IT cannot be impro­per or impertinent to premise the co­herence of the [...]ext with the Context, espe­ [...]ially since it is ushered in [Page 2]with the particle (There.)

There the weary be at rest.] Which speaks it relative, as having some dependence up­on and some relation to some­what going before: I will not go far, nor fetch too wide and circumferanious a com­pass, to give you an account of the connexion of the words, Cnnexi­on. lest, the porch prove too big for the house, and the premise disproportionable to the following Discourse: Cast therefore your eye back onely to the first verse of this Chapter, where you shall finde the Argument of the whole Section epitomized and laid down in short; viz. Jobs cursing his day, by many pee­vish and passionate expresses of his disturbed and discom­posed spirit [...] the words are [Page 3] [...]hese, and such like, After [...]his Job opened his mouth and [...]ursed his day; After this, [...]hat is, after the Chaldeans [...]ad pillaged him, after that [...]he Sabeans had plundred him, [...]fter that his enemies had [...]ade a prey of him, and after [...]hat his friends had sate so [...]ong by him, and not reach­ [...]g the least dram of succour [...]r assistance to him; and his [...]orrows being grown bigger [...]en his spirit, bigger then he [...]as able to bridle or contain, [...]e bursts out into this distem­ [...]ered malediction, Cursed [...] the day wherein I was born; [...]nd thus his grief got vent, [...]nd thus his sorrow got allay, [...]y emptying it self into a sea [...]f passion, and flood of trou­ [...]led expression, After this [...]e opened his mouth, and cursed. [Page 4]Touching which curse, you have two things observa­ble,

• 1. The Object of it, what he cursed.
• 2. The Reason of it, why he cursed.

First, The Object, what he fastened his curse upon, it was his Birth-day: Cursed be the day whereon I was born, and the night in which it was said [...] man child is conceived, let dark­ness stain it, let a cloud dwel [...] for ever upon it: As if he should say, Let it be obnubi­lated, let it be annihilated, let it be obliterated and ca­shiered out of the Kalende [...] of the year, Caryll. let it lie buried in the ashes of oblivion, let it sink down into silence and forgetfulness, never to come into mind any more, never to [Page 5]be recorded, never to be com­memorated with those formal Festivities, joys, and freer complacencies, which such gaudy days have been famous for; and thus Job ( Shimei-ike) goes on railing and cur­sing as he goes; he ransacks his memory, and heightens his invention to the highest pitch of possibility to finde words enough wherewith to brand his birth day, Nigro car­bone nota­vit. and this to vers. 9.

Secondly, The Reason is rendred in this Chapter, why he cursed, why so madded, why so exasperated, against his birth-day; he is angry, but he would seem to have wit in his anger; to give you a ra­tional account of his destiny; now the reason wherewith his defends and legitimates his [Page 6]passion, he recordeth in the tenth verse, because (saith he) it shut not up the door of my Mothers womb, because I died not from the womb, and gave not up the ghost as soon as I came out of the belly; see here, if any should take up Job shortly, and chide him sharpe­ly for acting the Satyre, and writing such bitter invectives against his birth day, he stan­deth up in his own defence, pleading and apologizing most pithily and pathetically for himself, and saying, that he hath reason to rage as he doth, and cause to complain and brand his birth-day with a curse, if we knew but as much as he doth: Why Job, what is the cause of thy com­plaint? why dost thou fret and fume on this fashion? [Page 7]why persistest thou railing at and recriminating thy birth day? why, because it shut not up my mothers womb, be­cause I died not from the bel­ly: and this is his Apology for his passion; Now lest this reason should not abide the test of the judicious, lest it should not pass the pikes of an unpartial examen, lest it should not pass the Watch of a censorious world, with­out being bid stand, lest I say it should be found too light when it comes to be weighed in the ballance of the wise, whiles it might be retorted thus upon Job, Why, what if thou hadst seen death as soon as ever thou tookest life? what if thou hadst been nailed up in the coffin as soon as ever thou wast [Page 8]rockt in the cradle? and been carried to the tomb when the Midwife took thee out of the womb? to prevent this ob­jection, he subjoyns a reason of his former reason, why it had been to very good pur­pose that he had died from the womb, and this reason is the argument of my Text, because then he should have been at rest; for There ( viz. in the grave) the weary be at rest: importing thus much, Had my birth been blasted, this misery I am now in, had not been extant; had I been strangled in the gate of the womb, I had not been left to the mercy of the wide and wicked world. In a word, had I died from my nativity, I had not been a man made up of misery, I had not been a [Page 9]a creature composed of crosses as I am, nor been tos­sed like a tennice-ball with troops of troubles as I have been; why? for There the weary be at rest.

Thus much for the Cohe­rence or Connexion of the words with the preceding discourse.

I should now proceed to the Explanation of the terms that are most considerable in the Text; [...] posi [...]i­ [...]n. but finding them facil enough to any that is intelligent, or but mode­rately judicious; and with­all intending in the apt appli­cation to insist more at large, and in that manner as may give light to any thing in the Text, that hath any seeming [Page 10]vail of difficulty or darkness upon it, I shall hereupon wave it at present, and reserve it till anon.

I will not stand dividing the words and subdividing them into unnecessary minu­tula frustula, but break open the trunk, and see what trea­sure we can spie at the top, at the first inspection; now at one general view we may make a discovery

First, Of something pre­supposed.

Secondly, Of something proposed in the Text.

First, Theres something presupposed or implied, and it is this, or something of this nature;

That this life is no other then a labyrinth of labours and troubles, like the middle [Page 11]region of the air, the most natural place of storms and tumults, noyses and disquiets: such is this life, such is this world, and our peregrination in it; It is a scene of sor­rows, a succession of suffer­ings, a very seat and scitua­tion of several sadnesses; this is that which is presupposed: for Job expressing positively that the weary be at rest when dead, intimateth and implies that we are weary and like Noahs dove, can find no rest while alive.

Secondly, There is some­thing proposed, viz. That the grave is that great and com­mon Inn for all weary travel­lers at last to lodge in, to re­pose and rest their tired limbs in. There the weary be at rest.

These two particulars di­gested into one Doctrine, make up this bimembred pro­position.

The best that can be said of this life, Doctr. is this. Its a day of labour and trouble; and the worst that can be said of death and the grave, is this, Its a night of rest and repose.

The parts of this Propo­sition, are two: I will han­dle them distinctly, and in order as they stand. I begin with the former. viz. That the best that can be said of this life, is this, Its a day of labour, a time of tedious­ness and trouble; in the ma­naging whereof I shall (Deo adjuvante) prove the Doctri­nal, [Page 13]and press the practical part. In proving the Doctri­nal, I proceed thus.

First, [...] & [...] I will demonstrate it from Scripture, and Expe­rience that it is so.

Secondly, From reason and argument, why it is so.

The first Scripture Testi­omny, Scripure proof. I b. 5.7. you have in Job, 5.7. where its said that man is born to trouble, as sparks fly up­wards; As if he should say, as its natural for sparks of fire to fly up to the Element of fire so afflictions on men have a kind of natural and superveening necessity, occa­sioning them; Hic est locus pul cum et culicum. as soon as ever man comes into the world, he comes into a world of trou­bles; he lanceth into a sea of sorrow and continueth float­ing and fluctuating there, till [Page 14]death sounds a retreat and call him off, and like a vessel conveys his carcass to the har­bour where the weary be at rest.

A second place you have Gen. 47.9. Few and evil are the days of thy servant, Gen. 47 9. O Lord; as our time is very short, so also it is very sharp, the sorrows of our spirits being like unto ponde­rous weights which will never give us any continued ease, till they have pressed us into the grave; for there only we shall sleep quietly, when these stormes shall be blown over, and these fetters shall be knockt off, and we got un­der the hatches of an hearse, and entoom'd in a Sepulchre of silence, till the resurrecti­on; till then we may expect [Page 15]a tot quot of troubles, a congeries of crosses, and a continuation of afflictive con­tingences; which receives light from a third text, Iob. 14.1, Job. 14.1. Man that is born of a woman, is but of few years, and full of trouble; our years are but few, but our troubles are many; our journey is but short, but the road is very rugged and uneven; the track very trou­blesome tedious and uneasie; and many rubs, lets, and un­pleasing remora's we shall meet with ere we come within the ken of our rest, or can lodge our colours in Caanan; this the Apostle avoucheth, when he saith, Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven; how many he knew not, onely he tels us that they are many, [Page 16]and so many, that except our sins and Gods mercies, there is not such plenty of any thing in the World: thus much for Scripture Proof.

But were Scripture silent, Experi­ence. experience speaks loud e­nough for this truth, that this world is the stage where­on men act sundry sad Trage­dies, and are the Subjects of many woful incidences as one Wave roules after another, so doeth one wo come in the neck of another, and one trouble treads upon the heels of another; as a Bear came to David after a Lyon, and after that a Gyant, and after him the Philistins; so every mans own experience may tell him thus much, that when he hath fought with envy, he [Page 17]shall probably be forced to fight with infamie; and when he hath done with infamie, its odds but he shall be called to conflict with sickness; and when he hath ended this skir­mish, the next enemie he hath to encounter with is death, which will make an end of him; just like dayly labourers we are never out of work, till we be out of the world.

If you do but run through all orders, rancks and degrees of men, you shall infallibly find them (hoc morbo laboran­tes) fast prisoned up in this predicament.

If you please to express so much charity as to visit an hospital, that map of misery, oh the objects of Pitty, and sad spectacles that you shall see their; poor Lazars lying [Page 18]in a piteous posture, and mournful prostration, some crying out of hunger, others complaining for want of cloathing; a third sort weep­ing over their wounds, and every one condoling one a­nothers hardship and misfor­tune in the world, in so af­fecting and melting a manner as might be enough to draw forth the spectators heart and dissolve it, (out of hand) in­to pity and Sympathy.

If you please but to take a Prison-visit sometimes (in­stead of many fruitless jour­nies, and needless vagaries, which might be spared) O what bondage and hard usu­age, what hunger and hard beds, what poor treatments and pityful lodgings you would find there! would not [Page 19]the sighings of Prisoners come before you, as David said, whose feet are hurt in the stocks, and the irons almost entered into their souls; this would be a further demonstra­tion and conviction to you, of the point in hand.

Nay look upon Kings and Conquerours, Princes and great personages, who by reason of the height of their honours, may seem to be above the reach of the rod, yet troubles make tryal what mettle these men are made of; they have their evil things no less then other men; how ma­ny of them have been depo­sed and degraded in the world so far, till they that were not worthy to hold the bason to them, became as good (I may say as great) as [Page 20]they; Their Servants (to use Scripture phrase) bearing rule over them, and theis sub­jects taking their rise from their Soveraigns ruines; and is any grief paralel to this? Nay let us suppose them still incircled with the honours of the Crown, still surrounded with the favours of the Court, yet as Solomon saith, in the midst of laughter, the heart is sad, while they are in the centre of their Regal dignities, upon the top of their Royal Magnificences, even then they are compassed about with griping cares, amazing fears, and affright­ing dangers; for just as a mans condition is great or little, so is the Portion of his trouble proportionable; all have their share, but great [Page 21]men and the grandees in the world, as they have the no­blest imployments, and the choycest enjoyments, so they have the biggest burthens, the weightiest duties and great­est cares lying upon them here, and the longest reckon­ing and heaviest account to make unto God hereafter; thus as learned Dr. Taylor saith, God hath mingled Worm-wood with their wine, that they should not be drunk with the pleasures of prospe­rity; he hath bequeathed to them their quantum of ad­versities, that they might not mistake earth for heaven, and the present life for the happiest, whiles their own experience forceth them to set their hands and seals to this unquestionable truth. viz.

That the best that can be said of this life, is, that its a winters day of labour and trouble.

The reason of the Doctrine is drawn from the equity of the thing; Reason. man hath eaten the sweet meats, and its but reason he should tast of the sower sauce; he hath stoln the fruit, and its just he should climb the tree; S [...]ne pecca­to non es, si­ne poena non eris. he hath sin­ned and violated the Law, and in all reason and equity ought to smart and suffer the penal­ty of the Law. Now we have sinned upon a double ac­count.

First, By Proxie.

Secondly, In person.

[Page 23]1. By Proxie, in our first [...]arents, who did represent [...]he persons of all man-kind [...]hat were after to be born in­ [...]o the world; the first sin of Adam was a sin of a com­ [...]on nature, wherein all we [...]ere concerned and involved; [...]or he in Paradise was a pub­ [...]que person, Radix & sons huma­ni generis. standing in our [...]ead, the representative per­ [...]on of all posterity, the root [...]nd original of all the fami­ [...]es of the earth: and as the [...]oot is, such must the branch­ [...]s be; and if the spring be [...]oysoned, all the Rivers and [...]orrents must be tainted; in [...] word, he was our factour [...]r agent; what he did, we [...]id; and as he carried himself, [...]o were we to be accounted [...]f; as a Commanders actings [...]re ascribed to the whole Ar­my, [Page 24]if he make or break [...] Truce, the Army is adjudg­ed guilty; so Adam the Cap­taine-General of us all, break­ing Articles, and falsifying his faith with God, we all i [...] him, by him, and through him are intangled in the sam [...] transgression, Maur. Bohem. and conse­quently exposed to penalty, by virtue of that terror threatning text. Gen. 2.17. Gen. 2.17 If ye sin, ye shall suffer.

