you know what Answer our Lord returns them , I know you not , depart from me , ye workers of Iniquity . Both these sorts of Persons , the despairing Sinner , and the presumptuous Sinner , are alike miserable in their Death , though they differ vastly from true and real Christians ; for they die neither happily nor comfortably ; for they die under the guilt of their Sins , and so perish for ever , which no true Christian doth . And as Hypocrites and sincere Christians differ in their Death ; so also do true and real Christians differ in the manner of their dying ; some when they come to lie upon their Death-beds , God is pleased to withdraw the light of his Countenance and the manifestations of his Love and Favour from them ; and in their apprehensions God seems to have cast them off , and will be favourable to them no more ; and though their Life draws nigh to the Grave , yet their Soul is full of trouble ; they are so in the dark , and can see no light , in such a State of desertion , that God seems to have forsaken them , their Sun is as it were setting in a Cloud ; and in this State of dismal darkness they die , not knowing what shall become of their Souls for ever ; which yet go safely to Heaven , being built upon the Rock of Ages , the Lord Jesus Christ , against which the Gates of Death and Hell shall never prevail . Some again there are who though they are true Christians , yet are weak Christians ; though they have the Grace of God in Truth , yet they have it not in that growth and strength that some have ; their Faith is true , but they are not strong in Faith ; they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity , but not with that fervour and ardour that some do ; they have a good Hope towards God , but their Hope is not lively and operative : Such Christians as these now , though they take Death patiently , yet they would willingly live ; they go indeed when God by Death calls for them , but they could wish that it would please God to stay for them a little longer ; they have some good Hopes of Heaven when they die , but they desire a little more time to live here upon Earth ; they love God more than all Things and Persons whatsoever , but yet their affections are not so fully taken off from the World , nor from their Friends and Relations as they should be ; they are not wrack'd and tormented with perplexing fears of Wrath and Hell , but yet they are not ravish'd with the Joys of Heaven . Concerning the Death of such as these , we must say , Blessed are they that thus die in the Lord ; for though they have not that assurance that some have , and so die not so comfortably as to sense and feeling as they do ; yet have they that Faith and Affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ , whereby they die happily : But then there are others that are strong Christians , grown Men in Christ , who have attained unto such a full assurance of Faith , that they are not only willing to die , but are desirous of Death , being perswaded that neither Death , nor Life , nor Angels , nor Principalities , nor Powers , nor things present , nor things to come , nor heighth , nor length , nor depth , nor any Creature , shall ever be able to separate them from the love of God , which is in Christ Jesus : for they know in whom they have believed , and with whom they have intrusted the everlasting Concernments of their Immortal Souls ; and that he is able and faithful ; yea , and will also keep that good thing that they have committed unto him unto that day . And therefore they can with a Holy Triumph through Christ say , O Death where is thy sting , O Grave where is thy Victory ; thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ . Wherefore they can with chearfulness commit one half of themselves , that is , their Bodies , unto the Grave , where though they know it shall turn to Corruption and Rottenness ; yet that troubles them not ; because they know also that by the Power of God it shall be raised up a most Glorious Body at the last Day ; for they are assured that their Redeemer lives , and they believe that he shall stand at the last day upon the Earth ; and not only so , but because he lives they believe that they shall live also : And though for the present Worms destroy their Bodies , yet in their Flesh they shall see God ; whom they shall see for themselves , and their Eyes shall behold him , and not anothers , and that to their everlasting Joy and Comfort . Now to such as these , Death is both happy and comfortable also ; and therefore they are desirous to be dissolved , and to be with Christ which is best of all .

But now a Question may arise here : Is it not Lawful to desire , or wish for Death ?

To this I Answer , negatively , and positively : in some cases it is unlawful and sinful , and in some cases it may be lawful and commendable .

First , negatively , wherein it is sinful and unlawful . And so for any to wish for , or to desire Death through impatience or discontent in any condition , because they cannot have their own Wills ; but are crost in their desires , this is sinful : This was the Sin of Jonah , who because God had smitten the Gourd from which he received some refreshment , presently he falls into a Passion , and in a discontented fit he concludes the matter , that it was better for him to die than to live , Jonah 4.8 . but God knew it was better for him to live than to die ; and therefore in his pity he spares him that he might repent of his Sin . This was the Infirmity of Elijah , which the Apostle seems to take notice of , when he tells us , He was a Man of like Infirmities with us , Jam. 5.17 . for as to any other Infirmities of that Holy Man , the Scripture is silent , but it takes notice of this , that when he was persecuted by Jezabel's Cruelties and fled for his Life , under fear and infidelity , in 1 Kings 19. and 24. he cry'd out , It is enough , O Lord , now take away my Life , for I am no better than my Fathers . These fits of passion and discontent are sinful , and not to be justified ; and yet how frequent is it for Men thus to vent their discontents when any trouble befalls them , that crosseth their Wills ; presently nothing will serve their turns but Death : O that they were Dead . I will not say what once I heard spoken to be always true in this case ; that such Persons by wishing for Death , wish for Hell and Damnation with it ; I dare not say so , least I should offend against the Generation of the Righteous : But this I will say , that there are many wicked prophane wretches , who when something doth cross and vex them , instantly cry out , Oh that they were dead ! to whom , if God should not be more merciful to their Souls , than they themselves are to their Bodies , but take them at their word , and presently strike them dead , it may be feared he must also by striking their Bodies into the Grave , smite their Souls into Hell ; they allowing themselves no space and time for their Repentance . O that such Persons would seriously consider what they do when they wish such an End may befall them .

Again , to wish for Death absolutely is sinful , though we are under pains that are more painful than Death it self . Nature puts us upon desiring to live , and Grace should put us upon desiring to live , because God wills it , though we be under sore afflictions ; for as it is our Holiness to do the will of God while we live , so it is our Holiness to be content to live , while we suffer according to his will . To desire Death , because our lives are full of troubles , is a sinful wish or desire ; for God may , and often hath as much use of our lives , when we are in an afflicted condition , as when we are in a prosperous condition ; a sickly Body , yea a sick Bed , may bring as much Glory to God , as a healthful Constitution ; and we may do as much service when we are bound in Chains and in a Prison , as when we enjoy the greatest Freedom and Liberty . Passive Obedience brings as much Honour to God as Active doth . When you lie under any troubles therefore , wish not for Death ; beg of God rather that he would remove those Evils from you , than remove you from those Evils : God hath a thousand ways to let us out of trouble , though he doth not open the door of the Grave to let us in thither . Pray that your Afflictions may be sanctified , and that your Spirits may be raised up above your troubles while you live , and seek not , nor desire freedom from them by Death : For a Christian to bear a burden well , is more desireable than to be delivered from it ; especially , if while we are suffering our selves , we are doing good unto others . A Christian should be contented ; yea , he should rejoice in suffering Evils that lie upon , when he doth good thereby unto others . He that is of a gracious publick Spirit will triumph over Personal Troubles and Afflictions , so long as he sees God making use of him as a help or blessing to the publick : And though he longs to die for himself , knowing it will be much to his Advantage , because when he departs hence he shall be with Christ , which is far better ; yet he should be unwilling to die , so long as he can say with St. Paul , that for him to abide in the Flesh is and will be more needful for others . To be willing to deferr our Glory and Happiness for a time , that God may be glorified , and others benefited by us here , is an excellent frame of Spirit in any Christian .

Secondly , positively , it is lawful in some cases to desire Death . And thus none but a true Christian can truly desire to die . Now there are three cases in which it may be lawful for a Christian to desire Death .

First , When God brings a Christian into such a condition , as that he may bring God more Honour and Glory by his Death , than by his Life : In such a case it is lawful to desire Death ; and this was the case of Sampson , who was a Type of Christ : The Philistines having brought him into a low and suffering condition , though partly through his own Sin ; yet being animated by the Spirit of God , and knowing that by his Death he should destroy many of the Enemies of God , he begs strength from him thereunto , which God in an extraordinary manner granted him ; for he took hold of the Pillars of the House , and so pulled down the House upon himself and upon the Philistines , slaying thereby more at his Death than he did in all his Life . This was the case of many of the Martyrs , who being called to suffer for the Truth , were very desirous to die , knowing that their Death would tend more to the Glory of God than their Life , and therefore they willingly and chearfully sealed to the Truth of God with their Blood .

Secondly , It is lawful to wish for Death , that we may be free from offending of God . Sin is a miserable Thraldom and Bondage unto a Child of God ; to have a Nature within him that is continually inclining him unto , and putting him upon that which is sinful and provoking unto God , is that which a Holy Soul cannot tell how to bear . Oh to find a Law in his Members always warring against the Law of his Mind , and leading him Captive to the Law of Sin and Death ! It is that which makes his Life burthensome to him . This I know works little upon wicked Men ; for when they are acting of Sin they are in their Element ; but to a Gracious Soul , unto whom the loving kindness of God , as David speaks , is better than Life , to such a one a sinful impure Nature , whereby he offends and displeaseth God , is more bitter than Death ; and therefore he is continually making out after that State , wherein he shall be without Sin ; while he is here he knows he cannot be free from all Sin ; but yet he follows after it ; if he may apprehend that for which he is apprehended of Christ Jesus ; and therefore forgetting the things that are behind , he reacheth forth unto those things that are before , pressing forward towards the mark for the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus , if by any means he may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead ; that is , to that State of perfect Holiness , and freedom from Sin , which he shall arrive to at the Resurrection of the Dead . And because he sees he cannot but Sin whilst he is here , and that dying only will be the end of Sinning ; therefore he longs for Death , that he may come to an end of Sinning .

Thirdly , It is lawful to wish for Death , that we may come to the full and perfect enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory . In this frame of Spirit we find the Apostle , when he crys out in that Holy Agony , I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ . The Scripture it self makes it the Character of a true Christian , that he is one that loves the appearing of Christ , and this is that which cannot be enjoyed without Death ; now that which we love we wish the enjoyment of , and consequently we desire to use those means that tend thereunto . Our Lord himself , in Joh. 17. prays for all Believers , that they might be where he is , that they might behold and enjoy his Glory ; and hath taught us to pray that the Kingdom of God might come ; by which is meant not only the Kingdom of Grace , but the Kingdom of Glory also . And indeed true love unto Christ will put us upon desiring to be with him ; for that is the property of true love , always to manifest an ardent and strong desire after the enjoyment of its beloved Object . If now a Christian , who hath enjoyed Communion with God in his Ordinances , desires the sincere milk of the Word that he may grow thereby : And if that Soul that hath tasted how Good and Gracious the Lord is in any Duty , is ready to cry out with David , in the 42 Psalm , As the Heart panteth after the Water Brooks , so panteth my Soul after thee , O God ; my Soul is athirst for God , for the living God , when shall I come and appear before God , that he may see his Power and his Glory , so as he hath seen him in the Sanctuary . If a Christian now so much desires the enjoyment of God in his Ordinances , wherein there is always a mixture of Sin and Pollution going along with them ; should he not , doth he not much more then desire the enjoyment of God in Heaven ? where there shall be a a perfect freedom from all Sin , and all sinful mixtures , that here are a continual grief to a Gracious Soul , and a just provocation to a Holy God ; where he shall be for ever with the Lord , beholding the beauty of his Face , and being fully satisfied and delighted with the enjoyment of his presence , in whose presence there is fulness of joy , and at whose Right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore .

But though it may be lawful to wish for , or to desire Death , when we may thereby bring Glory to God , when we may thereby be free from Sin , and come to the perfect enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory ; yet in all these cases , we must take in these Cautions , that for the time of our Death , we must still refer our selves to the good will and pleasure of God : For though it may be lawful to wish for Death , when we may thereby glorifie God ; yet we must not absolutely wish for Death so , because our Hearts are very treacherous , and may easily impose upon us and deceive us herein . And though to wish for Death that we may be freed from Sin , is a holy wish ; yet we must not wish that absolutely neither , but must herein refer our selves to the pleasure of God , how long he will have us to conflict with our Lusts and Corruptions , bearing about with us a Body of Sin and Death . And though it be a holy wish , to desire to die that we may enjoy God and Christ in Glory ; yet must we not wish for that absolutely ; for though the Holy Apostle desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ ; yet was he in a strait , and what to choose , he tells us he wist not , and we know how he qualifies and debates the business ; and what the issue came to , you may read in 1 Phil. 21.22 , 23. Still therefore in all our desires after Death in general , yet as to the particular time when , we must always say , Not our Wills , but thy Will , O Lord , be done .

This holy desire of Death , now is that which can only be found in the Godly ; for they only can desire Death upon good grounds ; but yet there may be a a willingness to die even in Wicked Men , and sometimes they may die peaceably and quietly , though Death is never comfortable and happy to them . That they may sometimes die willingly and peaceably is often seen ; they may have no bands in their Death as others have , as the Psalmist speaks , but their strength is firm ; they are not under troubles and disquietments because of their Sins , and the Wrath of God ; Conscience doth not fly in their Faces , by terrible reflections upon their former wicked Lives ; God doth not make them possess their Sins in the bitterness of their Souls ; and as for the Devil he will not vex and trouble them , that is not for his Advantage : for he knows while they are under a spirit of security and senselessness he hath them fast enough , and therefore he will not Torment them before their time , lest they should get out of his Clutches : But all is very quiet and peaceable as to outward appearance , and they die , as it is commonly expressed by ignorant Persons , as quiet as a Lamb : This may be the State and Condition of a Wicked Man upon a Death-Bed ; he may die quietly without any doubting upon his Spirit , as to his Eternal State , as if all were well and should be well with him for ever ; not that his Sins are pardoned and God reconciled ; nor that his Conscience hath not wherewith to trouble him , because it is silent ; no the Worm of Conscience is Hungry , and hath matter enough to Torment him in Hell to Eternity , but it is not permitted to prey and feed upon the Sinner as yet : This peace and Juietness that he now enjoys is not from any knowledge of his good Estate , but from his Ignorance how bad his State is ; he sees not the Wrath of God hanging over his Head , nor the Justice of God set in opposition against him ; and therefore he goes on quietly to his Grave . As all the trouble and disquietness of a Godly Man in Death , is because he is ignorant of the goodness of his State and Condition ; so the quietness and peace of a Wicked Man in Death , is because he is ignorant of the badness of his State and Condition . If a Godly Man dies under fears and troubles , it is not because his State is not good , but because he knows not that his State is good : And if a wicked Man dies in peace , it is not because his State is not bad , but because he knows not that his State is bad . Did a Godly Man know the goodness of his State and Condition , his troubles and fears would soon be turned into joy and rejoicings : And did a Wicked Man know the badness of his State and Condition , his peace and quietness would soon be turned into mourning and lamentation ; and though now Friends and Acquaintance , yea , his own Heart , and Satan also may flatter him ; yet Death will open his Eyes and undeceive him , and then he shall know for ever by sad experience , the Truth of that Scripture , in the 57 of Esay last verse , There is no Peace , saith the Lord , unto the Wicked .

Now , as a wicked Man may die willingly ; yea , peaceably ; so in a Godly Man there may be sometimes an unwillingness to die , though a Godly Man , acting as a Godly Man ought , he is always desirous of Death . That there may be in the best of God's Children , an unwillingness to die , the Scripture is clear : Thus was it with the Prophet , Jer. 37.20 . Now I pray thee , O my Lord the King , let my supplication be accepted before thee , that thou cause me not to return to the House of Jonathan the Scribe , least I die there . And our Lord , forewarning Peter of the manner of his Death , tells him that he should be carried whither he would not , John 21.18 . It is with many of the People of God , as it was with Lot , who though his Righteous Soul was vexed day by day , by beholding the unclean conversation of the Sodomites , 2 Pet. 2.18 . Yet O how he lingred when God would have taken him from thence ? as you may see , Gen. 19.16 . So is it with many of the Saints of God , who while they live in this World , are always vexed , not only with the corruptions of their own Hearts , but also with the wickedness of the times ; yet are they if not unwilling , yet not so willing to leave the World as they should be ; but this unwillingness of theirs proceeds not from the want of Grace , but from the weakness of their Grace . In the best of God's Children there is Flesh as well as Spirit ; Sin and Corruption as well as Grace ; and if at any time Sin and Corruption prevail over Grace , as sometimes they do , no won-wonder if they be unwilling to die . Those of the People of God that do believe , do yet believe but in part ; and though the Spirit be ready in them , yet the Flesh is weak : But though there be some unwillingness in the best to die ; yet they know and are sensible , that it is their Sin and fault ; they know they ought to be willing to die , and even in this their Spirits in them strive against this weakness of the Flesh , and in the end they conquer their fears , and overcome their backwardness and unwillingness to die ; according to that Gracious Promise in Psal. 29.11 . the Lord will give strength unto his People , the Lord will bless his People with Peace . The Nature of Grace is such , that it will work it self through all fears and doubts , both as to Sin and Death : And when once the Eye of a Christian's Faith is opened to look within the vail , and to discover something of the Glory and Happiness of Heaven , and of the Soul's interest therein , nothing then satisfies such a Soul , but to be absent from the Body , and to be present with the Lord . A Godly Man , acting as a Godly Man , is one that is always desirous of Death , because he knows the day of his Death will not only be better to him than the day of his Birth , but better also than any day of his Life .

Now that the People of God may always be willing to die , there are several Arguments that should encourage them unto it ; and I shall but name a few in general .

First , the Afflictions and Distresses that the People of God are Subject to in this World , and that above others , may be one Reason to encline them to a willingness to die ; not out of a discontented mind , because they are weary of , or impatient under their sufferings : This was the Sin of Moses , Numb. 11.15 . when he prayed unto God , if thou deal thus with me , I pray thee kill me out of hand , if I have found favour in thy sight , and let me not see my wretchedness : This is a great Sin in the Wicked , and sometimes an Infirmity that the Godly fall into ; but the Scripture allows it not in any . Faith and Patience under the afflicting hand of God is very becoming a Christian , but Impatience and Discontent is to be abominated . Though a Christian knows that it is better for him to die than to live ; yet out of a Fit of Impatience and Discontent , because of Affliction , we ought not presently to wish for Death . St. Paul knew it was far better for him to die than to live : He tells us so Phil. 1.21 . yet durst not he desire it absolutely , though a Man subject to many and great Afflictions ; but was in a strait what to do , as himself saith , and therefore submits himself to the Will of God . Yet is it not utterly unlawful for a Christian to desire Death that he may be free from the Miseries of this Life , because these Things occasion the drawing forth of Sin and Corruption , whereby God is dishonoured , his Spirit discomposed , that he cannot serve God with that Freedom and Chearfulness of Soul , as he might and as he desires . Every day a Christian must look for Crosses and Afflictions , and sufficient to every day are the Evils thereof , Luke 9.23 . And therefore a Christian may upon good grounds desire to be loosed from those Miseries and Afflictions , if it be the will of God : But in the mean time till he can have his desires in this Case , let him in patience possess his Soul .

Secondly , Another Reason that may make the People of God willing to die , may be in respect of the wicked , that they may not be always Spectators of those abominable Wickednesses , whereby God is daily dishonoured , his Name blasphemed . This made Rebekah desirous of Death ; for when Esau had taken ungodly Wives , it is said they were a grief of Mind to Isaac and Rebekah , because they knew that God was greatly dishonoured thereby ; therefore says Rebekah unto Isaac , I am weary of my life , because of the Daughters of Heth ; and if Jacob take a Wife among them , such as those that are of the Daughters of the Land , what good will my life do me , Gen. 27.46 . O who can express what grief it is to those that fear God , to live in the midst of a wicked and ungodly Generation , that are continually provoking God by their wicked lives ? What godly Man's heart can but bleed , to hear the Name of God rent and torn by cursed Oaths and Hellish Blasphemies , to behold the Vncleanness , the Drunkenness , the Lying , the scoffing at Godliness , the corrupt , filthy , scurrilous , idle Talking that overflows in all Places ; so that those that fear God had better be any where almost than in the Company of most Men ? This was a grief and vexation to the Soul of righteous Lot ; for in seeing and hearing the filthy Conversation of those wicked Sodomites , they vexed his righteous Soul from day to day by their unlawful Deeds . This made the Prophet David cry out , in Psalm 120.5 , 9. Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech , and dwell in the Tents of Kedar . No wonder therefore that those whose Souls are affected with the dishonour of God , are desirous to depart out of this World , and cry out , Oh that they had the wings of a Dove , for then would they flee away and be at rest .

Thirdly , Another thing that may make the People of God willing to die , is freedom from the Temptations of Satan . The Devil is the great Enemy of Mankind ; miserable he is himself , and envies that any should be otherwise than himself is ; and therefore he makes use of all his Craft and Subtilties against Man . And herein Christians are much endangered , and hereby he frequently manageth his Temptations with Success ; for many are his Wiles and Devices that he makes use of to draw the People of God into Sin . What unwearied Assaults from Satan do many Christians labour under , not only for Days and Weeks , but for Months and Years , whereby he allures and enticeth them with restless Importunities to the Commission of some Sin or other , which they are no more able to fly from , than they are to out-run themselves ? Now to any that have tasted the Sweetness of Holiness , what can be more hateful than daily Instigations to Sin ? And to such , who understand the Blessedness of Communion with God ; what can be more bitter , than to find themselves chain'd as it were to a Devil , who makes such Applications of vile Objects to their Fancies continually , that they cannot in the least turn themselves from ? Oh how irksome must it needs be to a gracious Heart , to be always haunted with the Spectacle and Image of some Sin , even as black as Hell ? Now this being the Case of the People of God , to be uncessantly followed with the Temptations of Satan ; how willing should they be to die , because never till then shall they be out of the reach of his fiery Darts ? For as it is in Heaven only that there is no Sin , so it is in Heaven only that there shall be no Temptations unto Sin .

