IT is none of the least works of a Minister of Christ to disparage sin, and incou­rage holiness, to set Life and death before our Peo­ple, and to present (as much as in us lies) Heaven and Hell to [Page 2]their view, and to perswade them to a wise and speedy choice; that when these Houses of Clay shall be laid in the dust, they may be secured of an Habitation, not made with hands, that is, Eternal with God in the Heavens. The Apostle in this Chapter doth both, in the 10. Verse he tells us what a Draught is pre­pared for the implacable Enemies of Christ: they shall drink off the Wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the Cup of his Indignation, and they shall be tormen­ted with Fire and Brimstone, in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The wicked may drink, roar, and swagger, they may per­secute the Members of Christ, because they dare not so madly venture upon the Eternal displeasure of God, as they do, and sell their precious Souls for a moments joy, and make light of dam­nation: but let them know, that for all these things God will bring them to Judgment; an Eternity of intolerable sorrowes must pay for their short plea­sures. And hence it is the serious Christian, that makes it his business to avoid this dreadful misery, is satis­fied [Page 3]that he doth not act irrationally and madly, if the scorn and contempt of the wicked World doth not frighten him; upon this account he patiently sub­mits to any punishment, rather than he will hazard the loss of his Soul, and be miserable for ever; that word for ever sticks much in his mind, let the wicked laugh and be merry, let them please themselves in his sorrows, he knows 'tis but a little while, and all will be mend­ed, and their minds changed; he is willing to stay for his happiness and joyes, till he comes to another World; and he doth not envy the wicked what they do enjoy, let them make the best of it as long as they can, and boast of their pleasures when they see themselves wrapt up in Flames: The unseen world, which most forget, is always in the Saints eye; and if he may but live happily there, he passeth not if he run thorow reproaches, injuries, and a thousand Deaths, to that glorious and endless life. Here is the reason of the Saints patience, this makes him judge it no folly to keep the Commandements of God, and the faith of Jesus. In the 13. Verse, the Apostle comes to speak a [Page 4]word of encouragement, not only to the suffering Saints of that Age, but for the support of all that should be honoured with such service, as to seal the truths of Christ with their blood. And I heard a Voice from Heaven, say­ing unto me, write bl [...]ssed are the dead which dye in the Lord from h [...]nceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works fol­low them. In the words you may take notice of two parts.

• 1. A Proposition.
• 2. The Confirmation of that Propo­sition.

1. The Proposition; in which we may observe,

• 1. The Predicate, blessed.
• 2. The Subject, the dead.
• 3. The restriction and limitation of the Subject, which dye in the Lord.

2. The Confirmation of this Propo­sition.

• 1. They rest from their labours.
• 2. Their works follow them.
• 3. The Person affirming this, the Spi­rit, which is further cleared.

• 1. By the manner of this Delaration, it was by a voice from Heaven▪
• [Page 5]2. By the specification of the Person to whom it was spoken; saying, unto me.
• 3. By the particular note of Obser­vation, Write.

The Doctrine which I shall take no­tice of from these words, is this.

Doct. That whatever miseries a Saint may meet with in this Life, at Death he shall be happy; or in the words of the Text, That they are blessed which dye in the Lord. In the Prosecution of this Observation; I shall,

• 1. Enquire what it is to dye in the Lord.
• 2. I shall prove that such are blessed.
• 3. I shall shew wherein their happi­ness doth consist.
• 4. I shall make some Application.

1. I shall enquire what it is to dye in the Lord.

1. Neg. They which make it their bu­siness to do what they can against God, while they live, are not like to be bles­sed when they dye. They which live like Devils, are not like to dye like Saints: Are there not a Generation in the World who act for the Devil with all their might; and count all that time lost, which is not spent in his service; which make [Page 6]a jest of Damning, and are as merry within a step of these devouring flames, as if Hell and a Tavern were alike? Do they not carry themselves, as if they could not make hast enough to misery, and make sure enough of Damnation? How do they wound and stab their own Souls, and let flye against the Almighty? How contemptible a thing is Heaven, and how ridiculous is the very name of Holiness to them? They are of the same mind of those, which Job speaks of: Job. 21.14. They say unto God, depart from us; for we desire not the know­ledge of thy ways. And who is the Lord, that I should hearken to him? And if a compassionate Minister of Christ beseech them with all the tendernesse that he can for his Soul, to bethink themselves a little what these things may end in at last, and to consider what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of a living God; how are his perswasions rejected with contempt, and his pitty recompensed with scorn? And may I not say of most wicked Men, they do flye in the Faces of them that would tell them of their danger, and do what they can to deliver them from it? And [Page 7]yet for all this how well are they con­tented with their own condition, and laugh at the godly, as if it were a dan­gerous and mad thing to strive to go to Heaven, and the truest happiness to be miserable for ever? O who would imagine, that any living should be thus lamentably besotted! Tell them of Hell, 'tis as much as their life is worth; they had rather hazard the feeling of it here­after, than bear the hearing of it here. They fear a little disgrace among Men more than the contempt of God: They choose rather to be under the weight of God's wrath, than the least affront from a Man. Talk to them of Glory, Heaven, and a Kingdom, they are light and trivial things with them; they had rather hear of a Whore, a Tavern, or Play; and yet these Monsters must be Sainted, and do more confidently ex­pect a blessed Eternity after a life of wickedness, than some of the dear Chil­dren of God do: but if such as these ever come to Heaven without Repen­tance, then the Word of God is false: Doth not that say, That the wicked shall be turned into Hell?— Tribulation and anguish upon every, one that doth evil, [Page 8]and there is no peace, saith my God to the wicked. The Devil himself may as well expect to shake off his Chains, and be restored to his lost Glory, as they. O be not deceived, as you Sow so you must Reap; do not hope that you may do the Devils work, as long as you can, and that then God should re­ward you with Salvation: no such mat­ter: You may more rationally expect, that God should for your sake pull the Sun out of the Firmament, than that he should remove holiness out of Hea­ven, and bring Hell in its place. If wicked Men will please themselves with their own Delusions, and look for Glo­ry still, they must thank themselves, when they see how infinitely they are disap­pointed; but I leave these as despair­ing to convince them of their folly, till Judgment and Flames make them to understand it.

2. All, that live upon the goodness of God here, are not like to be blessed af­ter Death. There is a vast difference between common and special mercies: many partake richly of God's common bounty, that have not the least interes [...] in his love; God gives this World often [Page 9]times to his greatest Enemies, he gives Glory in an other World, to none but his Friends and Children: Nay, let me speak it freely (I am sure I have Christ and Scripture to warrant what I say) That they which gain this World with their neglect of Heaven, shall at their Death lose both: Many receive tempo­ral mercies, that shall never enjoy Eter­nal. Job 21.9. Luk. 16.25. O how greatly are they mistaken, who think that Earl, Lord Knight, &c. are words of any significancy after Death; that hope that their honours here will procure them any real respect hereafter; that reckon Gold and Silver will go currant in that Country! Many that would be counted Persons of some depth and wisdome, make a World of stir about trifles, that drive a great Trade for that which is next to nothing, and that lay in no bet­ter Provisions, than Gravel, Clay, or Dung, when they are bound for Eter­nity; and yet how do they bless them­selves, and say I am rich, and increased in Goods, and have need of nothing: Soul take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry? They think they make a very wise bargain, when they sell their Con­science, [Page 10]God, and Heaven, for a little of that which some call Riches; not considering that a few Hours experience may make them know, though it may be, not cure this mistake. O that I could but bring my hearers out of this Delusion! O that their apprehensions were but rectified, and that they might know the real worth of things and Per­sons! O that I could but bring down the price of sublunary things, and raise the things of that other World to their true worth! Consider that that holiness, as meanly as you think of it, is the most excellent thing; that that is the greatest Riches, and Man's highest dignity: God knows no difference between a Lord and a Beggar, a Prince and a Subject; He is no respecter of Persons. If there be any difference, it lies here, that God hath more wrath in store for them that had greater ingagements, and better ad­vantages to serve him than other had. I pitty the poor Lords of the World! and I am confident, he that knows the worth of Christ, and the nature of his own Soul, can't much envy them; they swell like Bladders upon Water for a Moment, and God blowes, and where [Page 11]are they? Now indeed they reckon themselves very secure, and their houses are free from fear, neither is the Rod of God upon them, they take the Tim­brel, and Harp, and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ. Job 21. They think them Fools that can spare their Riches, and want their greatness, so they may but have an estate in invisibles, and secure an Inheritance that will last for ever; These are the Men that hate seriousness: and holiness, which is the beauty of Earth and Heaven too, is undervalued by them. And how can they expect san­ctity should be delightful to them here­after, when it is abhorred now? how can they look for Heaven when they dye, when they thought it not worth their minding while they lived? No, no, verily, they have their reward, they have now their good things, and much good may they do them. O let me rather gain Christ at Death, though I loose all besides, than possess Ten Worlds here, and after all lose my Soul. Could the mighty ones of the World, have but one Hours discourse with one of their Brethren in Hell, I believe their Judg­ments would be hugely altered, and [Page 12]they would soon tell them, that Riches and Honours, and whatsoever else most Men do pursue, let it be what it will below Christ, will yield them but little happiness and comfort in another world. Riches profit not in the Day of wrath: Do but read, Luk. 16.19, 25. I am the larger, that if possible, I might prevent mistakes, in matters of Eternal conse­quence.

Thirdly, There are Thousands that seem to have a far better title to this blessedness, that will fall short of it: and they are Professors, that call them­selves by the Name of the Lord. Not all that are called, yea, and esteemed Christians, are like to have any great benefit by Death. To be Christned, and to be Christians are two things: not e­very one that weareth Christ's Livery shall have his Wages. O how many Millions are there that have no better shelter, than a meer Name to themselves, from the wrath of God! Is it not more than possible to hear, read, pray, and to be esteemed a Saint, and yet to mis­carry everlastingly? How many seeming Saints shall gain nothing at Death, but a thorow knowledge of their own folly? [Page 13]And if to know what God's anger is, be an advantage, when there is no esca­ping of it; and if to have their hearts wounded, when there is no Cure to be had, be any profit; and if to be quite freed of Conscience searching Ministers be a happiness when they are out of the reach of their help or pitty; then such may be esteemed blessed: but if all this will but make the Flame hotter, then I leave any serious Person to judg, whether it doth not concern Men and Women to look after better security, than this amounts to. Did you ever well study, Mat. 7.21? I hope you will believe Christ, though you will not me; read that Scripture, and what saith Christ? O consider seriously, that to be an Heir of Glory is no such light mat­ter, as most judge it to be. To be born to a Crown, and a Kingdome, and to have a good title to it, is a dignity in­deed; but a Mad-man in Chains and Rags, may say he is a King, or a Lord. O please not your selves with fansies. Sickness and Death is coming, and then you will know better, whether I had not some reason to be earnest with you in this matter. I am most afraid of the [Page 14]confident Pharisee, that trusts in his poor sorry Prayers, and his own righteous­ness; O that I could but shake him and his hopes, before Death and Judgment doth it. O that I could but perswade him to maintain a jealousie over him­self, and to search and try his Heart, and to bring himself to the Touch­stone, and not to be satisfied, till he findes that he hath got more than ever any Hypocrite yet had, or can have. The best of God's Children are most suspicious of themselves, and afraid of their own deceitful hearts. Do but see how David carrieth it, in Psal. 139. What is his great request, that he must have granted, or he can't be satisfied; Is it not that God would deliver him from mistakes in matters of everlasting consequence? so Psal. 119.80. Pardon this tediousness upon these things, if most of the Professors of the World did not split upon these Rocks, I should pass these things over with silence.