Secondly, We have sinne [...] upon a second account. viz. in person as well as by roxie [...] actually in our selves, not less then originally in our Ancest ours, and therefore since (we) have offended, tis no more then reasonable that (we) should be afflicted; Vbi pecca­tum, ibi p [...]c­cella. we, de­serve all we get (of this na­ture) [Page 25]and more; so soon as Jonas took shipping, the [...]torme arose, to teach us [...]hat if crime be in the front, [...]ain will bring up the reer; [...]f our sin go before, in all quity we may expect the [...]torme of Gods wrath to [...]ollow after: As Jehu re­ [...]lyed to Joram (when he [...]skt if it were peace) What [...]eace said he, canst thou ex­ [...]ect, so long as the Whore­ [...]omes of thy Mother Jeze­ [...]el are so many? so it stands [...] perpetual law to all per­ [...]ons, to look for no con­ [...]inued tranquillity to ex­ [...]ect no dispensation, or ex­ [...]mption from corrections so [...]ong as our corruptions are [...]o many; its the sin of man [...]hat brings the curse upon the [...]on of man; and the dayly [Page 26]increase of mans sin, occasions a dayly increase of the curse▪ the first man that sinned was Adam, and for his sake God cursed the earth; the second notorious sinner we read of was Cain, and for his sake and sin, God cursed the earth a [...] second time; and although the Lord doth not tell us in express terms, that every abominable sinner, Cains suc­cessor, draws on a new curs [...] upon the Creature; yet tha [...] one serveth for all, to teach us that as sin grows, so grow [...] the curse, and the multipli­cation of our sins bring [...] with it (if infinite mercy b [...] not a timely prevention) [...] multiplication of sorrows an [...] troubles, Conditiosine quâ non. which are alway (if not for, yet) from sin [...] so that upon every unplea­sin [...] [Page 27]instance, and unfortu­nate accident (call it what you please) you may write that superscription of the Pro­phet, Thy ways and thy do­ [...]ngs, O man, have procu­red thee this.

Thus you have the Doctri­nal part proved.

Next commeth the practi­cal to be pressed.

Now there are two uses deducible from this Do­ctrine.

First, That we prepare for troubles before they come.

Secondly, That we pro­fit by them when they are come.

First, Is this life at the best but a day of labours and troubles? then see what great [Page 28]need we have oft, and con­sequently what considerable care we should take to provide for afflictions, and to get [...] suffering spirit, an heart rea­dy fixt to give a free welcom [...] to any tryal or tentation tha [...] Providence shall expose us to we are not yet past the Re [...] Sea, we are not yet out of the Wilderness, not yet out o [...] danger; For whom God lo­veth, he will chast­en. Heb 12.6. though he [...]ove n t to cha­sten. we know not what rods are a makeing, what stormes are rising and what miseries are a brewing and breeding for us; are we not then neerly concerned, to secure to our selves suffering spirits, that we may be in a prepared posture at all times to come at the call of Gods providence, though it should engage us in some condition of life more sad and dole­ [...]ul [Page 29]then death it self? What [...]f the sun thou seeest, the [...]omforts thou enjoyest, should [...]n the sudden be in a cloud, [...]nd all dark about thee? what if this day Jobs mes­ [...]enger should knock at thy [...]oors, and tell the that thy Estate is seized on, and given to one that is thine Enemy; that thy Children were eating and drinking [...]n a friends house, and the Roof fell and crusht them into flatness; how wouldst thou rellish, how couldest thou welcome such a message as this? what if thou wert to step out of thy present gayities, to be stript of thy silks and handsome dresses, and cald to put on the beggars coat, how would thy spirit brook such an alte­ration [Page 30]as this? what if that mortal message shoud rap at thy chamber door to night, which took Dives napping, when he never dreamt of it, This night shall thy soul be sent for, this night shall thy corps be laid out, thy eyes closed, and thy chaps be bound up; this night shall thy friends be seen weeping, and the bels be heard tolling, and the report shall be in the Town and Country, Such a one is dead and buried; how couldst thou like such a change as this? if God should even whilst thou a [...]t reading these lines, and hast this paper in thy hands, say to thee on the sudden, Man, thine hour is come, read no further, but up and dye, would thy heart [Page 31]willingly imbrace this motion, freely surrender to deaths sum­mons? Thou canst not tell (without a divine revelation from heaven) but thou may­est be in prison to morrow, sick, nay stark dead to mor­row. God can soon change the sence of thy health, life or liberty, into the sighings of a Prisoner, into the groans of a languishing dying crea­ture. Souldiers sometimes have orders for a suddain March, for a suddain re­moval from their quarters; and for ought thou knowest, it may be thy case before the terme of two days be com­pleated: doth it not then be­hove thee Christian to be al­way in readiness, to be alway in a suffering frame of spirit! oh then be ready to sacrifice [Page 32]your Isaac, to lay your head upon the block, to resigne life and estate when ever a command for it shall come from heaven; prepare for suffering times; this is the first use.

Now there are four things that I would advise every Christian to prepare and have in store against a day of trouble.

• 1. A sound Faith.
• 2. A clear Conscience.
• 3. Self-denyal.
• 4. A good stock of Patience.

First, Prepare and pre­arme thy self with f ith, the want whereof makes a man to hang the wing, and go heavily under every petty loss and inconsiderable cross that [Page 33]befalls him; as he that goeth through a strong running Ri­ver, is in danger to fall and drown, by reason of the dizzi­ness of his brain, unless he fix his eyes upon the bank on the other side: so shall we fall into some impatient mood of dis­content, or at least into some fainting fit of discom­fort, under our afflictions, unless we can by the eye of faith look farther then the affliction, and through the cloud espye the refreshing rayes, and comforting beams of Gods favourable counte­nance, ready to break forth and shine upon us; If Peters saith had not faild, he had not sunk in the Sea as he did, Mat. 14.30, 31. And if thou hadst but more of faith, thou wouldst have less [Page 34]of fear, less of a fretting humour, under any afflicting dolour; for faith (saith the Apostle) is the victory where, with we overcome the world.

• 1. The World smiling,
• 2. The World Scouling.

First, The world smiling, with Pomp and pleasures, with riches and honours; the Eagle eye of a quick-sight­ed faith can soon see a vacu­ity and emptyness, an in­sufficiency and insatisfactori­ness in all these things; they are like painted grapes, they may please the eye, but can­not appease the appetite; or like nuts; many cloaths are rent in gathering them, and many a tooth broken in crack­ing them, but never a bel­ly filled, never a stomac [...] [Page 35]stayed with eating them; every creature saith concerning sa­tisfaction, It is not in me, it is not in me; the world is not a filling but a flying comfort; and this, faith knows very well; and therefore like an old bird will not be catcht with chaff; faith overcommeth the world, that it shall not do us any hurt this way, Heb. 11.26.

Secondly, Faith overcom­meth the world scouling, viz. with troubles and dangers, losses and disgraces, persecu­tions and imprisonments; he that beleiveth is above the worlds frowning; for faith quencheth the violence of fire, masters the Affliction, as the Author to the He­brews witnesseth, Chap. 11.34. And that either by re­straining [Page 36]the force thereof, that it cannot execute its afflictive faculty upon us, or by steeling our courage with patience, and conquering our hearts into contentment; & this two ways.

By assur­ing us

• 1. That afflictions have an end.
• 2. That they have a good end.

First, Faith tels and per­swadeth the afflicted patient, that the time is comming, when he shall see an end of all his troubles. At last came that seasonable salute to the murmering Jsraelites, The enemies that you have seen to day, you shall see them no more; and at last came that comfortable call to Noah, Go forth of the Ark; and if God think good to say to us, [Page 37]enter into the ark, into this trouble, or that tryal, faith will perswade us that he hath another word, viz. Come forth of the Ark, come out of prison, come from off a sick Bed; for the grievance thou hast long laid under, thou shalt under-ly it no more; this is one way where­by faith worketh the heart to a sweet serene composure in the most suffering condition; it perswadeth us that afflicti­ons have an end; Here we have no continuing City, Heb 13. therefore our afflictions cannot continue; our Lives here are but short, and there­fore the life of our afflictions cannot be very long; be then content but a little and the scene will alter; for when the Gold is fined enough, the [Page 38]furnace shall hold it no longer.

Secondly, Faith perswa­deth the poor patient, that Afflictions have not onely an end, but a good end; there­fore said Paul 2. Cor. 4.17. Our light Affliction, which lasts but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. God will ere long turn our water into wine, the storme into a calme, and our crown of thorns into a crown of glory. First David held his Shepherds staff, and shortly after his Royal Scepter; Gods children may be under a cloud, and be put to hard services here, but they may acqui­esce in this, that their light afflictions which are but for a moment, work for them a far [Page 39]more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; It is repor­ted of Cai­us Caesar that when he came to be Empe­rour, he gave a friend of his that was in Pri­son for his sake, a chaine of gold, that did equaf­ly weigh as much as his iron chain did; I deeed here, was a good ex­change, e­ven gold for iron, & weight for weight but God exceeds Caesar, for he gives not mea­sure for measure, & w [...]ight for weight but for a light af­fliction gives a weigh [...], an eternall weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17 the smooth­ness of the end, will make amends for the ruggedness of the way. St. Basil relates a story of forty Martyrs who being turned out of doors naked in a cold winters night, to be burnt at the stake the next morning, they comfor­ted themselvelves with these words, Sharp is the winter, but sweet is Paradise; painfull is the frost, but joyful the fruition that followeth; let us but wait a while, and the Patriarks bo­some shall cherish us; let our feet walk upon frost to night, and fry in the fire to morrow, that we may walk hand in hand with Angels in Glory. Thus you see their thoughts did not spend themselves upon the afflictions they indured, but [Page 40]they fastened the eye of their fa [...]th upon the happy result and blessed event thereof, and this bore up their hearts bravely in the middest of Martyrdoom, and very cen­tre of their sufferings. Oh sirs, the frequent beleiving views of heaven, (would you but keep these fresh and warm upon your thoughts) would quicken and comfort your spirits in the day of distress; our horses will carry us more chearfully in travel when they draw homeward, where they expect rest; and the patient will quietly endure the search­ing of his sores, and lance­ing his wounds, when he thinks on the ease that will follow; All temporal suffer­ings are nothing to us, so far as we have a foresight of [Page 41]the eternal recompence, What made the three chil­dren so freely to take up their quarters in the fiery Region, Dan. 3.17.21 but because they had faith to as­sure them of deliverance? what moved Moses to chuse affliction with the people of God, rather then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea­son, but because he was well furnished with faith, where­by he had respect to the re­compence of reward? Heb. 11. What animated and en­couraged Job under his singu­lar tryals and fad pressures, but because he had faith to believe a happy event of all his troubles? viz. that when God had tryed him a while, he should come out of the Furnace like Gold purified [Page 42]and refined, Job. 23.10. Therefore as Abraham fore­saw Christs day and rejoyced, so could ye but in suffering times, freequently foresee that day when Christ will give you rest, you would with Paul be cheerful in tribulati­ons, and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Indeed if we look upon L [...]za­rus on the Dung-hill, upon Daniel in the Dungeon, upon Jeseph in the Prison, and up­on the Martyrs burning like Backcloggs in the fire, what can we judge them but mise­rable? Medium faci [...]è [...]ole­namus, [...]um fin [...]m clare praevide­mus. but if we consider their end, we shall see them with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of God, then shall we say, Who will not bear the cross, that they may wear the Crown? who would not [Page 43]do any thing, suffer any thing, be any thing, every thing, while they live, that they might have such benefit of and advantage by their troubles when they dye! and thus faith shews the soul the recompence and reward that shall be made it for all its troubles and grievances, and from thence, as from a flower, it distils the spirits and quin­tessence of divine comfort, wherewith the Christian is enabled to pass the Pilgrimage of a wearisome and afflicted life, with much interiour satisfaction and hearty con­tentation: How sollicitous then should we all be to be well stored and prearmed with this spiritual provision! would ye lead comfortable lives? live up then to the [Page 44]height of your faith.

Secondly, Prearme your selves with patience; for now have you need of pati­ence, saith the Apostle, Heb. 10.36. Now in the hour of tryal and tentation, now in the day of trouble and afflicti­on; the carking careful hous­holders will be sure to hoard up heaps of temporal provisi­on against a dear year; for say they, we know not what need we may have before we dye; let their worldly wit teach us heavenly wisdome, even to be as vigorous, strenu­ous and provident for gr ce, as they are for goods; for we know not but we may have need hereafter of all we have, though it were im­proved into a treble proporti­on; be injuring thy self then [Page 45]to bear lesser afflictions with patience, that thou mayest be able to grapple with great­er, when providence shall please to call thee to a Tryal.

And for the improvement of thy Patience, learn these few lessons beforehand.

First, Into what condition soever Providence shall cast thee, believe it to be the best, and then thou wilt never be disguised with discontent, nor metamorphosed with a spirit of murmuring. Dioge­nes preferd his Tub before Alexanders Trophie, his Cyni­cal life, before the others Royalty; he phancyed his little Cloyster best, and so rested satisfied; so if we could but phancy a little estate, and low condition, to be best [Page 46]for us, as having fewer cares in it, and a less account following after it, it would be far more eligible and con­tenting; Vain men phancy such or such a condition best; they would flaunt in their Ruffs, and flourish in their bravery, and have all the strings of vanity strike at once, and hereupon they are vexed if their wills be crossed; But learn you to subscribe your wills to Gods will, and ever think it best to be at his finding; God is wise: he knows whether food or Physick would be more proper to your con­stitution; whether an empty chest or full estate would consult more for your safety and conveniency; and there­fore do but acquiesce in his [Page 47]allowance, and wise provi­dence, as judging that best, and then the quarrel will soon be at an end.

