The wicked mans portion, or, A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th day of the 1 moneth, 1674, when two men were executed, who had murthered their master) wherein is shewed that excesse in wickedness doth bring untimely death / by Increase Mather ...

Eccles , 7. 17. Be not overmuch wicked , neither be thou foolish ; why shouldest thou dye before thy time ?

SOlomon being a man full of wisdome , was very observant of the Providences of God , which hap●ed in the place and in the age wherein he lived . He doth in this Chapter give us an account of some of his Observations that way , There is one special Observation in this Context , viz in the 15 verse of this Chapter , where we have the wise man saying , There is a just man that perisheth in his Righteousness , and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness . Now lest any one should abuse this doctrine of the just mans perishing in his righteousness ; and the wicked mans prolonging his life in his wickedness , He proceeds to a double exhortation .

1. He doth exhort to beware of errors on the right hand . verse 16th . where there are two errors on the right hand mentioned .

1. Overmuch Righteousness . Be not righteous overmuch . Not that it is possible for any man to have more of real Goodness in him , than he ought to have : but he may be more righteous in his own Conceit , than he should be ; and he may be Superstitious , he may adde to the Word of God , which is the rule of Righteousness , Men may likewise be more severe in punishing Offenders then the Rule doth allow o● , the Corinthians did sometimes erre on that hand , and that is to be righteous overmuch

2 , Overmuch Wisdome . Neither make thy self overwise . which must be understood as the former Particular , A man be wiser in his own eyes , than he ought to be , He may be wise above what is written , He may p●y into the secrets of the Alm●ghty , and endeavour to trace him wh●se wayes , are past finding out , and whose ●ootsteps are not known . And this Exhortation is urged from the Consideration of the wo●u●l effect of this overmuch wisdome and righteousness , viz self destruction . Why shouldest thou destroy thy self ? As the moth that will venture too neer to the light , destroyeth it self , so they that will be overwise , and will needs know more than God would have them to know , destroy themselves .

2. The other exhortation is against Errors on the Less hand ; of which there are two mentioned in this verse and Dr●si● Annot . in Lo● . in the words which have been read , in opposition to the two former spoken of in the verse immediately foregoing .

1 , Be not overmuch wicked . q . d . though you must not See p●mbl● . expos . p 85. be righteous overmuch , yet take heed of erring on the other extream , which our nature is most prone unto . The Hebrew is , {αβγδ} h . e . do not wickedly much . Not that the Preacher doth allow of any wickedness at all onely Noli esse st●ltus . Hieron . his designe is to shew the evill of all excess in wickedness .

2. Another error on the le●t hand is Foolishness . Neither be thou Foolish . Heb . {αβγδ} h . e . Neither ●e thou a Fool , because all wickedness is folly , and sinners are Tametsi aliquando fit ut improbi●● suis celeribus Consenescant , tamen {αβγδ} fit ut impr●borum brevis & contracta vita sit . Cartwright in Loc . Fools , as afterwards we shall shew . And this exhortation is l●kewise pressed by an argument taken from the miserable end that such sinners come to at last , God in his righteous Providence doth many Times so order that they d● before their Time . Why shouldest thou dy before thy Time ? It is as if it were said , Though it be so that here and there a wicked man doth prolong his life in his wickedness , yet for any one thence to embolden himself in sin , is the greatest folly imaginable , for usually it falls out otherwise , that wickedness doth shorten the dayes of those that are guilty of it .

The Doctrine therefore from the words is ,

That the Providence of God doth oftentimes ●o dispose as that a● untimely death shall be the Portion of him that hath been wicked overmuch .

In the Doctrinal handling of this Truth , Three things may be attended .

1. To enquire how any one may be said to dy before his Time .

2. What overmuch wickedness that is which is usually followed with untimely Death , or when one may be said to be wicked overmuch .

3. The Reasons of the Doctrine , why God in his providence doth often so dispose as that an untimely death shall be the Portion of such as have been wicked overmuch .

Quest . 1. How can one be said to ●y before his Time ?

Answ . Not in respect of the decree of God . No man shall dy before the Time which the Lord hath determined be fulfilled . The Time of every mans Death is appointed . Hence Job saith Chap. 14. verse 14. All the dayes of my appointed Time will I wait till my change come . and in the 5th verse of that Chapter it is said , Seing his dayes are determined , the number of his months are with thee , thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass . Not onely the years Se● Mr Cotton on Eccl●s 7. 17. but the moneths , nay the dayes which every man shall live are determined by the Lord , so as that he shall not live a day longer , nor dy a day sooner than was before appointed . But a man may be said to dy before his Time .

1. In respect of his own expectation . He may dy before ever he doth expect Death . Hence sinners are said to dy suddenly . 1 Thess. 5. 3. When they shall say peace and safety , then sudden destruction cometh upon th●m as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape . Sudden destruction cometh upon sinners , that is , not onely which is in it self sudden , but as to their expect●tion so . Thus in the Patable concerning the wicked servant . M●●h . 24. 48 , 49 , 50. If that evil servant shall say in his heart , ●y Lord delayeth his coming ; and shall begin to smite his fellow s●●vants , the Lord of that servant shall come in in a day when he looketh not for him , and in an hour that he is not aware 〈◇〉 So doth He dy before his Time wherein ●e expected ●a●h is come . It is often so with them that have been ●●ry wick●d and Foolish ; where●ore it is said in the Parable c●ncerning the Fool when h● thought he had many years to live . Luke 12. 20 : God said unto him Thou Fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee . Hence .