Fourthly, All that dye quietly, are not happy after Death. It's no unusual thing for the wicked to carry their false peace with them to the Grave. I have heard indeed many poor People boast­ing [Page 15]of their deceased Friends, and plea­sing themselves, to think how happy they were, Because they dyed like Lambs. (to use their own expression) Alas, alas, how many thousands are there that dye like Lambs, that are but Swine, and have the Devil's Brand upon their Fore­heads! It's dangerous arguing from peo­ples carriage upon a Death-bed, what their state is in another World; such is the hardness of Mens hearts, so dread­ful the searedness of their Consciences, and so great the subtilty of Satan, that many are carried very quietly to Hell, and fear nothing till they feel; and are not brought to their senses, till unspeak­able horror and anguish doth it: And on the other side, how many of the precious Sons of Zion have seat in a Cloud? how many of the dear Children of God may go out of the World tho­row a painful Death? are not their in­tellectuals sometimes impaired, their reason Clouded, and their Bodyes upon the Rack? and yet in a moment they feel themselves swallowed up of that Glory, and the doleful antecedents of their happiness did but make their rest more sweet, and welcome, and put an [Page 16]accent upon their bliss. The truth of it is, it hath not a little puzled some, as well as David, to construe God's dispensations, to see the wicked dye quietly, Psal. 73.4. and the godly to have a strange Death; but God will short­ly resolve this Riddle: and I think it were no very difficult thing for a serious un­derstanding Man, to give himself con­siderable satisfaction in this business. May not the wicked dye quietly, because his Conscience is quite seared, and he may perswade himself that he hath made an agreement with Death and Hell? may he not hope that there is no such place as Hell; or if there is, that it is tolera­ble? may he not make himself believe, that the Word of God is not true, and invisibles are all but fansies? or that God is so merciful, as that he will not damn him? and many such things the Devil helps his Servants with, that so his ser­vice may not be disparaged, and that he may have the better advantage to tempt others. There is much also in the nature of the Disease; and it may be God may try his own Children with a­cute pains, and let Sathan buffer them, to manifest the excellency of his Power, [Page 17]and their Grace, to try others of his Children, whether for all this they will serve him; and some Persons of admi­rable attainments, and great experien­ces, while in health, may have some considerable Tryals upon a Death-bed, that poor Christians (which were ready to fear, because they had not their en­joyments, that therefore they had no­thing at all) might see that great Saints have their Tryals, as well as they; but I shall be far briefer in other things.

I come now to shew you who they are, that are blessed at their Death, and to give them a brief Description of those which dye in the Lord.

First, They are such, who are made thorowly to understand, that they were sometimes quite dead in sins and tres­passes, that they were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, and strangers to the Covenant of Grace.

Secondly, They are Persons which are convinced of that misery of such a state, and made to know, that if they dye in their sins, they must be buried in Flames.

Thirdly, Ʋpon this they are out of love with their most beloved sins, and count that which was their life, joy, [Page 18]and pleasure, to be a very Death, mise­ry, and Hell, whereupon they set them­selves in good earnest against sin, as the greatest evil in the World; they believe now, That if they live after the Flesh they shall dye, but if through the Spirit they mortifie the deeds of the Flesh, they shall live. Upon this account, they use all the means that they can to get their corruptions weakned, an inward prin­ciple, Divine Life: Now he begins to act them, which is as contrary to Sin, as Heaven to Hell, a Spirit of ingenuity restrains them, How shall they do this, and sin against God? They now see sin in its colours, as it is contrary to the best good, God; they can see its killing and damning Nature, in the Agonies and Sufferings of Christ, and they feel the doleful effects of sin in their Soul and body; both, and upon this account they can say, what have I to do with Vanity any more, Shall I still hug this Serpent? shall I still Sail with this Jonah in my Vessel? and shall I after all this keep this Dalilah in my Bosom? No; but, O that I could hate it Ten Thou­sand times more than I do. There is an enmity raised in the Soul against sin, [Page 19]which can't be satisfied, till it see the Death of Sin; now this is a Person that is fit for Death, and Death, it will (as you shall hear afterwards) do him a World of kindness in shewing him the Heads of all his Enemies.

4. An other quality of this Person, which is like to make such a blessed end, is this, he is one that is dead to the World. Faith hath discovered a better Country to him, it hath spyed that new Jerusalem, and those blessed Regions: and now the Soul thinks the World scarce worthy of a serious thought, or look; he takes himself to be a kind of Prisoner here, and the whole World but a Dungeon, if compared with that state of liberty and glory; he now joyns with David, and says, Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon Earth that I can desire beside thee. This, is the Man that is like to be a gain­er by Death; he who contemns Earth, and makes Heaven his choice, shall ne­ver finde himself a loser.

5. Another property of the Man which shall be blessed at Death, is this, he is one, that takes Christ for life and happiness. Time was indeed, he was of [Page 20]an other mind, sin was his delight, and none so despicable in his Eye, as Christ; but God, in free and rich grace, hath taken away the Scales from his Eyes, and healed him of his miserable blind­ness, and let him see such a loveliness in the Lord Christ, as that now he is able to say, none but Christ, none but Christ; He is altogether lovely. He is now quite out of love with himself, neither his righteousness, nor any thing is lovely now, but Christ; and will not that Soul be blessed, when it comes to have its de­sires accomplished? he that counts no­thing worth the having, except Christ, and for Christ, can't be miserable, when he is lodged safe in his imbraces.

6. He that makes it his business to live to Christ, to him to dye shall be gain. God is often times better, but ne­ver worse than his word: And hath he not made many promises to them that diligently seek him? Hath he not said that their labours shall not be in vain in the Lord? The Christian is running, and he shall at last obtain the Prize, the Crown he fights for, he shall have; fear not Christian, quit thy self bravely, win it and wear it; what though it be wrap­ped [Page 21]up in Cypress? its beauty shall not be Vailed long. What though Death with his cold and dirty hand set it up­on thy head? it will sit as neat, and as fast, as an Almighty hand can make it. What though the Vessel be tost and broke? it shall come safe with its Rich Lading, to the desired Ha [...]b [...]ur. Con­demn not. O you foolish World, these spiritual Merchants, till you know what their returns are, when their burden is deliver'd; but imitate them, till you can finde a more glorious Prize, than Heaven, a better happiness than God can give, and a Kingdom that will last longer, than Eternity: Psal. 63.8. Psal. 90.14.

7. They which are willing (if called to it) to do, or suffer any thing for Christ, shall inherit this blessedness. He that is willing to dye for Christ, shall live as long as Christ lives, in happiness, and rest: 'tis not for nothing that Paul makes no great matter of bonds, scorns at threatnings, and triumpheth in dan­ger; the finishing his course with joy makes all go down sweetly, Acts 20.24. The Primitive Christians were no Sto­icks, and yet with what patience, gra­titude, [Page 22]and joy, did they suffer, what the malice, and wit of Men, and Devils could inflict? and now they enjoy the fruit of their labours, the salvation of their Souls, and that is not all, but they receive their Palms, Robes and Crowns, ye more peculiar badges of God's Cham­pions; Loe, thus shall it be done to the Persons, whom the Lord delighteth to honour! This 'tis to be imprisoned, ba­nished, or dye for Christ. Rejoyce, O ye suffering Saints, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Hea­ven! to you it is given, not only to be­lieve, but also to suffer; this Fire is but to purifie, and to make you Vessels more fit for your Masters use, this dirt cast upon you, is but to scower and make you more clean; this knocking, rubbing, and hewing, is but to furbish and po­lish you, that you may be more stately Pillars, in the Temple of your God. Fear not Men, nor Devils: the greatest hurt that they do you, is to fill your Sailes, and to bring you more speedily to your Port.

8. They which long for the coming of Christ, and their being with him, that can say, I have waited for thy salva­tion, [Page 23]O God, now let thy Servant depart in peace: In a word, that can bear their absence from Christ, only upon those terms, that they may bring honour to him in this life, and perswade Souls to be in love with him, and may be in­strumental for the setting up his King­dom, shaking the Kingdom of Sathan, and weakning the interest of Hell in the World. These, O these are your brave Souls, that are out of Gun-shot: Death can neyer surprize them, they stand always with their Loines girt, and their Lamps burning. And if the Bride­groom should make the Mountains to quake, with the ratling of his Charri­ots, and the Hills to tremble at the pre­sence of his Majesty, and the Heavens themselves to shrivel into nothing, by the glory of his coming, yet they, (O blessed Souls!) and they only would break forth into a Song of Triumph, and Eternal Halleluj [...]hs; Who would not be a Saint? sure none, but a mad­man or a fool: Do the World under­stand what these things mean! Do they indeed believe how much the highest of them all, are below the meanest, and lowest Childe of God? Thus I have [Page 24]shown you who are the Subjects of this blessedness. I know I forget time, but it goes well may you and I get but this blessedness secured, and spend a happy Eternity.

The second thing that I proposed to speak to, was to prove, that such as these are (in spight of Hell) shall be blessed; and because in the fore going discourse, this hath been touched upon, I shall but very briefly run over these things.

First, God saith, they shall be blessed, and therefore they shall; when the great Persecutors have been hunting for their prey, and hope to roast what they have got, and seed themselves with the hopes of the content and pleasure, that they shall enjoy; nay, when they shall beg with tears for the blessing, they shall be frustrated, denyed, cursed, and hear that heart-rending reply, they have got­ten the blessing before you came, 'tis now too late, yea, and they shall be blessed. Might I not heap up a World of promises, the least of which clear a Saints title to this blessed, inheritance? time would fail me, if I should but read [Page 25]one in Forty; what is the meaning of that Es. 57.2. Phil. 1.21. 2 Cor. 5.1. Job 3.17.

2. They feel somewhat of this happi­ness in this World, therefore they shall have it compleated in another. How oft do the Saints feel their Souls transpor­ted with the sense of divine pleasures? How many earnests do they receive of the purchased possessions? How many warm refreshing Raies of Divine love break in upon their Soul, so that they would not exchange one Hours comfort for all the joys that ever the wicked en­joyed, could they all be united in one, and their duration be Eternal? Have I not with much comfort seen some of those triumphing Saints rejoycing, when others would have mourned? Have I not heard them talk of their sweet ex­periences, the very mention of which, is more reviving to a spiritual hearer, than the highest pleasures that the sen­sualist is capable of. Sometimes in pray­er their souls even get into the bosom of God, and the great God and Man have a blessed intercourse, the Soul lets out it self to God, and God lets out his love to the Soul. Sometimes in a [Page 26]meditation the Heart is glowing, and the Fire burns, and ere it is aware, it is lifted above the World, yea, and a­bove it self too: What else is this, but the clear demonstration of the reality of invisibles? Can meer fancies thus transport Men? Must they not believe their own experiences? Can that joy, which is the result of faith and love, and comes in from the promises; and that in a way of duty, and close walking with God, Can that be a delusion? Will the spirit of truth witness to a lye? Will goodness it self put a cheat upon poor Creatures, and that in a matter of such vast consequence, as Eternity? Can we conceive, that he which com­mands us not to deceive our Neigh­bour, should deceive us? Shall any that calls himself a Christian, entertain such blasphemous apprehensions of the bles­sed Jehovah? Well then, if it be so, that Children of God love solid and unexpressible joys, many times even on this side Glory; Doth not this then prove, that hereatter they shall be hap­py, and that beyond the apprehensions of Men, and Tongue of Angels? For the Saint in his greatest dimensions, ful­lest [Page 27]enjoyments, and tallest stature on this side the Grace, is but a Childe, a Dwarf, a Worm, in comparison of what he will be, the next moment after his dissolution: For the proof of this, you may read over these, and other Scri­ptures, Psal. 16.11. Psal. 42.5. Luk. 16.22. 2 Cor. 4.7. Revel. 13.14.

3. May I not bring in the wicked themselves, as witnesses of the Saints happiness, and their own misery, the Saints wisdom, and their folly? what else is the meaning of Balaam's wish? Why should he be so desirous to dye the death of the Saint, and to have his latter end like his, if he were not thorowly con­vinced of this, that holiness were no madness, piety no fancy, and religion no delusion? What is it that makes those, in Mat. 26.8. to cry out so im­portunately; Give us of your Oyl, for our Lamps are gone out. I am perswa­ded, that all the Reprobates in Hell, will one Day justifie the Children of God for their seriousness, and wish a thousand times, that they had had their scornes, losses, torments: It is no unu­sual thing for them, which have to do with dying Persons, to hear them cry­ing [Page 28]out with anguish, when their time is spent, and their sands are run out, O you are happy, O that I were but in the condition of the poorest, and miserablest Saint upon Earth O that I had but prayed with fervency, heard with seriousness, and minded my Soul in good earnest! Happy are they that have not all their work to do in a dying Hour, O happy are they that have some Cordial to comfort them in a time of such distress, O, a Christ, a Christ, ten thousand Worlds now for that Christ, which I despised! These are things we are acquainted with. Well then, our E­nemies themselves being Judges, an Is­raelite indeed is a Person of true worth, and without controversie, his estate is, and shall be comfortable, blessed, and glorious.