Secondly, Value the things of the world according to their own worth; let them not be too high in thy esti­mation while thou hast them, and they will prove the less affliction to thee when thou partest with them; Now the best verdict thou canst pass upon them, is that of Solomons, Eccl. 1.2. Vanity of vanity, va­nity of vanity, all is vanity; you may call them what you please, but Solomon sheweth what they are, viz. Vanity; you may call them pleasant vanities, or profitable vani­ties, or honest vanities; but David calls them deceitful vanities, and Jonah calls them [Page 48]lying vanities, and Solomon calls them, Vanity of vanity; and if you be not come to be of these mens mind, to think that all is vanity, it is because your own vanity stands in your light, and will not let you see the vanity of other things; Oh were you but natures Privy-Counsellour, were you but a little better versed in the vanity of the creature, you would in all detriments and disappoint­ments that befal you here, say as the Emperour Galie­nus said, when report was brought to him that Egypt was lost, What cannot I live without the flax of Egypt? Contemno minut [...]los istos deos, modo [...]o­vem habe­am propiti­um. or with that Heroick heathen, I value not any of these pet­ty gods, provided I have but Jove for my friend, I weigh [Page 49]not any trivial or inconside­rable loss here, so I may but win Christ and be found in him; would you not over­value your earthly comforts when they are with you, you would not over-lament them when Providence should please to pluck them from you; for whence is it that we over-grieve the loss of any temporal blessing, but because we either expect that pleasure from it, which is not, or set that price upon it, which ought not? this is the se­cond.

Thirdly, Pore not upon your losses, but ponder upon your mercies; as suppose thou hast a child taken away, and this is thy complaint; but let me ask thee a Question or two; hast thou not an [Page 50]Husband or Wife left behind for thy comfort? hast thou not health in thy body, or grace in thy soul? and are not these as good to thee as ten sons? suppose thy money is gone, thy estate gone; but so long as thy breath is not gone, thy life not gone, thy God, thy Christ and heaven not gone, thou art no great loser; Gods dispensations are so Checquer wrought with blacks and white, that a Christian hath never such cause to weep with one eye, but he hath as great cause or greater, to laugh with the other. Oh then eye not al­ways the blacks, but some­times give a glance at the whites; look on the light side of the Lanthorn, and not on the dark side of thy [Page 51]condition; remember thy com­forts, and forget thy crosses, and thy discontent will dis­band. Were we but more af­fected with Gods mercies, we should be less afflicted with our miseries; this is the third.

Fourthly, Be more trou­bled for your sins, and you will be less troubled at your Afflictions; compare thy sins with thy sufferings, and thou wilt find the former so far exceed the latter, both in na­ture, number and measure, that thou wilt break forth in­to Ezra's confession, Lord, thou hast punished me less then I have deserved. What wouldst thou have no correction to be laid upon thy back, who hast so much corruption lurking in thy heart? Wouldst thou [Page 52]have nothing of pain adhear­ing to thee, who hast so much of crime inhearing in thee? Is not thy holiness imperfect? and wouldst thou have thy happiness intire? do but con­sider in cold blood, what wrath, what wo thou deser­vest, and thou wilt soon be contented with what thou feellest; doth God correct thee with Scourges? he might scourge thee with Scorgions; doth he call for thy estate, and cast thy body in prison? he might as well take away thy life, and send thy soul to hell; doth he rob thee of thy coyne? he might if he pleased bereave thee of thy Christ too; In a word, he might Damn thee without any more adoe, as well as whip thee, and heighten thy torment in [Page 53]hell, as well as lessen thy com­forts on earth; for the wages of sin is death, as Paul wit­nesseth, Rom. 6.23. Do but sadly think of this, and this Devil of discontent will not dare to shew his head. Every Malefactor is well content with fineing, when he knows he deserveth hanging, and thankfully acknowledgeth the mercy of the Judge therein; so would we, could we but make the case our own.

Fifthly, Consider that dis­content doth but drive the nail deeper, and make the cross sit heavier. As a bird in a snare, by flutter­ing to get out, is yoked the harder in; or as one in Irons, by strugling and striving to wring them off, hurts him­self more then the Irons do: [Page 54]thus many add to their trou­ble by their own folly, and make the burden heavier by their impatience, then ever God made it by his provi­dence; their greatest grievance ariseing ab intra, from the discomposure of the spirit within; not ab extra, from the pressure of the affliction without; like unto certain sick men, who would ever be changing their beds, yet they never find rest, for that the cause of their griefe lies not in their beds, but in their bodies. I'ts their distemper within that makes every room they come in, every company they keep, and every condi­tion irksom, tedious, and un­comfortable; so tis in this case, it is this Malignant va­pour, this peccant humour [Page 55]of discontent in a mansspirit, that imbitters every accident, puts a sting into every cross, makes every affliction more afflictive then else it would be.

Sixthly and lastly, Consi­der, all thy wrongs and hard usages, all thy afflictions and losses, all thy injuries and in­dignities, that have, do, or ever shall betide thee, were designed and intended for thee before time, and now by the wise and over-ruleing Providence of God are effect­ed and executed upon thee in time; It is not fortune or chance (in the vulgar con­struction) it is not men or Devils, but the Almighty Je­hovah that afflicts us, who having absolute power over us, may dispose of us, either by poverty or plenty, by [Page 56]sickness or health, by life or death, as best pleaseth him, 1 Sam. 3.18. The considera­tion of this made old Eli hold his peace, when Samuel read him the sad story of his ruind posterity; It is the Lord, said Eli, let him do what seems him good; and this one thought kept on foot in our minds, viz. that its Gods own finger that tempers the cup of af­fliction for us, may be of So­veraign power, to cool and allay any impatiency that might either rise in our hearts, or rage in our tongues, against the instruments of our trouble; this was that which quieted Davids spirit, and made him that he had not a word to say, Psal. 39.9. I was dumb, said he, and ope­ned not my mouth; why so [Page 57]silent and quiet under the rod, that there was not one whimper, or whining look to be seen or heard? he tells us the reason, because thou didst it; because God was the Author, the orderer and disposer of his affliction. If the blow had come from any other hand, he could not have taken it so silently; but com­ming from the hand of God who might dispose of him and deal with him as he pleased, he contained his tongue in si­lence, and possessed his heart with patience; The like we see in Job, when he had the wit to premise, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away; he had the grace to con­clude, Blessed be the name of the Lord; Job doth not say, The Lord hath given, and the [Page 58] Caldeans have taken away; the Lord hath enriched me, and Satan hath robd me; but as if he had never heard of men or Devil, of fire or wind, he layes all at Gods Threshold, the Lord hath ta­ken away; he falls not out with man or means, he is not angry with chance or fortune, with stars or constellations; he did not like a child blame the block he stumbled on, nor like a Country cur snarle and snatch at the stone thrown, never looking after the throw­er, but he saw God as Justice of the Quorum, giving com­mission and granting License to his Enemies to sequester him, and this stoopt his heart into that (not onely patient, but) Panegyrical prostration, blessed be the name of the [Page 59]Lord. A clear view and di­stinct apprehension of the hand of God in any afflicti­on, is a Soveraigne auxilia­rie to melt our wills, and con­quer our hearts into content­ment under that affliction. There was provocation e­nough in the venemous tongue of vile Shimei, to [...]ave incensed and enraged Davids Royal heart against that dead dog; unkindness, nay cruelty enough in the flinty spirits of the stone-hearted Jews, against the holy Jesus, to have forced his dispassionate soul (if possible) into a fit of fury and implacable resoluti­on; The every and downright robbery enough in the carri­age of the Caldeans towards Job, to have stird him up (if not publickly to prosecute [Page 60]the Law, yet privately) to study revenge; but these pious persons, by the con­scientious practice of the point in hand, and from the strength of this consideration which I have here commend­ed to your observation, for the demolishing of discon­tent, have been converted into contentment, and melted into patience and pleasedness, in despite of all occasions and provocations to the contrary; for in all their afflictions they lookt beyond the creature, and pitcht upon the Primum Mobile, or principal Agent, God; David did not so much see Shemei curseing, as God commissioning him to curse; It may be the Lord hath bid him, said he, 2 Sam. 16.10. And our dearest Lord lookt [Page 61]beyond the Governours com­mitting him, the Priests accu­sing him, Pilates condemning him, and the mercyless rab­ble of the Jews crucyfying him; he lookt beyond these, even to the hand of his hea­venly Father, composeing this bitter Potion for him, and reaching it to him; You can do nothing said he, but what my Father hath preor­dained to be done; and here­upon he resolveth on it with­out repineing, Shall not I drink the cup which my Fa­ther hath given me?

Therefore when ever any affront is put upon thee, when any unpleasing providence or cross accident befalls thee, see something of God in it, as intending it for the purgation of thy sin, or probation of [Page 62]thy sincerity, or for some such like end and purpose; say seriously in thy own heart, Certainly this is from God, and for my good; say with Eli, It is the Lord, and it will not be hard then to con­clude with the same president, Let him do what seems him good, 1 Sam. 3.18. Nay not only grace but nature may teach us thus much manners; for what beast do we see though never so savage in it self, which will not take blows from his keep­er, without relucting or re­pining? and therefore that man must be much more bru­tish then his beast, and come a degree short of a meer ani­mal, that dares struggle when his God strikes, and cry when his maker corrects; O Christi­an, when Gods hands lies [Page 63]upon thy back, do thou lay thine own hand upon thy mouth, according to Davids direction, Psa. 46.11. Be still and know that I am God.

Thirdly, pre-arm your selves with se f-denyal: He that will be my disciple, said Christ, must deny himself; if we ac­count to have any thing to do with Christ, we must not have much to do with self; he cannot profess Christ well, who cannot willingly deny himself for Christ; the set­ting up of self, was the first sin of Satan; and must first be cast down in our hearts, if ever Christ be set up there; Selfishness is the very seed of sin, whereby a man seeks to please himself, and to advance himself in his own interest, [Page 64]according to his own wit, and his own will; selfishness is an enemie to suffering (and by consequence to our con­formity with Christ) it con­sults for ease, pleasure, and plenty: and if we humour self, if we cocker the flesh, and gratifie the lusts of it, we shall sooner be Courti­erts then Christs Cross-bear­ers; and sons of pleasures, rather then mortified Martyrs

Oh then make a dayly resig­nation of thy self up to Gods disposal; labour to get thy will Martyred, and mastered into a compliance with the will of God. Then nothing will come amiss to thee, when thy soul by self-denial is so sweetly disposed for a willing welcome of any tryal that can befall thee.

Now to work thy heart to this self-denying fraime, let me commend these two in­terrogatories to thy con­sideration.

First, Hath not God deni­ed infinitely more for thee, then ever he required that thou shouldst deny for him? It may be thou art called to deny thy relations, to part with a friend, or a child for his sake? and this is thy sor­row: but hath not God free­ly sacrificed his son, his onely son to death, and that for to bring thee to eternal life? God so loved the world, saith St. John Chap. 3.16. that he gave his only son for its re­demption. Though we be less then the lest of all Gods [Page 66]mercyes, yet he thought not the best too good for us; for he so loved us, that he parted with his son for us; Ah sirs, here's a sic without a sicut; this (so loved) speaks the unspeakableness of his love, so intirely, so admira­bly, so infinitely, even so as cannot be conceived how; So dear are children to their pa­rents, that the Prophet puts this Querie, Can a Mother forget her Child? yet such is Gods love to us, that he seemed to forget his son, his dear son, his best belo­ved son, that lay in the bo­some of the Father, and was his delight from all eternity; yet I say, he seemed to forget this son, that he might re­member the better to make us his sons; he denies him that he might own us; he parteth [Page 67]with him for a while, that he and we might meet for ever; and doth not this one instance make the duty of self-denial appear rational and very rea­sonable to thee?

Is it thy estate that thou art bid deny; is it part of thy lively-hood that Providence bids thee part with, and make a resignation of, and doth this trouble thee? but tell me, hath not the Holy Jesus con­descended, and consented to be turned out of heaven, and be divested of all the glory that he was possessed of there, to lead a poor, afflicted, derided and persecuted life, amidst his enemies on earth? did not he quit heaven and the plea­sures thereof for thee? and wilt not thou resigne an estate or a few Acres of earth for [Page 68]him [...] did not he open his veines and let out his blood for thee? and grudgest thou to open thy bags, and part with thy money for him? O baseness to be blushed at! O remember but what thy Savi­our denied for thee; and if there be any thing of an inge­nuous Christian in thee, it will be a Powerful argument, to perswade thee to deny any thing, every thing for him; and to say with Paul, I de­sire to know and enjoy no­thing but Christ, and him crucified. Look but up to the Cross where Christ hung for thy sins, and it will make thee fadge with thy Cross the more willingly, and underlie it the more resolvedly.