2. A sinner may be said to dye before his Time , in respect of his Preparation for a dying hour . Death may come upon him , before he is prepared to encounter with that enemy . And then he dyeth indeed , in dying he shall dy , if death find him unprepared ; the second death taketh hold on that soul . The devills sometimes said to Jesus Christ , Art th●u come to torm●nt us b●fore our Time . Truly such ● soul goeth to th● Place of Torment before his Time . There is many a sinner that death finds without an Interest in Jesus Christ , There is some sin that he hath not repented of , nay it may be he hath not truly repented of so much a● one sin , and then he is not prepared to dy . It had been better for him that he had never been born , than that he should dye and go out of the world in that Condition ,

3. A sinner may dy before that Time be fulfilled , which according to the ordinary cours● of nature he might have lived .

And this is especially intended here in the Text . why shouldst thou dye before thy time , Hebr . {αβγδ} and not in thy Time . that is to say , before that time which according to the ordinary course of nature thou mightest have lived , be expired . Many times the Divine Providence doth so order as that they who have been wicked overmuch shall not live out that time . Thus concerning the world of the ungodly which lived before the flood , Eliphaz s●ith Hast thou ma●ked the old way which wicked m●n have troden , who were cut down out of time , Job . 22 15 , 16. 〈◇〉 Caryl ● J●b 22 16. According to the ordinary course of Nature , they migh● have lived a Long Time , but they were cut down by the s●roke of Death . wicked men never dy before they ar● ripe in sin , but they often dy before they are ripe in Nature . They are caried and chased out of the world by some violent d 〈…〉 .

Some●imes this is brought to pass by the Lords immediate 〈…〉 d . If ●en be generally wicked overmuch , the Lord sends Publick destroying Judgments , whereby thous●nds dy before their Time . so on the old world , ●o on Sodom and Gomorrha ; in the morning they were well and likely to have lived many a fair day , but dead and damned before night . Those sore Judgm●nts of Famine , Plague , and Sword , come and sw●ep away multitudes before their time , when a people are become wicked overmuch . And Particular Judgments do hence come upon Particular persons , whereby they were cut of before their Time . There was that wicked Er and his w●cked brother Onan , did commit abominable uncleaness in the sight of God , and therefore the Lord slew them ▪ that they dyed before their Time . so Nadab and Abihu were wicked overmuch , and there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them , and they dyed before the Lord . Corah and his complices wickedness was amongst th●m and i● their dwellings , and as the Psa●mist ( all 〈…〉 to that 〈◇〉 Judgment ) speaketh Death seised upon them and they went down quick into hell .

Psal . 55. 15. Ananias and Saphira wer● wicked overmuch when they committed Sacriledg , and also sinned and lyed in a Church Assembly where there is a special Presence of the Spirit of God , and th●y became guilty of lying to the Holy Ghost , wherefore first the one of them fell down and gave up the Ghost , and then the other , and thence were both cast into one grave and this before their Time . The Scripture is full of awfull instances to this Purpose . Again sometimes Gods Vicegerents are improved as executioners of his wrath and justice upon such sinners . The Magistrate beareth not the sword in vain , but is the Minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evill . Hence David speaketh saying , I will early destroy all the wicked of the Land , that I may cut of the wicked doers from the city of the Lord . Psal . 110. 8. I will early destroy them ▪ in the original it is , in the morning I will destroy them , because in those Times Malefactors w●re execu●ed in the morning ; and that s his meaning , that He would see execution done upon Capital Offenders . Th●● S●uls cu●sed posterity was cut off by the han● of Justic● . because of the Murther which their Father had commited , and no doubt but they had been some way Acc●ssary , in in consenting , or approving , or not duly bearing witness against that iniquity .

Sometimes again the Lord in a Judicial way giveth up such sinners to the Power of Satan , and their own Corruptions , so as that they become their own executioners , as we se in Judas , who after he had brought himself under the guilt of innocent blood , went to the halter to let out his wretched soul ,

But thus much may suffice to be spoken to the first enquiry , we come to the second thing propounded , Namely , What overmuch wickedness that is which is usualy followed with untimely death , or when a man may be said to be wicked overmuch ?

Answ . 1. When 〈◇〉 ●oth make himself to be mor● wicked than ind●ed ●e is . e . g . When he doth falsly accuse himself to be guilty of this or that which he was never actually guilty of . There are such woful foolish creatures in the world , that glory in their shame , and take a pride in saying that they have committed this or that abomin●tion , which yet it may be they never did commit . It is just with God , that such should dy before their Time , and that they should be dealt with , as if they were really guilty thereof ; as we se in the Instance of that Amalekite , who accused him self as having an hand in Sauls death : It is al question whether he had so really or no , yet inasmuch as he ●ccused Himself , David condemned him , 2 Sam 1. 16. David said thy blood be upon thy head ; for thy mouth hath t●stifi●d against thee saying , I have slain the Lords anointed . So when any poor creature shall say that he hath out-stood and sinned away the day of Grace , albeit the Holy Spirit is fecretly striying with him still , or that he hath sinned against the Holy Ghos● . Or that his sin is greater than the mercy God . As Francis Spi●a after his Apostacy uttered such a desperate blasphemy as that my sin ( said He ) is greater than the mercy of ●●d . And thus it was with despairing bloody Cain , be said , mine iniquity is greater than can be forgiven . Gen. 4. 13. Austin doth well reply upon him , mentiris Cain , that s a Lye Cain , thy sin is not gre●ter th●n ca● be M● Hooker on Act. 2 37. forgiven . Some have observed that Cains Desperation and blasphemy , was a greater evil than his Murther was , when he shed the innocent blood of his own Brother . And indeed despair layeth the Foundation for all excess in wickedness , it maketh men to become no better than devils incarnate ; and causeth them to dye before their Time , witness Judas who in despair hanged Himself ; And have not wee in our dayes known or heard of many rufull instances of that Kind ?

2 When a man shall become guilty of such sins as are of a very hainous nature , then be may be said to be wicked overmuch ▪ There are Scarlet sins , Crimson abominations , wh●ch the Heavens blush to behold . There are bloody sinners , whose souls lye bleeding under Prodigious guilt , even such as have been guilty of evils ; that by the Law of God and man are Capital Crimes , these are they that have been wicked overmuch . to mention onely one or two Crimes .