4. How great are the absurdities, that else would follow? Would not the De­vil boast that he hath done more for his followers, than Christ hath done for his? Would it not follow that Saints are the most miserable fools in the World? then it would be to no purpose to deny ones self, to fight with Beasts at Ephesus, to bear the contradiction of [Page 29]sinners; then Christ dyed for nothing, or hath done his work by the halves; then there is no credit to be given to the Bible, God is worse than his word, and the Scripture promises are false; then Paul's confidence was madness, and his boasting made void; then all preach­ing is a cheat, and the Ministers of Christ are Impostor [...], and the wicked are in the right: then David would have better reason to say, he hath cleansed his hands in vain, and that his frequent devotions were to no purpose, and his Songs at Mid-night, but the dotages of an ex­travagant fansie, and hours which were spent in Prayer and Meditation, were purely lost. What saist thou to this, O Christian? Would not this be sad news indeed, if all thy hope should come to this? But be of good cheer, this is the doctrine which the Devil and his Mini­sters do preach; as long as God is true you shall not be deceived, as long as he is happy you shall not be miserable, and till Hell hath got above Heaven, you are well enough. Go on therefore resolutely, and let nothing daunt thee, 'tis but yet a little while, and you shall see all this, and more than this a thou­sand [Page 30]times made good to thee. Fear not, 'tis God who hath spoken it, and he commanded his Servant John to write, and Jeave it upon Record, That they which dye in the Lord are blessed, and they shall rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

3. The next thing which I promised to speak to, was, to shew wherein the blessedness of departed Saints doth con­sist; But what work am I now about? Who is sufficient for these things? What Tongue can utter the least part of that Glory? What Heart imagine its trans­cendent excellency? And what Ears can bear it? should such a one as Moses, Enoch, or Elias come sparkling in his Robes, in the habit of a glorified Saint, and should he but tell you what a sight he hath seen, what melody he hears, what imployment he is ingaged in, what possessions he enjoys, where would he endure it? I am perswaded, if in this mortal state, God should let in the Soul the hundreth thousandth part of that Glory, which Saints enjoy in Heaven, it would in a moment sink a Man, and make such Bodies as ours now are wi­ther to dust. I have seen a great many [Page 31]fine things in my time, I have heard of more, but I can easily imagine more than ever all the Princes of the Earth, in their greatest splendour enjoyed; and yet here I am at a loss, and no wonder: For it is beyond the reach of Saints and Angels in Heaven fully to conceive what their own happiness is, and I believe it is no small part of their joy, that they serve a Master, who loveth to out-doe, not only deserts and expectations, but even the imaginations of his Creatures. How then can such a poor Worm as I am, mannage such a work as this is? because I can't say all, must I say no­thing, and pass this over with silence and admiration? because this is a great deep, which our Plummet can't fathom, an Ocean that hath no shoar, shall we therefore never sail in it? God forbid. O may it be my work in time, and to Eternity to praise that infinite, bound­less excellency that is in my God. Though these are matters, which one would think should command attention and affection both, yet if we consult the lives of all, yea the highest experiences of the best, notwithstanding these things are so frequently inculcated, and so pas­sionately [Page 32]recommended to our conside­ration, yet where is the Man or Woman to be found, that lies under the lively impressions of these things: And there­fore I shall think it not impertinent, if I dwell upon that an Hour, which will be the subject of your Meditation, and Foundation of your comfort, if ever you understand what Christianity in the life of it means. This only by the by, a little to quicken your attention. I come now to my business, to shew you wherein the Saints happiness after death consists.

• 1. It consists in a full everlasting free­dom from evil, or any imperfection.
• 2. It consists in a compleat, perfect, and eternal enjoyment of all the good that our natures are capable of.

First, It consists in a full and ever­lasting freedom from evil, or any im­perfection. And here I shall insist upon some of those evils and imperfections, which a Child of God shall be freed from, as soon as ever Death hath let the Soul out of the Body.

First, The Saint is free from all sin. The Bolts shall be knockt off, the Prison walls broke down, and the poor Cap­tive [Page 33]set at liberty. O blessed Jubilee! How glad would Paul have been, if when he cryed out in such an agony: O wretched Man, who shall de­liver me? if he had heard a voice from Heaven saying, thy groans have pierced the Clouds, thy Prayer hath reached the Heavens, thy Petitions shall be granted immediately, would not this have been grateful news. When before a few days be at an end, this shall be the condition of every one of God's People. Now indeed if you lissen to their Closets, you should hear how dolefully they bemoan their condition, if you follow them into their Families, what is it that they would most desire of God? is it not freedom from sin? what complaints do they make of themselves, that there should be so great an unsutableness in them to God, that their hearts are unsensible of the worth of divine things, that they should have so little love to the Lord Christ, and be so little ta­ken with the kindness of the Redeemer; How weak and faint, how cold and dull in duty? how ready to betray their Lord, how cowardly in the cause of God? But death will for ever silence these complaints, death tares off Joshua's rags and presents him before the Lord without spot or wrinckle, or any such thing; sin indeed ac­companyeth the ungodly into another World, he rests from his pleasures, and his wicked works follow him: but it is far otherwise with the god­ly, sin was his burden, and Death shall unload [...]im; sin shall be confined to Hell, Heaven enter­ [...]ains no such deformity: This Tyrant shall no more inslave any of Christ's subjects. The house of Saul, and the house of David shall no longer [...]ontend, that bloody conflict between the flesh [Page 34]and spirit shall then be determined by a final Victory, then the Soul will say, farewell my hard heart, farewell unbelief, farewell ingratitude; then thou shalt never entertain an unkind thought of God more; the lame and the blinde, and the J [...]busites shall be smitten when King David comes to make his Palace in Zion, thy sins must dye when the Lord cometh to take the full possession of this Fort: Royal confession of sin shall short­ly be needless; no darkness shall cloud the un­derstanding, no perversness the will, no disor­derliness in the affections, no treachery in the memory; the Eyes shall be better employed than in beholding of vanity, the Eares shall not be locked against truth, the Hands far from vio­lence, the Tongue from deceit, and the Feet from walking in ways of wickedness. And seems this a light matter to you who have gone bowed all your dayes under the pressure of sin; is it no­thing to you to have all your iniquities done a­way as a Cloud, and your transgressions as a thick Cloud? Thus see what a kindness that for­midable enemy doth to all the subjects of Christ's Kingdom; what prayers, teares, and groans did gradually, it doth at one blow. Thus the oppres­sed is delivered, the mourner made to rejoyce, and the great make-bate between God and the Soul, for ever discarded, and turned out of Doors. Eph. 5.27. Es. 44.22.

2. When a Christian ay [...]th, he shall be freed from all the temptations of Sathan. Death sets the Soul out of the Devils reach; this Angel hath nothing to do in Heaven, this Serpent shall not come into the higher Paradise, nor Sathan creep into this Eden: Now indeed he goes up [Page 35]and down like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour, novv he sets his Ginnes every vvhere to catch the unvvary Christian: he useth his stratagems to surprize them, but then this adversary shall be trod under Foot, his Fiery Darts shall be quenched, and his designes broken. O happy Day, vvhen will it come! vvhen the Devil shall be as unlikely to tempt, as our hearts to close: vvhen vve are got once safe to rest, the Devil shall as easily shake God's Throne, as our happiness. Death turns the Key, Bolts and Bars this Enemy out; then, O then thou shalt see this Pharaoh cast dead on the shore, and for ever dis­abled from making any resistance against thee, or in the least disturbing thy peace. Rev. 20.10.

3. The blessedness of the People of God consist­eth in their being freed from the frownes and flatteries of the World. In life time thou art fain to fight thy way to peace, to dispute every step thou goest, and canst never have a quiet Hour vvhile thou hast such ill Neighbours: There is an old quarrel between the Seed of the Woman, and the Serpent, and the enmity is radicated, and the [...]end can be cooled with nothing but Death. Chri­stian, expect not as long as any of that Cainis [...] Generation breath, that thou shouldest be long [...]cure, In the World you shall have tribulation, [...]ut be of good cheer, Christ hath overcome the World, Joh. 16.33. What though they speak [...]eat words, Prison, Halters, Faggot? Thou shalt [...]e long ride in state to glory, and then let them [...] their worst: When thou art in Heaven, they [...]ay curse and increase their own misery, but [...]ey shall not in the least diminish thy tranquillity. [...]d as for their flatteries, they shall signifie no­thing, [Page 36]thing, the beauty of this inseriour World will be darkned by the brightness of that Light which Death leads thee into; its excellencies will be quite eclipsed, its allurements will lose their po­wer. Who can choose but contemn the Earth▪ that knows what Heaven meaneth? O how low an esteem have the most experienced Men here o [...] the World! Honours and riches are accounted very inconsiderable things to them which under­stand the difference between finite and infinite the disproportion between time and Eternity Death bloweth the dust out of our eyes, it pluck [...] off the Vail, and shews one quickly the glory o [...] both Worlds: and so it is not lest long to deter­mine, which is to be preferred, dross or silver brass or gold, a dunghil or a Palace: there wi [...] be no thought of returning to Egypt or Goshe [...] either in them which know the fruitfulness of th [...] spiritual Canaan, the accommodations of the ne [...] Jerusalem, the pleasure of the holy Court.

4. At Death he shall rest from all his pains there is no fear of sickness, sorrowes, and ach [...] The Stone, Gout, and Plague are Distempers th [...] none labour with there: that Aire is clear, an [...] sin which infecteth other places, never got foot­ing there; they that scarce know what a Day [...] ease now means shall then forget their sorrow their constitutions shall be mended, their craz [...] Bodies, that needed to be propped up by A [...] have now no need of such helps: the lame sha [...] leap, the blinde see, the weak shall be strong, th [...] crooked strait, they which were in deaths oft sha [...] be never in danger. O happy alteration! th [...] Grave will refine and alter our Bodies, and the [...] shall there bury all imperfections, and this mort [...] [Page 37]shall put on immortality, and this corruptible in­corruption. There the weary shall be at rest. Esa. 61.3. & 33.24. & 60.18. Job 3.17.

5. The blessedness of the deceased Saints consist­e [...]h in their perfect freedome from all wants, and fear of want. Here they have their daily want, and in the sweat of their brows they must eat their Bread. The World in its best estate is made up of vanities and troubles. How much need have we of the help of our fellow-creatures? we can't live without the use of their bodies and lives: we want their service to till our Grounds, and to carry our weak Bodyes, that can some­times scarce go under their own burden. What shift could we make, if the influences of the Sun Moon and Stars were suspended? what lamen­table complaint should we make, if God should seal up the Fountains of Water? how soon should we faint, if he should make the Heavens as Iron, and the Earth as brass? What Element can we want, what Creature could we well spare? But the time is coming, that Day will shortly begin, whose brightness will make the Sun dark, and the Moon to disappear, and all the Stars to leave their Spheres as useless. O unbelief, how mise­rably dost thou rob us of the comforts, which the very fore-thoughts of that hour might bring in! Dwell O my trembling Soul upon the Meditation of these things. Is there no truth nor weight in [...]hose Scriptures? Es. 60.19. Es. 21.29. Give in thy Answer. Why then art thou cast down O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait up­on the Lord, and be of good courage, wait I say upon the Lord.