Fourthly , Another thing that may make the People of God always willing to die , is a perfect freedom from all Sin . While they are here they sin , and are in continual danger of falling from God ; and no Man can tell how far any of them may fall ; for though it be admitted that they cannot fall totally and finally , yet they may fall dreadfully , and fearfully , as we read of some in Scripture , who have lain long , sighing and groaning under broken Bones , and wounded Consciences . Our Natures are so polluted with the Leprosie of Sin , that we shall never be perfectly cured of it while we are in this World . Under the Law we read , that when any earthen Vessels were defiled , they could not be sufficiently purged till they were broken in pieces , Lev. 11.33 . The spiritual Improvement whereof is to teach us ; that we can never be perfectly cleansed from the pollution of our Natures till we are broken in pieces by Death . The best Man's Sanctification is not perfect here , the holiest Man is not thoroughly cleansed while he lives , but hath much of Filthiness remaining in him . The wise Man , in Prov. 20.9 . silences all Men with this Question , Who can say I have made my heart clean , I am pure from my Sin ? Who can say so ? Why , none can . We may do much in the work of Mortification , in the use of Means as the Spirit of God directs us in the Word ; we may by the strength of the Spirit keep Sin from reigning in our mortal Bodies , Rom. 6.10 . But though it Reign not as a King , yet it may Rule as a Tyrant , and we be brought into Captivity by it ; and by force kept in Bondage under it sometimes . How willing therefore should a Christian be to die , that he may be free from Sin ; for he that is dead , saith the Apostle , Rom. 6.7 . is free'd from Sin . Death only will free us from the danger and possibility of offending God any more ; for then we shall come to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect , Heb. 12. & 23.

Why then , O Christian , shouldst thou desire to linger long here upon Earth , and to spin out a miserable Life in this World , whereof Sin and Sorrow will have the greatest Share . Here the best Christians are engaged in perpetual Conflicts between Sin and Grace ; Sin will not yield , and Grace cannot yield ; Corruption compels one way , and Grace commands another . Haste therefore , O Christian , out of this troublesome Contest ; yea , make haste to Heaven ; for there , and there only it is that this Controversie will be ended ; for there we shall no more live in fear of new Sins , nor in sorrow for old Sins ; but all Sorrow and Sighing shall cease ; all Tears shall there be wiped from our Eyes , and which is better , all Sin shall be rooted out of our hearts for ever . Upon this Account now Death is not only necessary in it self , but it is that which the People of God should embrace with the greatest willingness and chearfulness that may be .

But this is not all ; for the People of God must go one step higher , and it is what the Word of God doth require , and that is not only to be content or willing to die , but long for Death . To be contented to die is a good Temper of Soul , and may be an Argument of the Truth of Grace , for it is seldom or never found in a wicked man , to be sure not from a right Principle . But truly , Christians , this is no such great Matter in comparison of what we should labour to attain unto . Muse seriously upon it a while , O Christian : Is it not a strange kind of Expression to drop from the mouth of a Saint , that he is content to be happy ; that one that professeth all his Happiness lies in the hopes he hath of enjoying God in Heaven ; and that it is the End and Design of his Life , that he may attain unto this ; and that yet when he comes to speak of Death , he should only say , he is contented to die that he may be happy in the Enjoyment of God ? We use not to speak thus concerning the World ; here Men are not said to be content to be rich , but covetous after Riches ; not willing to be advanced , but ambitious after it : And why then should it be said only of a Christian , that he is contented to be with God , and contented to be in Heaven ? Why , Oh why should not the Soul , the more noble , excellent Part of a Man be carried out with vehement and earnest longings after its proper and full Happiness , as well as the Body , that vile Part of Man is carried with restless Appetite after Health , Safety , and Liberty ? Why should a Soul alone be contented to be happy , when all things in the World do so ardently court , and so vehemently pursue their respective Ends , and several Perfections ? Truly this is not that Frame and Temper that Christians ought to content themselves with ; but their Souls should be raised up to a higher pitch , even to a holy longing after their being ever with the Lord . It is the Duty of a Christian to look out after so much Enjoyment of the blessed God as we are now capable of ; and because we cannot fully and perfectly enjoy him in this Life , to long after the time of our departure hence , and with holy Pantings of Soul breath forth earnest Desires that we may be fully and eternally happy in the Enjoyment of him .

Be not therefore , O my Soul , contented only , but be holily covetous , and full of vehement longings after an Eternity of Blessedness in the Enjoyment of God ; and because this Body is that which hinders this desired and longed for Happiness , though thou may'st not dissolve and break it into pieces thy self , yet with Submission to the Divine Will , wish it were broken , desire that it may be dissolved . And though thou must be contented to live God's time , yet henceforth be desirous of , and long to die .

To set this a little home upon thy Conscience , O Christian , consider , that this Frame of Soul is that which the Scripture makes the Temper and the Duty of all Believers : Indeed there are few Professors that are of this Evangelical Temper of Soul ; yea , but few that are willing to believe they ought to be so : But yet this Frame of Soul is made the Character of a sincere Christian ; the Scripture abounds with Expressions of this Nature , Luk 21.28 . Our Lord speaking concerning the day of Judgment , for the encouragement of Believers , bids them look up , and lift up their Heads for their Redemption drew nigh ; by with our Lord means , not a bare speculation , but a beholding with joy and longing for that day and time . 2 Tim. 4.8 . The Lord shall give a Crown of Righteousness to them that love his appearing . And in Tit. 2.13 . we are commanded to live godly in this present World , as those that are looking for the blessed hope , and the glorious appearing of the Great God , and our Saviour Jesus Christ . So in 2 Pet. 3.12 . What manner of Persons , says the Apostle , ought we to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness ; looking for , and hastning to the coming of the Day of God ? By these Scriptures , it appears , what is the nature and temper , the disposition and inclination of a Godly Man , even to look , to love , to long , and to hasten unto the enjoyment of God ; for that which is of God in any Soul , must needs carry the Soul after God .

But here I am afraid least some weak Christians should be troubled , because they cannot find these ardent desires and holy longings of Soul in themselves after their dissolution and enjoyment of God .

Now that I may not discourage any weak Believer , nor make the Hearts of those sad , whom God would not have made sad , I shall add a few words , though not for encouragement unto sloathfulness , yet for support against fears and despondency .

Therefore , O Christian , search thine own Heart , and see how it is with thee ; and if thou findest it is so , as the objection intimates ; see then if thou canst find out the cause thereof ; possibly thou art grown careless in thy spiritual watch , or thou givest too much liberty to thy self in things that are lawful ; the World it may be is got too near thy Heart , thy Affections run out too much after it . And no wonder then , if while this frame and temper continues , and things are thus out of order with thee , thou dost not long after Heaven , nor art willing to die , though it be the only way by which thou canst come to the enjoyment of God .

If upon Examination of thy Heart , thou dost not find it thus with thee ; why then consider , though this frame of Soul be Characteristical of a true Christian ; yet you must consider also , that the same Character of a Christian , that is a cause of joy and rejoicing to some ; yea , to a Man 's own self sometimes ; at another time may be a cause of fear and doubting to him ; not but that , that which distinguisheth a true Christian from a Hypocrite , is the same at one time that it is at another , only we cannot see nor discover so clearly the State of our Souls towards God by it at one time as at another . And this is the Reason why some are so lifted up with joy ; yea , with holy longing of Soul in hopes of the Glory of God ; when others are cast down under fears and doubts , as if they had no hopes of , or at least no present Interest in , or title unto any such thing .

But farther , Art thou fearful , O Christian , of thy self , because thou canst not feel this ardency of desires in thee after thy dissolution , and the Glorious appearing of Jesus Christ , so as to look and long for the coming of these things ? Why know , O troubled Soul , that every Character of a Christian is not discernable by all Christians at all times , and in all conditions : Thou mayest have that in thee , which is the cause of these longing desires in others , though at present it doth not work so strongly in thee that thou mayest sensibly feel the power of its operations , thus drawing forth thy Heart and Affections in this ardent and vehement manner . Grace though weak and in the seed hath a tendency in it , and is making out after this holy longing and rejoicing of Soul in hopes of the Glory of God ; though there may be the intervention of some time before there be an attaining to it . If there be the remainders of the Spirit of Bondage in thee to fear , in this case Grace in thee is not come to that perfection that it is in others ; but yet it will be growing and encreasing in thee ; and as thy Grace grows stronger and stronger , so will thy fears of Death and Judgment grow weaker and weaker .

Furthermore , O troubled Soul , though thou canst not feel thy Soul breathing forth it self in these holy longings & desires after thy Dissolution , the beholding of the face of God , and the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ ; yet dost thou believe that it will be incomparably better for thee to be with Christ , than to abide here on Earth ; and therefore though Death be dreadful to think of in it self ; yet seeing it is the only passage through which God hath appointed our entrance into Heaven ; though thou canst not say that thou longest for it ; yet art thou willing to entertain it , if God sends it ; and though the fears of Death sometimes discourage thee , yet doth not thy belief of , and hope in a future State of Happiness abate those fears , considering the advantages that will follow it . And though it be an amazing thing in thy thoughts to think of coming before the Great and Holy GOD ; yet ( except when Temptations make thee fear that God will condemn thee for thy Sins ) hadst thou not rather come to God by Death , than not come to him at all , the enjoyment of whom is thy Soul 's utmost Happiness ? And though the sight of Christ's coming in the Clouds at the Day of Judgment , in the Glory of his Father , and of the Holy Angels , will be very terrible to behold ; and the thoughts thereof strike thee with fear and trembling , when thou considerest thine own sinfulness ; and therefore canst not think of that Day with so strong a Faith and Consolation , with such earnestness of desires and holy longing , as some Christians do ; yet be not discouraged , though thou dost not long for , yet dost thou love the appearance of Jesus . Canst thou say thou wouldst not take all the pleasures of this World , for thy hopes of the happiness of this Day ? And couldst thou attain to that full assurance that some of God's People have , thou wouldst then with earnestness of desire and holy longing of Soul , cry out as the Church doth , Come , Lord Jesus , come quickly . Is it thus with thee , O Soul ; why then be not troubled ; nay , be comforted ; for that which at present is Faith , Hope , Desire and Love , may in a little time be vehement longing and assurance ; yea , the riches of the full assurance of Faith . Rest not therefore in any weak desires ; but labour for this holy longing of Soul after God , and the Eternal Enjoyment of him in Glory ; that in Life and Death your Soul may part and breath after immediate and everlasting Communion with him .

This is that frame of Soul that the People of God ought to labour after , and which many have attained unto ; the earnestness and vehemency of whose desires have been so great , that they have been as it were under sweet and delightful agonies of pain , and their Souls even breaking with longings after the presence of God and Christ in Glory . Examples of this Nature that might be instanced in are many ; I shall mention one , of which I was an Eye and Ear Witness ; the Person was one of a middle rank and quality in the World , but of great eminency in Grace and Holiness while living , and full of Joy and Peace when dying . It pleased God , who appoints us the bounds and place of our Habitations , to cast my lot into a Religious Family , where this Godly Person lived , whose Memory to me is and ever shall be very precious ; after I had been there some time , it pleased God to lay this Person upon a sick bed , which proved a death-bed , whose Mouth was always full of Holy and Heavenly Discourse , and as Death approached nearer and nearer , those Heavenly Expressions were with greater earnestness and frequency repeated ; the last Day of whose Life as long as speech continued was spent in uttering continual expressions , full of holy longings and desires after the enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory . Methinks the sweetness of the Melody revives my Spirit still , when I call to remembrance , in my serious thoughts , what I then heard and saw : Oh with what Joy and Desight of Soul was the thoughts of Death entertained ! Surely nothing was or could possibly be more welcome to such a Soul , except it were the immediate fruition of God in Heaven ; whose Soul in the delightful , much longed for , and panted-after Happiness , in the enjoyment of God , breathed forth continually such expressions as these for many hours together , Come , Lord Jesus , when shall I come and appear before thee , Oh Lord ? when Lord , when ? Oh come , Lord Jesus , come quickly . And thus this Holy Person died , changing a frail mortal Life on Earth , for an immortal Life in Heaven , where to be and to be most happy is all one .

I could fill up many sheets with wonderful expressions of the loves , longings , pantings , and breathings , that I have read of Holy Souls after the enjoyment of God and Christ , both Martyrs and others . O , cryeth one , the Love of Christ in my Heart casteth a mighty heat ; he knoweth that the desire I have to be with him paineth me : I have sick Nights , and frequent fits of Love Fevers for my well-beloved : Nothing is so painful to me as the want of his presence , but it is a sweet pain : O that he would cool my Love-Fever for him with real enjoyment of him . O Great King , says one , why standest thou aloof off ? why remainest thou among the Mountains ? O well-beloved , why dost thou pain a poor Soul with delays ? A long time out of thy Glorious Presence is as two Deaths and as two Hells to me ; we must meet , I must see him ; hungring and thirsting for Christ hath brought on me such a necessity of enjoying him , that cost what it will I cannot but assure Christ to my Soul ; one smile of his Face to me is a Kingdom ; a sight of him is worth a World of Worlds . Sweet Jesus , crys one out , wilt thou let me see Heaven to break my Heart , and never give me leave to enjoy it ? O fairest where dwellest thou ? O never enough admired and adored Godhead , how can Creatures of yesterday be able to enjoy thee ? O what pain , crys one , is it , that Time and Sin , should be as so many thousand Miles between a loved , longed for Lord , and a pining Love-sick Soul ? Hell , and as I now think , all the pains of it laid on me , could not put me off from loving of him , I would refuse , says one , no condition , not Hell excepted ( reserving always God's hatred ) to buy the possession and enjoyment of Jesus . Oh closed Doors , and Vails , Curtains , and thick Clouds , crys one , that hold me in pain , while I find the sweet burnings of his Love within me , which many waters cannot quench ! O Death do thy utmost against us : O Torments , O Malice of Men and Devils , bring Hell to help you in Tormenting the Followers of the Lamb , we will defie you to make us too soon happy , and to waft us too soon over the water , to that Land where that Plant , the Plant of Renown grows . O cruel time that Torments us , and suspends our dearest enjoyments , that we wait for , when we shall be bathed and steeped Soul and Body in the depth of this Love of Loves . I half call , says one , his absence cruel , and that Mask and Vail upon his Face a cruel covering , that hideth such a fair , fair Face from a sick Soul . I dare not challenge himself , but his absence is a Mountain of Iron upon my heavy Heart . Oh when shall we meet ! What do we here but sin and suffer ! Oh when shall the Night be gone , and the Shadows fly away , and the morning of that long long Day without Cloud or Night dawn ! The Spirit and the Bride say come : Oh when shall the Lamb's Wife be ready , and the Bridegroom say I come also ! O Time be not so slow , but run ; yea , fly away swiftly ! O Sun move speedily , and hasten our Banquet ! O Heavens cleave asunder , that the bright Face and Head may set it self through the Clouds ! O that the Corn were ripe , and this World prepared for his hook ! How long is it to the dawning of the Marriage day ? O sweet Lord Jesus take wide steps ! O my Lord come over the Mountains at one stride , cut short Years , and Months , and Hours , shovel time and days out of the way ; post , post , haste our desired , hungred , longed for Meeting ; love is sick to hear of till too Morrow ; fly , O my beloved , like a Roe or a young Heart upon the Mountains of Separation . O that thou wouldst remove , says one , the covering , and draw aside the Curtain of Time ; that thou wouldst rent the Heavens and come down ! O that the Shadows and Nights were gone , that the Day would break , and be that feedeth among the Lilies would cry and call to his Heavenly Trumpeters , make ready and let us go down and fold together the four corners of the World , and Marry the Bride the Lamb's Wife ; since he hath looked upon me my Heart is not my own .

But I shall not proceed farther herein , though the Subject be exceeding delightful ; but notwithstanding what hath been said herein , I am far from thinking that these holy pantings and longings of Soul are to be found in every Godly Man , or that none are truly Godly but those that find and feel in themselves these pantings and longings of Soul after the enjoyment of God , in this vehement and ardent manner ; no I dare not say so ; for I believe multitudes ; yea , the generality of Believers , through sloathfulness , never attain to this high pitch of Grace and Assurance of the Divine Love and Favour , who yet go to Heaven very safely ; but where there are any that do attain unto this plerophory or full assurance , such Souls live as it were on the very Suburbs of Heaven it self : And by this we may see what is the Duty of a Christian to labour after , and what sweet peace , joy , and delight we all lose , who do not come up to this frame and temper of Soul , even such as passeth our understandings to conceive , or our expressions to make known ; which made a Godly Man once cry out in a holy pang of love unto Jesus Christ , If I can get no more , O let me be pained to all Eternity with longing for him , the joy of hungring for Christ should be my Heaven for evermore .

CHAP. V.

Death terrible in its self . It is a dreadful Enemy . Wherein its Enmity doth consist . This Enemy shall be destroyed , though it be the last Enemy that shall be destroyed . Christ by his Death hath overcome Death for Believers , and how far he hath done it . Of the fear of Death , and the Causes thereof . How the fears of Death may be Conquered and overcome . It is very uncomely for Christians to be afraid of Death . It is possible for Christians to live without the fear of Death . How Christians may die with Courage and Joy .

THo' death as it brings Holy Souls to the Eternal Fruition of God , is desirable ; yet considered in its self it is dreadful , being accompanied with Diseases and Distempers , the fore-runners of a Dissolution , and Separation between Soul and Body , causing all the Actions and Operations of Life to cease , in which State the Body quickly turns to Corruption and Putrefaction , and in time to common Earth . Now , though this be dreadful unto Nature , yet is there more of Terror in death unto Impenitent sinners , because to them it is not only a Gate to let them into the Grave , but a Gate to let them into Hell ; the first death transmitting them unto the second death . And yet how great is the folly of Men that they fear death for that which is least formidable in it , but do not fear it , for that which renders it justly terrible ? Could death do no more to us than what reacheth to pains and distempers on the outward Man , and the dissolution and destruction of the Body in the Grave , it were then a tolerable evil , but when we shall consider death as a punishment for sin , as that which puts us into an unchangeable Estate , this is that which makes it dreadful and terrible indeed . While we are in this World , which is the time of our preparation for an Eternal State , of Strangers , yea of Enemies we may become Friends ; but when death hath once seized upon us , it is impossible our State should then be changed . We cannot now say of the vilest Sinner in the World , that there is no hope of him ; we must not write desperation upon the fore-head of the wickedst Man on Earth : but if he dies in that State , then he is lost and undone for ever ; for as the Tree falls , so it lies , as death leaves Men so Judgment will find them . And this Judgment is such as is conclusive and never to be Repealed . Hence it is therefore , that take the most hardned Sinner , one whom Custom in sinning hath made past feeling , yet when he comes to die , if Conscience be but awakened , it is impossible for him to look death in the Face without great fears and horrours : Nay , it is a sight so amazing and confounding , that were it not for the Righteousness of Christ , and that Satisfaction he hath made unto the Justice of God , by his death , it were utterly impossible that any Believer should bear up under it : but Blessed be God , the Blood of Christ then speaks Peace , and so Believers are not only supported , but carried comfortably unto Heaven , through the gloomy Valley of the Shadow of death .

Death being thus terrible now , it must needs be looked upon as a dreadful Enemy unto Man . An Enemy now , is one that when he comes against us always comes Armed to do us a mischief : such an Enemy now is death , for ever since the Fall of Man , death hath been Armed with a deadly Sting ; now this Sting of death whereby it becomes hurtful unto Man is sin , so saith the Apostle , The sting of death is sin . Now this Sting reacheth not only to the Body , but to the Soul also ; as to the Body , it takes away all those Contentments and Comforts wherewith it was here Refreshed and Delighted ; Death rends the Husband from the Wife , and the Wife from the Husband ; it divides Children from their Parents , and Parents from their Children ; death spoils us of whatsoever is desirable in this life , strips a Man of all and turns him naked out of the World ; But this is not all , death not only bereaves us of all that is good here , but it brings many Evils along with it ; Sickness , pains on the Body , Grief and Anguish upon the Mind and Spirit : It is a terrible Enemy to wrastle and contend withal , it will make a Man sweat and bleed , no Man can Encounter with death , but he shall feel great Anxiety and Vexation both of Body and Mind , unless he have strength from above to enable him to go through the Contest . Death in its own Nature is so furious an Enemy unto Sinners , that it will not cease till it hath pulled the Body down into the Grave , and dragg'd the Soul into the Presence of God , and from his Tribunal into the Torments of Eternal Fire ; where the first death terminates in the second death , and the Torments exceed not only all our Expressions , but all our Apprehensions also : where death that is now such a dreadful Enemy , would there be counted an unspeakable Mercy , for there they shall seek death , but shall not be able to find it . But more particularly the Enmity of death appears in these particulars .

First , The Fears of death do much abate our desires after the Enjoyment of God in Heaven . It is true , every Believer is one that loves God above all , and looks upon Heaven as that which shall be his dwelling place for ever , and accordingly sincerely desires and longs after it ; and in his daily Conversation walks with his Face thitherwards : but when he sees death stands in the way between him and Heaven , and that there is no coming for him to that place of Bliss , but he must pass through that dark Valley ; this puts him to a stand , and makes his desires weak and low . The best Christians I believe have sometimes felt such workings as these within their Souls ; for tho' the Regenerate part discovering it self in the work of Sanctified Affections , would be soaring upwards towards God and Heaven , in whose presence the Soul would fain be : but seeing death standing in its way , how are the desires of such a Holy Soul kept down by the fears of it , and he turned back as one that was afraid to come into his Father's presence . Where is the Christian the Eye of whose Faith is so steadily fixed upon Christ in Heaven , whose Soul is sometimes ready to cry out , I desire to be dissolved , and to be with Christ , which is far better ; yet withal , when he sees the rude hand of death stretched out to undress him , and that there is no coming unto Jesus Christ for him , but by first suffering a Dissolution , and laying down of his Earthly Tabernacle in the Grave : though he would fain be with Christ , that he might enjoy him whom his Soul loveth ; yet seeing this dismal Enemy death in the way , doth not shrink back and cry out , O I dare not venture ; O what a dreadful Enemy is this , and what dreadful Enmity doth it put forth in the obstructing our desires , though after God and Heaven ; causing us to run from God as it were at that time , when we truly and dearly love him . Happy Souls are they , in whom Faith and Love work so powerfully as to conquer and overcome these fears .