Mu●ther is a great and horrid wickedness , and so Capital as that whoever hath been guilty of it , may in no case he p●rdoned by man . Numb . 35. 30. 31. Whoso Killeth any person , the murtherer shall be put to death , mor●over they shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murtherer which is Guilty of death , but He shall be surely put to death . And they that have been guilty of this wickedness , usually dy before their Time , according to that scripture Psal . 55. 23 But thou O God shalt bring them down to d●struction , bl●●●y and deceitfull men should not live out half their dayes . It is thought by some that Cain . ( who was the first murtherer amongst men ) dyed before his Time . The Jews have a Tradition that Lamech killed Cain and a young man that wa● with him hunting in the woods ; To this purpose some understand that place ( our version doth evidently favor that Interpretation ) R. Solo 〈…〉〈◇〉 & Jarchi dic●tur . Gen. 4. 23. 24. Lamech said , I have slain a man to my wounding , and a young man to my hurt i● Cain be avenged seven fold surely Lamech seventy and seven ●old . However the providence of God . doth usually so dispose as tha● they who have taken away the lives of others by violence , shall themselves dy a violent and bloody dea●h . Joab murthered Abner and Amasa , and He ( though an old man ) dyed before his Time , He that had shed the blood of others , his own blood was shed for it at last . Joash conspired against Zachariah and stoned him with sto●es , and afterwards , His own servants Conspired against hi● and slew him .

Many other Instances are recorded in the Scripture , and in humane writings all confirming the Truth of this . Yea God from Heaven doth usually Pursue this sin , with speciall signal Testimonies of his Righteous displeasure . Hence the Lord hath strange wayes to discover this sin . Rather then the Murderer shall not be found out , the Heaven shall reveal his iniquity and the Earth shall rise up against him . How often have the fowls of Heaven , and the dumb creatures of the earth brought Murder to Light ?

The story is ancient and famous concerning Bessus who had murdered his own Father ; and sometime after the swallows making a noise in the chimney as it is the manner Plutarch . of those birds to doe , His guilty Conscience was afraid they had told of him , whereupon he goeth to kill the swallows , and being asked the reason , why ( saith he ) the swallows doe nothing but say Bessus hath Killed his Father , Bessus hath Killed his Father , whereby he was suspected , and upon examination confessed the fact .

It is also storied of a souldier belonging to King Pyrrhus , that being slain , a dog which he had , could by no means be enticed from the dead body , but the King coming by , he Clarks Examples Vol. 1. p. 〈◇〉 380 ▪ fawned upon him as it were craving help at his hands whereupon He caused all his army to pass by in order , and when the murtherers came the dog flew fiercely upon them , and then fawned upon the K●ng the souldiers hereupon examined , confessed the Murther , and received condign Punishment . Many other Instances to this Purpose I co●ld produce , but I for bear .

Again , Rebellion is a Crime which they that are guilty of , are wicked overmuch . When Inferiours shall wickedly ●ise up against Sup●riours . When Subjects shall in a way of Rebellion rise up against the Authority which the Lord hath set over them , such often dy before their Time , Hence Christ saith , All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Math . 26. 52. that is to say they that take up the sword in a way of Rebellion against Lawfull Authority . That Doctor Gamaliel in the speech he made in the Council taketh notice of two examples concerning this . Acts. 5. 36 , 37. The●das boasting himself to be somebody , to whom a number ●f men , about four hundred joyned themselves , was slain , and all as many as obeyed him were scattered , and brought to nought , after this man r●se up Judas of Gallilee , and drew away ●uch People after him , he also perished , and all even a● many as Obeyed him were dispersed . So when Servants shall rise up in Rebellion against their Masters , it is a wicked thing . wherefore even Jezebel could say ▪ Had Zimri Peace who slew his Master 2. K●n . 9. 31. After he had slain his Master had he peace in his own Conscience ? Did he Prosper after that day ? Did not the hand of God follow him till he himself was slain ? Had Zimri Peace who slew his Master ?

So when children sh●ll rebell against their Parents , their wickedness is excessively great . And such Children doe usually dy before their Time , witness the fifth Commandment where it is said , Honour thy Father and thy Mother , that thy dayes , may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee . Therefore they that break this Commandment may expect that their dayes shall not be long , but they shall dye before their Time ▪ We see it in Absolom , He was a rebellious Child , and what came of him ? was he no● hanged at last ▪ and three darts thrust th●ough his heart while he was yet alive . And ●ravellers report that in the same Place where Absolom was buried , there is now a vast heap of stones , which is come to pass by this meanes , it is Customary for every one that passeth by that Place , to throw a stone upon Absolom using these words ▪ Thus shall it be done to the son that rebels against his Father , Thus shall it be done to the child that riseth up against his Parents .

● . When a man shal multiply Transgression then he may be said to be wicked overmuch . when he shall commit the same 〈◇〉 over and over again . Once is too much but many Times is overmuch indeed . Eccles . 8. 12 ▪ Though a sinner do evill an hundred times . Alas there is many a sinner that hath done so , He hath made himself drunk an hundred Times , He hath been unclean and abominable in the sight of God an hundred Times , He hath lyed against his conscience an hundred Times , then he hath been wicked overmuch . So when a vile creature shall adde sin to sin , as the Prophet complaineth of them , Isai . 30. 1. When he shall adde new transgressions to old sins , sins of age to sins of youth , later to former iniquities . What saith the Scripture ? 1 Pet . 4. 3. the Time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles , when we walked in lasciviousness , lusts , excess of wine , revellings , banquetings &c. Therefore when a sinner shall adde new debts to the old score , it is more than sufficeth , that is to say , He is wicked overmuch .