Secondly, To work thy heart to a self-denying frame, [Page 69]let me commend this Inter­rogatory to thy considerati­on; Cannot God compensate thee for what he calls from thee? cannot he repaire thy loss, and crown thee here­after, with a reward which shall both in weight and worth superlatively surpass all thy dammages here? will not heaven make amends for all? the Martyrs knew this well, and that made them covet to carry the Cross, and leap into the flames, and sing at the stake as they did; the Apostles knew this well, and that made them joy in tribula­tions as they did, considering that through them they should enter into the King­dome of God. Consider then though you may be losers for Chri [...]t, yet you shall not [Page 70]be losers by Christ; he will requite you either in kind or in kindness, here or hereaf­ter; you have a Ticket under Christs own hand, to ascer­taine you of the truth of what I say, Mat. 19.29. He that loseth Father or Mo­ther, Lands or Liberty, Life or Estate, for my sake and the Gospels, shall receive in this life an hundred fold, not in kind, but in Equiva­lence, not Formaliter but Emi­nenter; not a hundred fathers or a hundered estates, but he shall have that which is worth as much; he shall enjoy that in God, which all the crea­ture comforts would be to him, if they were multiply­ed an hundred times, and in the world to come everlasting life; so that as Haman said [Page 71]in another case, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to ho­nour; so may I say in this case, Thus shall it be done to Christs Cross-bearers, to Christs fellow-sufferers: sup­pose now Christian thy God should grant a commission to the enemie to sequester thy estate, to Imprison thy person, to murther thy fame, and to require thy life too, can it seem unreasonable to thee qui­etly to quit them, whilst this truth keeps fresh and fair in thy memory?

These are the two Queries I would leave with you; the two considerations I would fain fasten upon you, for the throwing down of this idol of self in you: Ponder [Page 72]upon them considerately, and practise accordingly, and be selffish if thou canst.

Fourthly, I proceed now to the last praticular, Pre­arme your selves with a good conscience; this will be of marvellous use to quicken and comfort your hearts under the deepest disconsolations you may meet with ere you dye. When Paul could say, Herein do I exercise my self, to have a Conscience voyd of offence both towards God and man, he soon could draw this inference, I have learnt in every condition to be content: Its guilt in the Conscience that breeds dis­quiet in the heart; If dust or moates get into the eye, they make it water, and [Page 73]cause a soreness in it; but if the eye be clear, all is prevent­ed; Thus, if any sin be left in any corner of thy Consci­ence, thou mayst expect that grief and disquiet will follow after; but keep a clear Conscience, and all is well: let it be first pure, and fear not but it will be peaceable: what Solomon saith of a good stomack, may be said of a good Conscience, To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet, Prov. 27.7. so to an excusing and acquitting conscience, every sower sop of Affliction is as a sweet bit of interiour consolation; such a one can draw comfort out of the bitterest drug, and a health restoring portion out of the deadliest and ranckest poyson; therefore [Page 74]said the Apostles under the most smarting rods of perse­cution and imprisonment. Our rejoycing is the Testimony of a good Conscience, Oh keep Conscience clear, Let inno­cency be in the fore­ward, an [...] true quie [...] and tran­quillity, will be in the reer­ward. 2 Cor. 1.12 and you shall not want comfort; for a good Conscience is a continual feast, and he that hath it fares well enough, though he hath no other food; this man may be merry with­out merriment, and make melody in his heart, with­out musick in his ear, and dine and sup without dain­tyes. Corne, wine, coyne and cattle, (the worldings delight and darling) is no­thing to this, Heb. 3.17, 18.

Thus have I done with the First Inference, in which [...] have shewed you

First, that we are to pre­pare [Page 95]for suffering times.

Secondly, (What) we are to prepare.

I now pass to the second use, As the Ark was lift higher by the waves, [...]o the Christian should grow h [...]ler by his suffering; therefore said Paul, God cor­rects us for our profit, that we should be made par­takers of his holy­n [...]s [...]. Heb. 12.10. viz. That as it should be our wisedome to prepare for smarting times before they come, so should it be our conscionable care to profit by them after they are come. God hath said, Rom. 8.28. That all things shall work to­gether for our good; but how shall this be, unless by them we be made more good: Small comfort can it be to an Armie to provide Ammuniti­on against the Enemie, when at last they are forced to fly, and glad they can get off the field with a whole skin; and to as little purpose is it for us to be prepar'd for aflictions at a distance, if we be impaired [Page 76]by them in the incounter; Perdidisti utilitatem calamitatis. Austin crys out against such who grew not better by af­flictions; alas (said he) you have lost the quintessence of this correction, the benefit of the Rod; certainly there is honey in the most unsavory flower, were we but skilful Chymists to extract it; there is a blessing in every providence of God, Its obser­ved that the wal [...]ut tree, the more its thrasht, the more fruit it bears: Oh may every child of God prove thus improved by the rod, that albeit as the Apo­sile saith, no chastenning for the present seem j [...]yous, yet afterwards it may yield the peaceable fruit of [...]ighteousne [...] to him that is ex­ercised thereby. had we but wisdom to broach the vessel, and draw it forth; Oh let us lay out our strength more for an improvement by, then for a releaseament from our trou­bles; and be more sollicitous for the sanctification of them, then for the removal of them [Page 77]from us, that we may expe­rience in our selves, what Da­vid observed in himself Psal. 119.71. Its good for me that I have been afflicted; Now if you would be reformed and improved by Gods correcting hand upon you or yours;

First, Something must be done while the rod of afflicti­on lyeth upon thee.

Secondly, and something must be done when it is taken off you.

The former duty brancheth it self into these two particulars.

First, You must turn your afflictions into prayers.

Secondly, you must turn your afflictions into tears.

First, You are to turn your afflictions into prayers; Call upon me, saith God, in the time of trouble, Psal 50.15. and Is [Page 78]any afflicted? let him pray, said James, Chap. 5.13. When God is beating our backs, we should be bowing our knees; when he is afflicting we should fall to praying; Is any afflict­ed? let him pray; contrary to the practice of some, who when God is chastiseing, they fall a chafeing; when God is correcting, they fall to com­plaining; like wild bulls they grow mad by bateing? if crosses or losses rush in upon them, and their estates begin to waste, they fall to the Isra­lites language, viz. Murmur­ing and repining, and like the Sea in a storme, they foam out their own shame, and cast up the mire and dirt of their muttering and male-con­tent spirits; but Christians are to make another use of [Page 79]their afflictions; for when God frowns, they should beg most for his smiles; and when he turns his back, they should sue hardest for his face and re­freshing countenance to shine upon them: never had David penned so many Psalmes, nor put up so many pathetick prayers to God, had not the drawing plaisters of affliction suckt them from him; Never had Daniel persisted panting in his prayers as he did, ( Chap. 9.19.) O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord hearken and do: O Lord defer not for thy names sake, had not the esoud of the divine displeasure hung over the City Jerusalem, which threatened it with some sweeping judgment, vers. 16.17. O what fluent prayers should issue from us, and what [Page 80]lively stirrings of Spirit should be within us, when the smart­ing virg of some afflictive pro­vidence lyes upon us! They poured out a prayer, said the Prophet, when thy chast­enings were upon them, where­as our prayers did but drop out before, now they should be poured out; whereas they ebbed at other times, they should now flow.

Secondly, You are to turn your afflictions into tears, tears of a penitential Recanta­tion, and cordial contri­tion, sorrowing in secret for the baseness of your natures, and badness of your lives, whereby you have dared God to draw his sword, to bend his bow, and shoot his darts of displeasure at you; suffer­ing times should be sorrow­ing [Page 81]and repenting times, teach­ing us to joyne with lament­ing Jeremiah in that repen­tant resolution, Let us search and try our ways, and turn to the Lord our God. When the Caldeans, the Devil and the Sabeans were scratching and scrambling for Jobs Cattle, and making a gap in his out­ward estate, then was Job a searching his heart, and sor­rowing for his sins, and re­newing his repentance, and repairing the breaches in his spiritual estate; for saith the Text, then Job fell down and worshipped, Job. 1.20 When the good man was informed of those soul-sadding casual­ties that had surprised him, how that all the creature com­forts he had in the whole world, were dead and buryed [Page 82]in silence, and forgetfulness, hereupon he rent his mantle, shaved his head, fell down and worshipped; loe Jobs carriage under his affliction; when Satan urgeth him to rend Gods name with reproach and cursing, he rends his heart and habit; when he tempts him to stand up and de­fie God, Job on the contra­ry falls down and worships God; when afflictions send us home to God, like so many penitent prodigals, with melting eyes, and mourning hearts, for our unhandsome behaviour, and unkind de­meanour towards him, then have they a sweet influence and blessed operation upon us, and are to us what God intended them, viz. Resto­ratives to Repentance, and [Page 83]Instruments of Humiliation, Hos. 5.15. Thus much for that which you are to do while the rod lies on you; Now a word to the latter, which you are to do when it is taken off you, and this I shall comprise in two parti­culars.

First, What ever you wished had been done then, let it not lie undone now.

Secondly, What ever you vowed to God that you would do (in case he would remove the affliction) do not in any­wise neglect it, but speedily set about the doing of it.

First, What you wished had been done, do it; It may be when you were sick last, and had to your appre­he [...]sion [Page 84]death in your Cham­ber by you, bidding you dress your self for a Funeral, and prepare for dying, it may be then you wished, Oh that I had been a thousand times more holy, more heavenly, and more careful to have saved my soul! Oh that I had expended and laid out that money upon the backs or bowels of the poor, which I lavished out upon my lusts in jovial revellings, and good fellow meetings! O that I had spent that time in tears and humiliation, which I lost in sports and recreations! would to God those many nights and precious hours had been imployed and improved in weeping, watching and praying (for now should I have found the comfort of [Page 85]it in my conscience in this dying hour) which were wo­fully wasted and cursedly thrown away in carding, diceing, drinking, and the like base and unblessed practises! Oh that I had spent the Sab­boths (those filver seasons of grace) in hearing, meditate­ing, and taking true pains in duty, which I passed over in vain jangling, idle courses, and fruitless discour­ses, quite cross to the end for which they were given me! it may be Christian, these were thy sad thoughts upon a sick bed; tell me, were not these thy wishes? were not these thy desires? was not this the breathing of thy heart? was not this the lan­guage of thy soul? if so, as thou valnest that immortal [Page 86]soul of thine, and hopest to go to heaven, when they earthly house shall hold thee no longer, let it be thy indea­vour to do what was once thy desire had been done; God hath intrusted thee with a new talent; and beyond thy expectation, brought thee safe from off a sick bed, and hath turn'd thee asit were into the world again, to try thee whether thou wilt make any conscience, that thy deeds now be answerable to thy desires then▪ or no; dear heart, pitty thy own soul while thou mayest, and seri­ously set about the abandon­ing of those irregularities, and performing those duties which were once thy desires that they had been done, that when sickness commeth a [Page 87]second time, it may not find the work undone. O si, O si, O tio si. And thou in a wishing and woulding posture, as before.

Secondly, What ever act of holiness or religion you vowed or covenanted, pur­posed add promised to do, be sure you do it, and in no wise neglect it. It may be in a fit of sickness you bound your self by promise and vow made to God, that if he would but add to your days some few more years, as he did to Hezekiah, and try you with health again, you would reforme, repent and grow good; ah would but God try me with one twelve-moneth longer, and intrust me with my health again, how speedily would I repent! [Page 89]how heartily would I pray, and lye night and day in the posture of a true peni­tent, spreading my conditi­on before the Lord, till he hear and turn himself and say, Be of good chear, poor soul, thy sins are forgiven thee! H ast thou not tyed thy self by such like promises and protestations as these, that thou wilt break off thy bad­ness betimes, and never in­tangle thy conscience in the guilt of thy quondam corrup­tions again? If so, the Lord pardon thy perfidious pro­mise-breaking, covenant-breaking, and unfaithful deal­ing with God (if thou art still a transgressour) and grant that thy own engagements, thy own covenants may not condemne thee. Oh Christian, [Page] [...]et it be thy constant care to [...]ischarge thy old debts, to [...]erforme the vows thou [...]adest to God in thy af­ [...]iction; let not rich Jacob Gen. 33.19. forget to pay [...]hat poor Jacob promised, [...]en. 28 20. be not niggardly [...] do in health, what thou [...]t bountiful to say in sick­ [...]ess; the Lord pinch thee [...]nd me into the remembrance [...]f our faith plighted, and [...]romise made to God, that [...] we may reinforce our old [...]ows with new resolutions, & [...]ing them at last into act and [...]ecution. Thus have I done [...]ith these two Uses. First, to [...]epare for troubles. Secondly, [...] profit by troubles. I will [...]d two more.

The first is that of Johns, [Page 90]1 John 2.15. Love not the world, nor the things of the world.

The second is that of Pauls, Heb. 13.14. Since we have no continuing Citty here, let us seek one to come; Since there can no constant comfort be had in this world, let it be our wisdome to provide some in the next world; since the earth is a very vale of mise­ry, a wilderness of weari­ness and wo, take care to se­cure heaven, where (as th [...] spirit faith) Rev. 21.4. there's no more death but life, n [...] more mourning but mirth, no more sorrow nor crying, neither shal [...] there be any pain more, for thes [...] things are all passed away. [...] begin with the former.