Secondly , If death as an enemy prevails so as to abate our desires after the Enjoyment of God in Heaven , it will be apt to endanger our falling in love with this present World , and so make us miserable , by causing us to take up with the men of this World , who have their Portion in this Life . Take a Christian whose desires after Heaven are weak though true , because blunted by the apprehensions of some frightful difficulties that must be gone through for the attaining of it ; how apt is such a one to be tempted to think that it is best for him to take up with those delightful pleasures that may be had here , without such dangerous adventures ? but now if that which darkens the Blessed Vision of Heaven , and our unspeakable Happiness in the fruition of God there , and which also deadens our desires after this blessedness be once removed , which usually is the dreadful apprehensions of death ; with what ease can such a Soul with a Holy Scorn and Contempt despise all the trifling Vanities of this World , as things not worthy to be regarded ?

Thirdly , The Enmity of Death manifests it self in obstructing a Christians endeavours towards Heaven . A discouraged disconsolate Soul moves but slowly , be it towards Earth or Heaven . Difficulties that should stir up greater diligence , usually are great discouragements unto our endeavours , and we are apt to cry out with Solomon's Sluggard , There is a Lion in the way , and therefore it is , that the hands of the Sloathful refuse to labour . And so it is with us in Spirituals , difficulties soon discourage and hinder our endeavours ; whereas they should be a whet to Industry . The Kingdom of Heaven says our Lord , suffers violence , and the violent take it by force . But alas , in many Christians the fears of death are so strong that they keep them in Bondage all their Days . But now were Death removed out of our way ; could Christians be cloathed upon with their House which is from Heaven , without laying down the earthly Tabernacles of their Bodies in the Grave ; were there no such thing as dying to make way for our Entrance into Heaven , how delightful would the Thoughts of Heaven be to us ? we should not then run with Patience , but with Chearfulness the Race that is set before us ; we should no longer need Motives to quicken us in our way to Heaven ; but so earnest and vehement would our desires and longings be after it , that nothing could stop the eager pursuits of our Souls for the obtaining of it . How delightfully should we pray , Lord let thy Kingdom of Glory come ? Our Meditations thereof would so draw forth our Affections , and ravish our Souls in the delightful fore-thoughts of it , that we should think nothing hard to part with for the attaining of it . But that now which abates our Desires after Heaven , must needs hinder our diligent Endeavours in the use of Means for the obtaining of it .

Now as Death is an Enemy , so it is the last Enemy , but yet withal it is an Enemy that shall be destroyed ; so the Apostle tells us , 1 Cor. 15. and 16. Now the last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death .

But how or by whom is this last Enemy Death destroyed and overcome .

I answer , Not by our selves ; for Death seems rather to have destroyed us than we it , when it brings the Body down into the Grave , and turns it into Corruption and Rottenness . But this last Enemy is destroyed by our victorious Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ , the Captain of our Salvation ; he it is who by the Merit of his Death hath overcome Death ; and of a deadly Enemy , hath made it become a most comfortable Friend to all that believe in him .

Now for this we must know Christ hath not delivered us from our Obligation unto Death ; for since the Fall of Man , Death is become necessary for a Christian , being the only way appointed by God for our Entrance into Heaven ; and therefore we see that Believers die as well as Vnbelievers . Neither hath Christ delivered us from Sickness and Distempers , the usual Fore-runners of Death . David complains , Psal. 38. My Loins are filled with a loathsome Disease ; there is no soundness in me because of thine Anger , neither is there any rest in my Bones because of my Sin . But now in these Respects Christ hath overcome Death for Believers .

First , He hath taken away the Sting of Death . This Captain of our Salvation upon the Cross , as in an open Field and pitch'd Battel , did spoil Principalities and Powers , Col. 2.15 . Now one of these Powers armed against us was Death , and the Weapo● with which Death fights against us is Sin : Our 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ now took away our Sins upon the Cross , and so spoil'd Death of his Power . For having spoiled Principalities and Powers , he made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them on his Cross . Death once struck the Lord of Life and Glory with its Sting , and by striking him lost its Sting in his blessed Side ; so that ever since all that are in Christ , do or may insult over Death , as being conquer'd and overcome for them ; so speaks the Apostle , 1 Cor. 15. and 55 , 57. O Death where is thy Sting , O Grave where is thy Victory . The Sting of Death is Sin , says he , and the Strength of Sin is the Law : But thanks be to God , who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ .

Secondly , Christ delivers Believers from the fears of Death . Heb. 2.14 , 15. Forasmuch then as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and Blood , he also himself likewise took part of the same , that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death , that is the Devil : But is this all ? No , the Apostle adds another end ; and that is , that he might deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject unto Bondage . Now that which makes an Enemy to be feared is his Strength , his deadly Weapons : Christ now by dying on the Cross took away the Weapons of Death , its Sting whereby it hath Power to hurt , and that is Sin . Now Death being disarmed , Christians are free'd from the Fears of it . It is true Men may sometimes fear a naked Enemy ; but there is no real Cause for it , seeing he cannot hurt them And so the People of God sometimes may exceed in their Fears of Death , but they have no just Cause ; neither would they be so afraid of Death , if they were strong in the Faith of Jesus Christ , who hath disarmed Death for them .

Thirdly , Christ delivers his People from the Curse of Death . In it self Death is a Curse , the Punishment of Man's Sin , the Expression of God's Wrath , the Execution of the Law , and the dreadful Sentence pronounced against Man upon his Apostacy from God . In the day thou eatest thereof , says God , thou shalt die the Death . But all that die under the stroke of Death , do not die under the Curse of it ; all deserve it indeed , but to some the Nature of it is changed ; thorough him , who is the Resurrection and the Life , they that believe shall never die : A Voice from Heaven hath pronounced them blessed that die in the Lord , Rev. 14.13 . The Nature of Death is changed to them that are in Christ , such do but sleep . To die to a Saint is no more than to undress and go to Bed : Let what will become of Dives , our Friend Lazarus sleepeth , John 11.12 . The Just by Death enter into Peace , they rest in their Beds , and are taken from the Evil to come . Death to the wicked is like a Malefactor's putting off his Cloths , that he may be scourged according to Law : So Death uncloathes the wicked , that by the Wrath of God they may be tormented for ever . But now to the godly Man Death is but like a Child's putting off an Old Garment , that he may put on a new one : So Death uncloathes the Godly of the Rags of their Mortality , that they may be cloathed with an incorruptible Garment that shall never fade or change , but keep its beautiful Lustre and Glory for ever .

Fourthly , Christ delivers his People from the Dominion of Death . It is true when Death hath laid their Bodies down in the Grave , in seems to have Dominion over them ; but it is but for a while , for our Lord Jesus hath taken away this seeming Dominion of Death , by the Merit of his own Death , and hath declared his Victory over it , and our deliverance from it , by raising up his own Body from the Grave . Christ by his Death did meritoriously conquer Death for Believers , but he did not actually conquer it till his Resurrection , but then he did ; the Day of his Resurrection was the Day wherein Grace did triumph thorough Christ towards believing Souls ; for on that Day Christ did openly shew to Heaven , to Hell , to Earth , that Death was not only conquerable by Believers , but that it was actually conquered for them thorough him . Blessed Souls in Heaven believe it to their everlasting Consolation , and are thereby fully confirmed in the Resurrection of their own Bodies , because their Head is already risen for them . The damned in Hell have the Knowledge of it to their greater Torment , because they now know their sinful Bodies shall be raised to suffer for ever with their Souls in that Place of Torment , and therefore they believe and tremble . The Saints on Earth also know it , and therefore they rejoice in the believing Expectations of it ; being assured that as the Bonds of Death were loosed , by which Christ was held in the Grave for the space of Three Days , but could not possibly be held by them any longer ; so neither shall it be possible for Believers always to be held under them . But there is a time coming , when all that are in their Graves shall hear the Voice of the Son of God , and shall come forth , Joh. 5.28 . And if we believe , says the Apostle , that Jesus died , and rose again , even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him , in 1 Thes. 4. and 14. for says the same Apostle , Christ is risen , and become the first Fruits of them that sleep , in 1 Cor. 15.20 . And as Christ being raised from the Dead dieth no more , Death hath no more Dominion over him . So the time will not be long before Believers shall also be raised from the Dead , and shall die no more ; for there shall then be no more Death , nor Sorrow , nor Crying , nor Pain ; no more Diseases , or Fears of Death , or the Grave ; for behold all former things are passed away , and all things are become new , Rev. 21.45 .

But though Christ hath overcome Death , yet is there still a Fear of it in most : And indeed Death is an Object of Fear ; neither is all Fear of Death to be condemned as sinful . Now for the better understanding of this , that Death is an Object of Fear , and when it may be lawful to fear Death , and when the Fear of it is sinful , I shall consider Man in a threefold Respect . As he is a meer Man , as he is a sinful Man , and as he is a true Believer .

First , I shall consider Man as he is a meer Man , compounded of Soul and Body , and so the Nature of Man abhors Death ; and if it were possible ( as it is not ) to find out a Man in the World that were free from all manner of Sin , yet would he fear Death , were he liable to it , because it is that which tends to his Dissolution and Destruction . Thus our Lord Jesus Christ himself , though he was perfectly holy , and free from all Sin , yet in this sense he feared Death ; and therefore he prays , Father , if it be possible , let this Cup pass from me . Thus now to fear Death as it is evil and destructive unto Nature is not sinful or unlawful .

Secondly , Consider Man as he is sinful and unregenerate , and so Death is an Object of Fear , and full of Horror : For to all such Death comes armed with Power , not only to make a Separation between Soul and Body , ( for so Death rules over all , ) but it comes to kill and to destroy Soul and Body for ever ; for to such it is not Death alone , as it is to the Godly ; but it is Death and Hell together . Rev. 6.8 . And I looked and behold a pale Horse , and his Name that sat on him was Death , and Hell followed with him . It is no wonder if Death be dreadful and terrible unto such ; but it is rather a wonder that such can take any rest in the night , or enjoy any quietness in the day , that under the Fears of Death they are not distracted . But here is the Misery of such , they are so afraid of Death , that they will not let the Thoughts of it come into their Minds , but do what they can to banish the Thoughts of that evil day far from them . But know , O foolish Sinner , though thou sleepest , and art secure in Sin , yet thy Death and thy Damnation slumbers not ; for Death and Hell are riding on Horse-back , making haste towards thee , and will soon overtake thee , to thy eternal Ruine and Destruction ; and then thou shalt know by sad Experience , that the Fears of the first Death , which now thou labourest to stifle , yea to drive away from thy Thoughts , were not so full of dread and horror , as the feeling of the Second Death will be for ever . Death therefore unto wicked Men is an Object to be feared , and the fear of Death in them is not only lawful but commendable , and that upon which their Thoughts should much dwell , because it is that which will prevent much Sin in them while they live , and may possibly render Death more comfortable to them when they come to die .

Thirdly , Consider Man as regenerate , and become a true Believer , yet so he may , and often doth fear death : For let a Man be never so much a Saint , yet he will be still a Man ; and therefore as death will be death , so nature will still be nature ; and therefore death as death will be abhorred . Neither is there any necessity that the fear of death should be wholly conquered and subdued in the Godly , so as that if should not be , because it may and often doth turn to their Benefit and Advantage ; for hereby they are made to walk more humbly with God and more watchfully over themselves ; for while they consider that they are poor , frail , dying Creatures , subject unto death continually , and that they must pass from thence unto Judgment , to give an Account of what they have done in the Body ; by this means they are kept from falling into many Sins , that now would wound their Consciences , and break their peace , and hereafter make their death more dark and uncomfortable . By this fear of death also the Godly are quickened in their preparations for Heaven and Eternity ; for because death is so certain that it will come , and withal so uncertain when it will come , the Godly are hereby stirred up unto a speedy and diligent preparation for it , that so they may be ready for their departure whensoever God by death shall call them hence .

And death now is an Object of Fear in general , so are there Reasons why Christians fear death in particular , as ,

First , Some are afraid of death because of the extremity of those pains which they must undergo , when they are dying , and because of the Corruption and rottenness which their Bodies must turn to when they are dead .

But admit what thou sayest , O Christian , should be true , that thy pains in dying should be great ; yet hast thou not sinned , and thereby deserved that what thou fearest , thou mayest feel ; let me tell thee , There is not the most Righteous man on Earth , but hath sinned , and the least sin merits more pains than any man in the first death ever yet endured : If therefore thy pains in dying should be great , it is just with God what thou sufferest , and it is of his mercy that thou sufferest no more ; for there is no comparison between thy pains and thy sins , between what thou mayest suffer , and what thou deservest to suffer : let thy sickness be what it will , and thy pains as great as well thou canst imagine ; they are no more , nay they are not so much as thou hast deserved : If God should deal with thee according to the demerit of thy sins , it is not the most smart and severest pains of a Temporal death that are ended by dying ; but easeless and endless Torments in Hell to all Eternity that would be thy Portion . Fear not therefore , O living Christian , complain not , O dying Christian , though thy pains in death should be great , for it is but the punishment of thy sins , nay let me say to thee , O Christian be thankful and rejoyce , for it is the last punishment thou shalt ever endure for thy sins , either here or hereafter .

But further ? Is it the corruption and rottenness that thy body must be subject to in the Grave , that terrifies and afrights thee ?

Let me say this unto thee , It is no very great matter what becomes of thy Body when it is once dead , though it were burnt to Ashes at a Stake , tho' it rot in the Fields as Dung upon the Ground , tho' in the Bowels of the Earth it become a Feast for Worms , and turn to corruption and rottenness ; this will then be of no more concern to thee , than if it had with the greatest Cost and Charge been Embalmed and Buried by thy dearest Friends . The State of death knows nor feels no difference between the one and the other : And what if thy Body lies in the Grave for a while , it will not there be miserable , for it feels no pain , but rests quietly in its Bed , sweetly sleeping away time until the Morning of the Resurrection , when thou shalt awake out of the Dust again , and shalt die no more . And in the mean time thy Soul , [ if thou art a true Believer , for unto such only there is Peace and Comfort in death ] upon its departure out of the Body is advanced unto unspeakable Happiness in Heaven , among the Spirits of Just Men made perfect , in the Eternal Enjoyment of the infinitely blessed God , the Fountain of Light and Life ; where thou shalt have as much Delight and Satisfaction as thou canst possibly contain , and more than now thou canst conceive : And why then art thou so afrighted with the fears of Death , when this is all the hurt it can do thee ?

O but Death is that which will take me from all my Friends and Relations , and deprive me of all that Comfort and Delight that here I enjoy in their sweet Society . To this I Answer , Suppose it be so that by Death thou art taken from a dear Yoke-fellow that is now the Delight of thine Eyes ; suppose thou losest all thy Friends and Kindred in the Flesh , whom thou lovest even as thy own Soul , not knowing certainly whether ever thou shalt see them , or at least so as to know them any more again for ever : If this be all thy trouble , how easily can God make it up unto thee : Alas , when Death hath once opened thine Eyes , and let thee see what blessed Society thou shalt enjoy in Heaven , thou wilt not , thou canst not be troubled for what thou hast left behind thee here : when thou art come to the Heavenly Jerusalem , the City of the Living God , to an innumerable company of Angels , to the General Assembly of the first born , to God the Judge of all , to the Spirits of Just men made perfect , to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant , and where the blood of Sprinkling speaks better things than the blood of Abel : will it then grieve thee that thou hast left thy Friends and Relations on Earth ? Why this is the State thou expectest , this is the Company thou hopest to enjoy hereafter ; why then let the believing joyful expectations of this Association , bear up thy Soul under thy Fears by Death of losing thy Friends and Relations here .

But thou mayest say possibly they may want me when I am dead and gone , though I want not them ; whilst I am with them , I see their ●ants and take care to suppy them , and when they are going into any evil or sinful way , I Councel them , I Reprove them , and I pray for them and endeavour to instruct them in the fear of the Lord . But when I am gone , I know not who will do any of these things for them , and what then will become of them ?

To this I Answer , canst thou say in good earnest that this is thy strait , that therefore thou desirest to live , that thou mayest be a means if God saw it good to further and promote their Souls Happiness : why then let me say this to thee , is it not a time of health with thee now , doth God lend thee the sweetness of such Relations and Friends , shew that thou lovest them indeed , by taking hold of the present opportunities thou now hast to Admonish , to Reprove , and to Correct , so far as it is thy place ? Oh double and treble thy diligence in all Respects wherein thou mayest be advantageous to their Souls ; multiply thy Prayers and Tears , thy Sighs and Groans unto God ; follow him Night and Day , and give him no rest until thou hast some good ground to hope that God is not only thy God , but the God of thy Friends and Relations also ; and when thou hast done thy utmost , and God by Death calls thee away hence , so that thou canst do no more , quietly resign up thy Soul into his hands , and commit them to the care and kindness of thy God , who is the Great and Vniversal Father , that takes care of all his Creatures , but is by special Relation a Father to them that fear and serve him .

But may some poor Soul say , when I come to die , the change that I must pass through by death , is so strange and so amazing , that I know not how I shall be able to bear it , death will both change my place and company : here I converse with Friends and Relations and Acquaintance , whom I well know , because I have lived so long among them ; but when I go hence , O what a strange place and company shall I then see , such as I never saw in all my life , full of dazling and astionishing Brightness and Glory , the thoughts whereof may justly fill my Soul with fear and amazement .

To this I Answer , art thou a Christian indeed , and dost thou talk after this manner as if thou wert a Stranger to God , to Christ , to Heaven , and the Happiness of Glorified Saints there ; whom is it thou callest Father every time thou Prayest ? is it not the God of Heaven ? What dost thou make of Jesus Christ thy Professed Lord and Saviour , whose love to thee was so great that he would manifest it in no other way , than that by which he might most endear himself unto thee , and most strongly engage thy Love and Affections unto him , and that was by laying down his Life and shedding of his Blood , a a Ransom for thy Soul , and a propitiation for thy Sins , whom thou professest also to believe that he is Aseended up into Heaven , and sits at the right hand of God presenting his Blood and Sufferings before the Throne of the Majesty on high ; that both thy self and thy Services that are Impure and Imperfect in themselves , may yet be accepted through him : Is it not through his Righteousness alone , that thou hopest for Justification unto Life and Happiness , and through his Strength that thou art enabled to perform all thy Duties , and yet dost thou not know him ; what a strange thing is this ? But alas sayest thou , it is very little that I know of him , never did I see him in all my days . But what if thou hast not beheld him with thy Bodily Eyes ; yet canst thou not say with the Apostle , whom having not seen , yet thou hast and dost believe in him ; and sometimes , it may be so as to rejoyce with that Joy that is unspeakable and full of Glory ; and tho' thou hast not known him after the Flesh , yet thou hast known him after the Spirit , though thou hast known him but a little , and what thou dost see and know of him Spiritually , is but through a Glass darkly ; yet be not dejected , fear not , for he knows thee perfectly , and hath separated thee and set thee apart for himself from Eternity , and hath effectually called thee in time , Justified thee by his Grace ; yea , he knows thee by Name , and now in the approach of Death , he is coming to take thee to himself , where thou shalt see him as he is , and know him as thou art known of him . And as for those Glorious Creatures , the Angels and Saints in Heaven , methinks it should even Ravish thee to think how those Noble and Excellent Creatures will flock about thee and bid thee welcome into Heaven as one greatly beloved of the Lord , saying unto thee , not as the Angel once said unto the two Mary's , Mat. 28. come see the place where the Lord lay , but come see the Throne where thy Lord sits in all his Majesty and Glory .

But may some say , I may well be afraid to die , because it is that which puts an end to my life and being here : and who can without fear look upon himself , and see his Body withering and decaying and not be troubled at it ? is not Death the great Dread and Terror of the World ? Job therefore calls it , The King of Terrors . O how doth the Expectations of Death appale the Faces , weaken the Hands , shake the Hearts , imbitter the Pleasures , and damp and cool the Spirits , even of the Mighty ones of the Earth ! Should God say unto many , that they should set their Houses in Order , for they shall die and not live ; should they see a Tekel , written upon their Walls , their days are finished , this night shall their Souls be taken from them ; what sad Lamentations would most Men make ? Life , O how sweet is it to them , all that they have would they give for their Lives ; doth not Nature it self teach us to seek the Preservation of our Beings , and abhors whatever tends to its Dissolution as death doth ?

To this I Answer , because of this abhorrency of Death , which is implanted in the Nature of all Men living , there may be even in the best of God's People a fear of Death and an unwillingness to die . Our Lord himself , who was without Sin , discovers something of this , who though to shew his great willingness and readiness to die for Sinners , said , I have a Baptism to be Baptized withal , which was the Baptism of his Blood , and how am I straitned till it be accomplished ; thinking long for the coming of the day of his Death , whereby the work of our Redemption was in a great measure to be accomplished ; yet when Death came to him , see how his pure and innocent Nature was put to it , when he cry'd out . Father , if it be possible let this cup pass from me : It is true in his Case there was more than Death in it , there was wrath , there was a curse , there was all the Sins of the World wrung into that Cup to mingle him a bitter draught ; but this was also something of it ; for there was Death in the Cup. It will therefore be the Wisdom of Christians , to whatever measure of confidence and assurance they may have attained , so as upon good grounds to have overcome the fears of Death , and to look upon their dying day as the most joyful day in their lives ; yea , though in this confidence their Hearts may sometimes pant after the coming of that day , and they ready to cry out , make haste my beloved , come , Lord Jesus , come quickly ; yet will it be your wisdom to buckle on all your Armour , to get all your Evidences and Experiences ready , for the conflict of that day and hour may be such as that you may stand in need of your utmost Preparations ; for you know not how the Flesh may shrink in the day of Trial. But if it should be so ; yet be not discouraged , O Christian , for possibly this very instance of our Lord , may be left upon Record for this very end , to comfort his People when they shall be overtaken with the same fears and troubles .