4. They that are incorrigible in the wayes of sin , are wicked overmuch . Who sin against all meanes that can be used to reclaim them . There are such sinners as do dispise all means , they will take no warning . Though God himself speaketh to them by awfull Providences , taking some and hanging them up before their eyes , yet they will go on still in their trespasses . And though they that are the Lords vicegerents on earth , do estab●is● and execute severe and righteous Laws , and put sin and sinners to shame , yet they still continue to transgress against the Lord . This doth evidence a desperately wicked man . It is spoken concerning a man that is beyond measure wicked , that he doth run upon the thick bosses ▪ of the Buckler of the Almighty Job . 15. 26. What is the Buckler of the Almighty ? It is the Word of God , And what are the thick Bosses of that Buckler ? They are the threatnings and sanctions annexed to that Word . When sinners shall transgress in a Land where there are Laws established and regulated according to the Word of God , and those Laws faithfully executed , they run themselves upon the thic● Bosses of te Buckler of the Almighty , and therefore are despereatly wicked . And there are that sin against the light of the Gospel and reproofs administred in the Word and Name of God : such are wicked overmuch , and have cause to fear that they shall dye before their Time . witness that awfull scripture Prov. 29. 1. He that being often reproved hardneth his neck , shall suddenly be destroy●d , and that without remedy . And there are that despise reproofes , instructions , admonitions , exhortations , privately administred in Familyes , by masters , Parents ▪ such are also wicked overmuch , and do often dy before their Time . Witness the sons of Eli , of whome it is said , they harkned not to the voice of their Father , because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam . 2. 25. Doth thy Father give thee good counsel ? but wilt thou not harken to him ? This is a sign , that the Lord will slay thee . Remember those proud and profane young men , the sons of Eli , they regarded not what their Father said to them , and therefore they dyed before their Time . This cometh of not harkning to the voice of a Father .

5. They that mind nothing but this world and the vanityes and lusts thereof are wicked overmuch . Even they that live like Athists without God in the world . And this last Particul●r suits wi●h the scope of this Context . For as they are righteous overmuch who under pretence of Religion neglect {αβγδ} significat , ne nimium commovere negotis seculi , ne nimis & im●●dicus esto in illis perpetuo immersus & nil ali●d unquam animo ●●●quieto ●●gitans , ●● contra abillis plane t●●e avertere ●●t nimis ●●stium esse . M 〈…〉 Lo●●m . their particular Callings , so they are wicked overmuch who neglect duties of Religion , out of respect to the world . There are that 〈◇〉 in a continual neglect of God & of their own souls and Salvation . Hence no prayer it may be not so much as in the Family , no reading of the Scriptuers , no Meditation , no self-examination . How do men live as if there were no world but this , as if there were no God to serve , and they had no souls to save ? Certainly , all such are wicked overmuch .

And thus have wee done with the second thing propounded in order to the cleering of the Doctrine before us . Wee come to the third Particular , viz to enquire into the Reasons of this Doct●ine ▪ why God in his Providence doth often times so dispose as that an untimely death shall be the portion of him that hath been wicked overmuch ?

For Answer , we shall onely mention two Reasons , breifly .

1. The Lord doth this that he may manifest his righteous displeasure against s●n H●b● . 1. 13. He is of purer eyes than to behold evill ▪ and cannot look ●n in quity , that is to say with approbation or without d●t●station and indignation against sin . The bl●ss●d Holy God do●h bear an infin●●e detestation and indignation against sin . Hence he leaveth Marks of his displeasure upon the sinner ▪ as God set a mark upon Cains forehead , so he sets a mark of displeasure upon notorious Transgressors . Yea sometimes when he forgiveth the sin ▪ yet ●e doth visit with Temporal vengeance ▪ that so the world may see that sin is odious and abominable in the sight of God . Hence such sinners as the Text speaketh of , must dy● b●fore their Time .

2. That so ●thers may thereby be warned and deterred from the C●mm●ssion of the like evills . Thus it was with Lots wise , she dyed before her Time , that so others might be warned by her example , to beware of becoming guil●y of the same sin , which she was so awfully punished for . therefore Christ said to his disciples , Luke ▪ 17. 32. Remember Lots wise , meaning so remember her , as that you may for ever take heed of doing as she did . She was turned into a pillar of salt , that others might be seasoned thereby and preserved from the like evill . God is wise and wonderfull in his Providences , and knoweth how to ord●r the death of two or three so as to prevent the destruction of many thereby . Hence ●e hath appointed that ●ustice shall be executed in a solemn way , upon Capital offenders , that others may hear and fear , and none may do any more so wickedly . We find the Lord himself giveth this Reason of this matter . Deut . 13. 8 , 9 , 11. Thou shalt not hearken unto him ▪ neither shall t●ine eye pitty him , neither shal● thou spare , b●●●hou shal● surely Kill him ▪ and all Israel shall hear and fear and shall doe no more any such wickedness as this is among you .

Wee come now to Apply this Doctrine . There are two Uses to be insisted on , 1. By way of Instruction or Information , 2. By way of Exhortation ▪

1. By way of Information , Inf. 1. We may see by this , that sin is the greatest folly in the world . Well might Solomon say as in the Text , neither be thou foolish , For to sin and doe wickedly is the greatest foolishness that ever was or can be . Sin is a departure from the Rule of Wisdome . For a man to part with his life for nothing , is not that monstrous folly ? And thus doth a wretched sinner doe . Mens sins are unfruitfull works of darkness . What Profit had you of those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? Sin is the most unprofitable thing in the world . It is good for nothing , neither for body , nor soul , nor name , nor estate , but brings death and ruin upon all . A man by sin ( especially some sins ) looseth his Name . A wound and dis●onour doth he get , and a reproach that that shall not be wiped away . And he loseth his life , and that before the Time as the Text sheweth ; yea and without repentance will loose his soul for ever . Prov. 8. 36. Hee that sinneth against me wrongs his own soul . The Impenitent sinner brings ruin upon his own soul . Therefore sin is folly , and and the more sinfull the more foolish . The greatest Sinners are the greatest Fooles in all the world . Wherefore it is said Eccl 9. 3. The Heart of the sens of ●en is full of evill , & madness is in their Heart while they live , and after that they go to the dead . Yea to the Damned ! O what horrible madness is it , for any man , that so he may enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season , to venture eternall damnation of his precious and immortall soul ?