First, Is this life at th [...] [Page 91]best but a day of labour and trouble? then be not in love with the guilded pills, the transient pleasures and un­certaine enjoyments of this fleeting life; be not fond of, nor too much taken with the fawning smiles of this flatter­ing world: And the rather, because the sweetest wine hath dregs, the clearest day hath clouds, the fairest fortune hath fears, the richest estate hath cares, and the sweetest, safest, and most eli­gible condition you can possi­bly fancy to our selves (in statu quo nunc) is soured by several sad instances, proper to that condition; Christ ex­presseth it, Mat. 6. ult. and we can experience it, Every day hath enough of its own evils; every day brings forth [Page 92]some alteration, some new affliction, some fresh encoun­ter with one cross or another: man hath never one whole day to himself of entire and uninterrupted quiet, but either something offends him, or nothing pleaseth him; even at such a time, and in such particulars as he proposeth to himself most of pleasure, it frequently falls out, that he finds least of satisfaction, something or other unexpect­edly interposing, which pre­vents the felicity and fru­strates the mans fancy; thus while Jonah was warming his hands as it were at the ignis fatuus of his own fond con­ceit, while he was exhilara­ting and making himself mer­ry with his groundless con­fidence in the gourds conti­nuance, [Page 93]providence had pre­pared a worm which on the sudden undermined it, that it witherd, John. 4. Thus Jonahs hopes were laid on an heap, and himself intombed im a disappointment; the like we see in the parable of the rich Clown in the Gospel, when he had reapt his crop, inlarged his barns, inned his harvest, and feasted his car­cass, and composing himself to rest, thinking to sing a Requiem to his soul, and to take a nap of an age long, on the sudden death pluckt the pillow from under his head, and accosted him with this sad salute, hac nocte stul­te, thou fool come thy ways with me, lye no longer upon thy bed of ease, but up and away to judgment; alass silly [Page 92] [...] [Page 93] [...] [Page 94]man, who would have thought this! who could have suspected that one so well appointed, so well pro­vided, should have been so soon unsetled, so quickly dismounted! Oh sirs, take you warning by these and the like particulars, which God hath been so punctual in pen­ning, to leave them on record for our learning; why should you and I lust after the things of this life, as they lusted, since we see how strangely they were cheated, and how miserably they were deluded! why should we be so passio­nately in love with sumptu­ous buildings, Quis sapi­ens bono considat frag [...]li? Ni [...]larequi­es terris, surgite viri. pleasant scitu­ations, gay apparrel, delici­ous fair, a wealthy donative, or such like low and mean things, which are stuck with [Page 95]thorns, lined with cares, and faced with fears while they are with us, and for ought we know, by some interve­ning accident, by some un­seen instance of the divine providence, may speedily and unexpectedly be fetcht away from us, and we be left in the dark, to take up that lesson of lamentation which Job did (when he lookt back upon his by passed plea­sures, and wealth now worn out) Alass what have I had for my inheritance, but a few moneths of vanity!

Is this life a day of trouble? then look somewhere else for Rest, even to heaven which is the souls right resting place; as the needle in the compass is in continual motion till it [Page 96]point Northwards; and as Noahs Dove found no place to rest in, till she returned to the Ark; so are our souls in continual motion, trouble and trepidation, till they point Christ-wards and Hea­ven-wards, till they sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, to rest and rowl them­selves in the everlasting em­bracements of Jesus; for we find by frequent proof and dayly experiment, that here we have no place to sit down in, but we must r [...]se as soon as we are set. Ah how soon is our Comical mirth Metamor­phosed into Tragical mourn­ing, our festival solemnities in­to funeral obsequies, and our ease, security and the great­est felicity we can fancy to our selves here, Hic acqui­runtur hic amittuntur res terrenae. ah how quickly, [Page 73]even in the turne of an hand, or age of a minute is it con­verted into tediousness and wearisomeness? how soon doth it conclude in a fevour, an ague or lingering sickness, in an afflicted life or an unex­pected death? all which, with many more may preach to us upon that Text, Up, here is not thy rest, thou hast yet a great journey to go; Oh let us ever be hugging up our hearts heavenwards, and fending our affections up­wards towards the Saints everlasting rest, towards those Mansions prepared for us above, where felicity is the condition, eternity the dura­tion, Angels the company, the Lamb the light, and God the portion and inheritance for ever. Thus much of that [Page 74]which is presupposed in the Text, viz. That the best that can be said of this life, is, thats its a day of labours and troubles. Now I pro­ceed to that which is propo­sed viz. That the worst that can be said of death or the grave, is, that its a night of rest and repose.

There the weary be at rest.

As John after the terrible claps of thunder, heard the pleasant voyce of Harpers, Rev. 14.2. So here, after la­bour commeth rest, which lat­ter makes amends for the for­mer; While here, we are like the Israelites in Exile, at last comes death like Moses to deliver us; and Moses said, when he came for the peoples enlargement and deliverance, he would not leave an hoof [Page 95]behind; so Christian, when thou commest to take up thy quarters in the grave, not one trouble but it will be left behind; this, and this, and this trouble, which now thou thinkest almost intolerable; and that wound, that wo, which thou art apt to judge almost incurable, will shake hands with thee, as soon as thou enterest the continent of a Coffin, never to see thy face more; no more labours of the body, nor distractions of the mind, no more noyse nor stir, but all quiet & still in the grave whither thou goest; there the weary be at rest. The servant there is not spent with ser­ving, nor wearied with wait­ing, nor weakned with work­ing, but sleeps with as much quiet, lyeth with as much [Page 76]ease, hath as much atten­dance, and is as much a free­man as his Master; This Job justifieth, Chap. 3.19. The servant is free from his Master, and in the 18. vers. he shews the same in Prisoners; there saith he, the Prisoners rest together; here they are invi­rond with fears, and beset with frights, while the Baliffs stand centinel to catch them in every corner, and to take them at every turne; here they are continually tossed and tugd, haled and hurried from their house to the Prison, from the society of their loving relatives, to converse and to communicate with the crysand sad querela's of poor captives, and men miserable like themselves; but when death begins to look them in [Page 77]the face; then the year of jubilee, the day of delivery begins to dawn upon their heads; when they have once paid their debt to nature, then all their debts are paid; now death is their debt to nature, and therefore when they have paid that, that is, when they are dead once, they receive a quietus est in their Spirits, an acquittance that they have done all, discharg­ed all; therefore he conclu­deth thus; there the Prisoners rest together.

Now touching this rest, I will proceed first in shewing you what it is, and secondly, what use we are to make of it.

There's a threefold rest, [Page 78]which Christians injoy in the grave.

First, A rest from work­ing; theres no tedious imploy­ment there.

Secondly, A rest from suf­fering, there's no calamity to prey upon our carcasses there.

Thirdly, A rest from sin­ning, and this is better then all the rest.

First, A rest from work­ing, no riseing up early, no sitting up late, no toyling the body, nor spending the spirits, no exhausting the moysture, nor drying up the marrow with hard Labour to get a poor living, but as Job saith, Chap. 3.13 The man shall lie still and be at quiet, as if he were taking a days, [Page 79]repose upon a feather bed. O the weary nights and weary days, Oh the tedious times and tyresom hours, that ma­ny a poor labouring man meets with here! Oh the scorching heat, and peirce­ing cold, that they are forced to feel, and silently to stoop to; Oh what would they give for a little respite some­times! what would they not part with for a perfect rest! now death gives them their wish, and gratifies them with this felicity they so much long for; for saith the spirit, bles­sed are the dead that dye in the Lord, for they rest from their labours; which place receiveth further light from that posi­tion of the Preacher, Eccles. 9.10. There's no work nor de­vice, saith he, in the grave [Page 80]whither thou goest, thats a Bed-Chamber and not a shop, a sleeping room and not a work-house.

Secondly, A rest from suf­fering; no languishing weak­ness, no sickness nor faint­ness can there be found; no more oppression nor impri­sonment for the poor debtor; no more reproaches nor false imputations to be fastened on the painful Minister; no more losses or hardship incident to the harmless housholder; no more crying and com­plaining in our streets by comfortless Orphans & father­less Children, My Father, my father! But when God hath once whipt his child to bed, he throws by the rod, and lets him rest; therefore saith [Page 81] Job in the words immediately going before my Text, There wicked the cease from trou­bling, from afflicting; & he adds in the text, there the weary be at rest, from being troubled or af­flicted; they are now got out of the croud of tumults and crosses into the Region of rest and tranquillity; hence could the Heathen say, that it was the best thing not to be born, not to come into this world of miseries, and the next best thing (if we do give the world a visit) in case we be born, to dye quickly, to resigne our interest in it, and be gone; get but once thither Christian, and thou needest not fear those bedlam-surges and affrighting billows of momentany afflictions which are apt to dash upon, and [Page 82]threaten drowning to the fluctuated and tempest-tossed Vessel of thy outward man, for the high Lord of heaven and earth, to whom both wind and sea and all things else owe their allegiance, will silence the Euroclydons, Spunge, the impetuous waves, and still the rage of all vexa­tions and afflictive incidences, when he lands his Ark upon Ararat, when he Cradles his Child in the grave, there to take its rest till the resur­rection. This is the second particular, we shall rest from; viz. all sufferings that like so many Serjeants, are ready to arrest the body; here lies Job in the Ashes, here lies Jacob in the Fields, here lies David it the Wilderness, here lyes Abraham in exile, and [Page 83]here lies many of our bre­thren bleeding and groaning under the heavy pressures, of poverty, oppression, sick­ness, and such like afflicti­ons; but at last comes the year of Jubilee, when all the Prisoners of the Lord are set at liberty; therefore they are called the Prisoners of hope, Zech. 9.12. because they may hope to be delivered. The time was when Christ asked the Adultress, Where are thine accusers? and she reply­ed, They are gone; so the time will be, when if it should be enquired of thee, Where are thy troubles? thou shalt answer, They are gone; the sun arose and they vanish­ed into a disappearance; there­fore said the Psalmi [...]t, mark the upright man and behold the [Page 84]just, for the end of that man is peace; though his begin­ning may be trouble, yet his end shall be peace.

Thirdly, A rest from sin­ning; a rest from doing the druggery of Satan, a rest from the law of our members, which now warreth against the law of our mind; this is clear from that Apostolical af­firmation, He that is dead is free from sin; the fount [...]in and flux of sin is then dryed up; all the Conduits of sin are stopt, and the weapons of unrighteousness broken; when a good man dyes, Mort viri Mors vity. his sin dyes with him; nay before him, it dyes in actu, he doth not act it; it dyes in affectu, he doth not affect it; it dyes quoad regunm, it commands him [Page 85]not; and it dyes quoad reatum, it condemns him not; now is the perfect mortification of sin attained; now is the spread­ing Leprosie of sin cured; and is not this good news to a Christians ear? thy Query is now that of Pauls, O wretch that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin? Now death like a friend whispers thee in the ear, it will deli­ver thee; for he that is dead is freed from sin; for where­as in the whole course of our lives, we are continually fighting against our inordi­nate affections, to bring them into subjection to Christ, death as at one stroak smites them; so as that the body goes to the grave, and sins not, and the soul is offerd up to God in a full and per­fect [Page 86]obedience; Now it is thy wish and most passionate prayer, Christian, Oh that my sins were all sacrificed, Oh that my lusts lay all bury­ed and abolished, so as that they might never disquiet my conscience more, never pol­lute my heart more, never offend my God more, never grieve the comforter more. Oh that my corruptions were conquered, that my heart were renewed, that my life were reformed, that I might never sin more, but might be one wholly offered up to the Divine disposal, say­ing with the Psalmist, Lo, I come to do thy will O my Go [...]? now wait-but till a dying hour, and thou shalt have thy wish, though thou canst not live in the body without [Page 87]sin, yet thou shalt lye in th [...] grave without sin; that re­bellious w [...]ll, that earthly mind, those irregular affecti­ons, that were ever exciting thee to sin, and exposeing thee to temptation, drawing thee from duty, destracting thee in duty, or disquieting thee after duty, shall now be left behind; as thy friends may accompany thee to the grave, but then they turn their backs and leave thee; so these may go with thee to a death-bed, to the confines of eternity, but they can proceed no fur­ther; comfortably thou m [...]y­est conclude with Paul, Heb. 4.11. he that is entered into his rest, hath ceased from sin.

I proceed now to use, which is two fold.

• 1. Of Caution.
• 2. Of Comfort.

First, Is the grave a bed of ease? The [...]e [...]r two Cau­tions. is death a night of rest? then mistake not thy resti g place, expect it not in this life; fancy not that thou shalt have any stable or lasting rest, till thy body rest it self in the Arch of the grave, and thy soul repose it self in the bosome of Abra­ham; the first thing the new born infant sees, is sorrow, and the first thing that he doth is weeping, as if the in­nocent were troubled to think upon what a shoar of [Page 89]troubles he is landing, and [...]to what a sea of labours [...]e is lanching, and thus [...]aving as it were took ship­ [...]ng, he rides in the storme, [...]nd like a bubble floats up and [...]own upon the face of the [...]aters, being resiless and [...] perpetual motion all the [...]hile, till he be crushed into [...]atness, by the pressure of a [...]gger drop; I mean till he [...]e ushered into the grave by a [...]ad of undigested meat, by a [...]urthen of a full draught, [...]y the quinsie or stopping of [...]is breath, or by some [...]ch like supervening acci­ [...]ent; thus the poor creature [...]ins out his time, never see­ [...]g an end of his troubles, [...]ll his troubles see an [...]nd of him; therefore the [...]aveat I would fasten upon [Page 90]you, is this, Take heed o [...] building Castles in the Air, o [...] grounding your hopes, an [...] expectations of a continue [...] safety and unshaken security upon the sandy foundation o [...] a temporal and transitor [...] life, as the Angel said to th [...] woman, Why seek ye th [...] living amongst the dead? Luk. 24.5. h [...] is not here, he is risen; so ma [...] I say to you in this case Why seek ye for peace in [...] place of conflict, for the song of Sion in Babylon, for re [...] in a land of labours and trou­bles? these are reserved fo [...] you hereafter, stay for th [...] ultimate event of all things till the last Exit comes, stay t [...] see the clause of the scene then shall you see a true deci­sion of all controversies; [...] conclusion and peroration o [...] [Page 91]al [...] perplexing evils and anxie­ [...]es.