6. This happy Man shall be quite freed of [Page 38]whatsoever may argue an imperfect state. Some of those very graces that are now so useful and necessary, when their work is done, shall be laid aside as useless, I mean Faith, Hope, Patience, de­sire; all which speak something of imperfection, shall then be swallowed up of love. They now help to lead the Soul out of Egypt, conduct tho­row the red Sea, and Wilderness, and send Spices into Canaan, and bring good tidings out of that Land, they see Sihon, Og, and Amaleck discom­fitted, and their Power broken, they go to the Borders of the promised Land: nay, they get up to Pisga, and upon Mount Nebo, there they bid the Soul farewell. Faith, like a skilful Pilot, keeps close to the Ship, till it see it out of danger. Faith, like loyal Barzillai, brings in abundant pro­visions for the Soul, in all its streights, and comes with it to the banks of Jordan, to the brink o [...] eternity; but there, there it takes its final leave, and sends over young Chimham to wait upon the King at Jerusalem, it sends love over into Heaven t [...] dwell there with the Lord for ever. O blessed state, when faith shall be swallowed up of sight. Here we live by faith, and not by sense or sight in glory we shall live by sense and sight, and not by faith. The shaddow shall vanish when the sub­stance is come; hope, patience, desire, and fear shall all pass away, and be swallowed up with an eternal fruition, possession, and security. Happy are the People that are in such a case, their clouds are quite blown over, they need neither Wind or Sails, now they are safe landed. What think you now of a Child of God, is it worth the while to be religious, is holiness a folly now? and yet this is not all, come a little further, and I [Page 39]will shew you greater things still. All this is bu [...] the privative part of their happiness. I come now to touch a little upon the positive part; but what an Ocean am I now lanching into, who can tell all the priviledges of a Citizen of Zion, what Pen can describe the honour and dignities of the Sons of God? But that I may heighten your spi­rits, and a little antedate your comforts, I shall in the next place shew something of the positive part.

2. The blessedness of those which dye in the Lord, consists positively,

First in this, that they shall enter into the So­ciety of the Angels, they shall leave any longer conversing with mortals, and, instead of weeping friends, see themselves compassed with singing Angels. How do you think that Lazarus was affected, who instead of Beggars, Crippels, and Dogs, had a Guard of Angels waiting upon him? What an extasy of joy was he surprized vvith, Luk. 16.22. This honour have all the Saints. We think the sight of a King, the look of a Prince, the company of a Lord a great matter: what are they, it compared with the least of the Captains of the Lord's Host? How vast is the difference between Flesh and Spirit? and yet this favour the Lord is pleased to confer upon the least of his Children. And how glad are the An­gels themselves of the society of the poorest Saint? they are glad even here to be doing offices of love for them, many a danger they delivered them from, many a mercy they conveyed from their Father to them; but these earthly Bodyes were scarce capable of communications with such noble and spiritual Creatures, but at Death they [Page 40]shall know their old friends and fellow-servants, and bless God with them, and for them for ever. Heb. 12.22. And these Chariots and Horsemen of Israel shall carry up Joseph to his Fathers House, and there the Sons of God shall shout for joy. Time was, the sight of an Angel would make a Saint tremble, but then it shall make them to Triumph: and what stories will they tell them, of the providences of God toward them, and joyn with them in the high praises of his goodness and love? But all this is but little to what follows.

2. At Death, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness. How will they in a moment see themselves as white as Snow? how glorious shall the Kings Daughter be, when her beauty is perfect, how lovelily will she look, when she's clad with innocent purity, how excellent when her royal Husband the Lord Christ shall be infi­nitely taken with her? Will he not then say, thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon my Spouse, with me from Lebanon, from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons Dens, from the Mountains of Leopards. Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse, thou with one Chain of thy Neck: How fair is thy love, my Sister, my Spouse? &c. Cant. 4.7, 8, 9, 10. If the Lord see so much beauty here in his Church, what will he do hereafter, when he shall have wash'd away all her defilements, and taken out her stains, and have decked her with his Jewels, and put on her Wedding Garment? That Day is coming, O my soul! when will the [Page 41]shaddows flee away, when will Days and Nights be all at an end, when will time be spent, when shall the Curtain be drawn? O that, that's the place! thou shalt then love that precious Jesus, with a Seraphick and Angel-like love, thou wilt then as much delight and rejoyce in him, as Abra­ham, David, and Paul did. Thy drowsie Soul shall be as nimble and active in the service of thy great Maker, as Enoch and Elias; thou shalt praise him Day and Night, and be no more weary than the Angels themselves: thou shalt perfectly understand the vvill of God, and rea­dily obey it: thou shalt be holy as God is holy. And what vvould you now give for such a frame? hovv glad vvould you be to feel a connaturality to divine imployments, hovv happy vvould you think your selves, if your heart vvere alvvayes as God vvould have it? Is it not for this, that you fast and pray? Is it not for this, that you hear, read, and meditate? Is not this the end of Sacraments? Well, be of good cheer, in Mount Zion there shall be deliverance and holiness: Obed. 17. And is all this nothing, seemeth it still a small priviledge to be a Child of God, and like our Father? vvho that understands this vvould not bid Death vvelcome, and say novv Grave do thy vvorst? Ask Paul, and he vvill tell you, that upon this account he groans: enquire of David, and he vvill let you understand, that he never expects satisfaction, till he avvake vvith God's likeness. Psal. 17.

3. Another thing vvherein the blessedness of a Christian at Death lyes, is this, the sight of Christ. What can be more desired by a Child of God, than to behold and enjoy him, by vvhom [Page 42]all the mercies we have, and all that we expect, slow in to us, Eph. 1.11. That good old Saint, Luk. 2.30. thought it a Heaven upon Earth to see him, though his Majesty was vailed, and the brightness of his glory wrapped up, and covered by his humanity, he doth sing a Requiem to his Soul, and say, Now let thy Servant depart in peace, for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation. How were Peter, James, and John, affected at his transfiguration, Mat. 17 2. What an admirable frame doth the Spouse seem to be in, when she saw only the shadow and back-parts of this be­loved one, Cant. 5.16. She can't tell when to have done commending of him. But all this is but a small thing, compared to the sight which they shall see, when their graces shall be com­pleat, and their Soul like him; and then shall they behold the King in his beauty; no longer the con­tempt and scorn of the World, no longer in po­verty and want, no longer crucified and rejected; but Jesus, the express Image of his Father, and the brightness of his glory, accompanyed with Millions of Angels, all at his command, and yet for all this, casting a gracious Eye upon them; then shall the Soul behold him face to face, who did, and suffered such wonderful things for it; 'twas he that came out of his Fathers bosome, 'twas he that stept out of his Throne, and put off his Robes, that came leaping over the Mountains, and skipping over the Hills, running thorow a thousand difficulties, that he might pluck thee out of thy misery, and deliver thee out of the paw of the Lyon, and the Bear, that he might redeem thee from the power of Sin, Death, and Hell. How will the Heavens eccho with Songs of joy, [Page 43]when the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, shall come to dwell with her Husband for ever? Isay 33.17. Christ is the desire of Nations, the joy of An­gels, the delight of the Father, and he in whom he is well pleased. What solace then must that Soul be filled with, that hath the possession of him to all Eternity; Is not his love better than wine, and a look of his countenance to be preferred be­fore Corn and Oyl? Is not his kindness to be va­lued above life it self? What meanest thou then O my Soul, that thou dost so dread his coming? Why art thou so loath to be with him? Why art thou afraid of the enjoyment of him? Will thy Redeemer make thee a slave, hath Heaven chan­ged his Nature, and made him less desirable? Will thy Saviour make thee miserable? Awake then, O ye Saints, and stand a tip-toe, wait, watch, and long till thou see him, who alone can fill thy Soul! fight, strive, and run, till you enjoy. One smile of his, one look of his love, is worth the pleasures of ten Worlds: where is thy heart, where are thy desires, what's become of thy love? if Christ doth not affect, draw, and fire thee, what will? but when thou shalt see Christ indeed, his very looks will so warm thy Soul, that thou shalt in a moment feel a divine flame, which shall never be extinguished, as long as Christ, the object of thy love, shall live: the sight of Christ will put new life into thy Soul, and make thy love and joy fresh for ever; this is he, O my Soul, that was wounded, that thou mightest be healed; this is he who was Crowned vvith Thorns, that thou mightest be Crovvned vvith Glory; this, this is he that dyed, that thou mightest live. Is not all the Glory of Hea­ven [Page 44]vvrapped up in him? Are not the Treasures of divine kindness, which vvere sometimes hid in him, novv opened? Tell me now, O my soul, is there any in tvvo Worlds comparable to him? Was not that he that sheltered thee from the storms of God's vvrath? Was not that precious Body, the Shield vvhich blunted the Svvord of Justice, and kept the Arrovves of the Almighty from doing dreadful execution upon thee, an E­nemy, Traytor, and Rebel? Was it not he that laid dovvn the price, that bought thy pardon, that purchased this Inheritance? vvas it not he that fed thee vvith his Body, that broached his heart blood, to quench the thirst of thy Soul, the lusts of thy heart, and the flames of God's indignation? Look upon him, is he not made up of love? I see now, it is not for nothing, that the Virgins did love him, it was not vvithout good reason, that the Spouse vvas sick; it vvas not vvithout very good cause, that the Saints did so long to be vvith him; to be with him did I say? vvho that hears of him, can choose but vvish to see him, vvho that sees him, can live without him, who that lives vvith him can leave him? What mean the World? Sure they are dead, blind, or mad: but vvhere am I now? This is a subject so svveet, that I can't tell hovv to make an end, O that I might see, knovv, and enjoy! look dear Jesus upon me, and let me go, and tell the World thy beauties, let me every day have a little sight of thee, that I may commend thee a thousand times more feelingly, and that I may command the affections of all that hear of thee, that nothing but thy love may serve their turns. Pardon me, that this admirable one hath [Page 45]dravvn out my thoughts so largely. If you can but love after all this, and see him when you dye with comfort, you will say, I were too short in his praises, and too superficial in his commenda­tions, and that the half was not told you.

4. The blessedness of departed Saints lies in this, that they shall meet with all the Children of God, and have communion with the spirits of the just, made perfect. Thou shalt then meet thy best friends, whose company was so warming, whose words were so incouraging, whose lives did so much command Religion, their Faces did then shine, their conversation was in Heaven: but O what an alteration is there in them for the bet­ter! their Souls are now like Christ, nothing but grace, love, and praise: no difference in judg­ment, no pride or passion, nothing that offends. And how vvill they vvelcome you to their Fa­thers House, you that took sweet counsel toge­ther, that went to the House of God, that talk'd of that glory, how glad will you be, when you meet in it? Nay, Death will bring you acquainted with all these famous Worthies, of whom the World was not worthy, the noble Champions of Christ, which thought not their lives dear to them, so they might but finish their course with joy: this Porter opens the Door, and lets the Saints Soul into that Palace, where all the Favou­rites of that great Prince reside; and thou shalt stand also with them upon Mount Zion, in the presence of that Mighty King, and shalt behold, and live in his glory for ever: And is all this in­considerable? What would I give to see Enoch, that walked with God? How glad should I be to be acquainted with Elias? how joyful, if I might [Page 46]have some discourse with Paul? Would it not make one couragious in the cause of God, if one could hear Daniel, or the Three Children tell the story of their deliverance? How should one be pleased to have it from the Mouth of Moses, Joshuah, and Caleb. what God did for Israel in the Fields of Ham, the Red-Sea, and the Wilder­ness? and how he brought them into the Land of Canaan; hovv do you think you should be af­fected at such things as these? vvhy? as formi­dable as Death looks, it's he that brings us to the speech of all these. How loath are we novv to part, when a knot of us have got together, to talk about the things of another World? are not the Saints the excellent ones, in whom is our delight? is not the empty discourse of the unex­perienced World tedious, and their Company a burden? Why? Heaven hath in it none but Saints, and Angels, and the blessed God. Is not that Company indeed? and all their work will be to admire, praise, and love God, and to take infinite delight, and complacency in him to all E­ternity. O what acclamations of joy vvill there be, vvhen all the Children of God shall meet to­gether, vvithout fear of being disturbed by the Antichristian and Cainish brood! when they meet, and never part, but joyn in Hallelujahs for ever. That, that's the melody, vvhen a Quire of ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels shall sing an Eternal Song, and the hundred and forty and four thousand, and that innumerable Company, out of all Nations, Tongues, and Kindreds, shall ansvver, saying, Blessing, honour, glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Rev. 5.13. Luk. [Page 47]13.28, 29. Heb. 11.22. Eph. 2.19.