Infor . 2. It followeth from hence , that shortness of dayes is in it self a judgment . For it is threatned as a Punishment of wickedness . It is a fruit of sin and of the curse . If Adam had not sinned there would have been no short lives , none of his Posterity should have had their lives shortned . And in the times of the Restitution of all things , when the Curse shall be removed , it will not be as at this day . Rev. 21. 4. There shall be no more death . To be sure there shall be no more such untimely death as our eyes doe with sadness behold this day . Look as long life is in it self a blessing , and therefore is Promised as such in the Scripture Ps●l . 91 ▪ 16. With long life will I satisfie him , Prov. 4. 10. Receive my sayings , and the years of thy life shall be many ▪ and 10. 27. The fear of the Lord prolongeth dayes . Whatever any true beleiver hath done or suffered for , or according to the will of God , whilst he was in the world , shall come in upon the account at the last and great day , a glorious reward o● mercy sh●ll be given for it , thence is it , so great a mercy to live long . So on the other hand , sho●t life is a great judgment , and is often threatned as s●ch in the Scripture Prov. 10. 27. Th● years of the wicked shal● be shortned . Eccles . 8. 13. Neither ▪ sh●ll he prolong his dayes , And it is mentioned as an heavy Impr●cation . Psal . 109 ● L●t ▪ his dayes be few . For when a w●cked man dy●th ( dying in his sins ) He is undone for ever . when once his body is gone down into the pi● of the grave , and his soul is gone d●wn into the pit of eternall darkness , He cannot hop● for the mercy of God , He cannot hope for the pardon of his sin , He cannot hope for the salvation of his soul . Therefore short life is in it self a judgment . Onely as to the elect of God , it is turned into a mercy . As afflictions are in themselves evill and fruits of the curse , but to beleivers they become the greatest blessings . So an untimely death is in it self a great evill , but ●o one that belongs to the election of grace , it becometh a wonderfull mercy ; for it hasteneth his eternall hapiness and glory .

Infor . 3. Hence it likewise followeth that Righteousness ●is the way to obtain long life ▪ If wickedness bring untimely death , then Righteousness will deliver from death . There is no r●ghteous man , but shall live in this world so long as life shall be good for him to enjoy .

But some one will say , do we not see that good men dye when they are young as well as others ?

Answ . Very true . As there are some that are too wicked to live long ▪ So there are others that are too Good to live long ; in such an evill wretched world as this ▪ Jeroboams godly son , dyed in his youth . Josiah a most eminent servant of the Lord , dyed in the middest of his dayes . Enoch though the best man , and the best minister of God , in all the world in his time , was taken out of the world before he had lived half so long as men in those dayes were wont to live , but then it would not be good for them to live any longer . God is onely wise and faithfull , and therefoer he taketh his servants to himself , when he seeth that life will not be best for them .

Besides , a man may live long in a little Time . It is said , the child shall dye an hundred years old . Isai . 65. 20. Though a child in respect of years , yet he shall have the grace , and gravity , the wisdome and knowledge of a man that hath lived an hundred years . And indeed that is most desirable ▪ It is in many respects a great mercy to be freed from the prevailing See M● C●●t●●ns Epistle before Mr N 〈…〉 ns Orth●d●x Evangelist . infirmityes of old age , and therefore to live long in a little time is most desirable , As I remember Mr. Gotton in an Epistle which he hath Prefixed to one of Mr. Nortons Bookes , taketh notice if it , with reference to Dr. Pr●ston ▪ that it was his constant desire affectation and expression ▪ that he might live long in a little Time , and the Lord granted him the desire of his heart therein . Some live longer in seven years , then others doe in ten times seven years . They doe more for God and more for his People in seven years then others do in twenty , forty , threescore , or in fourscore years . Moreover , that promise of long life will be fulfilled to the righteous in the life to come . As indeed all promises ( and threatnings too ) are fully accomplished in the world to come . There the righteous shall live for ever ▪ It was promised to to Christ , that he should be satisfied with long life . Psal . 91. & the last . And that he should prolong his dayes . Isai . 53. 10. Yet we know that Christ was not in this world much above two and thirty years . How then did he prolong his dayes ? In the other world his dayes are prolonged to eternity , according to the Scriptuer Psal . 21. 4. He asked life of thee , and thou gavest it him , length of dayes for ever and ever .

Use . 2. Let it be a word of Exhortation 1. Here is a generall word of exhortation . 2. More Particular .

1. Let us all be exhorted to make a right Improvement of such awfull Providences as the Text speaks of . There is such a Providence before us this day , which hath occasioned me to speak from these words at this Time . For truly I think God would not have us suffer such solemn awfull Providences as these ●o pass away without taking speciall notice of them , and making some good Improvement thereof .

You will say , But what use should we make of this awfull Pr●vidence ?