Secondly, Though when [...]e Christian dyeth, his trou­ [...]es dye with him, and he [...]es immediately to rest; yet [...]ow that the wicked reap no [...]ch benefit by death; the [...]d of their life is the begin­ [...]ng of their troubles; all [...]eir merry days are now [...]one, all their youthful [...]eaks now laid aside, now [...] their Candle out, now is [...]eir sun set, and nothing left [...]em in all the world, that [...]n either speak a word of [...]ounsel, or administer a [...]llable of comfort to their [...]assing souls; but no sooner [...]ey dye but they drop into [...]iving torments.

Quest. But you will object; [Page 92]Is it the soul priviledge of t [...] Saints to injoy rest after deat [...] is it not a favour common [...] all Christians whether re [...] or pretended, to repose the [...] selves in the grave with [...] any suspition of a d [...]st [...] ­bance?

I answer, Tis confest th [...] have a kind of rest or rath [...] respite and reprieve giv [...] them, till the Resurrecti [...] day, but poor rest it is (G [...] knows) for it is

• 1. Neither Totall.
• 2. Nor Perpetuall.

First, It is not Total; [...] this rest of theirs reach [...] not the whole man, but [...] ­ly the body, the shell a [...] outside of the man; as [...] the soul, the kirnel, the qu [...] ­tessence, [Page 93]the marrow, and [...]ore excellent part of the [...]an, it is in restless torments, [...]idst a cursed crew of hel­ [...]h executioners, who are [...]nding and tearing the silly [...]retch, in the most tyranni­ [...]l manner imaginable; [...]erefore its said Luk. 16.22, [...]. that no sooner the rich [...]an dyed, but in hell he [...]t up his eyes; no sooner his [...]dy was buried in the earth, [...]t presently his soul was [...]unged into hell, and this [...] the best comfort a wicked [...]an can expect in a dying [...]our, when he feels his body [...]gin by degrees (like a [...]inous house) to fall down [...] to the valley of death, and [...]s soul Tennant-like, to be [...]esently turned out of its [...]d habitation; then may he [Page 94]bespeak it, as the Emperou [...] did, Animula blandula v [...] ­gula, poor fleeting wandrin [...] soul, whither art thou going whither art thou journeying the body may rest a while (a [...] a reprieve granted it) in th [...] vault of a grave; but wher [...] is the place of thy rest? th [...] body hath a Tomb and a Cof­fin provided for it; 2 Cor. 5.1. but tho [...] poor soul, hast not whereon t [...] lay thy head. Every Child o [...] God can say, I know tha [...] when this earthly house of m [...] body, shall be dissolved, I hav [...] a building of God, an hous [...] eternal in the heavens, to lodg my soul in; But all tha [...] the wicked man can say▪ when he dyes, is, I know [...] that when this earthly house of my body shall be dissol­ved, I have a stately Tomb, a [Page 95]carved Coffin, a lasting Mo­ [...]ument, to desposit my bones [...]work [...], I have seen it done alrea­ [...]y, or I have taken order for [...] in my will to have it done; [...]his is all such a man can be [...]ure of; when alass, his [...]illy soul must lye claspt in [...]he claws of the Devil, as [...]he trembling partridge with­ [...]n the griping Tallons of [...]he ravenous Falcon.

The wicked mans rest is not Total.

Secondly, it is not per­petual neither; the body shall not abide for ever under the [...]ands of death, but shall come forth like a prisoner out of Jayle, to be tryed for its [...]ife, and to abide the sad sen­tence of an incensed Judge; [Page 96]The sea shall give up her dea [...] and the grave will give up b [...] dead; All those vile bodi [...] which have lyen Cabinette [...] up in silence, shall be hale [...] out of the holes of their sup­posed security, to be reunite [...] to their souls; so that as bot [...] body and soul finned toge­ther on earth, so they mu [...] both smart together in hel [...] see to this purpose that con­science stinging, and terrour [...] speaking Text, Rev. 20.12▪ 13, 14. Oh what a wofu [...] greeting? what a sad saluta­tion will there be twixt these two old friends at that day [...] when each shall remind othe [...] of those privy prancks, and sinful passages formerly com­mitted by them, and then turn [...] about and view those many vials of Gods hottest and [Page 97]heaviest displeasure, that [...]re ready to be charged upon [...]hem; then will the body wish over and over, Oh that I [...]ad some cell in the wilder­ness, some Cave in the desert, [...]o shrowd my self from the wrath to come! but in vain; [...]or the seed that is sown will [...]ave a time to spring up [...]gain, and the body laid in [...]he grave, will rise again; they [...]hat have done good, unto [...]verlasting life; and they [...]hat have done evil, into ever­ [...]asting fire; Thus you have [...]een there is a rest in the grave [...]fter death, but the wicked [...]ave small cause of comfort [...]rom it; for to them it is [...]either Total nor Perpe­ [...]ual: they must rise again [...]s soon as they are laid, and [...]p to judgment, before they [Page 98]be well warm in their beds. Thus much for Caution, I [...] pass now to the use of com­fort, which may be service­able to the Christian, in three regards.

1. It may be as a Cordia [...] to keep up the heart from fainting under any felt Af­fliction.

2. It may be as a comfor [...] and encouragement agains [...] the fear of death, and th [...] bodyes dissolution.

3. It may be as a preser­vative, to keep us from mourning immoderately fo [...] the death of our friends.

First, Is death and th [...] grave a night of rest? the [...] this may mightily allay an [...] lessen the sadness of such a [...] [Page 99]have any affliction lying upon them; for thy affliction O Christian, will soon dye of it self, and so thou shalt be eased; or how ever, thou wilt dye ere long thy self, Habet [...]i­nem suum, aut finem tuum. and thus thou shalt find cure; When Jesus was in Banish­ment with Mary and Joseph, at last the Angel came, and said, They are dead which sought the childs life: So when the days of our bondage and banishment, scarcity and sickness are ended, at last tidings will come, that thy troubles are dead; then shall the righteous look up like Moses when he was passed the sea, and see all their enemies drowned behind them, and themselves har­boured in the grave, where the weary be at rest. Chear [Page 100]up then thou Child of God; what though thou shouldest lye at the mercy of some in­sulting enemie? what though the day of peace, plenty and prosperity should begin to thicken, darken, and grow cloudy, and on the sudden some Whirle-wind of perse­cution should threaten thee with inevitable ruin? cannot the Almighty still the noyse of these waves, and whistle back the winds into their trea­suries; or carry thee out of the storme, by conveying thee into the Sanctuary of a Sepulchre, and security of a grave? where thou shalt be as a man unconcerned in the tragedie. What though Mordecai lay a while at the gate, and Mary sit a while under the Table, and what [Page 101]if you underlie a little the chastenning hand of God? yet in all your inevitable straits, do ye in all humble observance, and faithful pa­tience, attend the pleasure of divine providence, and by a holy recumbency, acqui­esce in this assurance, that the evils that you see to day (when once the fatal period approacheth) you shall see them no more; as Christ there­fore said to his Disciples, Could ye not watch with me one hour? so say I to you, Can ye not suffer one hour? one year, one age; he that is tyred, can crawl a little way further; Oh a little way further Christian, one step more for a Kingdome.

Secondly, Is death at the [Page 101]worst but a night of Rest? then this may animate, com­fort, and encourage all faint-hearted Christians against the fear of dying. Will the labou­rer grudge to go to bed when his days-work is done? Or will the Prisoner be affraid of that man, that shall knock off his fetters, open the Pri­son door, and give him his inlargment? and shall the man of God dread death, which doth but come to deli­ver him out of a miserable life? here thou art a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs; one day in pain, another day in disgrace, one while distorted with Convul­sions, another while torment­ed with the Gout or Collect, but almost continually calld upon to act the part of a suf­ferer; [Page 103]and why then are thou affraid of death which comes with an Acquittance in its hand, for thy discharge and delivery? It is I, said our Saviour (when he saw a panick fear to rise upon their spirits) and therefore be not affraid; so it is but death that comes in at thy Chamber door, that leaps up upon thy bed, that draws the Curtains and puts out the Candle of thy life, to let thee take thy rest the better; It is but death I say, and therefore be not affraid; even such a death which like Jacobs Cha [...]iot, (attended by a Convoy of thine acquain­tance) is sent on purpose to car­ry thy corps to a grave, where thy weary bones shall be at rest.

Thirdly, Is death at the worst but a night of rest? then this [Page 104]may comfort us from mourn­ing immoderately for the death of dear Relations; Are they in rest? why then should you be restless and unquiet to, hear of their weal? death is thy friends gain, though thy loss; & canst thou grieve & sorrow that he hath changed for the better; take heed, this will argue too much of self-love, whilst thou deeply lamentest thy loss, but little rejoycest for thy friends gain; its his gain, I say again, unless it be no gain to be delivered out of a sinfull sickly body, yea a sinful miserable world, and carryed to a resting place, where sin and misery never peept in; and this conside­ration alone, may minister matter of exceeding comfort, and incomparable quiet, to [Page 105]the truly affectionate and indeard Husband, as also to the Noble Allyes, and religious relations of this every way virtuous, and accomplisht Gentlewoman; the sad and mournful lament­ed instance of this mourn­ful meeting, Oh how this may silence your sorrow, and make you sighing fly away, to think that she is now at rest, that that very [...]anguishing nature, which but yesterday was as full of [...]ain as it could hold, breath­ [...]ng forth the sighs and sad ac­cents of a dying Christian, Cuius mors (licet ama­ra) minus pan [...] quam mora mor­ti [...] babuit. should this day be lodged in [...]he tranquillity of that regi­on, where all is quiet, and on a Calme. And that that pious soul, that unparallel'd precious peece, who for [Page 106]eight whole days together lay frying in the furnace of affliction, having all that time onely some few short smileing intermissions, which did scarce contain time enough to breath in, and to prepare her tacklings for the next storme, should be now rison from off a sick bed, laid aside her sad complaints, and ceased her mourning notes, and have her dear Redeemer takeing her by the hand, and shewing her the pleasant sci­tuations, the beautiful build­ings, and the heart-ravishing and soul-entrancing joy, thats in the Kingdome of glory, saying, How likest thou this welcome to heaven! how approvest thou, dear daughter, of this friendly treatment, of this homely (I [Page 107]should say heavenly) enter­tainment? this is thy rest O my Spouse; this must be the place of thy Habitation for ever.

And can ye walk mourn­fully, and go about discon­solat ly, whiles this Con­sideration keeps fresh upon your spirits? It is our m [...]k­ness, and infirmity to think of our friends deceased, as Iacob did of Joseph; when he saw his bloodyed Coat, he presently concluded that some ev [...] had befalne him, some evi [...] bea [...] had devoured him; while Joseph was in honour all the while, in Pharoahs court and therefore bid his bre­thren, Go tell my father of all my honour in Egypt. Thus when we see the Coats of our deceased freinds, when we [Page 108]cast a ruefull aspect, a sorow­full glance upon the heart-affecting object of their Hearse, when we see the gar­ments they wore, the compa­ny they kept, the places of retirement they frequented, we are apt to think that death that evill beast hath made an end of them, and that they are not, and so we walk hea­vily and live uncomfortably, and yet they all the while, for ought that we know, advan­ced to honor, admitted into the Court and Kngdome of heaven; Go rectifie my fathers mistake, said Joseph, and tell him that I am not devoured by some evil beast, as he con­ceives; but tell him of all the honor you see me have in Egypt; And tell my friends, would this dear deceased [Page 109]Gentlewoman say (were there but a Post or weekly Intelligencer comeing from heaven to the earth, to tell us the news of that country) Go tell my friends of all the ho­nour and that height of hap­pyness I have attained to in heaven; signifie to them some­thing of that infallible joy that lies warm upon my heart, the impression where of is so deep, and savour and rellish so sweet, that it will keep fresh and fair upon my spirit unto everlasting; it is too big a joy to be contained in me; and therefore it doth encircle and contain me; it is too big to enter into the shallow vessell of my incapacious soul; and therfore I have receiv'd an order to enter into it, accord­ing to that text, Well done [Page 110]thou good and faithfull ser­vant, come and enter into thy masters joy; This is the joy (dear freinds) that I enjoy. Now why should your sorrow (Christians) be immoderate, for one whose joyes are infi­nite? why should you spend your time in dayes of humili­ation, for one thats celebrat­ing a day of thanks giving, a day which never knows night, ne­ver shall have end; I know you have so much charity for your never to be forgotten friend as to conquer your soul into assurance that she is as hap­py as heaven can make her; at wor [...], that her soul is in bliss, and her body asleep in the grave, till the day dawn, and the trumpet sound, to awaken it from sleep to salvation; and will he that [Page 111] [...]oves his friend, mourn or be troubled when he bids him good night to lie down in his bed till the next morning?

Now probably it is your expectation that I should say something, in commemoration of this Saints sanctity on earth, the better to convince you of her present felicity in heaven.

Indeed I could cordially wish that the ju [...] praises and deser­ved encomiums of this princi­pall peece of divine architect­ure were published and sweet­ly sung forth by some seraphi­call tongue, that the Glory of her graces might shine illu­striously like a burning [...]amp to give light to posterity, that thereby such a fire of zeal [Page 112]might be kindled in the hearts of all, that passing through the the same path of piety which she had done, they may arrive at the same port of felicity, whereto she is gone; but alas who am I, and what is my Quill, that it should dare to delineate, or characterize this Choyce Christian! I want gifts to make known her graces, and natural Abilities to blazon forth her spiritual eminences. I'de rather weep her worth then write it, and chuse to mourn over her grave and lament her death, rather then be that Apeiles that should undertake to draw her Picture to the life; yet rather then I will wrong her memory by being mute, and cloud her morning lustre in a [Page 113]mist of unpardonable si­ [...]ence, I will take the confi­dence to present you with an Epitome of her goodness; you may judge of the Lyon [...]y the Paw, and guess at the grace of her person, by [...] glance upon a peece of her Picture.