And as for the sweetness of this present Life , the losing whereof makes thee to fear Death , let me ask thee this Question , Who art thou that art so fond of this present Life ? Art thou a Christian indeed and in truth ; or dost thou only make a profession of Religion , without the life and power of Godliness ? If thou art only an outward professor , I wonder not that thou shouldst set so high a price and value upon life , and art so unwilling to part with it , because all thy happiness is terminated in things that are enjoyed on this side Death and the Grave ; for as for those great and glorious things , that Eye hath not seen , nor Ear heard , nor can possibly enter into the Heart of Man to conceive , that God hath prepared for them that love him ; and which are to be enjoyed beyond time in Eternity , thou hast no lot or portion in those matters : What wonder therefore , if thou mourn and sigh even to the breaking of thy Loyns , when Death comes to put an end to thy Life ; for then it separates between thee and thy happiness for ever . But if thou art one that truly fearest God , thou needst not be so foolishly fond of this Life ; for what is there in it that should make thee coat upon it ; Is it not a Life full of cares and troubles ? Have not thy Sins made it so ? The Wise Man tells us , that all that is in this Life , that can be outwardly enjoyed , is nothing but Vanity and vexation of Spirit ; Hast thou not by experience found it so ? Thou shouldst therefore with Holy Job bless God , not only for giving of Life , but for taking of it away also ; God gave it thee for a time , and but for a short time too ; and if thou wert so wise as thou shouldst be , thou oughtest to count it thy felicity that it is so short ; for it is a Life of sorrow , and who will complain because his sorrows are so short ? It may be thou hast met with some pleasures here that gratifie thy sense ; but are they comparable to what thy Soul hath tasted in the enjoyment of God , unto which God by Death is calling thee to the enjoyment of with himself in Heaven to all Eternity ? Darest thou say that Earth is like Heaven ? Is Christ in those dark and dim discoveries he makes of himself in the Gospel , like to Christ in the full and open manifestations of himself in all his Glory in Heaven ? Canst thou say thy Soul is so like him in Wisdom , Holiness , Joy , and Peace here , as it will be above , when it comes to be enrolled among the Spirits of just Men made perfect ? If thou wilt be in love with Life , be in love with Eternal Life ; and henceforth fear not to die at God's call ; for the obedience that thou owest unto God binds thee , and the gain that Death will bring should both invite and encourage thee . Though Death ends this Life it begins another ; and though thou may'st rot under ground in one part of thee , yet it is in thy vilest part , thy Body ; and even that will spring up and flourish again shortly : And in the mean time , thy Soul , thy better part , shall live a more noble and excellent life . Think well therefore of Death ; for as it ends thy Life , so it ends thy Sin and thy sufferings also .

In these particular Instances , O Christian , thou feest how little cause there is for thee to be afraid of Death . I shall now in the next place endeavour to discover how unfit and uncomely a thing it is for Christians to fear Death ; and for this consider ,

First , A Christians fearing of Death , brings a reproach upon Religion , as if there were not that in Christianity , that could lift up a Soul above the fears of Death . For a Papist that professeth no Man can in an ordinary way be assured that he shall go to Heaven when he dies to tremble at the thoughts of Death , this is no great matter , it is but to act according to what his Religion teacheth him ; but for one that professeth the knowledge and assurance of Salvation and a future happy State , to stand amazed at death , the way and passage through which God hath appointed we must enter into Heaven , where this happiness is to be enjoyed , shews , if not a want of Faith ; yet at least a great weakness of Faith , and gives occasion to those that speak evil of the good ways of God , to reflect disgracefully upon Religion .

Secondly , To live in fear of Death , is that State of Bondage and Slavery which wicked Men are under , and from which Jesus Christ came to deliver his People : And therefore for a Believer to live dejectedly under the fears of Death is a very uncomely thing . Indeed the fears of wicked Men are so great , that they cannot think of Death without horrour ; and when they come to die they are compelled to it , for of all things in the World they dread Death most ; and could they but be assured that they shall live here always , they would desire no other Heaven . Fearfulness and amazedness under the apprehensions of Death is the proper State of wicked Men , that Slavery and Bondage unto which they are always subject ; for upon good grounds they can have no hopes in Death ; but are full of fearful expectations of Wrath and fiery Indignation that shall Torment them for ever . But now for true Believers , God hath made your state and condition very unlike unto theirs , as to the issues of Death , because you have good hopes of Eternal Life even in Death ; so says the Wise Man , Prov. 14.32 . The Righteous hath hope in his Death . Now since there is so great an unlikeness between you and them both in Death and after Death , let there not be a likeness between you and them as to your fears of Death ; let a Faelix tremble at the hearing of Death and Judgment ; but let not the Godly hang down their Heads , but lift them up with joy and rejoicing , because the day of their Redemption draweth nigh .

Thirdly , Consider this , to be afraid of Death , is to fear that which is but the Shadow and semblance of Death : For to speak strictly , a state of Sin , and separation of the Soul from God for Sin , this is Death properly ; but the separation of the Soul from the Body only , is but the Shadow of Death . But O how seldom is it to see Men trembling because of a spiritual Death , because they are dead in trespasses and sins , though this be infinitely more dreadful than any temporal Death can be ? And therefore to shew how full of Woe and Misery this Death is , it is called Damnation ; which is the extremity of all Misery : This is that now to which this spiritual Death tends , and in which it will terminate . Hence therefore Wicked Men are said to be condemned already , and the wrath of God abides upon them , and that they shall have their Portion in that Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone , which is the second Death : This shall as certainly be their Portion as if they were there already . Therefore , O Christian , if thou wilt fear Death , fear not that which is the shadow and the appearance of it , but fear that which is Death indeed ; fear Sin , that is the cause both of the first and of the second Death also ; for if thou art spiritually alive , and raised from the Death of Sin , as all true Believers are , how uncomely a thing is it for thee to fear the Shadow , the appearance of an evil which cannot hurt thee , when thou art delivered from the evil it self ?

Fourthly , Consider , for a Christian to fear that which is both common and certain , is an uncomely and unsuitable thing . Afflictions in general are the common lot of all God's People in this World ; but Death is that which is more common , because it is that which befals all both good and bad ; from other outward Afflictions there is a possibility that some may be free ; or if they befal them , they may be delivered from under them again ; but no Man can escape Death . What Man is he that liveth , saith the Psalmist , and shall not see Death ? shall he deliver his Soul from the hand of the Grave ? No , he cannot . Now God hath in Mercy made that to be most common , which is most grievous and afflictive , that he might thereby abate the terrour of it to us ; and for any one to strive against that which no Man can avoid or shun , argues that Man to be guilty of great folly . It is therefore very unbecoming thee , O Christian , to fear Death , which is the common way of all Flesh ; yea , the way by which all the People of God enter into Heaven and Happiness .

But to proceed a little farther in this subject , I shall in the next place endeavour to discover , that the fears of Death may not only be overcome for a time , but that it is possible for a Christian to live without them , or above them ; which though it be a high attainment , yet is it that to which Grace may reach , and that which many of the People of God do daily experience the comfort of .

Now by a Christians living without the fear of Death , I mean a holy quietation and satisfaction of Soul , as to his future State of Happiness founded upon the knowledge of his Interest in Christ , who hath overcome Death for all Believers , whereby the thoughts of it approach , doth neither distract nor disquiet his Mind , so as to bereave him of that Peace and Tranquility of Soul that he enjoys is his Hopes and Expectations of Heaven and Glory ; but that he can with a holy Contentation and Satisfaction , resign up his Soul unto God , whensoever he calls for it .

Now that such a State as this is attainable , I need say no more , than that this was one of the ends for which Christ died , that by Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death , that is , the Devil ; and deliver them , who by reason of the fear of Death , were all their life-times subject unto Bondage . So that we being delivered out of the hands of all our spiritual Enemies , ( whereof Death is one , ) we might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our lives . In this Heavenly frame was Holy David , when he said , though he walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death he would fear no evil : And so was St. Paul , when he tells us , he was perswaded , that neither Death , nor Life , nor Angels , nor Principalities , nor Powers , nor things present , nor things to come , should be able to separate him from the love of God , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord . No wonder therefore that he could say , I desire to be dissolved ( though it was by Death ) that he might be with Christ . Thus to live above the fears of Death , will cost much pains with our own Hearts , great diligence and circumspection over our selves in all our thoughts , words , and ways ; much watchfulness against all Sin and Temptations ; for if we be remiss , and through carelessness , much more through presumption , we fall into Sin , or neglect Duty , we shall soon be brought into Bondage and Slavery by the fears of Death .

If therefore , O Christian , thou art one , who hast overcome the fears of Death , and canst live above them , thou may'st then die with courage , and leave this World , ( though Death carry thee out of it , ) with joy and rejoicing . And that thou may'st be able to do so , let me briefly lay down two or three Directions .

First , Have a great care of blorting thy Evidences for Heaven . Darkness is an uncomfortable thing : And when Christians have been tampering with the works of Darkness , I mean some known Sins blotting their Evidences , which should discover their Title to Heaven , so that they cannot read them ; what wonder is it while they are thus in the dark , that they are afraid to leave Earth , though it be to go to Heaven , because they know it not , for which they may thank themselves . God would not only have his People go to Heaven certainly , but joyfully ; and therefore he hath made ample provisions for their Peace and comfort , both in Life and Death ; so that they may not only have good hope but strong consolation through Grace ; yea , may with a holy exultation of Soul , cry out , Thanks be to God , who always causeth us to Triumph in Christ . But now , if when God hath spoken Peace , they will turn again unto folly , by venturing upon Sin , they hereby create their own sorrows . Fear and Consternation of Soul , under the apprehensions of Death , come from themselves , they are their own Tormenters , and the hinderers and disturbers of their own Peace and Joy . And now if instead of being able to read their Evidences for Heaven , which should comfort them , they can only make wounding reflections upon their Sins that have blotted those Evidences , so that they walk in darkness , and the fears of Death continually afflict their Souls , they must thank themselves ; for where there is the apprehensions of guilt lying upon any Soul unpardoned , there the thoughts of death will be terrible . This made David , when in his own apprehensions he was drawing nigh to the Grave , beg so importunately of God , that he would spare him a little longer , that he might recover his strength before he should go away from hence and be seen no more . If therefore when you come to die , you would leave this World cheerfully , you must live in the World conscienciously . Exercise your selves in all things to keep Consciences void of offence towards God and towards all Men. Take heed of those black Fiends , thy Sins , which will fright thy Soul in the dark night of death . If thy Conscience be kept clean , thy Evidences for Heaven will be clear , and the thoughts of death comfortable . Many be venturing upon Sin , wound their Souls ; and when death approaches , O then they start back , and sain would they be spared a little longer . If Conscience be raw with the guilt of any one Sin , a very light affliction ( much more death ) will make a Man kick and fling , and very unwilling to bear it ; but where the Spirit is sound , and the guilt of Sin taken off from the Conscience by the love of Christ , death it self will be embraced with courage and joy .

Secondly , Deaden your Hearts and Affections to the World and all the comforts thereof . The inordinate love of worldly enjoyments , and the imperfect love of God makes Men afraid to die . He whose Heart and Affections sit loose to the World , a small matter will make him willing to leave it ; but where the Heart is fastned to it in love and affection , there will be no parting from it , without much reluctancy . He that hath laid up his Heart in Heaven , can comfortably think of laying down his Body in the Grave . Prize therefore Heavenly things above Earthly . Place your Happiness in spiritual things ; count them not only your Food , but your Feast ; yea , make them your recreation . Were Heaven and Heavenly things , the continual solace and delight of our Souls , with what joy and rejoicing should we leave Earth to go to Heaven .

Thirdly , Familiarize the Thoughts of Death unto your Souls by frequent Meditation . Dost thou dread this King of Terrours ? give not way to thy Fears ; but bring Death often into thy thoughts ; there is no such hurt in it as thou imaginest , nothing that should terrifie a Christian . Consider a little , what it is that Death can do against thee , and what it is Death shall do for thee ; and then tell me if thou hast any cause to fear it ; nay , tell me what cause thou hast to rejoice in it : What is it death can do against thee ? It may part thee and the World , thee and thy Friends ; yea , it will part between thy Soul and thy Body , bringing it down into the dust for a time , to become a Feast for Worms ; and this is the worst that Death can do against a Believer . But then consider withal what Death shall do for thee , why it shall bring thee to a Happiness so great in the enjoyment of God , as is unutterable for thee to express , and unconceivable for thee to imagine ; and this not for a time , but for ever ; this death shall do for thee , O Christian ; and surely , if thou believest these things with a lively active Faith , thou canst not any longer set death at a distance from thee , as an Enemy that thou art afraid of ; but converse with it familiarly as a Friend ; yea , as thy best Friend , next unto Jesus Christ . Job was thus familiar with death , Job 17.14 . I have said unto Corruption thou art my Father , and to the Worms ye are my Mother , and Sister , and Brother . Accustom thy self therefore , O Christian , unto the thoughts of death , and often think what a happy change thou shalt thereby undergo , even an entrance into Heaven and Glory : And then though the thoughts of death be full of horrour unto others ; yet such thoughts unto thee , will not only be profitable but exceeding delightful .

Fourthly , If you would die with Courage and Joy , then often meditate upon the Death of Christ . It is a common Argument and in the Mouths of most Persons , that all must die ; all that have lived before us have gone this way : But who is there that takes courage to follow others into the Grave , because multitudes are gone thither before them ? No , it is but a poor encouragement to die , because other Men like our selves have died before us . But when a Christian shall believingly remember and consider , that Jesus Christ died and was laid in the Grave , not only before us , but for us ; and that he hath there conquered the King of Terrours , even upon his own ground ; this makes a Believer die with a holy courage , and descend into the Grave with an undaunted boldness . But because Christians so seldom meditate on the Death of Christ , therefore are they so afraid of their own death . He that hath often conversed with death , in the Meditation of the death of Christ , ( as Believers do or should do , ) cannot be afraid to die , if he knows what the death of Christ means which he hath meditated upon . Savingly to know that Christ is gone before us in death , is not only enough to make us cheerful , but to make us alive in death . He that by Faith contemplates that Christ is gone before him by dying , and that in dying he died for him ; and that he also is alive , and lives for him ; with what abundant joy and consolation , may he depart out of this World .

CHAP. VI.

Objections against Death , and Vnwillingness to die answered , Consolations against the Fear of Death in general . Comforts against the Death of Friends and Relations in particular . The Saints great Gain by Death , propounded as a Motive and Encouragement unto Christians against the Fears of it .

THough it be the Duty of Christians to die willingly , yea with Courage and Joy to commit their Souls into the hands of God ; yet are there many , who cannot overcome their fears of death , so as to be willing to die ; and the Reasons thereof are such as these .

First , say some , We could be content to die , had we but attained unto sixty or seventy years as some Men do ; but alas , we are young , in the prime of our years , and in the strength of our Days : The Sun of our Life hath not been long up ; and must it go back , and decline , yea and set also already ? We are willing to die hereafter ; but O that God would spare us a little longer .

To this , I answer , these are foolish pityings of thy self : For if it please the Great God , in whose Hands thy life is , thy breath , and all thy ways , that thou must die young , hast thou any Injustice to charge him withal ? What wrong hath he done thee in cutting short the thread of thy life ? Thou hast forfeited thy life into his Hands long since ; and if sparing Mercy hath continued the Forfeiture , and given thee a space and time of Repentance , though not so long as thou desirest ; yet more than thou deservest , yea and more than he owed thee : Thou shouldst therefore rather be thankful for it , and with all diligence improve it , than repine that it is so short , or be unwilling to part with it so soon : For though long life may be a Blessing , yea is promised so ; yet if thou art a Believer , a short life shall be no Curse unto thee . To a pardoned Soul , all things are Blessings , yea Death it self ; for the bitterness of it is taken away . Righteous Abel though young dies , and dies by Murder ; whilst wicked Cain the Murderer of him , lives some hundreds of years after . When God who is the great Lord of Time , and measures out to every one what number of days they shall live , hath appointed unto thee the day and hour of thy departure ; though the days of thy life be but as a span long , compared with the lives of others ; yet is it in vain to contend with God ; thou may'st trouble thy self , and make thy life uncomfortable , but thou can'st not alter God's Decrees ; for he is of one Mind , as Job speaks , and who can turn him ? That is , none can ; and therefore chearfully yield up thy self unto his Will.

But possibly thou wilt say , I would live longer , that I might serve and honour God more .

If thou art sincere in what thou sayest , it is well ; but if God will take the Will for the Deed , and accept of what thou hast done already , and reward thee with the eternal Enjoyment of himself immediately , hast thou any Cause to complain ? What if thou gettest to Heaven twenty , or thirty years before thy Father or Brother , or many other of thy Acquaintance , that are travelling with their Faces Heaven-ward , and have been so many years already ; Will it grieve thee that thou art got to Heaven too soon , where if thou art a Christian thou always hast a desire to be ? I assure thee thy Friends and Relations , though they may not envy thy Happiness ; yet if they had but once tasted the Sweetness thereof , their longings after it would be so great , that they would continually cry out , Oh Time hasten and flee away , that we may come to the full Enjoyment of our longed for Happiness . Hath God cast thee , O Christian , upon a Bed of Pain and Sorrow , and is it likely to prove thy Death-bed ? Are there such Symptoms of thy departure , that God seems to tell thee plainly thou shalt die , and not live ? O do not reply and say , It is too soon yet , thou art too young to die and go to Heaven : What though God call thee to Glory and Blessedness sooner than thou expectest , yet shame not thy self , grieve not others that behold thee ; much more , disparage not the Happiness of Heaven , nor of that God who is to be eternally enjoyed there , by thy unwillingness to go thither ?

Secondly , May some say , we shall have so many Evils to encounter with , that will create us so much fear and trouble , and withal so many Pains will befall us in a dying hour , that we cannot tell how to think of Death , we are so affrighted at it .

To this I answer : It is true a Christian cannot expect to die without Assaults of Enemies , nor without the Pains of Death ; but yet a Christian need not fear , nor be unwilling to die for all this .

First , One Discouragement may be the Apprehension of the guilt of Sin , which they then fear will stare their Consciences in the Face ; and how to bear up under it they know not . But know , O Christian , if Sin hath lost its Throne in thy Soul ; if it hath no Interest in thy Affections , so that it is not embraced with any Love or Delight , it shall never ruine or condemn thee . For it is a certain Truth where Sin doth not rule , there Sin shall never damn . He that by the Grace and Spirit of Christ is enabled to mortifie his Sins , and all sinful Affections and Inclinations thereunto ; and by a penitential Conversion of Soul , from Sin unto God , hath forsaken his sinful ways ; all his former Provocations , though never so great , lose their damning Power : For where Sin is once in the Exercise or godly Sorrow confessed unto God , it is by him graciously pardoned . Nay the Apostle tells us , in 1 John 1.9 . If we confess our Sins , God is not only merciful and gracious , but he will be just and righteous to forgive us our Sins , and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness . And what greater security can a Christian desire for his support , than the Truth and Faithfulness of that God , who is Truth it self and cannot lie ?

Secondly , There is another thing that may startle a Christian's Confidence , and make him unwilling to die ; and that is the fears of the Assaults of Satan , who will do what he can , not only to hinder our future Happiness , but to interrupt our comfortable passage through Death .

It is true the Devil will be very active in a dying hour . But be not discouraged ; give not place to his Temptations : For where Sin is pardoned as it is to all Believers ; What hath the Devil wherewith to shake a Christian's Confidence , or to undermine his Hopes and Expectance ; but what is built upon Lies and Falshood . If therefore you will give Credit unto this Father of Lies , when he endeavours to weaken those certain Assurances the great God hath given you of his resolved Designs to save such as you are ; and so come to be disturbed and confounded in your Thoughts about your present and future State , you must blame your selves . Till therefore it can be proved , that Sin may be repented of and not pardoned ; that Sin may be pardoned , and yet the Soul perish and undone ; till God or Christ prove either forgetful , unable , or false , be not dejected . It is the great Comfort of a Christian , that the Devil hath no other Arguments to disquiet a Believer with in a dying hour , but what are bottom'd on these gross Absurdities . And though Satan may be furious in his last Assaults , yet , O Christian , remember when thou art walking through the Valley of the shadow of death , thou walkest not alone : In that dark and gloomy Valley , God hath his Rod and his Staff in readiness for thy Assistance and Encouragement ; and know further , O believing Soul , that Christ our compassionate High Priest , knows what it is to die , and hath been acquainted with the Subtilties and Fury of the Tempter , by smart Experience , and his sympathy hath taught him pity ; and because he is our Head , he will not forget his Members under their afflicting Temptations in that hour : For though he be in Heaven , he retains the same Bowels and Affections now in his glorified State , which he had here upon Earth ; and doth continually improve his Intercession in Heaven , for the benefit , security and relief of his afflicted People in their greatest dangers and Extremities .