Answ . It should cause us humbly to reflect upon our own vile natures . Have we been kept from the like evills that others have been guilty of ? No thanks to our own hearts , for wee have the same nature that they have , and if God had given us up to our own hearts lusts , wee should have been as bad as they , or as any of the children of men , that ever were in the world . Wherefore the Apostle in the third Chapter to the Romanes , discoursing of the state of men by nature , sait● Their feet are swift to shed blood v. 15. Why ; Is every natural man a Murderer ? Truly , he hath a Murderers heart within him , and he would quickly shed blood , He would actually commit Murder , if God did not restrain him . How should this thought humble us , and make us vile in our own eyes ? As I Remember it is noted concerning that blessed Martyr , Mr Bradford . that if he did hear of any that were condemned or accused on the account of Witchcraft , Murder , Robberies or any other Impiety , He would smite upon his breast and say , In this breast of mine , is that which would have caused mee , to have been guilty of the same evill , if the Grace of God had not prevented mee . And it is recorded of one of the Ancients that he was never told of any great wickedness committed by others , but it did him some Good , it made him the more distrustfull of his own Heart , Hee would say Ille h●ri , tu hodiè , ego cras . Hee 〈◇〉 committed that sin yesterday , thou diddest commit the same sin to day , and I shall commit it to morrow if the Grace of God do not restrain and prevent mee .

2. Another Use which we should make of this Awfull Providence is . To consider sadly whether there be not some prevailing evill , that the Lord doth hereby rebuke and seek to humble us for : I fear there is such an evill , I mean with respect to those wofull breaches of the fifth Commandment which are to be found amongst us . This is a prevailing evill , wee may see it every where . How do Inferiors rise up against Superiors ? Look into the Commonwealth , and wee shall find that Magistrates are not honoured and acknowledged in their places as ought to be . Look into Churches , and how do some carry it there , as if that Scripture were Apocrypha even that Scripture Heb . 13. 17 ▪ where it is said obey them that have the rule over you , and submit your selves , for they watch for your souls . Look into Schools , and how doe Children contemn and dispise and disobey their masters contrary to the fifth Commandment ? Look into Families , and O what disobedient Children ? O what unruly servants may we find there ? Nay , Look into the streets , and there we may observe ( I have sometimes beheld it not altogether without greif and shame ) the child behaving himself proudly against the Antient , and the base against the Honourable : so that in this respect New-England is in a great measure become degenerate from the good manners of the Christian world . If there be any prevailing iniquity in New-England this is it . And therefore no marvell that such an awfull Providence doth come to rebuke and humble us , that servants have conspired together to Kill their Master . There hath been no such deed done or seen in our Israel before now . And mark what I say , If ever New-England be destroyed , this very sin of disobedience to the fifth Commandment will be the ruine of this Land ▪

3. Another Use wee should make of this Providence , is to beware of those sins which do often times end in untimely death .

Pride is one of those sins . Corah was a Proud man , He could not bear to be subject to that order neither in Church nor Commonwealth , which God had appointed , and Hee dyed not the common death of all men . Haman was exceeding proud and highminded , and his pride brought him to the Gallows at last . But what need wee goe far for examples ? One of these poor condemned Creatures that is here standing before the Lord this day , saith that he thinks his pride hath been his ruine . I asked him the other day in the prison , what sin it was that he thought in his Conscience God was provoked with him for , so as to leave him to that which hath brought him under this condemnation ? He told me , he thought i● was for his Pride . For he thought much of i● that such an one as He should be a servant , and he some times used such words as these , I am flesh and blood as well as my Master and therefore I know no reason why my Master should not obey me as well us I obey him . Thus did he say , and now we see what his Pride brought him unto , therefore beware of that sin .

And Idleness is a sin that doth bring many to a miserable end at last . I● was one of those ▪ sins which caused thousands in Sodom and G●morrah to dy before their Time in a dreadfull manner . As for one of these poor condemned Creatures Idleness ▪ hath been his bane . He would not diligently follow the calling which he was set in , but lived an Idle vag●ant life , and what is he now come to ? Therefore beware of that sin .

And Disobedience to Parents is a sin that is often punished with untimely death ▪ ( as was partly intimated before ) One of these that are to be executed this day , doth confess that his disobedience to his Parents hath provoked the Lord , to bring this misery upon him . He saith that when he was a Child his Father gave him good Instructions and prayed for him , but he regarded it not . His Father would have had him gone to School , but he would not . His Father would have had him ▪ gone to a Trade but he would not ▪ And after his Father was dead , he would not be subject to those that had the care and charge of him , but ran away from them , and since that from time to time hath run away from them that have been his Masters . And now behold what all this disobedience hath brought him unto . All you disobedient Children that are here ▪ before the Lord this day , hearken to the Word of the Lord . There is a Scripture which methinks should strike Terror and Trembling into your Souls , It is that Prov. 30. 17. The eye that mocketh his Father and despiseth to obey ▪ his Mother , the ravens of the valley shall pick it out , and the young eagles eat it . The eye that mocketh his Father . Stubborness and contempt is to be seen in the eye , therefore the meaning is , that he that is stubborn and rebellious against his Father , shall be so dealt with . Well , a Father hath many times that Wisdome and Authority with him , that the child dare not disobey him , but he careth not for his Mother ; Therefore it is added , He that despiseth to obey his Mother . You Children that disobey your Mothers hearken to this ; ●he ravens are like to feed upon you ; that is to say such sinners shall come to an untimely death , and it may be not have a decent honourable bu●●all . It is to be feared that suc● children ▪ will come to the Gallows , and be hanged up in G●bbe●s for the ravens and e●gles to feed upon them if they will . And it is greatly do , be observed , that the most of those that dy upon the Gallows , do confess that they have been guilty of disobedience to Parents . Yea God is so provoked ▪ with such wicked children , as that he doth sometimes leave them against nature to destroy themselves as a just Punishment of unnaturall disobedience . There was an awfull example of this , which hapned in this Country about fifteen years agoe . I was not my self in this Land at that time , but I have had an account of it from those that knew it . A young man drowned himself , but before he did that , he left a writing directed to Abraham ●arner ●t Ha●tf●●d in Con●ctiou● . his Father , wherein he had such words as these , O Father , I have kept my soul as long as ever I could ; My ruine was , the pride and stubborness of my tender years , which should have been fetcht out with sharp correction ; and evill counsel and company hath been my un●oing . I have a young brother that follows my step● , he is going the wide way to destruction , I beseech you take pains with ▪ him & correct him as well as counsel him , that ●e may not be undone soul and body as well as I. Words to this purpose , did that perishing young man ( though the son of a Godly Father ) write when he was going into eternity . You disobedient ▪ children think of it , and the Lord strike it home to your Hearts .