5. An other thing, wherein the blessedness of the Saints departed consists, is, that then all their Prayers shall be sully answered, their desires sa­tisfied, and hopes enjoyed. They now oft, with sorrow, hear the reproaches of the wicked, who are ready to ask them, vvhere is their God? vvhat is become of their sasts, tears, and groans, to vvhat purpose do they afflict themselves? what profit is it for them to call upon God? what be­nefit is there in serving the Almighty? The wick­ed boast of their hearts desire, and are ready to sleight Religion, as a useless and contemptible thing. But is there not a time a coming, vvhen the godly may ask them, vvhat profit they have novv in their pleasures, vvhat comfort in their greatness, what fruit of all their labours? and with unspeakable satisfaction, produce their Crown, and say, This, this was the prize that we contended for; this was the reward that vve had in our Eye, this was the glory and honour which we so highly valued; This is our God in whom we have trusted, Es. 25.9. The Saints shall then see, that it was not in vain to seek, knock, and wait; then they shall understand, that nothing was lost, which was spent for their Souls and Heaven: they shall shortly know, that the poorest hearty groan was heard, the quickest e­jaculations were not unobserved, and that the vveakest sincere Prayers were able to pierce the Heavens. O who would not serve such a Ma­ster, who can't forget any of his! nay, the Lord will infinitely out-do their requests, and give them more than their Tongue; could ask, and mindes conceive. This is the portion of them that [Page 48]seek thee, that seek thy face, O Jacob.

6. At Death, the Believer shall be possessed of God, and know what the beatifical Vision means: and if you would be better satisfied what this is, my request is, that you would live holily, and go, and see. And if after a sight and sense of this in­comprehensible glory, you finde that I have de­ceived you, by making you to over-value it, I am contented to bear the blame of an Impostor. I am here but brief, because I must confess my Meditations are now at a loss, and silence, and a­stonishment must speak the rest.

7. That which is no small addition to a Saints happiness is this, that there is no fear of losing of it; his Enemies can't rob him, for they are all safe enough, and his Treasure is locked up there, where neither Moth, nor Rust can corrupt, nor Thieves break thorow, and steal; the Chri­stian may then rejoyce over his Enemy, and say, vvho shall separate me from the love of God? they that are safe in Heaven, need not to enter­tain any fears of losing their Inheritance. If God that made Heaven, and brought them to it, can secure them, if Christ that bought it for them, can make good his purchase, if all challenges are laid aside, they are vvell enough; thy house shall not be shaken, thy comforts are durable, and the lease of thy Inheritance runs parallel with the life of God, and must not expire till Eternity be spent. Rom. 8.33. Heb. 13.5. If. 54 10. Is. 35. last.

8. The last thing that I shall mention, wherein the happiness of the Dead, that dye in the Lord, consists, is in the full and joyful assurance of a glorious Resurrection, and acquaittance at the day [Page 49]of Judgment. Their Bodies are the sacred Tem­ples wherein God did dwell, they are not there­fore to be buried in forgetfulness, but shall be reserved as Jewels in a Cabinet, and at the Re­surrection, they shall be furbushed, and set in Glory; the very Dust of the Saints is precious, and those very Members, that were assistant to the Soul, in the Worship of God, shall partake of its Glory; and upon this account, the People of God dye in faith, that their Bodies and Souls shall have a blessed Meeting; upon this account, believers weep not at the Interment of their Christian brethren, as those which have no hope, but the thoughts of a future meeting swallows up the grief of present parting; they understand that it would be a piece of unkindness to be grieved at their happiness, and that it speaks too much self-love, and too great a disbelief of their unseen glory, and too much desire, that our wills should be done before God's. What a deal of sorrow would the sound belief of the reality of invisibles prevent? With what chearfulness might the dear Children of God part, when they think how certainly, and speedily they shall see one another again, never to part more. If the Doctrine of the Resurrection were but better un­derstood, if the Grave were but looked upon, as a Chamber to rest in, and if faith could but take Death to be but an undressing, to put on better Raiment, how contentedly then should we be unclothed, that we might be clothed with im­mortality: And why seems it a thing incredible, that the Body should rise again? Is it a thing in­credible, that he which made a World out of no­thing, [Page 50]should raise up our [...]feless Dust, and scat­tered Bones? Is any thing too hard for the Al­mighty? Was he put to it, when he made Man out of a lump o [...] Clay? Is it beyond his power to raise Children to Abraham out of the very Stones? Can nothing be acted by an Omnipo­tent Agent, but it must first be forged in our brains? Shall God indeed come and bow to us, and wisdome ask counsel of folly, how he should manage his affairs? Doth not God every Day do as great wonders, as this? and hath not he given our [...]aith very considerable helps in this matter? Doth not his Yearly providences preach the truth of this Doctrine? What Farmer thinks his Seed lost, when it's buried under the Clods, when the Winter hath disrobed the Medowes, and covered them with a white Mantle, will you therefore conclude they shall never be dressed a­gain with their Greens, and decked with their Flowers? but it all this signify nothing, what do you think of what God hath done already? was Lazarus his Resurrection a cheat? and were the Evangelists mistaken, which tell us of the rising of many of the Saints, and that they went into the holy City? Is Christ still in the Grave? and if these things be otherwise, why should not that which hath been, be again: What? hath God let power than he bad: Is his Arm weaker than it was? Is the Grave too strong for him? And are the Doors of it so fast locked, that his Key can't open them? Did Christ promise more than he could make good, when he said, I will raise them up at the last Day. O unbelief! how dost thou spoyl my comforts, and daunt my courage, [Page 51]truth can't lye, the Almighty can't be weak, God is still like himself. And if the case be so, what a good condition is the dead Saint in? his life is [...]nd with Christ, and when Christ, who is his life, shall appear, he also shall appear with him in Glory; And what kind of Body will this be? when it shall be l [...]k [...] the glorious Body of Christ; perfect, active, unmortal. Look up to the Sky, do you see how bright that Body is, which light­en, the whole World, how hastily that Cham­pion runs to finish his appointed course? vvhy that cold and dead Body shall ere long be as glo­rious, as the Sun in its strength, and as lively in its motions? How castly will it mount into the Aire to meet the Lord in the Clouds? how actively will it pass from one side of the Heavens to ano­ther, with as much expedition, as it shall desire? how readily will it run at the command of its great Master, and keep pace with those winged Messengers the Angels, they shall be no longer such heavy, dull pieces of Clay, and bundles of Diseases, but when they are called out of their Bed, they shall be refreshed abundantly, and with joy meet their Souls, and be acted by them. O methinks what kind of greeting will these two old Companions have, when they see one ano­ther in an other World; what strange salutations will they give each other. Will not the Soul say [...]o the Body, where hadst thou, O my friend, [...]hat glorious splendor? who clothed thee in so [...]ovely a dress? how camest thou by that Majesty [...]nd beauty? Art thou that Body which wert [...]ont to bear me company to the House of God, [...]re those the Eyes that wept so oft? Are those [Page 52]the Feet which travelled so many miles to hear the World. O excellent alteration! well, now you see that your pains was not altogether lost, and as for me, I have beheld the glory of our royal Bridegroom, I have viewed his Chambers, and have lodged in his bosom, ever since you and I parted, and I have found that he hath made good all his promises to a tittle. I had no sooner parted from thee, but he sent his Angels for me, and they brought me with joy into his Pavilian, and there did I see him com­posed with millions of such Courtiers, and all our old friends I saw there; and O such joy, happiness, and pleasure is unspeakable; but what sound is that which I hear, Is it not the Voice of the Arch Angel? we are com­manded away; Who is that, do you think that rides in such state, with so great a Train after him? who sits upon that Throne; hark, hark, he calls you, make haste, make haste a­way.— Come you blessed of my Father enter now into your Masters joy: Dwell in the Mansions that I have prepared, possess th [...] Inheritance that I have given you: You ar [...] mine, and I am yours, I have betrothed you to my self long since, and now the marriag [...] Day is come, and I take you to be my Spou [...] for ever. Before my Father, and these m [...] Servants, I take you to be my wedded Wif [...] for ever: and I do now for ever acquit you from all offences, they shall never be remem­bred any more; I invest you with the sam [...] glory that I possess, I indow you with all th [...] Riches of my Kingdome, I will remove what­soever [Page 53]may offend you; look how your Ene­mies tremble, I have already vindicated you from all those false imputations, which their malice did cast upon you, I have silenced your accusers, and for ever stopped the Mouths of their great adversaries, and they shall imme­diately be removed out of their sight, and pay dearly for all their abuses. Justice, call those Prisoners to the Bar.— Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And now my beloved, the Cloud is quite gone; come now into my Armes, I will never frown more, come away my love, my Dove, my undefi­led, and rejoyce in my love, you and I will never part more; what I have is yours, I am well pleased in my choice, my Father loves you, as I do; you shall be where I am, and have the same pleasures that I have, and live as I do to Eternity. Amen, hallelujah, even so come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Mat. 26.81, &c. John 17.24. Rev. 21.9, &c. 1 Cor. 15.33, 54. Daniel 12.2, 3. Mal. 8.16, 17 Mal. 4.1. 1 Thes. 4.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. And is not this a sufficient re­ward, for those poor services, which the be­liever doth perform, while he lives upon the Earth? Is there nothing in all this? Seem­eth it to you a small matter to be free from sin? Is it no favour to be secured from Sa­ [...]han? Is not that a desirable place, vvherein there is so much glory, that the World in its best dress, looks like a deform'd ugly thing [...]o it? Who would not be glad to have all [Page 54]Diseases cured, pains removed, and wants sup­plied? Will not that be a Day of comfort indeed? when Faith shall be ended in sight▪ hope in enjoyment, desire in a delightful and Eternal fruition? vvhen patience shall have done all its work, when an everlasting Jubi­lee shall put a period to all sorrows? Is it no honour to be conveyed into Heaven by a Guard of Angels? Do you count it an in­considerable favour to see King Jesus in his Throne? Have you no desire to be with all your good friends, and to know all the Fa­vourites of Heaven? Would you not reckon it a great mercy, to have all your Prayers answered to the full? Will there be no plea­sure in the beatifical Vision? Would not all this be the more considerable, if it might last alwayes? Is it no satisfaction to you, to know that your Body shall be raised, like Christ's Body? and that your Body and Soul shall be publickly acquitted, owned, and bles­sed before the great Court: and after this, live in the same glory that Christ lives in: If all this be worth the having, then the de­parted Saint is no loser, and we may well say, Blessed are the Dead which dye in the Lord.

Thus I have shewed who are they which dye in the Lord; and proved that such are blessed, and shewed where­in their blessedness doth consist. I now come to make some Improvement of this Doctrine.

USE I First, by way of Information; that holi­ness is no such silly thing, as the World thinks it to be: Sure, if there be any thing in rest, happiness, and glory, then the Saint scarce de­served the imputation of Fanaticisme: They which have received their Wages, vvill say, that the service of God is not unprofitable, and they finde themselves to be no loosers, though credit, estate, and blood were spent in the cause of Christ: Should you ask them, who, thorow may Tribulations, have entred into the Kingdom of Heaven? Whether they repent of their diligence for Heaven, whether God hath not paid them double for their self-denyal, losses, and kindnesses? VVould they not cry out truly, God is good to Is­rael, how great is that Treasure, that is laid up for them that fear him? Never let any grutch to serve God cheerfully, for verily he is a rewarder of them which diligently seek him.

USE II If the Saint be so happy in another World, then let us all examine, whether we are in the number of those Persons, for whom such things are prepared. Consider sirs, that this is not like to be every Mans portion, all Men and Women are not Kings and Queens, nor all the Sons of Adam Heirs of such an Inheritance; [Page 56]few run so as to obtain, few fight so as to conquer, and get the Field, few act, as if this blessedness were worth the minding; and let me tell you, Heaven is not got with a vvet Finger, most do their work by the halves, and though the Spirit move them, the Word, providence, call them, the Ministers beseech them, yet all will not do; they will not be perswaded, but a few lazy wishes will do, as well as all the seriousness in the World, and thus they will put things to the venture, and count a hazard, in the matters of their Souls and Eternity, but a trivial thing: VVe can't for our lives get Men to be in good earnest, but they will bless themselves, though God curse them; and take it for granted, that all is well, when God knows they are in as sad a condition, as can well be imagined on this side of Damnation. We tell them that most mistake, and that mistake here is the most de­plorable; and yet still Men are asleep; and what if this should be thy condition, O Sin­ner, that comest hither for fashion sake, and sits there very trim and cheary? VVhat sayst thou Man, art provided for Eternity? What title hast thou to glory? Dost thou knovv what it means to be convinced of sin? Was it ever made loathsome to thee? And canst thou say thou hatest it with a perfect hatred? and that not only as contrary to thee, and as it brings Hell, Misery, and Damnation with it, but as it is contrary to God, abusing his goodness, hating his purity, dethroning his Majesty; hath sin ever looked you in the face [Page 57]besmeered with the blood of Christ? Were you ever made to understand your absolute need of Christ? Did you ever make a compleat resignation of your self to him? and hath it been your bu­siness to act for him? and have you felt any strength coming from him, enabling of you to bring forth fruit meet for re­pentance, and to dye unto sin, and to live unto righteousness? and yet after all this, have you looked upon your self as an unprofitable servant? what expe­rience have you in these things? put this question home to thy conscience; say, am I acquainted with such things or no? are these things Riddles to me, or do I know what they mean? well now, have you done as I bid you, and what saith conscience? is it altogether silent, or doth it put you off till another time? why, then speak again, and again, and ask it whether this be not a serious question, and a business of some impor­tance: but because People for the most part trifle in this great business, I shall speak something by way of Lamenta­tion and conviction.