If any poor Believers shall here object the pains of Death , as being so great , and to their apprehensions insupportable ; and therefore they are unwilling to die ;

Let them consider , that they are but short and suddain ; and though they are made by God our necessary passage into Glory , yet they shall soon be over and forgot , when the Soul by death is set free from the Body , and takes its flight into the Presence of God in Heaven . And alas , what are the dying pains , and groaning gasps of departing Saints , compared to the Gripes and Stingings of an awakned Conscience for sin ; and the horrid fears of the Wrath and Vengeance of God , which though they are not seen by others because inward ; yet are they the frequent and daily Tormenting Exercises of sinners , both in Life and Death . And though the pains of the Godly in a dying hour , may sometimes be afflictive unto Sense ; yet it often happens through the Goodness and Mercy of God to them , that their Fears in Life exceed their Pains in Death ; and this King of Terrors doth not gripe so hard , nor stab so painfully , as we are apt to think : and if he doth , God many times comes in with such strong Consolations upon departing Souls . in the Manifestations of his Love to , and Presence with them , as turns their Fears and Sorrows into Joy and Rejoycing .

But if God should not manifest himself thus Comfortably unto some for their Support : but leave them to the feeling of their Fears by undergoing great pains in Death ; yet as soon as the stroke is given , the pains are gone , and their fears are over . How quickly do the first openings of that Eternal Morning swallow up all the Remembrances of our dying sorrows . O when the Joys and Visions of our God invade and Exercise our departed Souls ; then comes the great and welcome Pledge of our Eternal Conquest of this last Enemy , and after a short sleep of Bodies in the Dust , ( whilst Souls return to God ) the Trump will sound , the Lord will come , the World shall perish , or be refin'd by Flames , and the Dead shall rise and die no more ; and then as the Apostle speaks , shall we be ever with the Lord .

But some may say , we could willingly die , but that we know not what will become of us hereafter ; we cannot tell what our future State will be , and therefore we are afraid of Death . The desires we have of our Eternal Happiness puts us upon hoping the best , but our doubts and fears are so many , we cannot but tremble to think of our departure , because we are under such uncertainties whither we shall go when Death takes us hence .

To this I Answer , who art thou that makest these Objections ? Either thou art a wicked Man , or one that truly fearest God . If thou art a Wicked Man , under the guilt of thy Sins , and in an unpardoned State , I cannot wonder that thou art afraid of Death , nor can I blame thee that thou art unwilling to die : Thou hast cause enough to make thee fear and tremble . For there is nothing in Death , or what is to come after it , if thou understandest thy danger aright , but what might fill thee with the greatest Terror and Consternation imaginable . Whatever thou fearest , is to come ; and may come quickly for ought thou knowest : is infinitely far greater and worse than what thou canst now imagine : what thou feelest or fearest , are but the beginning of thy Sorrows : nay all the Miseries thou canst meet with in Life , and all the pains that thou canst suppose to be in Death , fall infinitely short of those unconceivable Horrours , and Miseries that are the Portion of Sinners in the next Life . And for any Comfort , or Relief against Death whilst thou art in thy Sinful State , there is nor can be none . Thy work therefore , must be speedily to get into Christ ; labour to have thy Sins Pardoned . Follow God with earnest Cries , Tears , and Importunities of Soul , that thy sinful Nature may be changed and Sanctified : and then let Death come when it will ; though thou die under never such fears and uncertainties as to thy future State , yet Eternal Happiness attends thee , and when Death hath once closed the Eyes of thy Body ; the Eye of thy Soul will quickly be opened to thy everlasting Joy and Consolation .

If thou art one that truly fearest God , but yet art unwilling to die , because thou art uncertain , how it may go with thee as to thy Eternal State . Why then examine thine own heart , whether these fears do not proceed from thine own carelessness ? God hath vouchsafed to thee many means and opportunities for the encreasing thy Knowledge , for the strengthening thy Faith , for the enlarging thy Love , for the confirming thy Hope , for the establishing thy Soul in the ways of God , and to provoke and stir thee up unto the continual Exercise of Grace , that hereby thou mightest grow up into some Knowledge and Assurance of his Love towards thee through Christ , and so mayest groundedly conclude the certainty of thy future Happiness . But thou hast been sloathful , not putting forth thy self with all diligence in the improving the Helps and Advantages God hath put into thy hands , and therefore thou art so in the Dark , and under fears ; how it may go with thy Soul for ever , if this be thy case , go humble thy Soul before God , lie low in his presence , beg earnestly the manifestations of his Love and Favour towards thee : And for time to come , put forth the endeavours of thy Soul unto the utmost , in the use of all the means God vouchsafes unto thee for the removing thy Fears , satisfying thy Doubts , encreasing thy Knowledge , confirming thy Faith and Hope in a future State of Happiness provided for thee ; and how soon God may come in , whilst thou art thus humbling thy self before him , and manifest his loving kindness unto thy Support and Comfort , thou knowest not . But however , if he should ( for some Reasons thou canst not at present apprehend ) leave thee to walk under thy Doubts and Fears still ; yet if thou art sincere one that hath the Grace of God in Truth in thy Soul , I would say thus much , that these Fears and Jealousies about the attainment of the Happiness of Heaven , if it be a Distemper as it is become so natural to us all ; that it is with much difficulty cured in this present State , but yet it may be with great diligence and industry of Soul . But for thy Comfort , O doubting Believer , know ; though these Doubts and Fears are sinful , and thou dost thereby provoke God ; yet they shall not prejudice thy future Happiness , though they may and do often hinder thy present Peace and Comfort . For certainly God will never Damn a Believing Soul , let such a one think what he will of himself . For though thou art not assured that thou art his , yet God knows all those that are his , and not one of them shall Eternally perish . Suppose therefore , that thou shouldst die under Doubts and Jealousies , and thy Soul should go out of this World , sitting in a Cloud of Tears , this hinders not , but it may arise in a fair morning of Glory . Heaven only is a place privileged from Tears and Fears .

But may some Soul say , I am not willing to die , because I fear I have no Grace , or at least it is but little that I have ; for when I compare my self with others , the most I can say of my self is this : that all my Grace and Holiness lies in a Love to Grace , and in a desire after Holiness ; I hope through Grace I can say , that there is nothing in all the World , if I might have my choice , that I desire more than to be like my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ . But O how short do I fall , both of my Rule and of my Desires : my walkings in the ways of God are very uneven and unconstant ; the corruptions of my heart are so great and so frequently breaking forth , by Fleshly Affections and Worldly Desires , that if there be any Grace within me , it is very hard to diseern it by reason of the sin that doth accompany and go along with it ; and how then should such a one as I dare to think of dying . Were Grace strong and vigorous , could I sensibly find the strength , encrease and growth of it in a tendency towards perfection , I could then think of dying with some courage . But the weakness and imperfection of Grace much discourageth me , that I cannot with any willingness and chearfulness entertain the thoughts of it in my Soul .

To this I Answer , let not the thoughts of Death discourage thee , O weak Christian , for Death can no more , shall no more hinder the Happiness of a weak Believer , than of a strong Believer . It is true , a strong Faith may carry thee more comfortably to Heaven , but a weak Faith will carry thee as truly to Heaven : For Faith saves not as it is strong or weak , but as it is true ; and a weak Faith is true Faith as well as a strong Faith . Grace and Holiness is of Absolute necessity for every Christian ; for without them it is impossible to please God , or to enjoy him . For as the Apostle saith , Without Holiness no man shall ever see the Lord . But yet all Christians are not equally Holy ; there is a measure , or stature to which all Christians are appointed in Christ Jesus : but this measure , or stature , is not the same to every Christian : some Christians have a longer term of Life than others ; some have more means and opportunities than others ; and some have greater Parts and Abilities than others . Now God is not a severe Master , expecting to reap where he hath not sown , or to gather where he hath not strowed : God doth not look for what he doth not give , where he gives more , he expects the more ; but where he gives less , he expects the less . Christians to whom God hath given great parts and Abilities with great means and opportunities of Grace even unto Old Age , from such God expects much , because he hath given much . Ordinary degrees of Grace must not serve their turns ; but they must transcend others in Faith , Love , Humility , and all other Graces , contending for the attaining unto the State of the Resurrection from the dead . But now for others , whose parts have been low ; whose means and opportunities are small , and their time in the World but short : God doth not expect that the Beauty of their Grace should shine so Gloriously as others . Say not therefore O doubting Christian , that thou knowest not , believest not , lovest not , delightest not in God , to that degree that others do . It may be thou dost not ; but if thy Knowledge , Faith , Love and Delight be not so great as others , yet thy Grace may be as true and as real as any others . In a Star there is as true light as in the Sun , though there be more light in the Sun . And thy Grace though little and weak , is true Grace ; though it be not so much , nor so strong as others . Quiet thy self therefore , O drooping Soul ; for such may be the weakness of thy parts , such the smallness of the means of Grace that thou enjoyest , and so few the Talents thou art intrusted withal , that God expects not so much from thee as he doth from others : And if the Great God will accept of , yea Reward the little that thou hast , why shouldest thou be troubled or disquieted ? God doth not despise the day of small things , and why shouldest thou ? A little Grace , yea the least of Grace is too good to be cast away . Though thou couldest not be Saved without a strong Saviour , and therefore Christ is said to travail in the greatness of his Strength mighty to Save : yet a little Faith laying hold upon this strong Saviour , will keep thee from perishing : be not therefore discouraged , O Christian , fear not Death , though thy Grace be weak and imperfect , and so may not give thee that comfort in Death that thou expectest , yet shall it as truly overcome Death through the strength of Christ , as the strongest Grace ; and though Death kill thee , yet it shall not hurt thee ; nay it shall make for thy Eternal Advantage , for it shall be the ending of all thy Fears , but the beginning of thy Eternal Joys and Rejoycings .

But may some poor Soul say , I want the assurance of the Love and Favour of God , and this makes me unwilling to die ; were I but assured my sins are pardoned , and God reconciled to my Soul through Jesus Christ , I could then chearfully submit my self to the stroke of Death ; but this is that which afrightens me , I fear lest God is mine Enemy , and then I am sure death cannot be my Friend , and how then shall I dare to think of dying in this Condition ?

To this I Answer ; art thou under some fears and apprehensions that God is not thy reconciled Father in Jesus Christ , though I cannot blame thee that thou art fearful of dying under such apprehensions ; yet I must blame thee for thy former negligence , that thou hast not made this sure to thy self in the time of thy health and strength . Next to dying in a State of impenitency , and the Horrors of Conscience , under the fore tasts of Hell and Wrath : dying under the apprehensions and fears of God's being our Enemy , is the most dreadful condition that can be , for though our future safety and happiness depends not upon our assurance that God is at peace with us , yet our present Comfort doth : and it is all one as to the present quietation and satisfaction of our Souls when we are a dying , whether God be our Enemy or no ; if he will not smile upon us when our Souls are a - departing ; but leave us in that hour , as our last punnishment for some sin that he hath been provoked by ; to breath forth our Souls under the apprehensions of his Wrath and Displeasure . Assurance of the Love and Favour of God , to know that our sins are Pardoned , and we accepted in the Beloved ; to know the joyful sound , to have the light of God's Countenance lifted up upon our Souls , when we are passing through the gloomy Valley of the shadow of Death . For God not only to Love us , but to tell us that he Loves us , and to manifest it to us by shedding abroad his Love into our Hearts by the Holy Ghost , so as to fill us with Joy and Peace by believing this is Life , nay this loving kindness of God is better than Life ; it is the Suburbs of Heaven ; yea , it is Heaven it self , for it is as much of Heaven as we can desire or contain of Heaven whilst we are on this side Heaven . On the contrary to be doubting of the Love and Favour of God , to fear he is our Enemy , that we are yet in our Sins , liable unto the Wrath and Vengeance of God , this is very sad and uncomfortable ; yea , some resemblance of Hell it self ; especially if Conscience be awakned , and these Apprehensions and Jealousies continue upon us under the approaches of Death : this therefore must needs be very Afflictive to a poor doubting Soul . But yet be not discouraged ; for it is the Condition of many of God's Children for a long time to remain doubtful , both as to their present State in Grace , and their future State of Glory . There are Believers of divers growths in the Church of God , Fathers , Young-men , Children , and Babes . And as it is in most Families in the World , there are more Babes , and Children , than grown Men : So is it in the Church of God , there are more weak and doubting Christians , than strong Men who are grown up unto a full Assurance . But remember the Promise is made to the being of Faith , not to the Knowledge and Evidence of it ; to Faith as it is a true Faith , not to Faith as it is a strong Faith , Heaven may be sure to those , who yet in their own Apprehensions may not be assured of Heaven . Live therefore by Faith , O Christian , when thou canst not live by Sence and Feeling ; and know that , that God who hath given thee a true Judgment to value Jesus Christ , and a Sanctified Will to choose him , with ardent and strong Affections to Love him and desire him , and supported thee under the fears of sin and guilt , will come in with assurance also , if he sees it good for thee : And know also for thy Comfort , that many of God's People have languished a long time under the want of assurance , and some of them most part of their lives , yea , and in their last Sickness , and almost to their last gasp , and then God hath Graciously come in and Sealed up his Love and Favour to their Souls , whereby they have been filled will Joy unspeakable and full of Glory . Never fear death therefore , for want of assurance , for that is the most usual time when God doth bestow it upon his People . But if he doth not then give thee this assurance , yet he will put under his Everlasting Arms that shall bear thee up notwithstanding all thy fears and doubts and carry thee safe through the pains of Death into Glory , where thou shalt have as much of the Love of God , and of the Assurance thereof as thou canst wish or desire .

But may some say , were we prepared to die , we could willingly embrace Death whensoever God sends it . But alas , our State and Condition is such , that we fear we are not fit for Death , and how then can we Comfortably think of dying ?

I Answer , if this be the true case of thy Soul , as thy Fears suggest , that thou art not really prepared for Death , thy Condition is sad and dangerous , and if Death seize upon thee in this State , thou art irrecoverably miserable , and all the Comfort that can be given unto thee is this , that yet there is a possibility of Salvation , as yet there is some hope because thou art not actually under the power of Death ; God is yet waiting , time is yet lengthened out , space is yet granted to you to prepare to meet this King of Terrors : And in the Improvement of these lies all your Hopes for Heaven and Eternity . You have hitherto been great loiterers in your great work , spent much of your precious time to little purpose , neglected many opportunities , lost many warnings vouchsafed to you : Now therefore be diligent : What was the whole time of your Life given you for , but to prepare for Death , and have you lived so many years in the World to prepare for your last hour , and are you still both unwilling and unfit to die ? What have you been doing ? wherefore is it that you have lived ? have you had any business of greater concernment to mind , than to be prepared for your latter end ? O foolish Souls and unwise , who else would run such desperate hazaras ? God hath frequently told you that you must die , how often hath Death by God's appointment come among your Acquaintance and Relations , and sometimes into your own Habitations , and snatched away many before your Eyes ; how often hath it been told you , such a Friend is dead in such a place , and such an Acquaintance in another place , and such a Relation in such a Family ? And by all these warnings will you not believe that you are Mortal , and shall shortly die as well as others ? If you do believe it , where is the prepartion you make for it , when you are still crying out , O you are not fit to die ? was not this your Language long since ? how many years hath it been heard from you ? When God hath visited you with Sickness not once but often , and you were going down into the Chambers of the Grave in your own apprehensions : did you not then cry out , Lord I am not ready , O spare me yet a little longer , that I may recover my strength , yet once again , before I go away from hence and shall be seen no more ; and God was nigh to your Voice , and heard your Cry and granted your Request , and tried you once and again a little longer ; and what are you not yet fit to die ? whose fault is it ? surely your own . And if Death take you away in this State , you will justly bear the blame and punishment of it for ever . Whoever thou art into whose hands these lines may fall , presently put thy self upon the Trial , how it is with thee , and endeavour to put the Question out of doubt , think not that God must wait upon you whilst you dally and trifle away your time : hast thou been careless and negligent formerly , be so no longer ; O search and examine thy Soul , and follow the search close and home to thy Conscience till thou come fully and clearly to discern how it is with thee ; idle not away thy time one moment longer , but begin this day , delay not thy Preparations for Death until to morrow , for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth . What is requisite to make thy preparations such as may render Death Comfortable in thy thoughts and Expectations , I have already laid down in the third Chapter of this Treatise to which I refer thee .

But notwithstanding what hath been spoken , because there may yet be some fears arising in the hearts of some troubled Christian 's , which they cannot get the Victory over , so as readily and willingly to submit unto Death , I shall in the next place propose some Consolatory Considerations for their Encouragement and support against a dying hour . As ,

First , Consider that Gracious Promise God hath made unto his People in all Ages , that he will never leave them nor forsake them . And this is a Cordial so full of Divine Consolation , that if Christians did but believe and live up to the Comfort that might be drawn from it , they would not fear , much less sink under any Affliction that can befall them . It was no small Trial St. Paul was under , when after his being rapt up into the third Heavens , where he heard things that were unspeakable , or impossible to be uttered : he had given him a Thorn in the Flesh , the Messenger of Satan to Buffet him ; upon which he makes his Prayer thrice , that it might be removed from him . What Answer now doth he receive from God ? why the Thorn remains in his Flesh still , and the Messenger of Satan continues to Buffet him ; but yet he hath a better return to his Prayer , even the making good of this Gracious Promise to him , that God would not leave him nor forsake him : for says God , My Grace shall be sufficient for thee , my Strength is made perfect in Weakness . And therefore the Apostle orys out in the deepest of his Afflictions , with Transports of Joy , most gladly therefore will I Glory in my Infirmities , that the Power of Christ may rest upon me ; yea , says he , I take pleasure in Infirmities , in Reproaches , in Necessities , in Persecutions , in Distresses for Christ's sake , for when I am Weak , then am I strong ; for I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me , 2 Cor. 12.9 , 10. Thus for God to stand by his People , and to strengthen them under their Afflictions , is more than for God to deliver them out of them , and he always doth the one or the other , if he deliver not his People out of afflictions , he always strengthens them under them ; and the greater the Afflictions of any of his People are , the more is his Power seen in supporting them , because they then most need it . Therefore , says God , when thou passest through the Waters , I will be with thee , they shall not overflow thee ; and when thou walkest thorough the Fire , thou shalt not be burnt , Esai . 43.2 . Take Courage therefore , O Christian , be not afraid of any Affliction ; be not afrighted , no not at the sight of death it self ; though thou see'st it is a narrow passage , a way beset with Briars and Thorns ; though it be a strait Gate for Flesh and Blood to pass through , yet fear not ; for it is the Gate of Heaven , the way that leads unto Glory . Be not afraid therefore to walk in the valley of the shadow of death ; though love of Friends , and strength of Body fail thee , yet fear not , for God will be with thee , his Rod and his Staff will support and comfort thee , he will be your God and your Guide , not only unto death , but for ever and ever ; for he will never , never , never leave his People , nor forsake them , till he hath brought them to the eternal enjoyment of himself in Glory .

Secondly , Wouldst thou , O Christian , be comforted and supported against death , then much and often meditate upon the Lord Jesus Christ . Now though every thing in Christ , and every thing done by Christ , be exceeding sweet and precious ; for unto them that believe , he is precious . Christ , and whole Christ is precious ; for there is nothing in him , or done by him , that we can tell how to want . But yet I shall instance in some few things more particularly , which may be of great Use unto a Christian to meditate upon for his support against the hour of Death : As ,

First , Meditate often upon the Death and Sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ . Now though in general these were so great , that they exceed all our Expressions and Apprehensions ; yet how willingly and patiently did he undergo them all ; both from God and Man , in his Body and in his Soul ? His Body was racked and tortured in all the parts of it ; but especially in those parts wherein the sense is most quick ; and therefore his Pain and Anguish was most afflicting . They digged or pierced my hands and my feet , saith the Psalmist of him , Psal. 22.16 . He suffered in his Soul also ; for he conflicted with the wrath of an angry God , which was impress'd upon him in such a dreadful manner ; that had he not had the strength of the Deity to support him , it had certainly overwhelm'd him , and ground him to Powder : For it was pure Wrath without the least mixture of sparing Mercy , the great God bated him nothing . That 's a sweet Scripture , Rom. 8.32 . God spared not his own Son : And it was well for us that he did not ; for had he spared him , he had not spared us . His Death was not common and ordinary , but a Death by Crucifixion ; he humbled himself , and became obedient unto Death , even the death of the Cross , which was a violent death , considered in it self ; and therefore he is said to be cut off out of the Land of the Living , though in respect of himself it was voluntary ; and therefore he tells us I lay down my Life of my self , John 10.18 . And indeed Christ must either die a voluntary Death , or none at all ; partly because there was no Sin in him to deserve Death , and partly because otherwise his death had not been a Sacrifice acceptable and satisfactory unto God for us ; for that which died of it self was never offered in Sacrifice , but that which was slain in its full force and strength . This death of Christ was also full of exquisite Pain and Torture ; and therefore when he was going to encounter with it , he screws up his Request to his Father to the highest pitch , Matth 26.39 . Father , if it be possible , let this Cup pass from me . It was also a death full of shame , than which nothing is more cutting to an ingenious , noble Spirit . And truly in this respect , the Thieves that suffered with him , fared better than he ; for they had no Taunts , Reproaches , and Sarcasms cast upon them ; they only encountered with Pain : But Christ had Pain and Shame also ; for the Souldiers , the Jews , the Thieves , all scoffed and flouted at him : And therefore , says the Apostle , he not only endured the Cross , but he despised the shame , Heb. 12.2 . But this is not all , for the death of Christ was a cursed death ; Pain was bad , and Shame was worse , but the Curse is worst of all ; for he that is hanged on a Tree , is accursed of God ; and therefore Christ that he might shew the greatness of his Love to his People , redeemed them from the Curse of the Law , being made a Curse for them , Gal. 3.13 . Now though Christ knew that all these Sufferings and this death should befal him ; yet so great was his Love to Believers , that he underwent all willingly and patiently . What godly Man on Earth , what Saint or Angel in Heaven can read or hear those Words of his , in Luke 12.50 . without Astonishment , where speaking of his death and sufferings , he saith , he had a Baptism to be baptized withal , which was a Baptism of Blood ? And how am I straitned till it be accomplished ? Indeed it is said , when the time of his sufferings drew near , that he began to be sorrowful , that he was sore amazed and very heavy : My Soul , says he , is exceeding sorrowful even unto death . Not that Christ repented of his Undertaking when he was to suffer ; no , for when the time of his suffering was come , the Holy History tells us , he not only went to a place that Judas who betrayed him knew of , that so he might be the more readily taken ; but when his Enemies came thither to apprehend him , he went forth to meet them , and asked them , Whom seek ye ? And when they told him Jesus of Nazareth , he tells them , I am he ; upon which , they fell to the ground ; and as if they were more afraid to apprehend and bring him to his sufferings , than he was to suffer ; he speaks to them again , and by his Words ( Oh how willingly , blessed Jesus , didst thou go to suffer ! ) he doth , as it were , strengthen and encourage them to go on in their work of laying hold of him ; he said therefore unto them a second time , Whom seek ye ? They said Jesus of Nazareth ; Jesus answered them , I have told you that I am he ; if therefore you seek me , behold here I am . He was a Volunteer in his dying and offering up of himself . His death was a Free-will Offering , and this made him to become a Sacrifice , Psal. 40.7 , 8. Then , said I , loe I come ! In the Volume of thy Book , it is written of me , I delight to do thy Will , O God ; yea , thy Law is within my heart . As if he had said , my very heart is ready for the shedding of my heart-blood . Therefore , says he , I lay down my life , no man taketh it from me , but I lay it down of my self ; I have power to lay it down , and I have power to take it up , John 10.17 , 18. As if he had said , if it were not my pleasure to part with it , all that Men or Devils could do , they were not able to wrest it out of my hands .