Drunkenness also , is a sin , that often brings those that are guilty of it to a miserable end at last ▪ A vile creature , it may be when he is drunk , He will goe and drown himself , and his soul goe down into eternall darkness in that condition , or he will commit some horrid sin , for which the sword of Justice will Cut him off . When he is drunk He will commit Adultety , or a Rape it may be . Alass we hear that such a villany hath been Committed of late , in a Plantation not far off ; Or in his drink Hee 'le Kill a man , and so dye before his Time . Therefore beware of that sin .

And Covetousness is a sin , which many Times brings untimely death , It did so upon Achan . The Love of money is is the root of all evill . This hath occasioned many a bloody unnatural Murther . the story is famously known of a man See Clarks Fx●mples the 2d . vol p 458 See also the same story & another like to it in Dr Taylors addition to the Theater of Judgments . p 71. 7● in Cornwell , that his son having been many years absent from him and coming home with a Por●mantue full of silver and Gold , and his Parents not knowing who he was , for the sake of his money conspire together , and in the right time cut his throat , and in the next morning when they knew it was their own son whom they had Murthered , they did in anguish and horror , both of them destroy themselves .

And there is a Tragical story lately printed , of a prosane young man , that K●lled his own Mother that bare him , cut of hopes that when she was dead , He should enjoy her estate . viz. H●nry Jones who was exec●ted at Mo●mouth in Wales March 11. 1671. For which he was put to a most dreadfull Death , weights of iron and stone were layed upon him for two dayes together , until his life and soul were pressed out of his body . This execution was was done just about four years agoe . Therefore take heed and beware of Covetousness .

Also take heed of giving way to passions , revenge , anger and the like . These two condemned creatures , their master corrected them , and as they thought dealt hardly with them , and therefore in wicked passion , wrath , and rage they would take an axe and knock him in the head , for which now they must dye .

Beware also of giving way to Discontents and sullen Melancholy , for that also causeth some to dye before their Time . There is a lamentable story lately Published ; of a woman that in pangs of Melancholy discontent went to distroy her self viz M●gy Cooke who was executed in Smi●h-field in London M●rch 2. 1●69 several times , but was by the Providence of God prevented , but afterwards giving way to those Temptations , and not humbling her self on the account of former miscariages , she embrewed her hands in the blood of her own Child , for the which she was afterwards executed , near to the place where she had committed that unnatural Cruelty and Murther . Therefore let us beware of giving way to the distempered workings of our own spirits .

But thus for the word of General Exh●rtation .

2. Let me more particularly exhort , those that have been wicked overmuch . You that have been guilty of great sins and provocations before the Lord , O Repent and turn to God in Jesus Christ . Return Return O sinners return return . Stop sinners ! stop . goe no further , if you love your lives goe no further . why should you dye before your Time ? It may be Repentance may save your Lives . There have been some that have been guilty of Capital Cr●mes , yet when they have repented and turned to God in Jesus Christ , He hath covered their sins , that the world hath never known of them . However if there be true Repentance , the lives of your souls shall be saved . In some cases Repentance cannot prevent the first death , but it will alwayes ( if sound and sincere ) prevent the second death . Oh! then Turn to God in Jesus Christ .

And I would apply this more Particularly unto these Nicholas Feaver who was born in the Isle of Jersev . and Robert Driver ●ho was born in the Isle of Orkney in Scotland . poor Guilty Condemned Creatures , who are standing in the solemn presence of the Lord , and whose naked souls must by and by appear before God the Judge of all , to receive a Sentence either of eternal Life , or of eternal Death . Hearken you to the word of the Lord this once . I beseech you mind what I say , because you are now come unto your last hour . It may be there are many here this day , that this is the last Sermon , that ever they shall hear , but as for you the thing is Certain , you shall never hear another Sermon ; and therefore let these words sink down into your Ears and Hearts .

A few Considerations and Directions let me spread before you .

Consider . 1. That you have been wicked overmuch . The sin which you are now to dye for is exceeding great , even Murder . The Scripture faith that no Murderer hath eternal life . And there is another Scripture that faith , that Murderers shall have their Part in that Lake which burns with f●re and bri●stone which is the second Death . And no doubt you have been guilty of many other Greivous sins , which have provoked the Lord to leave you unto the Commission of this horrid Murther . This Murther also is exceedingly aggravated in respect of the person whom you have sl●in , even your Master . O how have you risen up in Rebellion against the glorious Image of God , not onely in that you have shed the blood of a man , who was made after the Image of God , but such a man as had peculiar Dominion over you , in that respect you have offered fearfull violence to the sacred Image of the blessed God . So that you have transgrest the fifth and sixth Commandments at once in the highest degree that you could doe . And since your Apprehension , yea Conviction and Condemnation you have told many lies ( at least one of you , it is to be feared both of you ) against your Conscience .

2. Consider that now you must dye before your Time . especially one of you , a poor young creature that hath hardly lived twenty years in this world , and must this day be turned out of it . Yea , both of you dy before your Time . you might according to the ordinary course of nature have lived many a year . You must be cut off by a violent and dreadfull death . For indeed the anger of the Lord would fall upon this whole Country where your sin hath been committed , if you should be suffered to live .