USE III It is so, that they are blessed that dye [Page 58]in the Lord, then what a case are they in, which live and dye out of Christ? if none but the friends and Children of God be thus happy, what will become of them which are aliens from the Com­mon wealth of Israel, that live without God in the World? Where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? O what a lamentable condition are most of the World in! if we could see all the dead Souls in this Congregation, what a ghast­ly sight would it be, should God strike all them dead, which lye in their sins, and know not Christ; it is to be fear­ed, that the Assembly would be far thinner than it is? should the Graves o­pen, and the Souls and Bones say to us, make hast, make hast, up get your Souls dressed, for within three Days you must lye in this black and cold Chamber with us? How would this make most of our Faces to gather paleness, and our joynts ready to knock one against another? but what if another Voice should second it, and one should come roaring out of Hell, wrapped about with Flames, and should say, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, they that dye in sin must be buried in Hell, [Page 59]and if this very moment, you do not turn, you must take a place with us in those torments, from which there is no redemption; Would this move you? why sirs, is there not as much reason that you should believe God, as the dom­ned? O what wonders are stupid sin­ners! how unconcerned do they go up and down, as if it were a very easy thing to prepare for Death, and a needless thing to think of Eternity. O you that know a little, what the life and death of a Soul is, come help us to mourn over our dead, Doth not the very Aire smell of the dead? Are not their numbers scarce to be computed? whole Fami­lies, Towns, Cities, and scarce one li­ving Soul amongst them! O where, where is our pity? how can we bear to see so many millions go to the Pit, and not bestow one tear upon them? what's the matter, O my Soul, that thou art no more compassionate? would Hester, Jeremiah, Paul; nay, would the King and Princes of Niniveh have been no more troubled, if Souls had been in the same danger in their Days, as they are in ours. But that I may a little move my self and others; let me commune a [Page 60]little with you, you are yet in your sen­ses, and have the use of your under­standings, and are not brutes nor stones; shall I have leave to reason the case a little with you? do you never use your reason? have you not a principle of self-preservation? do you never consider whi­ther you are going, while you make hast to Hell? Do you never think of Hea­ven? and is it so frightful a place, that you should be afraid of it? will it un­do you to be saved? and is that bles­sedness, which I have set before you, so contemptible a thing, that you will not so much as give the thoughts of it one Hours entertainment in your Soul? Can you be contented without it, and prefer your short lived pleasures before it? if the case be so, thank your selves, if you have your choice, blame not God, if he deny you that which you thought not worth the accepting: As for us Mini­sters, we call God, Angels, and Men to witness, that we have told you of your danger, and if you will not take warn­ing, who can help it; if we knew what in the World to do to prevent your ru­ine, God forbid but that we should rea­dily do it, but if after all your threat­nings, [Page 61]perswasions, and intreaties, you will go on still, why, your blood be up­on your own Souls; but though I speak thus, I hope better things of many here present, and things that do accompany salvation. I shall speak for your incou­ragement in the next Use.

USE IV Is it so, that they are blessed that dye in the Lord, why then should the be­liever be so much afraid of Death? What though it be the King of terrors, is it so to all? Have not some handled this Serpent without any fear? What have I been proving all this while? Is there not one word of sense in all that hath been spoken? get but this secured that you are a Child of God, make but the King you friend, and then neither his Serjeant, nor his Porter will do you any hurt, except to arrest your enemies, and to open the Gates of his Palace to you, and to admit you into his presence be counted an injury: who would be afraid of everlasting rest, why should any one be so loth to have his diseases healed, why should we be so unwilling to receive that which we seem with much earnestness to ask? Will the Pri­soner [Page 62]choose always to live confined? will he fall in love with his Chains, or be angry with him that comes to knock off his shackles? Is the miserable Captive afraid of his liberty? why do you hear, pray, and read? to what purpose do you strive, watch, and hope: Is it all for that which you tremble to have; what report doth faith bring of an other World? Doth it tell you that it is a Land of Darkness and sorrow, or that it is a place of joy, pleasure and happiness? and what still loth to depart? is this World the more desi­rable of the two, and are thy sins and carnal Companions more lovely than Christ! If the case be so, then why dost thou talk of believing? Is this your faith? the truth of it is, if this be thy case, thou hast no great reason to be over desi­rous of leaving this World, for I perceive thou hast built thy House here, and dost not take Heaven for thy Rest, but in case of absolute necessity, thou thinkest it a more tolerable place than Hell and Torments. But thou art not the Person, that I have now to do with, I shall speak a word or two to such by and by: my errant it is to thee, O praying and believing Saint, I would fain hearten thee up a little, that thou may'st shew the World, that Heaven is not so sorry a preferment, as that one should hardly be perswaded to accept of it, but that it is indeed what the Scriptures, Ministers, and the Children of God say it is. O contradict not your profession, and let the wicked see, that you have got something in an other World, and that your happiness begins there, where theirs ends. You work hard, and will you be [Page 63]afraid when Night comes to receive your wages, I hope you will not say that the Lord is a hard Master, and that his wages are not worth the re­ceiving. Let the wicked trouble, and the enemies of God fear, and let the workers of iniquity be afraid of their appearance before their Judge. But let not the faithful subject dread his King, the Wife her Husband, nor the Child his Father. I would sain argue my self and others out of those slavish fears. Consider s [...]rs, that now death hath lost its sting, and the Grave its bitterness, and a Saint (if he will but be as careful in keep­ing his watch, as he ought) may be able to speak the same Language, as Paul did. O Death where is thy Sting, O Grave where is thy Victory? 1 Cor. 15 55. And to me to live is Christ, and to dye is gain; I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. If Death were like to make a se­peration between Christ and thee, I should then be far from blaming these thy fears, but I should rather wonder, that they are not a thousand times greater. But me-thinks a Soul that hath had many a sweet kiss from Christ, that under­stands what he is worth, and that hath some good reason to say, my beloved is mine, and I am his, me-thinks (I say) such a one should not desire, that the Day of Marriage should be pro­tracted. Sure, were this but cleared, it were no­thing to dye, but life it self would be as consi­derable an exercise of patience, as any thing in the World; let me therefore again expostulate the case with thee, and do what I can to shake off those unwarrantable fears. What is it that you are so much afraid of? Is it of pains? why, when you are dead, you will feel none, they be the li­ving [Page 64]which feel pains, and I believe there are few living, but at one time or other feel as much pain as some do in their death; and if their pains be acute, they are like to be short, and if they be not acute, they may be the more easily born. Are you loath to leave your friends, I hope God's Saints, and Angels are other guess friends than any you have here. You have a fine House, and sweet con­veniences, alas, 'tis but a Hog-sty, or a Dunghil, if compared with Heaven. But how shall I do for my Children? what will become of them, when I am dead and gone? Why, do you make no­thing of God's promise? Is not he a Father to the Fatherless? And is it not his command, that we should leave our Fatherless Children with him? Can't God take as good care of them as you? O, but the Grave is a doleful place, and who can think with any comfort of being nail'd up in a Coffin, and covered over with Earth, and of rotting under ground; Why Man, is the Resurrection no comfort to thee? if there were no such thing, this arguing were the more excu­sable; who are you I pray, that you should be pri­viledged above all the Kings and Monarcks since the beginning of the World, which of them have secured themselves from the power of Death? which of them could retain their breath a mo­ment, when Death had received his Commission to stop it. Are you better than Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, did not David see corruption, and the Fathers, where are they? nay, did not Christ dye, and dye so bitter a death, as I believe never any from the foundation of the World ever did. Must God make thee the third that must be singled out from Man-kind, to be translated to Glory? [Page 65]do you walk as Enock and Elias did? and if you do, I know you would then be so humble, not to ex­pect this prerogative; and so full of love to God, as to be contented to die, if it were a hundred deaths, so you might but enjoy him for ever: And what say you now? is there not a root of unbelief at the bottom? is there not something of Atheism in this? hath not the world a prevailing interest in your affections? do you think you have not had time enough yet to sin? would you sain displease God a little more? do you imagine that you have not sufficiently abused his goodness? if not, what is the matter? O I want Assurance! did I but know that I am indeed recon­ciled to God, then, O then I could die as willingly as sleep! The truth of it is, there can be no other reason that can bear any great weight, except this, and a desire to glorifie God more in bringing in souls to him. As for this latter, I wave it; few of my hearers being so much concerned in that, as Mini­sters are; but as for the former, I would upon this account put you upon the most speedy and serious diligence in this work. I believe the Apostle had some reason on his side, when he did so earnestly perswade the people of God to use all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure, and to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Why then should not every Christian without delay set upon this? And then the next news we should hear would be, Come Lord Jesus, why are thy Chariot wheels so long a coming? O that I might but come to eternal life, though thorough the valley of the shadow of death! 'Tis our trifling with God that makes the thoughts of our appearing be­fore him to be so dreadful. Our formality, deadness [Page 66]and coldness, our worldly mindedness and laziness, doth us a world of injury. This, this disturbeth our peace, this strengthens Satan, and blurs our evidences, and makes us go desponding into an­other world, and this brings me to the next Use.

USE 5 Is it so that they are blessed that die in the Lord, &c. be hence exhorted, to live so as that you may die in the Lord. Will you take so much pains for a little gains in this life, and will you take none at all for eternal blessings? How many hazardous voyages have some of you made to Ginnee, and the East Indies, to get Gold and Spices? how many terrible storms have you been in, and what incon­ceivable hazards have you run, that you might en­joy your selves in age, and have something to carry you comfortably and decently to your graves? O why should you not be as solicitous in your soul concerns? Remember my dear friends, that you are bound for another world, and you must ere long sail into the Ocean of eternity. Consider what your laiding is, and whether it will return to any account when you come home to your great Owner. Methinks you of all men should think Grace the best commodity, and Christianity the best trade, and the securing of everlasting happiness, the greatest wisdom. How can you live within a few inches of death, and look the King of terrours in the face every day, without some well-grounded evidences of your interest in Gods love? O who would not labour to get out of danger? who would not think [Page 67]it a blessed estate to be beyond fears? who can take it to be an unnecessary work to secure a soul? is not this the one thing needful? what should a man get if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? and what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? But you Professors, above all, it concerns you to make as sure as can be pos­sible, of something better than you can have here below. What a lamentable thing would it be for you to undergo so many reproaches for Christs sake, to venture your liberties, and to hazard your estates, and after all to be left in woful uncertain­ties? It would be a dreadful thing to lose the com­forts of both worlds. O make sure work! your pains and cost here will pay its own charges; be not daunted, 'tis a thing hath been done; what do you say? will you take some pains in the ex­amining of your heart? will you keep any guard over your self? will you wrestle for this bles­sing? O what courage and comfort should you be endowed with! with what a chearful coun­tenance may you meet death? and how quietly lie down in your grave, being supported with the hopes of a blessed Eternity, and a glorious Resurrection.

But I shall a little alter my discourse, and turn my self to the careless ones of the world, which think little of death, and less of eternity. I had occasion before to bewail your condition, and now I might renew my lamentations, as fearing that what I have spoke, or may speak, will have very little operation upon you; but however I cannot leave you thus, but I must try once more, how a plain compassionate exhortation will prevail. O [Page 68]hat I could tell what words to speak, that might each your heart! O that I could express my self in such melting words that might break the very stones! O that you may feel this exhorta­tion!