Now though Christ by his death and sufferings accomplished several ends , as the satisfaction of the Justice of God , the procuring Pardon and Remission of Sin , and the obtaining Heaven ; yet this also was one end of his death , and a very comfortable one too , and that is the overcoming of death for Believers . Christ Jesus the Lord of Life and Glory , hath by his death spoiled Principalities and Powers , and made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them in his Cross : By his death , he hath not only destroyed death , but him also that had the power of death , that is the Devil , and delivered them , who through fear of death , were all their lives-time subject unto that bondage . The Blood of Jesus Christ hath slain death's Enmity ; not that death is so destroyed that Believers shall not die , but it is unstung : It still wears its Dart , by which it strikes all Men , but it hath lost its sting by which it hurts . Is death therefore riding , upon its pale Horse , and making haste towards thee , O Believer , fear it not , be not dismayed at it ; though there may be much of pain in it , yet there is nothing of the Curse in it ; it is as a Serpent without a sting , thou mayest take it into thy hand , yea into thy bosom , without danger . Death poured out all its Poison upon Christ , when he was made a Curse ; it fastned , yea , it lost its sting in his blessed Side : And who would fear an Enemy that is conquered ? Death to a Believer , is not only an innocent , harmless thing , but it is one of his best Friends : death is yours , says the Apostle , speaking to Believers . It is theirs as a special Privilege . When Christ was upon the Cross , there was a Contention between him and death ; and as it was prophesied of him , he was then the plague of death , and the destruction of the Grave , for he swallowed them up in Victory : So that now death drives but a poor Trade among Believers ; all that it can do is but to destroy the Body , and to afright some that are weak in the Faith , but it cannot hurt them ; Victory over death is as sure to them as if they had already overcome ; and therefore , says the Apostle , speaking of Death and the Grave , Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ .

Secondly , Meditate upon the Resurrection of Christ . This is a great Fundamental Article of the Christian Religion , that upon which the Faith , the Hope and Happiness of a Christian for Eternity is built ; for as Christ died for our Sins , so he arose again for our Justification : And if Christ had not risen , the Faith and Hope of a Christian is but vain : If Christ be not risen , a Christian shall not rise ; and if there be no Resurrection , there is no Life everlasting . If Christians have hope only in this Life , they are of all Men most miserable . But blessed be God , Christ is risen , and therefore the Faith and Hope of a Christian stands firm ; for it is built upon the Rock of Ages , against which , as the Gates of Death did not , so the Gates of Hell shall not prevail . That Christ is risen , the Scripture is clear ; an Angel declares it , Matth. 28.6 . He is not here , he is risen , as he said , Come see the place where the Lord lay . Holy Men , who were Eye-witnesses hereof , give their Testimony to this Truth , when our Lord shewed himself alive to them by the space of Forty Days , in nine several Apparitions , and once was he seen of five hundred Brethren together , 1 Cor. 15.6 . And , says the Apostle , Acts 2.24 . He was raised from the dead , the pains or bands of death being loosed , because it was not possible he should be holden of them : It was possible Death should seize upon him , and so it did , he willingly yielding himself up unto it ; because as our Surety , he owed a death by way of satisfaction to the Justice of God for our sins , which he had taken upon him , and accordingly he paid it , otherwise Death could not have taken hold of him . But though death did take hold of him , yet could it not keep it ; though it had possession of him in the Grave , yet it could not keep him there ; no that was impossible ; partly , because he is life , essentially life ; so himself tells us , I am the Resurrection and the Life : Now it is not possible for death to hold life it self longer under its power , than he who is life it self pleaseth . And then partly it was not possible Christ should be held under the power of death in ●espect of us : for having undertaken the great work of restoring us unto life , if his life had been subdued by death , if he had been held down a Prisoner under the power of death and the grave , we had been lost and undone for ever ; for as the Apostle argues , if Christ be not risen , then our Faith is vain , we are yet in our sins : But Christ being to carry on the work of our Redemption to perfection , though he submitted himself to die , yet was it impossible Death should have Dominion over him for ever ; Christ therefore is risen , and he is risen as a publick Person in the behalf of all Believers , who are therefore called the Children of the Resurrection , and said to be risen with him , Eph. 2.6 . Christ's Resurrection is not only the Cause of a Believer's Resurrection , but the security of his happy Resurrection ; therefore he is said to be the first fruits of them that sleep : Now as the first fruits did both assure and sanctifie the whole Harvest ; so doth Christ do for Believers ; by his Resurrection he assures them of their Resurrection , and sanctifies it also , that it shall be a blessed Resurrection , even unto an Eternity of Happiness . And therefore it is with respect to Believers , that Christ is called the First-born , or the first begotten from the dead ; who are in their time and order to be born from the dead , the Resurrection giving New Birth or Being unto those bodies , which while they were in the Grave seemed to have none . For as certainly as the whole Harvest follows the first Fruits ; so doth the general Resurrection of Believers at the last day follow the Resurrection of Christ : For as the Apostle saith , 1 Cor. 15. and 12. If Christ be risen from the dead , how can it be , but that there must be a Resurrection from the dead ? If we acknowledge the Body of Christ is risen , we cannot rationally deny the Resurrection of our own bodies , because Christ's Resurrection is not only the Exemplar of our Resurrection , but the Cause of it ; for because Christ and Believers are but one Mystical Body , he the Head , they the Members ; and the Head being risen , the Members shall not always lie rotting in the Grave , but shall in due time arise also : For the Spirit of Life that is in Christ Jesus the Head , will diffuse it self into all its Members , to quicken and raise them also in the morning of the Resurrection .

And indeed Christ is not perfectly risen till all Believers are risen also : For though Christ's personal Resurrection , was perfect when he arose out of the Grave ; and though all Believers did then arise with Christ representatively ; yet till all Believers arise personally at the last day , the Resurrection of Christ hath not received its full perfection . How comfortable therefore is this to a Believer to consider , that by the same Faith that he puts Christ's Resurrection into the Premises , he may put his own Resurrection into the Conclusion . If Christ be in you , says the Apostle , speaking to Believers , in Rom. 8.10 , 11. The body is dead ; it is a poor , frail , dying body , because of sin : And though you are really united unto Christ by his Spirit dwelling in you , which is a great and glorious Priviledge ; yet your bodies must die , as well as others ; but the Spirit , saith he , is life because of Righteousness : Though your bodies die , your souls shall be su'allowed up in life upon your dissolution ; this Happiness Believers have even in death . But this is not all ; for , saith the Apostle , if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you ; what then , why though your bodies must fall by Death into the Grave ; yet they shall rise and live again at the Resurrection , and that by virtue of the Spirit of Christ which dwelleth in you , and is the Bond of your Mystical Vnion with him , who is your Head : for , says the Apostle , He that raised up Christ from the dead , shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies , by his Spirit that dwelleth in you . Because Christ is your Head , and his Spirit dwelleth in you , you shall be raised again , and that not as others , by a meer word of his Power as the wicked are ; but by the Spirit of Life dwelling in Christ your Head ; which is an excellent Priviledge indeed . O the Consolation that the hope of the Resurrection fills the Believing Soul withal ; it is this Blessed Hope that supports it , not only under the Troubles of Life , but makes it Triumph even under the Pains and Agonies of Death it self .

Thirdly , Meditate frequently upon the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven . Now this Ascension of Christ into Heaven , as it was full of Glory and Triumph in respect of himself : so is it full of admirable Comfort in respect of Believers . As to himself his Ascension was Triumphant , a Cloud was prepared as a Royal Chariot to carry up this King of Glory into Heaven , so it is said in Acts 11.10 . That whilst his Disciples beheld he was taken up , and a Cloud received him out of their sight ; and no doubt , a Royal Guard of Angels attended the Solemnity of their Lord's Ascension . If when Christ came into the World to suffer , Angels waited upon him , for even then it was said of him , Let all the Angels of God Worship him ; surely much more then now that he hath finished the work of Mans Redemption , do the Angels Worship him in his return to Heaven again , where he is exalted to have a Name above every Name , that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow , both of things in Heaven , and things on Earth , and things under the Earth , and that every Tongue should confess , that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father .

But may a poor Believer say , what is all this to me , what am I the better that Christ is Ascended and Exalted thus in Glory ?

Yes this is much for the advantage of Believers , for it is the same Jesus that was Crucified for them , that God hath made both Lord and Christ . It is he who took not on him the Nature of Angels , but the Seed of Abraham , who is Exalted above Angels ; being gone into Heaven , Angels , Principalities and Powers being made subject unto him . It is this Jesus Christ , whom God hath raised from the dead , and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places far above all Principality , and Power , and Might , and Dominion , and every Name that is named , not only in this World , but also in that which is to come , and hath put all things under his feet , and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church , Ephes. 1.20 , 21. Christ Ascended into Heaven as a publick Person , or the fore-runner of Believers ; for he is not gone to take possession of Heaven only for himself , but also in our Name and for us . So the Apostle tells us , Heb. 6.20 . speaking of the most Holy place , within the Vail ; whither , says he , the fore-runner , that is , Christ , is for us entred . And if we will not believe the Apostle , Christ himself tells us the same thing , John 14.2 . In my Father's House are many Mansions , I go to prepare a place for you . And if I go away , I will come again and receive you unto my self , that where I am , there ye may be also . Christ is now in Heaven transacting the Affairs and Concerns of Believers , both for their present Peace and Comfort , and for their future Eternal Happiness ; not only by intercepting the daily cry of their sins , by the continual Representation of his Death and Sufferings unto his Father , and so making an Atonement and Reconciliation with God for them ; but by the Blood of his Cross , he maintains this Peace , and keeps up good thoughts in God towards Believers , sprinkling their poor and weak , but sincer Services with the Incense of his own Merits : so that though both they and their Services deserve to be rejected for their own sakes , yet they shall both be accepted for Christ's sake . This now is something that Christ is doing in Heaven in the behalf of Believers , since he is Ascended to his Father and to their Father , to his God and to their God . But yet this is not all , for in that comfortable Prayer of his to his Father , before his Ascension into Heaven , ( which is , say some , the Copy of his Intercession now he is in Heaven ) he doth as it were tell us , that he looks not upon himself as perfectly Happy , until he hath the whole number of Believers with him in Glory ; and therefore , says he , John 17.24 . Father I will that those whom thou hast given me , be with me where Lam , that they may behold , that is , that they may enjoy my Glory which thou hast given me . O what Comfort then is here to all Believers against the Fears of Death , for assure thy self O Believing Soul , that neither Death , nor the Grave shall be a bar to thy Happiness : thou must die it is true , so did Christ , but he is Risen and Ascended up into Heaven , and so shalt thou also in due time , and therefore says the Apostle , He hath made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus , Ephes. 2.6 . Salvation and Happiness is made sure to a Believer by Christ , for if when we were Enemies , we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son , much more being reconciled , shall we be saved by his Life . For certainly , he is able to save unto the utmost , all that come unto God by him , seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them . Christ hath not lost his Love and Affection to his People by his Advancement . Harbour not therefore , O Believing Soul , any suspicious thoughts in thy Heart concerning him , as if by his Exaltation into Heaven , he were now become forgetful of any of his Members here below groaning under Sin or Misery ; for though the days of his Passion are ended , yet so are not the days of his Compassion . He retains the same Temper and Disposition of Soul now he is in Glory ; his Heart is not changed , though his Condition be ; but he still bears the same Respect to his People now , that he did when he was on Earth : for indeed he there Lives and Acts upon the account of Believers , so says the Apostle , He appears in the presence of God for us , Heb. 9.24 .

Doth God , O Believing Soul , by Diseases and Distempers upon thy outward Man , cause thy Beauty and Comeliness to consume and wither : hath long and tedious Sicknesses almost wasted and destroyed thy Body ? and by all art thou brought so low that thou despairest of Life ? Doth Death seem to be written upon all thy helps to Life ? And do all the means that are used for thy Recovery , seem rather to further thy Dissolution , than any way to hinder it ? Why , yet fear not Death , but Remember as God hath Glorified and highly Exalted Jesus Christ , whose Form and Visage as the Prophet speaks , was marr'd more than any Mans ; so he will Exalt thee also , not to an Equality of Glory with Christ , for in Heaven he shall be the Light and the Glory of it , but yet there shall be some likeness and Conformity in all the Members of Christ , unto him who is their Head . Fear not therefore , O Christian , the worst that Death , or the Grave can do unto thee , for assure thy self as because he lives , Believers shall live also , so where he lives there Believers shall live also .

Thirdly , Another Consideration for the removal of the fear of Death , is frequent Meditation of the Happiness of the Soul in Death . and of the Resurrection of the Body after Death . As for the Happiness of the Souls of Believers in death , it is exceeding great , the Body at present suffers loss , for though once it was an excellent Fabrick , the Workmanship of God's hands , yet being forsaken by the Soul , it is become loathsome , and turns to Corruption and rottenness ; so says the Wise Man , The Body returns to the dust from whence it was taken ; there to consume and moulder away ; this is the State of Man's Body in Death , procured by Sin , and inflicted by God : But now for the Soul that returns to God that gave it , either to partake of Eternal Blessedness , or to receive Eternal Punishments . Now that the Happiness of Believers in their Souls is great at Death , will appear , if we consider , either the Evils they are freed from , or the Blessedness they attain unto ; as for the Evils that accompany our present State in this Life , Death frees Believers from them all at once ; during this Mortal Life indeed , Sufferings are annexed to the State of a Christian , as a necessary Appendix to his very Being , for such is our condition while we are here , that Afflictions are almost become as needful for the Soul , as Food and Raiment is for the Body , therefore saith the Apostle , if need be you are in heaviness through manifold Tribulations , 1 Pet. 1.6 . God sees it needful that Afflictions should be , and in his Wisdom and Mercy he proportions the Afflictions of his People to their necessities . This Life is a Life of Suffering unto the People of God , it is their appointed Path and Way through which they must walk to Heaven ; therefore says the Apostle , We must through many Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God . It is appointed for us so to do . And indeed , as Job speaks , Man is born to trouble as the sparks flyupward ; he comes into the World crying , and all the rest of his time between the Cradle and the Grave he is not much Happier ; for his Life is made up of Sin and Suffering ; the Evil of Sin and the Evil of Suffering : there is a kind of a continual Chaining or Linking together of one Misery or Affliction to another ; a mixture of Pain and Sorrow , or Succession of Evils and Troubles , that runs through all his days ; as one Wave falls upon the neck of another , so one Evil is no sooner gone , but another comes in its room . One depth as the Psalmist speaks , calls upon another . Floods and Storms of Miseries and Afflictions daily pass over our heads . And if Troubles and Afflictions come not of themselves , nor are caused by others , we can Mint and Coin them our selves by our Sins . Our Lord tells us , That sufficient to the day , that is to every day are the Evils and Troubles thereof ; but as if they were not enough , we can create Troubles to our selves before hand , and Anticipate in our Fancies and Apprehensions for our greater Vexation and Trouble , Evils that are to come , though we know not whether we our selves shall live till they come . And herein we are more cruel to our selves , than the Devil is to himself , for that Evil Spirit cares not to be Tormented before his time ; whereas we antidate , and bring Evils that are at a distance from us nearer to us by unquiet Apprehensions , and sinful distracting Vexations entertained in our minds ; and so the fears of Miseries to come , make us far more miserable , than when those miseries are come upon us , and by the Apprehension of an imaginary Evil , we make it become a real Affliction and an unfeigned Torment to us in our resentment of it . Thus Sin and Sorrow , Afflictions and Temptations divide our days and time , while we are here , until Death comes for a Believers relief , and then there shall be an end put to all his Sorrows and Sufferings , because there shall be an end of Sinning . After Death there shall be no Cries nor Tears under any Miseries or Afflictions , no fears of future Evils , nor no grief for past sins the causes of them , no Poverty or Distress shall come near that Holy place , the Habitation of Holy Souls ; all the Inhabitants there are become Kings , possessed of Riches and Glory without value . Fear not therefore , O dying Believer , whose Soul by Death is getting free from thy Body ; for thou art but removing from Earth to Heaven , where thou shalt instantly be with thy dear Lord and Saviour ; thou art but going to thy God and Father , and the Father of Spirits , to visit those Mansions of Glory that are there prepared for thee : Chearfully therefore , take thy leave of thy Body , and let it know that thou art taking thy flight to Heaven , during the time that it shall sleep in the dust of the Grave until the morning of the Resurrection , where thou shalt be out of the reach of all Afflictions , and Sorrows , and where thou canst not be endangered by sin , the Tempter , or any of his Temptations .

And concerning the Resurrection of the Body , it is not only one of the most Excellent Mysteries of the Christian Religion , but it is also one of its Glorious Advantages . It is that which the Heathens with all their deep Reasonings , could never attain to the understanding of ; but though Humane Reason be blind and cannot find out this Glorious Mystery , yet we who are Christians , have the sure and certain Knowledge of it discovered to us by Divine Revelation ; and when Reason is once savingly enlightned from above , O how the Justice and necessity of the future Resurrection of the Body , is not only acknowledged , but admired . I confess when a Believer is cast upon his Death-bed , and his Soul ready to take its leave of the Body in its passage unto Heaven , it is no small cause of Joy and rejoycing , to consider that as soon as it hath cast off its Earthly Tabernacle , it shall be immediately admitted into the Glorious Presence of God himself , where it shall view and contemplate his Face with infinite and unspeakable delight and satisfaction . But yet that Holy Joy and that Heavenly Sweetness , which sometimes is so Powerful that it Ravisheth the Soul of a Believer on a Death-bed , whilst it Contemplates that Happiness to which it is going ; may be disturbed and imbittered by the Consideration of the poor Bodies being cast into the Earth , there to become a Feast for Worms to feed upon . But be not troubled at this , O Believing Soul ; for this seeming Destruction of thy Body shall not be Eternal , though it fall into the Grave by Death , where it seems at present to be lost and forgotten , yet shall it have a certain Resurrection , and then the Ignominy and Disgrace under which it lay in the Grave shall appear , not to have been so great , as its Resurection out of it shall appear Glorious : for it is sown in Corruption , but it is raised in Incorruption ; it is Sown in dishonour , but it is raised in Glory ; it is Sown in weakness , it is raised in Power ; it is Sown a Natural Body , it is raised a Spiritual Body . in 1 Cor. 15.42 , 43. Fear not therefore O Believing Soul , but commit thy Body with Confidence unto the Earth , and let thy Heart rejoyce , let thy Tongue be glad , and let thy Flesh rest in the hopes of a blessed Resurrection ; for assure thy self thy Body shall not always lie rotting in the Grave , neither shall in there see Corruption for ever ; but there shall come a time , when God shall shew it the path of Life again ; when thy Soul shall descend from Heaven to assume its new raised body out of the Grave , to become a most glorious Body , even like unto the glorious Body of Jesus Christ , being made more spiritual , and so more suitable to the Nature and Operations of the Soul , that it may become a fit Partner with it , in the Blessedness and Happiness of Heaven for evermore .