Indeed should I pen the [...]umerous particulars, where­ [...]n this dear child of God (whose person, parts and piety will ever be precious to my memory) hath propounded [...]er self imitable, I should be voluminous; but I purpose [...]revity, and therefore leave [...]ou to paraphrase, and ex­ [...]atiate upon a Theam so large and sadly copious.

The whole I reduce unto these two general heads.

• First, The Tenour of he [...] life.
• Secondly, The manner of her death.

Touching the former, sh [...] was eminently pious; and as the latter, she was transcen­dently patient; in both, imi­table and exemplary. The vanities of this life did not affect her, she slighted them the extreamities of death and sadness of a sick bed did not afflict her, she wave [...] them, and endured all with so much Christian quiet and contentment, as if she had been unconcerned in the ac­cident; In a word, both liveing and dying, she might [Page 115] [...] our coppy to write after, [...] informe us how to live, [...]d to teach us how to dye; [...]er speech was alway inoffen­ [...]ve and graceful, her ge­ [...]ure plausible and voyd of [...]ride, her Garb was rather [...]mely then costly; and [...]ough her Parental Extracti­ [...]n might have wooed her to [...]ourtly Magnificence, yet [...]id her personal condescenti­ [...]n, and gracious temper [...]nd constitution confine or [...]ather incline her to a Chistian [...]ecency; her judgment was [...]s a judex, able to descerne; [...]nd her memory was as an [...]ndex, fit to retain those [...]assages in Sermons, reading [...]r discourseing, which were worthy her observation; to which I may add, that her practice was a Praeco to pub­lish [Page 116]to the world, that he [...] Conscience run parallel wit [...] her science, having no less [...] proportion of the innocenc [...] of the Dove, then of th [...] wisdome of the Serpent; s [...] that that signe then may b [...] hung up at her door, tha [...] Epitaph may be written upo [...] her monument, that Encomi­um may safely be set upon he [...] memory, which our Saviou [...] clapt upon Nathaniels head Joh. 1.47.

She was not at all given to foolish talking, unseemly je [...]ting, and an Ishmaelitish jeering, (as minion [...] of her quali y are) but grave and sober, her ;lip [...] dropping grace like an honey comb, forgetful of injuries, slow to anger, helpful to many, [...]ureful i [...] none. Behold an Israelite inde [...] in whom there is [...] guile.

Here's a pattern for all yo [...] [Page 117] [...]adies, Gentlewomen and [...]thers, here's a president [...]or you to walk by, here's a [...]appy for you to write after; [...]e was one of a candid and [...]inning disposition; be you [...]; she was one of very rare [...]nd Religious qualifications; [...] you so; she was one of an [...]genuous and affable com­ [...]ortment; her look was most [...]bligeing, and her modest [...]untenance very influential [...]pon the spirits of spectators, Benignitate adeo praedi­ta, ut quos alii poten­tia, illa clementiâ vice [...]it. [...] melt (and like the glimer­ [...]g sun) to thaw the icie [...]earts even of her enemies [...]to love and complyance, [...]nd to make all that had but [...]e least competency of ac­ [...]uaintance with her, to love [...]er, whether they would or [...]o; she was a true lover of [...]ods Ministers, one that [Page 118]could not indure to hear a [...] thing ill, and would not at an [...] time speak any thing but w [...] of them.

She was continually obse­vant of, and passionate [...] affectionate to her dear Hu [...] ­band; as before Marriag [...] she fitted her choyce to h [...] mind; so after she alw [...] fitted her mind to her choy [...] so that all along there w [...] such a conformity and co [...] ­stant correspondency betwi [...] this kind couple, this lovi [...] pair, that there was ne [...] seen the least difference [...] the least signe of Separati [...] between them, till God ma [...] it, till he separated them; [...] then they were like Jonath [...] and David, who loved ea [...] other as their own soul, 1 Sa [...] 18.1. Or like the t [...] [Page 119] [...]ranches in the Prophet Eze­ [...]hiels hand, inclosed in one [...]ark, and closing so together [...]hat they both made but one [...]eece; indeed there was (al­ [...]eit not the least syllable of quarrels) yet contentions be­ [...]wixt them continually, but such as is not onely Lawful, [...]ut convenient and commen­dable in Conjugals; for they [...]ontended each who should [...]ove other best, who should admire other most; this was [...]he nature of their contenti­ons, and all the strife that was ever observed betwixt them; to proceed; she was not only faithful in perform­ing her duty to her Husband, but she was merciful in exer­cising her authority over her servants, Aristoteli­cis, en ba­ci [...]nis ar­gumentis. moveing them to their charge with perswasion, [Page 120]rather then compulsion [...] with arguments taken fro [...] their conveniency, As if sic volo, sic iu­be [...], we will and com­ma [...]d you, were a stile to princely for her to use. rathe [...] then from her own authority so much had this ingenuou [...] Gentlewoman by her discree [...] and moderate carriage to­wards them gained upo [...] them, that she could no soon­er express her pleasure, the [...] they would be ready to tende [...] their service; and this, not s [...] much out of servile submissi­on to her precept, as from [...] principle of pure affection t [...] her person; But her home-concernmens did not, coul [...] not so monopolize, and en­gross her love, but she would be letting it out in a large proportion to her worthy and deserving friends and relati­ons abroad, in such a man­nor, as that her soul seemed [Page 121]to be rather with them whom [...]t loved, Non ubi animat se [...] ubi amat. then with her self where it lived; indeed there was so much of indearment on her part towards them, and so kind a resentment [...]hereof on their part towards [...]er, so many outward expres­ [...]es of their mutual compla­ [...]encyes in one another, Viz. that most Ho­norable Family of Conyers, Lord [...]'arcy and Conyers. as [...]hat I cannot choose but [...]ob Eminentiam) terme that [...]amily, the Family of Love, [...]nd when ever I think there­ [...]n, break forth with David, Behold what a good and pleasant [...]hing it is for friends to live [...]ogether in love! 133.1. Yet [...]hough this Christians heart [...]as bound by a double tye, [...]iz. of nature and grace, to [...]ove her friends, yet was it [...]ot so confined and cement­ [...]d to them, but it was at [Page 122]liberty to sally forth after God, to seek and find him whom her soul loved, as ap­peared from many breathings and long looks she had after God on her death-bed, testi­fying by several pithy and pa­thetick Ejaculations, her willingness, nay her longing eagerness to bid farewell to her friends, as they surround­ed her bed with bedewed cheeks, and besadded hearts, their bowe [...]s yearning and rouling towards, and by di­lated hearts and stretched out armes ready to hang about the neck of their dying sister; yet I say, though sh [...] had as much affection fo [...] them, and as much of tru [...] love from them as one coul [...] imagine; yet her heart wa [...] so engaged for God, that sh [...] [Page 123]could freely bid good-night to them all, and resigne up her interest in them, that she might go hence to bath her soul in the delicious intimacies and blisful embraces of her dearest Lord. I desire to be dissolved and to be with my Saviour, was heard come from her more then once.

But in the composition of this rarely qualified and curi­ously contrived Christian, there was to my observati [...]n, three graces wich overtopt the rest, (as Diana did her Nymps) and marvellously beautified and b [...]spangled the whole composure.

• 1. Piety,
• 2. Humility, and
• 3. Patience.

First, for Piety (taken in a strict sense, with reference to God) she was eminent and imitable; it was her custome or rather her conscientious care, to bath her soul every morning in the sweet and soul-healing streams of the holy Scripture; to be ever smelling at the flowers that spring there, to be ever ga­thering the fruit that grows there, to be ever learning the lessons, and applying the Promises that are pend there; this was her care while she lived, Cura suit recte vive­re, sic (que) mo­ri. and this proved her comfort when she dyed; she was none of the proud Madams of this age, who stand sacrificeing the precious morn to the Idol in the look­ing-glass in painting the face, in plaiting the hair, in new [Page 125]moddeling and curiously curling that insnaring and bewitching love-lock, as if the dusty Cobweb of each curle, would be ornament enough to set them off in the sight both of God and men; she was none of our amatori­ous Ladies, who study Ro­mances, and make it their chief (if not onely) imploy­ment to be well read in the amorous and lust-provoking Poes, and well skilled in that youth corrupting study, De arte amandi.

But the morning exercise of this choyce Christian, was of a nobler nature, viz. a consulting with the Divine Oracles, the Word of God, a dwelling upon and delight­ing in those emanations of a deity, whose original is eter­nal, [Page 126]whose worth is unspeak­able, whose knowledg is life, and in one word, In uno om­ [...]ia. All; by assiduous use and consciona­ble practice, it was grown almost natural to her to break­fast upon the Bible, her hand and heart being so inured to it, as if she had heard that voyce from heaven spurring her to it, Tolle lege, Tolle lege, Aug. Take up and read, take up and read. As all the Rivers run into the main Oce­an, so much of her study run into Scripture-study; which is the Ocean of all true know­ledge and pure wisedome; she would indeed allow to other Authors a subserviency to divinity, but allow them them a predominancy or pre­cedency she would never; who can choose now but as it were Canonize her for a [Page 127]Saint, and clap the Crown of blessedness upon her head, singing her dirge with David, Blessed are those whose delight is in the Law of the Lord! Psal. 1. vers. 1.2.

Again as she unlockt the day with praise, Her care was that her out­ward cal­ling should not en­croach up­on her heavenly calling; and there­fore she would lay aside a good part of her time, so communion with God; whatever she neglectred, her duty to God she du [...]st not neglect, like­tha [...] d [...]vout man, who when his time for devo­tion came, what c mpa [...]y soe [...]er he was with would take his leave of them, wi [...]h this fa [...] excuse, He had a friend that stayed to spe [...] with him (meaning his God) she would shut up the night with prayer; oft was she praying when others were playing; oft was she takeing paines in duty, while others that probably might censure her for idleness, were fast asleep in their beds; [Page 128]in a word, she was a con­stant closet-visiter, a con­stant worshipper, never for­getting nor omitting her houres of devotion, in so much, that what is registre [...] of Job, Chap. 1. ver. 5. may be recorded of her, Thus did Jeb continually, and thus did she continually, and when she had done she fell asleep.

Secondly, Which commen­dable vir­tue is very rare in this age, amongst women of herranck and quali­ty. Humility was another flower that gave a fragrant smel, and cast a sweet scent in this Christians Garden; she wore the livery of Lowlyness, and carryed the colours of humility to her dying day, though she had many provocations and incentives to Pride, as every reflection upon her noble [Page 129]discent and extraction, her fair fortune and (no way contemptible) conjugal con­dition, besides her own personal abilities and qualifi­cations, all which might have served as so many bellows of Pride; yet this self-denying soul was wondred at for her humility, and admired for her condescention; she courted not Encomiums, nor cared for commendations, having a principle within her, which restrained her from hunting after applause, or from take­ing too much pleasure in it when offered; though virtue was legible in her looks, and goodness engraven upon her countenance, and (I perswade my self) heaven in her heart, yet neither this nor the recog­nition of or rumination upon [Page 130]her natural abiliments, or temporal attainments, toge­ther with the temptation of the Enemie, could render her otherwise then a meek, low­ly, and condescending Chri­stian; in short, albeit she was got high in other mens estimations (and yet no higher then her own merits mounted her) yet ever was she low, very low in her own appre­hension and valuation; her Motto both living and dye­ing, being that of Pauls, I am a great transgressor, a great sinner: she did not say my comforts are small, but O alass my sins are great, and you are deceived in me friends, if ye think otherwise of me; I am the least of Saints; this was the high­est rate that she set upon her [Page 131]self, self denying being all the self-seeking that she was guilty of; neither did she toss the ball from her, with a purpose that others should tumble it to her again; she did not play the Hypocrite (I am confident) as some do, who vituperate and vilifie themselves, intending nothing thereby but to have others magnifie and admire them the more, but out of the abundance of her heart, her mouth spoke. And now hath God called for this hum­ble soul, and planted it in an heavenly soyle; now hath he sent the Messenger of a natu­ral death, to fetch her to eternal life, as if he would not, or as if he well could not want her company any lon­ger, according to that place. [Page 132]1 Pet. 5.6. Humble your selves on earth, and God wil [...] lift you up to heaven.