Men, Brethren, and Fathers, give me leave to l [...]t you understand how dearly I love you, and to shew my affections in the most real de­monstrations that may be. Sirs, I am come to b [...]g of you for Gods sake, to be willing to live; I beseech you despise not the blessing, but accept Christ and salvation while they are offered. Were it a thing possible to be happy any other way but by Christ and a holy life, I should spare my la­bour. If Glory could be obtained upon easier terms than the Gospel speaks of, I should ease my self and you of this trouble. And if any were like to be blessed after death, but such as die in the Lord, I should be the more indifferent in this matter; but since that cannot be, methinks those three weighty words, Life, death, eterni­ty, should have a mighty influence upon you. O let not a day pass without a few serious thoughts of this! I need hot perswade you to love your lives, nature teacheth you to do that; but there is another life, which is hid from the world, which most forget; O think of that! that's a life indeed, a life of joy, happiness and pleasure! Death sounds oft in the ears; every passing bell tells you, that your breath is going, and that your turn is coming, and all the Coslins that are carried by your doors, say, prepare, do your work quickly, [...] will shortly be too late. But who understands the meaning of this Preacher? who takes any thought [Page 69]of another life, makes ready for death, and looks into eternity? O Eternity! Eternity! how rarely do men think of Eternity! O that now some would begin to be wise! Do you think your Sun will never set? will your sands be never ran out? and do you know what dying is? then the keepers of the house will tremble, the windows shall be [...]hut, and instead of the Daughters of Musick, the voice of groaning, lamentation and weeping. It may be death will lay his cold hand first upon thy feet, and bind them, and they are as cold as the earth, and what a damp doth this put upon thy spirit? and then you cry, once more send for the Doctor, and he comes in haste. O Sir, a world for breath, half my estate to preserve my life a day or two longer; and what answer doth he make? Sir, 'tis but a folly to flatter you, all the art in the world will not keep you alive two hours longer; what did you send for me for, to a dead man? and so he flings away in a rage; and how doth the fainting Patient hear such tidings! O what shall I do! what, will all forsake me? can no bo­dy help me? well, send for a Minister, and what saith he, Sir, how have you lived? did you pray in your family? do you know experimentally what Regeneration is? what do you say? Sir, I do not understand that word: What, did you ne­ver hear a Sermon in your life? were you born in England? To be regenerated is to be born again; do you know what that is? O no, that's impos­sible! Why then, Sir, you are in a lamentable condition indeed; you cannot live an hour longer; and if you die in this state, you must go to Hell as sure as God is in Heaven. O how doth that word [Page 70]strike the man to the heart! and what a flame hath he within! and what horrour is his soul filled with! It cannot be imagined what Agonies the soul as well as the body now labours under. O that I might die the death of the Righteous! and are all my hopes come to this? woe, woe, woe to me poor wretch, whither am I now going? where shall I now dwell? who shall be my companions for ever? O that I had but now a little of that grace which I despised in others! but it's now too late! O my heart, I am pained at my heart! O my breath it is going, it is just a going! O what shall I do! O 'tis too late! O what shall—And thus his breath goes, and his friends come round about him, and one lifts up his hand, and that falls down again like a log, and others feel upon his nose, and there's no breath, and then they say he is gone, and so one closeth his eyes, and others strip him, and lay him out, and two daies after he is put into the grave: but where, where is the soul? And thus one goes after another, and shortly all this generation will be served thus. And thou, O careless soul, as little as thou mindest all this, it may be thou mayest be the next, and what will become of thee if death take thee unpro­vided! Now Sirs, what will you do? will you go on just as you did? will you put far from you the thoughts of the evil day? will you shake off the sense of this as soon as you can? I believe that this is none of the pleasantest discourses to some of you: But I would have you to know that my business is not to please your fancy, but to save your souls, and to wake you out of your dead sleep; and if I do but this, I have enough. Once [Page 71]more therefore I must ask you what you intend to do; will you indeavour to live to Christ, that you may die in the Lord? or will you do as others do, put off the thoughts of these things till it be too late? Is this a question so hard to be an­swered? Well, methinks the very looks of some of you speak you to be persons resolved, and by this time you are ready to ask how you shall do to be of this number that shall die in the Lord, and be blessed; how you may trade so as to get the most durable riches; and how you may live so as to gain by death? In general I answer, If you would have death gain, you must live to Christ; make it your work and business to secure an interest in Christ; let Religion run thorow all you do; (but for your fuller information in this matter, I shall refer you to the latter end of my Book of Ac­quaintance with God, which is now reprinted) at present my advice shall be, that you would follow them who thorow faith and patience are the in­heriters of the promise; and propose to your selves the examples of the most eminent Chri­stians; such as this precious young mans, whose Funeral Rites we are now solemnizing; and be­cause examples are very cogent, and affect most, more than precepts, I shall present you with an ac­count of some of this holy young mans practices and experiences: Take them therefore as I have gathered them by my own experience and intimate knowledge of him; and as I have collected them out of many sheets of his own writings. But let it not be thought, I beseech you, that out of custom or flattery, I speak such Funeral Commendations: were he but a Common Christian, I would have [Page 72]sorb [...]rn speaking any thing of this nature for sear of hardening sinners. I must deal plainly, I ab­ho that cursed flattery in commending all that are buried; as if to die and to go to Heaven were all one. I know many rotten posts are guilded; ma­ny Sepulchres that are full of bones, and putrified flesh, are painted, and many Professors are extolled at their death, who did no good wh [...]le they lived, except it were the giving some pit [...]ful pit­tance to the poor when they could keep it no longer. I question not but that thousands are praised upon earth, that are condemned in Heaven; and many applauded for Saints, that will be found among the Devils and damned. Expect it not therefore as a thing like to be usual with me to commend dead persons. As I would judge none, so I dare commend but few. This only by way of Apology. I shall come to the thing promised, to propose some imitable passages of the life of T. M.

1. First, He began to [...]ook Heaven ward betimes▪ he was made to remember his Creatour in the daies of his youth; his first conv [...]ctions were at about twelve years old, but they had no abiding impres­sion upon him, the great work was begun to pur­pose between seven [...]een and eighteen. I shall be the more brief here, because you have the account more full from his own hand. The change that was wrought upon him did express more of the power of God, and the riches of his grace than ordinary. The Lord made his work upon him very clear and distinct; for he broke in upon his soul like an armed man, and shook him terribly [...]ve [...] Hell, and the [...]rr [...]urs of God set themselves [Page 73] [...]n array against him, and the poison of his arrows drank up his spirits, sin did appear in its colour to him [...]s ugly as the devil, and as dreadful as Hell it self; so that the foundation was laid in very deep hu­ [...]lity. O then how frightful a thing was sin, yea his beloved sin, the sin of gaming was made most loathsome and abominable, so that for that he loathed himself in dust ashes, and looked upon himself as unworthy to tread upon Gods ground, and had not God ordered it so as that the first Ser­mon he heard after this great conviction was up­on that Scripture, 1 Tim. 1.15. he had even fallen into despair, but the thoughts of Gods having mercy upon the chiefest of sinners, did a little sup­port his soul, and gave him hopes of a possibility of being saved.

2. This put him upon strong groans and prayers, that the Lord would pitty him as ever he would pitty any poor creature in the World, O that he would pitty him; hast thou not a blessing for me, O God even for me, what shall I do, now I am without God, Christ, or Grace, my condition is such I cannot bear it, who can be contented to be damned! O pitty me, pitty me, dear Lord, I can­not tell what in the world to do; mercy, mercy, mercy, or I am lost, mercy speedily or I am lost for ever: And so he continued in a way of duty, reading, and praying, and inquiring, and resolving thus to do all his dayes; and now farewell wick­ed company, farewell sports and vanity and idle­ness, the great business of minding his soul now swallows him up, and after a while he hath a little more peace than he had, but upon further enquiry [Page 74]and waiting upon the means, he was convinced tha [...] all this would not do without the Righteousness o [...] Christ: And this brings me to the next thing,

3. He was deeply convinced of the absolute ne­cessity and excellency of Christ, and brought o [...] from his own righteousness, to high prizing [...] and admirings of Christ; take his own words▪ ‘And is it true indeed, hath Christ done and suffered such things for thee, O my poor sinful, vile, odi­ous polluted soul, and what wilt not thou love him now? Oh think a little what put him upon a [...] this, was it any self interest, is he any gainer by thee, he got nothing but grief, pain and death▪ O my soul it was free, pure and undeniable love that caused him to do and suffer what he did consider again O my soul, what cause was there that he should make thee a partaker of the bene­fit of his blood, what wast thou, Oh a mot [...] loathsome sinner, and what wilt thou not yet love him? O Lord, I am ashamed of my own heart, that I cannot raise it to the highest pitch o [...] admiration of that infinite boundless love. O [...] love, love, love; O that I could love thee, O Lord, I would fain be sick of love, O that I could dy [...] sick of love to thee, O that I could feel thee warming my heart with that quickning blood which thou sheddedst upon the Cross; O what love is like to that; O my soul, it was shed for thee who was an enemy, a rebel, a despiser of Christ! awake O blessed spirit and blow upon my soul, and kindle a fire which may burn with love to Christ, to all Eternity, Amen, Amen.’

4. He did upon this in a serious and solemn manner give up himself to the Lord in a Cove­nant, (I shall not repeat the words of this Co­venant, because they are taken verbatim out of my book of Acquaintance with God) and he sub­ [...]cribed his name to it, and kept it as a witness be­fore the Lord, and to quicken his own soul to a [...]ore close walking with God according to the Ar­ [...]cles of that Covenant.

5. After he was gone thus far, his bowels began [...]o yern over his Christless friends, some of which (I perceive by his letters) began to abuse him for his seriousness, and to deride his strictness and jeer at his holiness: shall I give you a taste of his spirit, I cannot do it in warmer words than his own which are as followeth.—

‘Yours I received, but whether I dare to thank you for it, I know not, for truly I cannot ex­press the trouble that hath since seised upon my spirit; Oh poor soul, what shall I say unto thee? Oh my bowels, my bowels, they yern towards thee, I am pained, yea I am pained while I think upon thy condition, what shall I do for thee, what shall I say unto thee; I could be contented that these lines were writ with my very heart blood, so that they might affect thee; O I had rather dye than receive another such letter from you, I could not relish it, it was bitter, I could not see the name of dear Jesus in it, — how can I think of your blind superstition, and not mourn and la­ment over a dead soul! you say you are sorry, and you are troubled. What is the matter, are you sorry that I should concern my self about my soul, [Page 76]and about yours; you would not trouble your self about these things now, if not now, I pray when will you, at the hour of death, at the day o [...] Judgement, O then it will be too late, O now o [...] never, delayes are dangerous. O Eternity, Eter­nity, O where shall yours and my soul dwell t [...] all Eternity. Oh either in heaven, or in hell, ei­ther with Christ or devils, the soul that si [...] shall dye; your debt is great, the justice of God must be satisfied, and nothing can do it but th [...] blood of Jesus, O for this precious Jesus, make not light of Christ, he is precious, he is altoge­ther lovely; I would not for ten thousand world quit my share in him, and in that which is the mat­ter of your fear, you complain that I have le [...] the wayes of our fore-fathers — I se [...] you take the shadow for the substance; what [...] the Cross in Baptism, without the Baptisme [...] the spirit; what good will the bowing at th [...] name of Jesus do them, which persecute him i [...] his members, and have him not formed in their hearts — O that God would cut asunder your false hopes, if Christ were in you, yo [...] would rejoyce to think that he hath been a [...] work in my soul, was I born with these princi­ples which you read in my last Letters, I am sur [...] I was once of an other mind than now I am▪ but blessed, yea admired be free grace, which hath made me to differ from my self and others. [...] am afraid you understand not my meaning, whe [...] I speak of love to God and Regeneration, as long as I only concerned my self about the World, an [...] not my soul, you kindly entertained my letters but no sooner did I speak of repentance, and th [...] [Page 77]affairs of our poor never-dying souls, but then you are troubled and cannot bear it. I tell you I lay dead almost eighteen years, and then I had a graci­ous wound from my dear God, which made me cry out where am I, I am undone, I am undone, my sin will damn me. O what shall I do for a Christ — And at this rate he goes on writing many letters, which did all breath a divine spirit.’