Fourthly , Consider the Familiarity that Believers have expressed towards Death . Ordinarily indeed Men put death into such ugly shapes , and represent it to themselves under such terrible and afrighting forms , that they pass their lives under slavery and bondage through the fears of it all their days . The visage of Death appears so grim and full of horrour to the minds of some , that the serious forethoughts of it , seem to them to be a tormenting them before their time . O how vastly different are the thoughts of a wicked and a godly man concerning Death and the Grave ! the one looks upon death as full of Dread and Horrour , the other looks upon it as a Messenger of Peace and Joy ; and how can it be otherwise ? For to the wicked it comes as a dreadful Enemy , armed with the wrath of an angry God , which burns to the lowest Hell : But to the Godly , it comes as a peaceable , loving Friend , sent with Tydings of Peace and Reconciliation , from him who is the God of Peace and Love . Natural fear of Death in a wicked Man is great ; but when natural fear is encreased by guilt lying upon the Conscience , and staring a Sinner in the face ; Oh what dismal Horrour and Confusion must seize upon such a Soul under the Apprehensions of Death ? Well may such a one look upon the Grave as a Dungeon , and Death as Hell it self , an awakened Conscience representing to his view nothing but the Fiends and Furies of that Infernal Pit , that wait to be the Executioners of the Wrath and Vengeance of the great God upon him , in the Woes and Miseries of everlasting Burnings . Who wonders therefore to hear such an one crying out upon a Death-bed with Horrour and Anguish of Soul , Oh I am so sick I cannot live , and yet I am so sinful I dare not die , and yet die I must ! Oh would to God , that the serious Thoughts of these things might be laid to heart by all profane Sinners ? What a happy means might it possibly be , to prevent the Horrours and Consternation of Soul in many upon a Death-bed ? But if Sinners cannot bear the Thoughts of these things in their Minds now , for fear of Distraction ; how will they bear the sight and presence of them then ? If the thinking and speaking of them now be dreadful , the feeling of them will be far more tormenting .

But now a godly Man thinks and speaks of death after another manner ; for if he thinks and speaks of death as a godly Man may and ought to do ; he is so far from being terrified with the thoughts of it , that he thinks of it comfortably , speaks of it familiarly . As it was wont to be the speech of a very Holy Person , now with God , who was pretty well stricken in years , I hope it will not be long before I shall be in Heaven ; for few live above sixty or seventy years , and I am now a good many above fifty ; certainly therefore it cannot be long before I shall die : Thus this Holy Soul , being desirous of death , did use delightfully to reckon how little time there was to pass between it and Heaven , and with a holy longing of Soul reaching after death , as one that was troubled that it was so long a coming . Thus certainly did holy Job look upon death , not as an Enemy , nor yet barely as a Stranger ; but as one of his Friends , whom he was well acquainted with , took a kind of Deligh and Contentment in it : See with what an unusual , but yet sweet and familiar manner , he salutes and welcomes death , and all its Retinue , in Job 17.14 . I have said to Corruption , thou art my Father ; and to the Worm , thou art my Mother and Sister . The Holy Man makes no more of Death and the Grave , than as if he were going to be embraced by a compassionate Father , or a tender-hearted Mother , or Sister , whose Bowels were full of love and pity to him . Thus St. Paul also speaks of Death , as that which he was daily familiar with , being in Deaths often , frequently thinking thereof ; for said he , I die daily ; Thoughts of Death was that which he accustomed himself unto , and that was one Cause why he was so willing to embrace it . And thus it should be with all of us , were our hearts rightly affected , and we so familiarly acquainted with death as we ought : Those of us who have the most lively Faith , would not only , not be afraid of death , but we should even court it , as that which is better than life .

But I would not here discourage any weak Believer ; for I dare not say , that they are no true Believers , who are not come up to this frame of Soul . Though it is true Grace is the same in all Believers , one Believer hath the same that another Believer hath ; yet all that are Believers do not attain to the same degrees of Grace . There are some , and it is their sin , and ought to be their Humiliation , that Death and they are little acquainted , they seldom descend into the Grave by frequent Meditations of their Mortality , they look not into the Pit out of which at first they were taken , and into which they are shortly to return ; now their comfort , in the thoughts of death is little , if any at all , because death and they are such Strangers to one another : These may be true Believers , but they are weak and faulty . But now others there are , who are so advanced in Grace above their Brethren , that by a constant Familiarity with death , are so composed in their Spirits , that they fear it not , nay they rejoice in the thoughts of it ; not because they think they shall not taste of death , for they know that death will overtake them as well as others ; they are sensible that the time of their departure draws nearer and nearer daily : These things they believe , but they do not afflict themselves therewith , so well are they acquainted with death , both in the Nature and in the Effects of it . And were they to die presently , this would not much trouble them ; for they know the bitterness of death is past , though death it self be not ; the Gall and the Wormwood is taken out , Christ hath been there before them ; and therefore the sting of death which is sin is gone , the dangers , yea and the difficulties also in dying are removed out of the way : This they believe , and therefore they are not afraid , though by death they descend through the Grave into Heaven ; for their Jesus , their Saviour is there ; and they know that till they die , where he is they cannot be ; wherefore they say , though we die , nay therefore will we die , that we may see him .

Wouldst thou therefore , O weak Believer , attain unto this sweet frame of Spirit , accustom thy self then to a holy familiarity with death , conceive of it under the fairest and easiest Notions ; this is that the Spirit of God in Scripture delights in ; when it speaks of death with respect to the People of God , it always makes use of the most comfortable Expressions to represent it to them by . So sweetly is death enamell'd , and so richly is it cloathed in the holy Language , that it seems to have a kind of Lustre and Beauty upon it , to draw the Hearts and Affections of Believers to be desirous of it . Look a little therefore , O Believer , into the Sacred Oracles , and see how the Spirit of God teacheth us to cloath Death with delightful Expressions ; sometimes it is called an undressing or uncloathing : And what Man that hath worn a Suit of Cloaths till it is become filthy and nasty , would not be glad to put off his old filthy Garments , that he might put on Change of Raiment ? And why should not a Christian be willing to lay down the Earthly House of his Tabernacle , though it be in the Dust of the Grave , that he may be cloathed upon with his House which is from Heaven ? Sometimes Death is compared to Rest ; they shall rest in their Beds , says the Prophet : and Job speaking of the state of Man in death , tells us , there the weary are at rest . Now when a Man hath wrought hard , and taken great pains and labour all the Day , how desirous is he to go to Bed and take his Rest ? And is not Death the same to thee , O Christian ? Doth not the Spirit of God call it so ! Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord , for they rest from their labours . And surely there is no rest like to that rest that a Christian obtains after his spiritual labours and conflicts with Sin , Satan , the World , and his own evil Heart ; when the Soul is set free from the Body , and takes its flight at once from all these into the Bosom of God , that place of Rest and Happiness which remains for the People of God . As there is no Yoke like unto the Yoke of Christ , when a Christian suffers for him , for it is a Yoke lined with Love ; My Yoke , says he , is easie , and my Burthen is light . So there is no Rest and Happiness like that which is with Christ ; for the same Happiness that he enjoys , his Children and Servants enjoy also . Sometimes death is called a Sleep ; so says our Lord , our Friend Lazarus sleepeth , it is spoken of his death ; now who of us , when the day is spent , and the night hath overtaken us , is afraid to go to bed and sleep ? And why then should a Christian , when his Days are finished , and the Night of Sickness is come upon him , be afraid to fall asleep , though he sleep the sleep of Death ? By such Considerations as these , and the like , that the Scripture holds forth to us , Christians should endeavour to allay the bitterness , beautifie the deformity , blunt the edge , and take out the sting of death ; that all hard thoughts of it might be buried , and instead thereof there might grow up a sweet Familiarity and Acquaintance between them and death ; Oh how would this facilitate the work of dying , and cause holy Souls to exult with joy and rejoicing when death is approaching towards them .

And here I cannot but make a little Digression to reason the Case with some weak Believers , whose unwillingness to die is very great , because their fears of death are so many . But why should the fears of Death so amaze and terrifie thee , O weak Believer ? Hast thou not the same Grace in thee with others ? Hast thou not the same Faith , the same Hope , the same Love , acting and working in thee ? Dost thou not serve the same Lord ? Hast thou not the same God for thy Father , the same Jesus for thy Saviour , the same Spirit of Consolation for thy Comforter ? Art thou not going to the same Heaven ? nay art thou not going to the same Heaven , in the same way , that all the Patriarchs , Prophets , Apostles , and Saints of God in all Ages have gone before thee ? Death was the Gate through which they all entred into Heaven ; and why then shouldst thou be so unwilling to go to Heaven in the same way ? Oh how unlike to Christians do they shew themselves , who are so loath to die , that they will not come , but must be dragg'd to the Grave , yea to the very thoughts of Death ? Oh how unsuitable is this Temper to those who desire that God's Wills may be done , who profess themselves to be Strangers and Pilgrims here upon Earth , and to look upon Heaven as their Country and their Fathers House ? The life of a Christian should be a life of Faith ; now the Excellency of the Life of Faith in a Believer with relation unto Death , lies in this , that it makes him not only submissive , but chearfully to come to that to which another must be dragged by force , I mean Death and the Grave . To a Believer , when his Faith is on the wing , Life ( as St. Paul says of his ) is not dear , and Death , ( as he speaks of his ) is desired . It was as hard to make St. Paul patient , when he thought of living , as to make another patient , when he thinks of dying ; a most sweet and Blessed Frame of Spirit , but where is it to be found now ? how rarely is it be to seen ? the most of Men , shall I say , nay , the most of Professors ; and would to God there were not just cause to complain and say , whom we hope are real Christians , their Hearts and Affections are so much set upon the World , even as if their Portion were not in Heaven , but they themselves were among the Number of those whose Names are written in the Earth . The Lord humble us , that so much of this Evil frame of Spirit is to be seen in the best of God's Children ; as appears by their backwardness and unwillingness to die . O Christians , if Jesus Christ had gone as unwillingly to Suffer and to Die for us ; as we go to Pray to him , and to hear from him , not to say as unwillingly as we go to die , that we may enjoy him , what had become of our Salvation ? but blessed be God he did not . And surely Christians , if it was Christs desire to die for us as it was , it should then be our longing to live with him , though it be by Dying . Oh what a strange unseemly and unbecoming thing is it , for a Christian to hear his Saviour crying out , I have a Baptism to be baptized withal , though it was the Baptism of his bloody Death and Sufferings , and oh , how am I straitned till it be accomplished ? And that a Christian , reflecting upon the thoughts of his own Death , should say , I have a Baptism to be baptized withal , though not a Baptism of a bloody Death , by the hands of Violence ; but the Baptism of an easie , quiet , and peaceable Death ; and how am I straitned and full of fears lest it should be accomplished ? Certainly Christians , a willingness in Christ to die for us , that we might live by him , should cause in us a willingness to die that we might live with him .

Would to God , O Christian Reader , that what hath been said , might be a means to work in my self and thee , not only a readiness and fitness for Death , though that is very good , and that in which the safety of a Christian lies ; and happy are they that have gone so far , for Heaven is sure to them whether they know it or not : but Oh that we might go further , that Grace might attain to a greater Perfection in us , even that we might come to a Holy willingness and desire , yea to a Holy-longing of Soul after Death . This is that Holy covetousness of Soul that God allows of . There are two things wherein a Christian cannot be too insatiable in his desires after them , one is , that he may Honour God , the other is , that he may enjoy God ; that he may honour God as much as he can while he is on Earth , and that he may enjoy God as soon as it may be in Heaven ; this is the most commendable and desirable life , and this will end in the most Happy and Comfortable Death . Death did I say , nay it is Life in Death ; it is Death swallowed up of Life , even in a Life of unconceivable Glory and Happiness , in the enjoyment of that God who is all Life , all Love , all Peace , all Joy , and all Happiness , in the utmost and highest Perfection .

I am sensible I have made a Digression in this particular , but the desire I had , Christian Reader , to stir up my own Soul and thine also , unto a Duty so full of Sweetness and Delight , hath put me upon it . I now go on to what yet remains .

Having laid down some Consolations against the fear of Death in general ; I shall in the next place endeavour to propound some Considerations for the support of Christians under the loss of Friends and Relations in particular , which unto many is a sore Trial , and hard to be born : for it is as common for Christians to exceed in their Grief for their dead Friends and Relations , as it is to exceed in their Love and Delight in their living Friends and Relations ; and in both it is very hard for Christians to keep their Passions and Affections within due bounds . The blessed Apostle therefore gives us Excellent Counsel how we should carry our selves under the enjoyment of Relations and outward Comforts whilst we have them ; and how we should bear up under the loss of them , when God takes them away from us ; we have the Direction for both , 1 Cor. 7.29 . If we have Relations or Worldly Enjoyments , why then , saith he , Rejoyce in them as if you rejoyced not . If you want them , or have lost them , then , says he , weep for them as if you wept not : and he lays down a very cogent reason for what he says ; for the time is short and the World is passing away , and so are you and all your Relations and Comforts passing away with it . As if the Apostle had said , if God hath Blessed you with dear and sweet Relations , with pleasant and delightful Comforts ; yet consider it is but a little time that you shall enjoy them ; they and you shall quickly part again , therefore rejoyce in them as if you rejoyced not . And if God hath seen good to take away those sweet Pledges of his Love , and once the Objects of your Delight and Joy , do not much Afflict your selves under the loss of them ; for it is but a little while that you shall continue here without them , the time is short , and the World is passing away , and ere long it will not be ; yea , you your selves are passing away with it , yea before it also ; weep therefore as if you wept not : these things are not your great Concerns , your Happiness lies not in the Enjoyment of them , nor your Misery in the loss of them ; but it lies in something higher , and of greater Worth and Excellency , even in God himself ; it 's the Enjoyment of him only that can make a Soul happy , and the loss of him only that can make it miserable . Therefore with a Holy Moderation and Indifferency of Affection , carry your selves continually in every condition .

Now before I proceed to lay down particular Consolatory Directions for the support of Christians under the loss of Friends and Relations , I must here put in a double caution which Christians must carefully observe . The one is , that they despise not the Chastening of the Lord ; the other is , that they faint not under them : these are two extreams , the Apostle exhorts Christians to be aware of , and they are both comprehended in Hebrews 12.5 . My Son despise not thou the Chastening of the Lord , neither faint when thou art Rebuked of him . When God lays his Correcting hand upon us , for any to be so bold as to say , they do not regard it , let God take all if he will ; must my Estate go ? I care not if it doth ; will God take away my Children or Relations , let them die ; thus to make light of the hand of God , is to despise the Chastening of the Lord , and God will not long bear it , nor with us for it . But then there is another Extream that we must take heed of under Affliction , and that is fainting ; If when Goods are taken away , the Hearts of those that enjoy them are taken away also , and they sink into despondency and distrust . If when Children die the Spirits of Parents die too , this is fainting under the Rod. A Christian now must walk in the middle way between both these Extreams , neither carelesly to despise , nor despairingly to faint under the Chastisements of the Lord .

But though Christians must neither despise the hand of God when it is lifted up against them , nor yet faint under it , yet they ought to be sensible of it ; for it is a most unbecoming temper in any Christian not to tremble when God smites him . Weep and Mourn we may under Affliction ; God allows Tears to flow from our Eyes , and Sorrow in our Hearts under the loss of Friends and Relations . Grief in such cases doubtless is very Lawful . To be without Natural Affections is a Heathenish sin . Rom. 1.29 . It is our Duty to take notice of every twig of God's Rod. Not to be troubled when the hand of God hath made a breach upon us is our sin . To be above Passions is the Happiness of Heaven , and to rectifie Passions , is much of our Happiness on Earth . To be without Natural Affections , is to be below a Man , but to Order and Manage them aright , is the Perfection of a Christian .

Having premised this , I now proceed to lay down some Consolatory Directions for the support of Christians , under the loss of Friends and Relations , which may be very useful also in the undergoing any other Affliction whatsoever ; and I shall reduce them all unto these particular heads , as some Considerations relating unto God the Author of our Afflictions . Some relating to our selves that are the Subjects of Afflictions . And some relating to the Afflictions themselves . First , some Considerations relating unto God the Author of our Afflictions . And here consider ,

First , God hath more right to and in all our Friends , and Relations than we our selves have . He is Lord of all , so great is his Dominion and Sovereignty over all , that what he can do by Might , he may do by Right . He is not accountable unto any , as we are nor is he tied by any Rule or Law , but his own Will in any of his Actings : And therefore if God take away any of our Friends and Relations , it is no more than what he may do ; and if God do no more than whan he may do , who are we that we should Complain ? When God gives us Relations or Comforts for our use and benefit , he still keeps the right to them in his own bands , and when he lets us have the Possession of them for a time , he keeps the Propriety to himself . If God gives us Comforts it is an Act of Bounty , but when he takes them away it is an Act of Justice ; for he is a Sovereign Lord in both . God cannot injure his Creatures ; his Sovereignty and Supremacy is enough to bear him out , whatever he doth with or to them . Hast thou lost a dear Husband , a loving Wife , or a dutiful Child ? Let that Right God hath in them , and the Sovereignty he hath over thee and them , quiet thy Spirit under all . It was so with David , Psal. 39.2 . I was dumb , I opened not my mouth , because thou , Lord . didst it .

Secondly , Consider whatever dear Relations God hath taken from thee , he is able to make thee a Recompence with great advantage , and that in the same kind , if he see it good for thee . Say not therefore concerning thy dead Friends and Relations ; what shall I do for those sweet Refreshments , and those Comfortable Delights , that once I enjoyed in them , but Death hath now spoiled me of all ; for God is able to give thee much more , than what was in all these . God is not as Isaac that had but one Blessing . Our Heavenly Father hath all Blessings at his Command : what a sweet Title is that which the Apostle gives unto God for the Comfort of all Believers , 2 Cor. 1.3 . The Father of Mercies , and the God of all Comfort and Consolation Friends , Relations with all the Comforts and Delights belonging to them , are at his Command , and he can speak them into being for your Support and Comfore when he pleaseth . If God take away a Mercy from any of his People , usually he gives them another in the room of it , and many times a better . God smote David's Child begotten in Adultry , and David Fasts and Prays for the life of it , and notwithstanding this , the Child died : but in a little time God gave him another , a Solomon , a Jedidiab one that was beloved of the Lord , in his stead . God bestows many comfortable Enjoyments upon his People in their passage through this World , to some he gives dear Relations , to others he gives Estates , to some abundance of Health , to others faithful and loving Friends : now these Comforts , are to continue but for a while ; and those of them that last longest , will consume away at length : and when these Comforts are taken away , it seems to be a time of darkness and sadness with the People of God ; but if their Faith be active and vigorous , they may support themselves with this , that God doth not use to be long wanting to the Comfort of his People that wait for him : David tells us as much , Psal. 18.8 . Thou Lord wilt light my Candle , the Lord my God shall enlighten my darkness

Thirdly , Consider this , doth God deny thee , or hath he taken from thee some Comforts which thou countest as great as any thou canst enjoy as to outward Blessings , yet hath he left thee many still , and he hath far better to bestow upon thee , even such between which and them there is no comparison . It may be thou wantest Posterity to bear up thy Name , when thou art dead and gone , and thou criest out with Abraham , Lord what wilt thou give me seeing Igo Childless . Is this thy Case , O Christian ? why then consider , as you have not the Comfort of enjoying of Children , so you have not the Care and Trouble of Educating and bringing them up , nor the Grief and Vexation of their wicked lives , and sometimes more wicked and untimely deaths ; which is a constant trouble of Soul unto many ; which made a Holy Man once mournfully complain and say , It is better to weep for tendead Children , than for one living Child . Little do you know what a continual grief of Spirit and a constanr aking of heart , some Children are unto their Parents . What a heart wounding was it to David , when he cries 2 Samuel 16.11 . Behold my Son which came out of my Bowels , seeketh my life . Oh how many Children are there to whom the lives of their Parents are a burthen ? who instead of Praying to God their Heavenly Father for their Parents , not only think and wish it in their Hearts , but among their Prophane Companions are not ashamed to speak it with their Tongues , as I have heard of some , wickedly and impiously desiring that they could invert that Petition of the Lord's Prayer , and say of their Earthly Fathers what others say of their Heavenly Father , Our Father which art in Heaven , longing for the Expiration of the life of those who under God were the Instruments of conveying life unto them . Oh to what a heighth of Impiety are such vile wretched Monsters come , for they deserve not the Name of Children , who cannot be content to stay till God takes away their Parents from them , but would themselves bury them as it were alive . And let not any such think slightly to pass over their Sin , by saying , Why , we wish them no ill , what hurt is it to wish them in Heaven , they cannot be in a better place ? It is true they cannot ; but this doth not excuse their wickedness , for doubtless it is not so much their Parents Happiness in Heaven that they desire , as that they might enjoy their Estates here upon Earth . But let all such wicked Wretches know , that God will be sure to meet with them here or hereafter : And if the Blessing of long Life be promised unto those that honour their Parents , those then that desire the Death of their Parents , shall have cause to fear their lives may be shortned ; for surely of such wicked , ( I had almost said ) blood-thirsty Wretches , it may be truly said , that they shall not live out half their days . But this by the way .

But this is not my Case , may some say , God hath not denied me Children or Relations , but he hath taken many of them from me , and such who were very delightful to me , and this doth much trouble me . But though God hath taken some from you , yet hath he not left you more than he hath taken ? so it is sometimes : But yet it frequently happens , that if God removes away one mercy from us , presently we are so cast down , as if all our Enjoyments were gone ; and we mourn so excessively that we are become so blind , that we cannot behold the Mercies God hath left us , for the want of what he hath taken from us . But why , O Christian , art thou so unthankful to God , and so unkind to thy self , as to lose the Comfort of all the other Mercies thou enjoyest , because God hath taken away one Mercy that thou wantest . Oh vile Ingratitude , how many thousands are there , as good shall I say , nay better than you , whose whole Harvest of Comforts in this World , is not a handful to the gleaning of those Comforts you still enjoy ; who in all their Lives never were Owners of such comfortable Enjoyments as you now over-look in your grief and trouble , if not in your diseontent . But what dost thou mean , O Christian , by all this ? What are the Mercies God hath left thee in possession , nothing worth ? The Grave hath swallowed up a Child , Death hath snatch'd away a Friend ; but still thou hast a Husband , it may be , or a Wife , or Children ; or if God hath stripp'd thee of all these , yet he hath left thee a comfortable Estate to live upon , with health and strength to use and enjoy it ; or if this be gone also , have you not the Gospel , the Ordinances of God ; and if thou art a Believer , thou hast an Interest in Christ , and in the Covenant of Grace , and a Right and Title to all the Priviledges belonging to that Covenant , as Pardon of Sin , Peace of Conscience , and Hopes of eternal Life ? And what dost thou faint and sink , as if all thy Comforts in this World , and all thy Hopes of the World to come were dead and buried in one Grave together ? Beware of this , O ye mourning , afflicted ones ; for the Sin is great , and so is the Danger that attends it , as might be shew'd at large ; but I forbear . Yet before I leave this Head , I shall add one thing more . You who have lost the delight of your Eyes , and the joy of your hearts , as to outward Comferts ; yet remember God hath far better to bestow upon you , even such as transcend the love of Parents , or the joy of Children ; I confess a dear Husband , a loving Wife , a beloved Child , an affectionate Friend , these are very great things when they stand by other Comforts and Enjoyments ; but , Oh! what poor , little , small things ; nay nothings are they , when God shall set himself by them , before a gracious Soul ? And now that God is taking away these earthly Comforts , who can tell , but that hereby he is making way for himself the King of Glory to come into such a Soul , to communicate of himself and his Grace , in a more sweet and sensible way and manner than ever he hath done . And , as one saith , the Death of Children , Relations , and Friends , these dark and uncomfortable Providences must cast up and prepare the way of the Lord , removing them out of the heart , that himself may dwell there alone .