3. Consider , That there is yet a possibility for you to escape the second death . Though your sin be very great , yet God can pardon it . I remember a passage concerning a poor creature that was condemned to dye for wickedness he had been guilty of ( I the rather mention it because he was Country man to one of you ) but when he was See the book called the fullfilling the Scriptures . p. 233. in Prison gave good Hopes of his unfaigned Repentance , and when he came to the place of execution , He had this expression , O! God is a great forgiver , God is a great forgiver , so I say to you in his Name , the Lord is a great Forgiver , It is his Name to forgive iniquity Transgression and sin . Yea and He hath ( upon deep and unfaigned Repentance ) for given those th● have committed this sin which you are now to suffer for ▪ Manasseh shed much innocent blood , yet when he humbled himself greatly , the Lord was entreated for him . There are some in Heaven that were once Bloody sinners . David was delivered from Blood guiltines● Upon his Repentance it was said to him , The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye , As to the second death he did not dye . And Saul ( afterwards Paul ) had once the guilt of blood upon him , And therefore he made his Confession before the Lord , Saying , Lord ; When the blood of thy Martyr Steven was shed , I also was standing by and Consenting to his death . Yea when he did repent and Turn to God in Jesus Christ , God for gave him his Iniquity . Know therefore , that there is Mercy enough with God to Pardon and Save as great sinners as you are .

And know , that Jesus Christ the Son of God , Came to Save the chief of sinners . There is Merit and Righteousness enough in Jesus Christ . Hee was bruised for our Iniquityes , and wounded for our Transgr●ssions . The wounds of Christ can make amends for those wounds which you gave your Master , when you slew him . The Blood of Christ can satisfie for the blood which you have shed . Jesus doth deliver from wrath to come . And he doth not exclude you from salvation by him , if you doe not by Impenitency & Unbelief exclude your selves . Neither can the death you suffer hinder the Salvation of your souls , in case you truly repent and believe . Jesus Christ hath been made a Curse , that so he might redeem from the Curse of the Law . Yea Hee ( the blessed son of God ) was hanged upon a Tree , though Hee never knew any sin only for the sins of his people ; and therefore he hath sanctified all maner of deaths unto those that shall beleive on Him . Oh Consider of it and let it break your Hearts .

4. Consider Presently it will be too late for you to think of these things . when once you are dead , when once your souls are out of your bodyes , it will be too late for you to think of these matters . There is no Repenting in the Grave , there is no Believing in Hell . Behold now is your accepted Time , now is the hour of your Salvation . If you doe not Now accept of Jesus Christ upon his own Terms , you will be undone , and damned to all Eternity .

By way of Direction I shall speak two or three words .

1. Doe what you can that God may have glory by you that little Time that you have to live . Therefore see that you solemnly warn others , ( especially young ones ) to take heed of those evils which your Consciences tell you , have made way for your destruction . And see that you be sincere and ingen●ous in making confession of your sin . The Scripture saith if we confess our sins , that is with a Penitent broken heart , desirous never more to commit them , God is faithfull to forgive them . And ag●in , Hee that Confesseth and forsaketh shall find mercy ▪ but he that hid●th his sin shall not pr●sper . I charge you in the Name of God , as you will answer it by and by before his Judgments seat , that you doe not deny or disowne what you know is Truth . And I urge this the rather , because you have not been so ingenuous in confessing your evill , as God and men have expected from you . You accuse and in●p●a●h one another . The one of you saith , th●t the other Killed his Master , and you only stood by and did not strike one blow , & so doth the other say . You accuse him and he accuseth you . But deceive not your selves , if you deny what you knowns is Truth , though God be most m●rcifull , yet Go● that made you will not have mercy on you ; and though Christ be a Saviour for great sinners , Hee then will not save you . The devill hat● brought your bodyes to ruin and now his great design is to destroy your souls . Hee knoweth if he can Perswade you not to give glory to God by Confessing , he shall have your souls for ever . I tell you truly if you now disown the Truth , when once your souls are out of your bodyes , they shall suffer the vengeance of eternall fire .

2. Look up to God in Jesus Christ , that he would give you Repentance and Faith unfaigned . You cannot convert your selves , but God can doe it , therefore look up to him for that end , and cry mightily to him , ●s for your lives . If the Magistrate should say to yo● ( they may not , they dare not say so ▪ because then the displeasure of God would come upon them & upon this People ) that if you would cry earnestly for your lives , you should have them , O how ●arnest would you be ? Behold , the God of Gods saith to you this day , ( and in his nam● I proclaim it ) that if you seek unto him with all your-Hearts , it is possible that the sentence of eternall death which is upon your souls may be revok●d O then pray for the lives of your souls . I Remember it is storied of a poor woman that being Condemned to dye , as soon as the sentence was past , she fell a crying and shriking in a lamentable manner , the Judge rebuked her , and bad her hold her peace , but she replyed O my lord it is for my life , it is for my life . So I say to you , O cry to the Lord for Grace and for pardoning mercy , It is for the lives of your souls . yea it is for the lives of your Souls .

And further to awaken hereunto ,

3. Think sadly of eternity O Eternity Eternity ! It is an amazing Mentioned by Dr. P●eston in his Sermons of the Attributes . p 165. Meditation . There was a man that said , If I were to endure the wrath of God for a thousand y●ars onely , methinks I could bear it , but when I think of Eternity I am amazed . I beseech you think seriously of this . I might charge you , and I doe so in the Name of God , but I also bese●ch you . Though you are poor , vile , condemned creatures , yet as I said to you in the Prison , so I say in this solem● Audience . I could be content to ly down at your feet , upon Condition I might be Instrumentall of Good to your Souls , so greatly doe I desire ( God is witness ) your Salvation ; Therefore I pray you , for the Lords sake , I pray you for your immortall Souls sake , that you would lay these things to Heart , and we will once more cry unto the Lord , that he would have Mercy and Compassion upon those Precious and Immortal Souls of yours .

Tibi Domine .