6. He was very spiritual in his discourse, and by that he put life into most of them that con­versed with him; how helpful was he to young Christians! how ready to hearten them up in the wayes of God, and how able to discover to them the policies of Satan! he was scarce in his element, but when he was doing or receiving of good, he studied Mr. Herbert Palmer's little Book about making Religion ones business, and he did in a great measure put it into practice: To use his own expres­sions, ‘I did, saith he, labour to spiritualize com­mon action, and to serve God in serving my master with diligence, cheerfulness and faithfulness.’ O what resort was there of young ones to him for direction and advice in things which they did not think it so fit to trouble their Pastor with, and how did he endeavour to season his fellow servants with grace: When he went to any of his Masters Pati­ents, how diligent in using of means for their re­covery, and how careful to drop something that might tend to the health of their souls, and as he had opportunity amongst the weaker and poorer sort, he would pray with them, and O with what vehemency of spirit, with what fluency of expres­sion, and with what mighty affections would he do [Page 78]it? I need not tell some of you, how helpfull he hath been to the bodies and souls of the sick, and up­on this account he looked upon it as a great mercy that the Lord had called him to such an employment, wherein he had such singular advantages to deal with poor souls about the affairs of Eternity: I question no [...] but there are some standing here that have cause to bless God that ever they saw his face, and I believe that some of you that are young and poor will quick­ly dearly miss him.

7. He was exceedingly raised in duty and one that injoyed rare communion, intimacy and acquain­tance with God; and for about five moneths (as his own papers shew) together, he rarely came into the presence of God, but he went away with some spe­cial tokens of his love; so that he said he could have been contented to have left the world at a quarter of an hours warning: Hear how his Papers speak; ‘My soul continued (if my heart do not mightily deceive me) in a thriving condition for five moneths. O the comforts that I then had, they are unspeakable, I seldome went to duty, but carryed my dear Saviour, and brought him away with me; every Ordinance was a visit of love; my love to Jesus Christ, and his members whereever I saw them was not to be ex­pressed; what hatred to sin, what zeal for Gods glory, what yerning of bowels towards poor souls in the state of nature, how beautiful were the feet of the Embassadors of peace, what a fulness and sweetness did I then see and feel in Christ, ever hun­gring after him, and ever satisfied with him, and him alone, what affections. God-ward, what de­spising of visibles, what deep apprehensions of the [Page 79]Majesty and Attributes of God, how did I walk un­weariedly with him, how did I rejoyce before him with fear, and trust filially in him with trembling! O what watchfulness over my thoughts, words and actions: Indeed I was often assaulted, but I had a faithful Centinel which would give warning, and admit of none but such as were friends to the Lord Jesus; what low thoughts had I of my self, and high prizings of a naked Christ! Oh Sir, in one word I made Religion my business, and was taken up with that which concerned the glory of God; eve­ry grace was at strife which should excell other in its actings; I could never go to market, but I could experience returns of Grace and Mercy.’ In this I have not varied two words from his own writings in a letter that he gave me, wherein he did grievously bewail the least departures of his heart from God, as you shall hear in the next.

8. He took special notice of his own heart, and did mightily bewail any declinings from that vigour that sometimes he had; and here I shall again use his words as they follow— ‘But this did not conti­nue long, it was as a calm before a storm, for soon after (my time being almost out) I began to have some thoughts of my setting up and entring into the world; but I had no sooner imbraced the motion, but that very day I felt a change in my poor soul, viz. a too too much letting out my thoughts upon it, which I most perceived in duty, and the devil who long waited his opportunity, did then, I am afraid, not only parley, but get entrance, through the treachery and deceitfulness of my wretched heart, and he told me that I might law­fully [Page 80]settle my mind upon this, it being a business of great concernment, and that it would be but a little while, and then I should return to my former tem­per in spiritual matters, upon those delusions my silly heart gave way, and I found too much willing­ness of soul to place its concerns in that matter, and so I laying down my watch, soon lost my former ex­periences, and every day I found my comforts on the ebbing hand, I secretly departed from God, and darkened the light of his countenance, that did shine sometimes upon my soul, and had not infinite grace put a seasonable word into your mouth to prevent me, how had I fallen, and whither had I gone? I could not have thought it possible that ever my heart should decline so strangely as it did. I that formerly could serve my Master faithfully, cheerfully and comfortably, did it grutchingly, and not out of love, though I never fell so far, (through grace) as to neglect any thing of his businesses, yet [...] lost the right principles of action; and the art of spiritualizing of civil affairs; and this lasted for about three moneths; It is scarce to be thought what perplexities I brought my self into, by my back-sliding from God; I have not time to declare things, and had I, it would be very unwelcome to you; true, I hope I did enjoy some communion with God when I was engaged in duties, especially in that to be admired Ordinance of the Sacra­ment and Prayer; but yet my comforts and duty usually ended together, I hope the experience that I have had of the treachery of my own heart, will make me carry a fence of my weakness and folly, so as [...] throw my self wholly upon the wisdom of God — I have thus opened my soul to [Page 81]you, O that the Lord, who first for his own name sake shewed mercy to me when I deserved none, would now look upon me in my low estate, and consult the same bowels of pitty and compassion, which are infinite, past the sins of finite creatures; O that he would heal my back-slidings, and love me freely: God is the same, and changeth not, and my hopes are that he will again return and visit my soul in mercy —’ After this the Lord was pleased to come in again, and he found his former comforts in some measure returning after a great deal of pains with his own heart, and wrestling with God: Hear what language he begins to speak again,

‘Blessed be God for what I do enjoy, it is ten thou­sand times more than I deserve, I hope the dew of the sanctuary doth oft refresh me, and the blood of Jesus is my cordial, when I sit at his Table, he visits me, and his banner over me is love. I may speak it to the glory of rich grace, that my heart is in a better frame than it was, and I am more free from distractions in duty, but yet I am far from that frame that I was once in, my distemper it lyeth in want of those strong affections to God: and that which hath made me so silent to you is the fear of hypocrisie; lest my tongue should at any time out-reach my heart.’ I might be far larger, and yet speak none but his words, this I think may prove that he was a very curious observer of his own soul, and took no­tice of the least departures of his heart from God, or Gods absenting of himself from him. I might tell you what pains he took to prepare for the Sacrament, and what exactness he used afterwards in taking no­tice how his soul was affected, & when it was not rai­sed, what care did he use till he found a fresh w [...]r [...]nth, [Page 82]heat and life animating of him, I might tell you how frequent he was in that rare duty of medi­tation; I speak not this without book, many sheets of his meditations which I have by me shew that he was no stranger to those spiritual duties which few understand and fewer practise.

9. He was greatly desirous to be reproved and watched over, that of the Psalmist was oft in his mouth, and written in his Letter, Let the Righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindness, and let him re­prove me, and it shall be excellent Oyl, which shall not break my head.

10. He was much exercised in acts of mortifica­tion and self denyal, he laboured to keep under his body, to have the command of his passions and affe­ctions, very temperate, drinking water, &c.

11. He was frequently praising of God and speak­ing well of his wayes; indeed his deportment was such that he credited Religion, and commended the service of his great Master, and made people to be­lieve that Religion was an excellent thing, and he justified wisdom, and was able to say her wayes were pleasantness, and her paths peace.

12. He was a very good Husband of time, one would wonder, how one could roll over such a deal of business as he did, not in the least neglecting his Masters affairs, and yet that he should write such packets of letters, and pen so many Meditations, and be so very helpful to his brethren the young men: How many Books did he read over, and read [Page 83]them to the purpose, so as to make them his own, some of them five or six times over; and if he had no company to dicourse with, when he went abroad, he lookt oft into his Pocket Book, which was called, Making Religion ones business.

13. He had a strong affection for the faithful Mi­nisters of Christ, and was concerned when the Cloud began to threaten them, that he ingaged all the Prayers he could for them that the Lord would blow over this storm, and I am ready to think that this might hasten his end.

14. He was greatly afraid of spiritual pride, to this end; he desired me to keep a watch over him, and beseeched me to discover it to him, when I did at any time discern the actings of it, but though he had great parts and gifts above his age, yet the fence of former sins, and his curious observance of his heart, and the fence of free grace, kept him very low.

15. He seemed to be possessed with the thoughts of death and Eternity. He had a strong impression upon his spirit of the neerness of his end for about half a year before he dyed. And,

16. He was much above the fears of death, and from a deep fence of the reallity of invisibles, and his propriety in them; he thought long for possessi­on; and he could say I desire to be dissolved and to be with Jesus.

On the Lords Day before he dyed he was in an extasie of comfort, and felt what those joyes un­speakable in believing meant, in former times he had [Page 84]great manifestations of Gods love, but never any broke into his soul with such power, and clear evi­dence as then; he had as it were a prospect of glory, and some foretastes of that happiness that was pre­pared for him before the foundations of the world; and O how did his heart even leap within him to think that within a little while he should fully and eternally enjoy what he now had a little glympse of. —

Upon Munday I went to visit him, and found him in a very sweet frame, so taken up with Heaven, that he did even wonder at himself. I am (saith he) so overcome with the love of Christ and the glory of Heaven, that all manner of fear is hid from mine eyes, and I cannot so much as think of Hell; or if I do, it is with joy that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus: but what do you think of these things, is it possible that they should be delusions; O Sir, I beseech you be faithfull to my soul, and tell me as you will answer it at the barr of God, what you judge of my state; I would not for a World be now in a fools Paradice; and then he told me his experiences, and intreated me to search and try him, and again and again he expressed his great joy under the apprehensions of death, and that glo­rious Eternity that he was passing into; ‘I desired earnestly to discourse with you (said he) because I expect to lose the use of my reason, and am not like to be capable of speaking my mind to you hereafter, and then he intreated me to give him a Funeral Sermon:’ And all this he spoke with as much cheerfulness as can well be imagined, speaking of death as the most desirable thing; ‘O, saith he, that I were but ten times sicker, I long to dye, I am [Page 85]ill, but I would be ill to purpose; O dear Jesus, I long to be with thee.’

Upon Tuesday, his distemper grew much upon him, and began a little at times to impair his intellectuals, and yet by fits he would speak excellently of the things of God; being asked whether he was willing to dye, he answered, ‘That Eternity was too lit­tle for him to praise God in for his rich mercy to such a poor creature as he was, that the Lord should prepare such an inheritance amongst the Saints in glory for him, and that his life was hid with Christ, and that when Christ who was his life should ap­pear, he also should appear with him in glory:’ This morning he prayed for an exhorted those that were in the family, to prepare to meet him in glory.

Upon Wednesday when he had any intermissions; he broke out into such expressions as these. ‘Dear Jesus, what art thou doing, preparing Mansions for me? I am coming sweet Jesus, I am coming, — It is but a little while, a little thread, and when that is cut, I shall be safe in glory. Being very ill he said, What if I should live two hours, or two dayes, what is that to a glorious Eternity? Death, what is it but a Porter to open Heaven-gate for me? — What is all the World compared to that Crown which I shall receive?’ — Being asked how he did, he answered very well, one standing by said no, you are very ill; he replyed, ‘I know I am very sick, but I say I am well, because I am as God would have me be.’ When I came to him in the afternoon, I found him exceeding ill, and betraying some weak­ness in his intellectuals, and his discourse being very impertinent; I said to him, your language was wont to be spiritual, but now you forget your self; [Page 86] ‘It is true Sir, said he, but you know what the con­dition of my body now is, blessed be God the root of matter is in me.’ After this he was very still and quiet whilest I read to him, and seemed to be much pleased at the reading of the fifty fourth, and fifty fifth of Isaiah, and gave a very rational account of any spiritual question that was put to him, and very desirous that I should pray with him.

Upon Thursday because of extraordinary business of my own I could not be present with him.

Upon Friday he was taken speechless for many hours together, but according to our Prayers at last he recovered the use of his reason more than before, and could speak that we might well understand him; then I asked him how he did, he answered me Still alive—After a considerable pause he cryed out Gracious Father, thy Will be done. Then I opened several Scri­ptures to him, which speak the blessed state of Saints in another World, and when I asked him whether he did understand me; He answered, Yes, Yes, and wept several times for joy. Now the Symptomes of death approaching come upon him, scarce any pulse, and a dying sweat, and the last words that I heard him speak were Glory, Glory — After that he continued in very great Agonies, and his pangs were strong, till about 11 of the Clock, then he slept in Jesus: being exceedingly lamented by the young men of his Society, many of which were about him.