Fourthly , Under your Tears and Sorrows in the loss of Friends and Relations , consider , What wrong hath God done you by your Afflictions , that you so mourn and complain ? God hath taken from you a dear Relation , from whom you expected much Comfort ; but God had a greater Interest in your Relation , than you had , for all Souls are his ; and will you dispute with him ? Who had most Right to dispose of your Relations , God or you ? Your Relation , though never so dear to you , was the work of his hands ; and what , may not God do what he will with his own ? Suppose the Relation thou hast lost , was a beloved Child , that you nourished and bred up , and that with great pains and care , God hath paid you sufficiently for it , in the Loan of your Child so long ; and now that your Child is come to full Age , and to the Time appointed of the Father , may he not take it home unto himself ? Did you , or could you provide better for your Child than God can ? God gave your Child Life and Breath while it was with you , that it might be a Comfort to you , and you enjoyed it longer than you deserved , or than he promised you ; and now that he is come and claims his Interest in it , it is but a fitting and becoming thing that you should sit still and he satisfied in his Will.

Secondly , Consider some Arguments in reference to our selves , for the moderating of our Griefs and Sorrows under the loss of Friends and Relations : And here consider ,

First , Who or what are we , that we should be discontented or repine at the dealings of the all-wise God with us ? Alas , if we reflect upon our Original , what is it ? Dust and Ashes , and out of thence formed by God to be his Creatures ; for it is he that hath made us , and not we our selves ; and this shews our weakness and impotency : But this is not all , we are not only God's Creatures , made by him , and depending upon him ; but we are sinful Creatures that have rebelled against him ; the Posterity of Sinful and Apostate Parents , that have lost our Primitive Beauty and Excellency , whereby we did bear the Image and Resemblance of God in Holiness , which is the Glory of God himself ; and are run in Debt unto his Justice , more than we or all the Men on Earth ; yea , or all the Saints and Angels in Heaven are able to pay . This God to whom we thus stand indebted , is become our great Benefactor , gives us all we enjoy , maintains us continually at his own proper Cost and Charges ; for we have nothing but what we receive from Him ; it is his Corn and Wine that feeds and nourisheth us , his Wool and Flax that covers our Nakedness ; his Silver and Gold that enricheth us , Hos. 2.8 , 9. He fram'd us and fashion'd us in the Womb , and gave us all the Limbs and Parts of our Bodies , so that we were born neither maimed nor monstrous ; he endued us with Reason and Vnderstanding ; it is he that is the God of our Health and Strength ; our Peace , our Plenty , flow from his Bounty and Goodness to us ; yea , our very Lives and Beings are from him , for in him , we live and move , and have our Beings . We are but Worms , and if he tread upon any of us , he leaves us dead behind him . So infinitely below him are we , that if we do that which is good , we cannot benefit him ; and if we will venture upon that which is evil , we cannot hurt him . Now the Contention is between this great and mighty , yea Almighty God , the Creator and Governour of all Things and Persons , and us poor , low , sinful Dust and Ashes , who shall have their Wills in the disposing of our Friends and Relations , but his own Creatures , whether God's Will shall stand or ours : We may pretend what we will to excuse our selves ; but the plain Truth of things lies in this Contest , whose will shall take place , Gods , or ours ; whether he , or we shall have the disposing of our selves and ours : But it is in vain to contend with him ; for as he will , so it is fitting he should do with us and ours as he pleaseth , whether we will or no. What saith Elibu , Job 34.33 . Should it be according to our Minds , he will recompence , whether we refuse , or whether we chuse . There is no good to be got by contending with one that is so infinitely above us ; our wisest way is to be dumb and hold our Peace when God pleads with us by any Affliction . Doth not God do all things well ? Do we not all stand amazed at that infinite Wisdom , by which the Heavens and Earth , and all the Creatures in both were made , and by which they are all governed and disposed ? Doubtless there is nothing amiss in his Administrations ; he cannot be subject to any Error , who is Wisdom it self ; all his Works are perfect and good ? Who date pretend to find fault with what God doth : Shall mortal Man be more wise than his Maker ? Have you lost sweet and lovely Children , or dear Yoke-fellows ? Lay your hands upon your Mouths , be not discontented , but acquiesce in what God hath done , for he always doth what is best for his ; at present they cannot see it , it may be , but they shall do hereafter ; and in the mean time it is their Duty to believe and to trust in him . It is not for us to have the Keys of Life and Death to hang at our Girdle , to let in and out at our Pleasure ; Heaven then would be empty enough , for our Friends should not go yet if we could help it ; and our Enemies should never come there if we could hinder them . Our Relations would then live too long , and our Enemies would die too soon . But these things whatever we say or think to the contrary , are ruled by an All wise Providence , to which we our selves and all our Relation . are subjected : And it will never be well with us , till we can resign up our selves , our Relations , and all our Comforts unto his wise disposal , and say not our Wills , but thy Will , O Lord , be done .

Secondly , Consider , your weeping and mourning for the loss of your Friends and Relations , is but a vain , vexatious thing ; it is that which will do you no good , but may do you much hurt . If a Bullock have the Yoke fastened upon him , he may by struggling and striving make his Yoke gaul and vex him , but it doth not ease him at all thereby . The Case is so with thee , O Christian , God hath afflicted thee sorely , by taking away thy Yoke fellow , or thy Child ; if thou wilt not bear it patiently , but frettest and murmurest against God , all that thou gettest hereby , is the more pain and smart , but thou dost not help or ease thy self in the least : What our Lord saith of our caring for the things of this life , is true in grieving for the losses we sustain in this life ; Which of you , says he , by taking thought , can add one Cubit to his Stature ? Matth. 6.27 . Cares may break our hearts , and shorten our days , but they cannot add to our Stature : So Sorrows under losses may break our Rest , and rend our hearts ; yea , they may hasten our death ; for worldly Sorrow causeth death , but it cannot repair our losses nor help us under them . When the Hand of God is upon any of our Relations , by Sicknesses and Distempers , and the purpose of God in reference unto their Death is unknown to us . There is now room for Fasting and Prayer , that the Evil threatned and feared may not come upon us ; Tears and Cries unto God now have the nature and use of means to prevent an Affliction from coming upon us : But when once the purpose of God is manifested , and the fatal stroke is given , it is the vainest thing in the World to fret and vex our selves because our Relations are dead . Holy David therefore , when God had smitten his Child with Sickness , being desirous of its life , he betakes himself to Fasting and Prayer unto God , 2 Sam. 12. and 22. For , says he , who can tell whether God will be gracious to me , that the Child may live . But when once God had signified his Will in the Death of the Child ; now , says he , that it is dead , wherefore should I fast ? It is in vain for me to fast and pray now , Can I bring it back again ? No , I cannot . I shall go to it , but it shall not return to me . But this is not all ; our mourning and weeping for our departed Friends and Relations is not only in vain , that is , it doth us no good , but it many times doth much hurt ; for God is not glorified , but dishonoured by our repining at his Providence ; but we our selves also are injured , for hereby we are rendred unfit for his Service , both in our general and particular Callings , as we are Men , and much more as we are Christians . Cast not therefore away your Tears and Sorrows upon that which will not benefit you , but be to your loss and damage . Turn the stream of your Tears into a right Chanel , there is use enough for them , even for your living , and it may be lively Sins , and not for your dead Relations .

Thirdly , You that are so prone to grieve and mourn under the loss of your Relations , consider you your selves are making haste after them . You are almost ready to go off the Stage of this World , and would you have your Relations live ? It is not likely that we shall bear them Company long here ; when a few days more are past and gone , we our selves shall go whence we shall not return . It is but a little while , and our Places and Relations that have known us here , shall know us again no more for ever . We are marching on , not fair and softly , but very swiftly in the same Road wherein our dead and lamented Friends and Relations once walked , treading out the marks of their Foot-steps while they lived here . We are almost ready to lie down and rot with them in the same Grave ; we dwell in Houses of Clay which begin to crack ; and though we make a shift to daub and patch them up for a while , yet will they soon tumble down into the Dust , do what we can . Your dead Relations , that you are now mourning for , are gone but a little before you , and you will soon be with them ; as you come not into the World together , so you must not go out together ; it is God's Will it should be so , and who can resist it ? Nay , it is God's Will it should be so , and we must acquiesce in it ; for if we love God , we must deny him nothing that he requires ; and if we deny not our selves in our dearest Relations for him , we cannot be his Disciples .

Thirdly , I shall now lay down some consolatory Considerations , in reference to the Affliction it self , that any lie under by reason of the loss of Friends and Relations . And here consider ,

First , There must be a time when you and your Relations must part , and why not now ? It is fit we should wait upon God for the bestowing of a Mercy , and that we should be Patient when God takes away a Mercy ; but it is not fit we should know or choose the times when God will give a Mercy , or when he will take it away . Every thing is Beautiful in its Season , says the Wise Man , and God knows when is the best time for us both to enjoy a Mercy and to be Exercised with an Affliction . He is infinite in Wisdom and cannot be guilty of any mistake in any kind whatever . Now this All-knowing Infinitely Wise God thinks this the best time for thee to be without thy Child , to want thy Relations ; thou canst not at present see and understand the Work of God , and that this Affliction that is now come upon thee , is come in the best and fittest time and Season . I may here say to you what Christ did to Peter , when he was going to wash his Feet , John 13.7 . What I do thou knowest not now , but thou shalt know hereafter . So say I , what God is now doing with thee , and what he intends by this Affliction thou knowest not now , but thou mayest know hereafter , and be able to say , not only that it was good for thee that thou wert Afflicted but that it was good for thee that at such a time and in such a manner thou wert Afflicted , by the loss of such a Child , or such a Relation , God hereby Sanctifying the Affliction , not only for thy Conviction of , and Humiliation for sin , the Evil whereof thou never wert asquainted with before ; but for the discovery of himself in Jesus Christ , and the Excellency and Beauty of Grace and Holiness unto thy Soul , both which thou wert a Stranger to as to any Sanctifying and saving knowledge of them ; whereby much sin from that time hath been prevented in thee , and much Comfort in the ways of Holiness and Obedience from that time hath been experienced by thee . Let God therefore for the time to come have not only the sorting of thy Mercies and thy Afflictions ; that is , to bestow what Mercies he thinks best , on thee , or what Afflictions he thinks meet upon thee , as to the kind of them ; but let him also have the timing of our Mercies and of our Afflictions , that is , when is the fittest time for us to enjoy Mercies , and when is the fittest time for us to be without them : for certainly he that is the Lord of Time is the best Judge of Time ; and in nothing do we more discover our Folly and Rashness , than in presuming to fix the times , either of our Mercies , or of our Afflictions . Leave therefore , O Christian , the timeing both of the one and of the other unto him , whose Works are all Beautiful in their Season .

Secondly , Consider you that grieve so under the loss of Friends and Relations , your Condition might have been worse . Others have felt more , and you deserve worse . You have lost a beloved Child , or a dear Friend and Relation , and you Mourn as one that will not be Comforted ; but what is your loss unto others ? Aaron lost two Sons at one time , and that by a strange Judgment from God , Fire coming down from Heaven in an extraordinary manner and consumed them , and yet Aaron held his Peace . Job lost all his Children suddenly in one day , in an unusual manner , and yet Job doth not murmur , but blesses God , the Lord hath given , and the Lord hath taken away , blessed be the Name of the Lord . The Great God might have taken away all thy Children , all thy Relations and Friends . Estate , Health ; yea , thy Life also . Whatever thou enjoyest it is above thy desert , how mean and poor soever it be . Know , O Christian , God exacteth of thee far less than what thine Iniquities do deserve . Nothing but Hell and Damnation answers to the merit of sin . Wherefore then should a living man complain ? shall he murmur and repine because he lies under some Temporal Affliction , who might justly be sent unto Eternal Torments , where the Worm dieth not , and the Fire is not quenched ? Oh instead of Complaining it is so bad with you , be thankful it is no worse : Let your loss in your Friends and Relations be what it will , let your Condition be as bad as it can be , yet is it better with you than it would be in Hell , whither your sins deserve God should have sent you , who hath only laid this gentle Affliction upon you , under which you now groan .

Thirdly , Consider your Friends and Relations , that you grieve and mourn so for ; if they were good , they are not lost ; they are but gone before , taken from the evil to come . Thy Friend or Relation whose loss thou bewailest , was either God's Friend or not , if he was God's Friend as well as thine , why should not God have his Company rather than you ? and if God hath him , thou canst not say he is lost ; no he is safe , only he hath got the start of thee , being got to Heaven before thee ; and surely , if thou lovedst him , as by thy mourning thou pretendest to do , thou canst not grieve because he is Happy . The World is not so pleasant a place , neither have the Godly in any Age found it so ; that any of us should so eagerly desire it , either for our selves or our Friends . Happy are they that are got safe out of it into Glory . If thy Friend for whom thou now grievest was bad , thou shouldst have mourned for him whilst he was here on Earth , when by thy mourning thou mightst have made him better ; then was the proper , yea the only time for thy Prayers and Tears to have done him any good ; but now that he is gone , though thou shouldst weep and mourn never so much , it is altogether in vain and unprofitable . But if thy Friend were a good Man , to grieve for his departure , seems to argue that we have but hard , or doubtful and misgiving thoughts concerning him ; for how can we mourn for one that is Happy ? besides thy Friend is but taken from the Evil to come . The Grave becomes a hiding-place for some , and God sees it better for them that they should be under ground than above ground in such evil days ; that they may not behold the Evil that is like to come upon others , so says the Prophet , The Righteous are taken away from the evil to come , and certainly it is far better for us to desire to go to them , that we may partake of their Happiness , than to wish that they should come to us to partake of our Miseries .

Fourthly , Grieve not immoderately for thy dead Friends and Relations , for there is hope of their Resurrection , and Eternal Happiness . It is for them to mourn without measure , who mourn without hope , which no Christian should do . We are not to look upon the dead , because at present they are turned to Corruption and Rottenness , as a lost Generation of Men ; for Death hath not , nor cannot Annihilliate and destroy them . A Believer may say of his dead Friends and Relations , what the Disciples said unto Christ when he told them , Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth . Lord say they , if he sleep be shall do well , John 11.12 . the same may Believers say of their Friends and Relations that are asleep in their Graves , they shall do well , for they shall awake again : so says the Church , Isaiah 26.19 . Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust , for thy dew is as the dew of Herbs , and the Earth shall cast out the dead . Now we do not use to weep and mourn for our Friends and Relations when they lie down at night to take a short sleep in their Beds , because we know they use to awake and arise again in the morning : And why then should we be grieved and troubled , when they come to lie down in the dust ; and make their Beds for a while in the Grave , sleeping away time by Death until the morning of the Resurrection ; when they shall as surely , nay more surely awake and arise out of their Graves than they were certain in the morning of any day to awake and arise out of their Beds ? And therefore the Apostle brings it in as a Cordial , for the support of Believers under the loss of their Friends and Relations by Death , 1 Thessal. 4.13 , 14. I would not have you to be ignorant Brethren , concerning them which are asleep , that ye sorrow not even as those that have no hope , for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him . And so he goes on proving the Doctrine of the Resurrection , and conludes with this , so shall we be ever with the Lord ; wherefore , says he , Comfort one another with these words . When Believers die , tho' their Bodies seem to perish in the Earth , yet even then , is their very dust precious in his sight , for he takes care of it and preserves it in the Grave ; and he will certainly raise it again at the last day unto a most Glorious State of Happiness ; and even then at that instant , when their Souls leave their Bodies , they ascend up into Heaven into the Presence and Enjoyment of God in Glory . As our Saviour therefore said unto his Disciples when he was going away from them into Heaven , in John 14.28 . If ye loved me , ye would rejoyce , because I go unto my Father . The same may dying Believers say unto their Friends and Relations that they leave behind them , if ye loved us , ye would rejoyce , because we are going unto our God and Father ; weep not therefore for us , but weep for your selves , who are forbidden for a while to follow us unto that State of Blessedness , which we are now a going to take Possession of for ever .

Now for a Conclusion of this Subject , I have but one thing more to add , which may be an Argument of great force and strength to prevail upon the Spirits of Christians , not only to make them willing and contented to die , but to stir up in them a Holy longing of Soul after Death : and that is to consider the Saints great gain and advantage by dying . Now here I shall not branch out this Head into several particulars relating to the Happiness of Believers in Heaven because I intend a particular Discourse of the Happiness thereof by it self ; all that I shall say now concerning the gain of Believers by Death , shall be only in General . And so let all such know , that when they die , they shall be perfectly freed from whatsoever is Evil and Afflictive ; and shall have a perfect Enjoyment of whatever is beneficial and good , they shall be perfectly freed from whatsoever is Evil and Afflictive ; there shall then be no more sorrowing , or weeping , for Heaven , whither Death brings all Believers , is the place of the Joy of their Lord , where Tears are wip'd away from all Eyes , and Sorrow from all Hearts ; for thither the Ransom'd of the Lord are come with Songs upon their heads , and obtain Joy and Gladness , and sorrow and sighing shall flee away , Isaiah 35 , and the last . Where they live without fear , which here makes the lives of many burthensome unto them ; for all cause of fears are there for ever abolished and taken away . There are no Deformities upon the Body to render it Contemptible , nor no Reproaches upon the Name to make it Scandalous ; there is no Sickness or Distempers upon the outward Man , nor no Desertions or Darkness upon the inward Man ; there are no Temptations from Satan to vex the Soul , nor no Weaknesses and Infirmities to annoy the Body ; there 's no more Death or dying , but Life for evermore ; Mortality is now swallowed up of Life , Corruption hath put on Incorruption , and Mortality hath put on Immortality , and Death and Hell are cast into the Lake of Fire , and which is more than all this , there , that is in Heaven , we shall no more sin nor offend God to all Eternity , Earth and Hell are the places both of sin and Suffering , but Heaven is a place of perfect Joy and perfect Holiness ; nothing enters in there that is either Afflictive , Polluted , or Defiled . When Death parts Soul and Body for a time , then Sin and the Soul part for ever . Here we are continually sinning and offending of God , and it is the constant grief of a Godly Man that he doth so ; here our Righteousnesses are no better than filthy rags , and Grace it self hath its defects ; when we believe most strongly , we must cry out , Lord , help our unbelief : but now in Heaven there are none , but the Spirits of Just Men made perfect . In a word , there is nothing there , that may in the least be an Allay or Diminution unto the Happiness of that blessed State , that is there enjoyed to Eternity .

But this is not all , Death doth not only free Believers from all that is Evil and Afflictive , but it brings them to the perfect Enjoyment of whatever is beneficial and good ; Death being the means and way by which they enter into Heaven , where Blessedness and Happiness is to be enjoyed in such fulness of perfection , as exceeds not only our Apprebensions , but our Imaginations . For there it is that the infinitely great and blessed God discovers himself in all his Glory , to be enjoyed by the Saints as their Portion to Eternity . There it is that they shall behold their once bleeding and dying , but now Glorified Redeemer , Cloathed in their own Nature ; who loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood , who was dead but is alive , and now lives for ever more , and because be lives , they shall live also . There they shall Enjoy that which was the great desire of the Apostle , and theirs also to be with Christ , which is best of all , and how much blessedness is included in those few words , to be with Christ , the enjoyment of Heaven only where Christ is , can make known to us . There it is that Believers fully understand the meaning of that Article of our Christian Faith , even the Communion of Saints ; here it was that they placed their Delight in the Saints the Excellent ones of the Earth , and there their Delight shall be in great measure in the Saints , some of the Excellent ones of Heaven . There shall then be no mixture of sin and Corruption with our Graces , which here is an Allay to the Lustre and Brightness of them , but they shall Shine forth in their full Glory and Beauty . Grace there shall be in its full Perfection ; nothing shall then be wanting in our Knowledge , nor any thing imperfect in our Love , our Obedience shall then flow from us with all readiness and chearfulness of Soul , and our Joy and Delight in God shall not admit of the least Diminution or Disturbance to Eternity . This , O Soul , is that in general which the Happiness of Heaven is made up of , and to the Enjoyment of this Happiness without Interruption or Cessation for ever , is that to which Death brings all Believers . And surely if ever those words have any Truth in them , they are here verified , so that a Saint may truly say , The lines are now fallen to me in a pleasant place , I have a goodly Herit age . O Blessed and Glorious State indeed ! who is there that knows and believes this infinite unconceivable Happiness , that would not willingly die to enjoy it ? Unto which State of Blessedness , God of his infinite Mercy bring us all to the Enjoyment of , for the alone sake of Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer . Amen .

FINIS .