Nesciv [...]t irasci.Thirdly, Patience was ano­ther diamond in her Ring another Iewel in her Cabinet, another grace that she was eminent for, And in­deed where you lay humi­lity for the foundati­on, con­tentment will be the super­str [...]cture; the hum­ble soul judgeth it selfworthy of no­thing, and hence is content with any thing. and gloriously refulgent with. I dare say, that man knew her not, that knew her not a Mirrour of patience; he is scarce alive that ever saw her in a passion▪ so well had she learned the lesson of Pauls, In every thing to be content; which way so ever the wind of pro­vidence blew, she had dexte­rity and skill, that she knew how to guide her Vessel with­out dashing upon the Rock of discontent. As to her outward condition, she was [Page 133]indefferent; she could as one saith, be either on the top of Jacobs Ladder, or the bottom, she could sing either the dirge or the Antheme, Placentia, vel lachry­ma. she could be any thing, every thing, that God would have her, without any cloud in her countenance, or storme and discomposure in her spirit; she might ride in Triumph with Job for his Iewel of pati­ence, she might be sister to Moses for meekness and dis­passionateness, save in the matter of his inordinate an­ger at the Israelites once, when he broke the tables (in a passion) in which were writ­en the ten commandements; and herein she excelled Moses in meekness; for as I am credi­bly informed, she was never once since she came to the use [Page 134]of Reason, Nec accen­de' at, nec ac­cende' atur; n e was not pro­vokeing, nor easily provoked, t [...]er in ma [...]f [...]st­ing her clem [...]ncy, as also her wisd [...]me. observed to be guilty of this unreasonable prevarication, viz. passion, in any great degree, but was ever as dispassionate and gen­tle as the morning Sun in Autumne; and what is there that doth so much beautyfie, and bespangle a Christian, and as a spiritual embroydery, doth set him off in the eyes of the world, as patience, tran­quillity, and contentment in every condition, For my part, I know no ornament in Reli­gion, no link in the golden chain of grace, that doth better become a Christian, or glitter and sparkle more in the eye of God or good men, then this of patience; This is a bridle to the tongue, this is the enamel of the heart, this is the Phisosophers stone [Page 135]which turns all into gold it toucheth; how should every Christian be ambitious to wear such a sparkling dia­mond! as Mr. Watson terms it; if there be a heavenly life upon earth, it is a contented life, and why then not con­tented man? The Lord teach thee to containe thy tongue in silence [...], and possess thy heart in patience, that thou mayest not fall short and come hehind (her) in this grace, who hath got the start, and gone before thee to glory. Thus was she qualified on earth, and this made God so desirous of her company in Heaven; In a word, her tongue was never on fire with fury, her heart never rufled with phrensie, her spirit never flustered with impatience, but [Page 136]as if she had been unconcer­ned in any disappointment, or afflictive accident, that befell her, she was ever seen to be Semper Eadem, unmo­ved, unchanged, even amidst the greatest changes and most amazeing alterations; And what she made profession of all her life, she gave a good proof thereof at death, while she went to the stake without relucting, and met death as it were in the halfe way, without complaining; when her cross was light, she reckoned it in the inventory of her mercyes, and was al­way thankful for every inter­val of ease which God gave her on her death-bed; when her cross was heavy, and the tide of her torments over­flowed her, she took the cup [Page 137]out of Gods hand on her knees, and was content, know­ [...]ng that when her estate was worser, it was to make her [...]etter. As the sheep before the shearer is dumb, so opened [...]he not her mouth, unless it were either to pray or to [...]raise; groan she did, but grudge she did not; mourn [...]he might, but murmur she would not; Not one whine­ [...]ng look or distorted counte­nance, not one impatient word, nor the least outward expression of any inward passion; but a calme, quiet, well-composed Christian, to the admiration of all that were about her, even in her sharpest agony and deepest extremity, as if the quietness and unmoveable fixedness of her dying body, were a live­ing [Page 138]embleme of an unmovea­ble quiet mind.

These were the three lilye [...] that grew in this Christian [...] garden, the tripple Iewel tha [...] deckt her Diademe, thoug [...] the whole canopy of her con­versation, was bespangle [...] and imbroydered with prett [...] sparkling stars; albeit he person shined bright with th [...] image of God upon it, ye [...] these were like so many su [...] which strove each whic [...] should outshine other, an [...] contended for the prehem [...] ­nency.

Now as the Tenour of he life deserves to be remembre [...] so the manner of her deat [...] may not be forgotten, whic [...] was gracious and happy t [...] [Page 139] [...]e hight of wonder. A pious [...]e will conclude with a [...]ecions death. God hath [...]d it, Precious in the sight [...] the Lord is the death of [...]s Saints.

First, Such no doubt was [...]rs, considering that a [...]eat part of her life, (as ap­ [...]ars from what is said of her) [...]as expended in preparation [...]r death, alway in the time [...] her health, gathering [...]wers to refresh her, Scrip­ [...]re Cordials to comfort [...]er against a dying hour.

Secondly, Considering [...]kewise her willingness to [...]ye, when she came to it; [...]e was willing to dye and [...] at rest; she was willing [...]kewise to live, though it were [Page 140]in pain; come life, com [...] death, she was willing to b [...] at the Divine disposal.

Thirdly, nay considerin [...] those many savoury and hea­venly speeches, which d [...] ­stild like Rose-water, fro [...] her dying heart. O you m [...] friends, you that were the we [...] wishers of this dear one, no [...] deceased, (whose worth [...] shall hardly ever call to min [...] without weeping) you I sa [...] who were her chief wel-wis [...] ­ers while alive, and now h [...] truest mourners when dea [...] had ye nothing in the wor [...] besides those Christian e [...] ­pressions which glided gent [...] from her languishing li [...] when she lay a dying, t [...] comfort you, they were suff [...] ­cient to force a smile int [...] [Page 141] [...]our faces, and make your [...]earts spiritually merry, when [...]er your musing▪ thoughts [...]ance to reflect that way.

I will gather up some few [...]f these flowers, Dying speeches, Living comfort. and com­ [...]ose them into a Nosegay for [...]ou; peradventure, they [...]ay serve you to smell at, [...]nd refresh your spirits in [...]n hour of heaviness.

This Religious Gentlewo­ [...]an being now fairly set [...]own upon her death-bed, [...]nd arrived at the brink of [...]he grave, having received [...]he sentence of death within [...]er, (for she was perswaded [...]er hour was at hand) she made it her business to set her [...]amp a burning, to set the wheele of grace a going, to [Page 142]fit and prepare her soul fo [...] heaven, since she pereeive [...] that her pilgrimage upo [...] earth was but short; bu [...] before God would consent t [...] land her in her heaven [...] country, he permitted Sata [...] to toss her to and fro, wit [...] the tide of temptation, ti [...] at length she was ready su [...] cumbere oneri, to give he [...] cause as lost, and her self fo [...] a gone woman, a lost an [...] undone creature, had no [...] the sun seasonably broak fort [...] of the clouds, had not th [...] Lord in the nick of time ap­pe [...]red to be her deliverer▪ The Devil perceiving her tim [...] and his time was now bu [...] short, improved the short­ness of his time by the sharp­ness of his temptation, per­ceiving the Bird got out of [Page 143] [...]is snare, the Lamb out of [...]is paw, the Saint out of [...]is clutches, he pursued her [...]s the Kings of Canaan did [...]he poor Gibeonites, Joshua, S [...]an be­ [...]ng impa­tient of [...]isloss, ind a­v [...]urs day­lyt reco­ [...]e his for [...]er d [...]mi [...]ion. 9. with greater vi [...]lence and fury [...]hen ever, see [...]ing to regain his prey, and to recover his [...]ost possession, till at last by the pressure of his hideous & hellish [...]emptations, shew as driven in­ [...]o a deep ditch and fearful fit of despaire, crying out most piteously she was damned, O I am damned, and am cer­tainly in hell already, and turning her head towards me, said, O Mr Ewbanck, though my pain in labour and travail was great, yet the torments of hell I find are ten thousand times greater: Oh hell! hell! thus she continued a competency of time together, giveing [Page 144]out many rueful expressions of her damned and undone condition; whereupon I (as aspiritual guide and Physitian under God) indeavoured to prescribe a remedy suita­ble to her disease, (being unwilling to wound such as God had wounded, and to afflict her whom I saw so much afflicted) she presently pluckt off the Plaister, and would not let it cleave; she would not apply the salve when proferd her, but refu­sed to be comforted, as Ra­chel did, persisting still in her despairing language, and mournful Elegies, that she was damned, undoubtedly damned; whereupon I ask [...] her what were those indite­ments that the Devil laid to her charge, what were those [Page 145]sins principally that were her soul-damning sins, that op­pressed her conscience, and occasioned her distress. She replyed, She had been a great sinner, for she had used the ordinance of prayer negli­gently, she had oft been di­stracted and disturbed in duty, by giving a too ready admit­tance and entertainment to unseasonable, un suitable thoughts, secular and sinful [...]ogitations, during that holy exercise, and for these, her eyes run down with tears, as lamenting Jeremiahs ex­pression is.

First, See here the mallice of the Devil, who will play [...]t small game before he sit [...]ut, and torment her consci­ [...]nce with small sins, if he [Page 146]cannot damn her soul for greater, he could not call her to the Bar and indict her for Injustice, detraction, or any gross commissions, and therefore he contends to keep her Conscience on the rack for omissions; nay not so much for omissions of du­ty, (for I think he could not justly throw this in he [...] dish, or set this upon he [...] score) but for her imperfecti­ons in duty; not for th [...] want of sacrifice, but onely for her weakness in sacrifice­ing: See here what a malig­nant mallicious spirit th [...] Devil is, who when he coul [...] not formerly tempt to a neg­lect of prayer, he now tor­ments her for her defect in prayer; when he could no [...] deny that she served God, ye [...] [Page 147]mallice makes him callumi­ [...]ate and misinterpret what [...]e could not contradict; he [...]ain would fasten insincerity [...]pon her service, and so im­ [...]ase the matter, by some [...]ight failing in the man­ [...]er.

Secondly, Again from that [...]gony of conscience, and [...]opelesness of heart that [...]e then lay under, and all [...]or some unavoydable di­ [...]ersions in her devotion, for [...]me frailties and infirmities [...]at did adhear and cleave to [...]er performances, I collect [...]is caution for your instructi­ [...]n, That you take heed of [...]dulging your selves in any [...]n or sinful circumstance, [...]hile you live, lest it prove [...]ur tormentor when you [Page 148]come to dye. Many you [...] men who are active and ve [...] ­turous in their youth, g [...] those bodily bruises a [...] [...] ­streins, which they feel [...] their sorrow in their o [...] age: The use I make of it [...] this, if thou that readest the lines, or hears them read gi [...] a blow or bruise to thy co [...] ­science in thy health, th [...] mayest find it fit heavy up [...] thy spirit in the time [...] sickness; Quaefue­ [...]runt juventutis gaudia, trunt sere­ctutis gra­vimina. these little sins, probably thou art pleased [...] term them, which now th [...] feelest not, may be a tro [...] ­ble to thy conscience, a [...] an aking to thy heart [...] a death-bed; think no [...] little then, whiles you h [...] the sound of this devo [...] Gentlewomans dolours [...] yous ears, breathing [...] [Page 149] [...]ell and damnation, O hell! [...]ell! and all for a little [...]eedlesness, or heartles­ [...]ess, sometime in her devo­ [...]ion. But I returne, when I [...]aw her persist in this soul- [...]xtremity, uncpable of coun­ [...]el or comfort from my di­ [...]ections or resolutions, I askt [...]er if she would that I should [...]ray for her (hopeing that God would be intreated to [...]ebuke the Tempter, pacifie [...]er conscience, clear to her [...]nterest in Christ, and fasten [...]hose nailes of resolution and [...]atisfaction in her heart, which the creature was unable [...]o do) but she smiling on me [...]eplyed, alas Sir you cunnot [...]ray for me, I urged her fur­ [...]her; That she would make [...]ryal of it, and that she would joyne with us in duty, [Page 150]and be careful that her heart keep time and tune with our prayers; but she would no [...] seem to give any approbation of, or assent to any such mo­tion, thinking it a fruit­less exercise to beg and sue out a pardon for one already condemned, already in hell as she apprehended she was; hereupon her indulgent and indeared Sisters, whose rowl­ing bowels opened and year­ned towards this lan­guishing Christian, and whose hearts were ready to fail within them, to see her plunged into such a pit of per­plexities, with the door of dispair shut upon her, they earnestly begd of her, that she would let prayer be made for her, and that she would go along with us: now after a [Page 151]little pause and demur, she fixt her eyes upon us, and said, Well, I will see what ye can do, albeit I think you cannot, I know you cannot pray for me; hereupon we made our humble address to God with Hezekiah, spread her condition before the Lord, and with Paul dou­bling and trebling our petiti­ons that he would have mer­cy on his hand-maid, and know her soul in adversity; now when we had made a reasonable progress in pray­er, it was observed that her countenance began to change, her heart began to leap for joy, her sorrow and sighing to fly away, and she to give certain signal Testimonies, not onely of her zeal in pray­er, but also of a present in­come [Page 152]of the Spirit in answer to prayer, and no sooner was duty finished, but the scene was cha ged, her con­fflict with, and her conquest over hell and the Devil ac­complished, and she crying out victoriously and Trium­phantly, Now I see that the Devil is a Lyar, and I will never trust him more, he is a Lyar, and I'le never give him hearing more; he perswaded me that my condition was hopeless, and that none could pray for me, but he hath plainly proved himself a Lyar, for verily the Lord hath heard prayer for me.

See this! Stand and won­der, that one that was even now upon the very brink of the bottomless pit, ready to take up quarters in that fiery [Page 153]Region, should be now mounted up to the Pisga-top of Div [...]ne contemptation, where she hath got a glimpse of glory where she hath seen Heavens gate open, and sa­tisfied her soul with assurance of her interest there. Behold a clear verification and per­formance of such promises as these, isai. 54.8. I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness will I have mercy on thee. and Psal 30.11, 12.

Upon this joyful alterati­on in her spirit, one by told her for her comfort that now she had got the victory, I got the victory? no, replyed she, Christ hoth got the victory; Oh Christ thou art victor, Oh Christ thou art conqueror. See here the humility and self-de­nyal [Page 154]of this sober Christian, while others are proferring her praise, she reflects it up­on God; while others are clapping the crown upon her head, she plucks it off in hast, and sets it on his whose right it is; she is none of proud Herods neeces, who attribu­ted that honour to himself which was Gods prerogative Royal; She was not an Aristotelian, but a Di­vine, for whatever the premi­ses were she alway made Gods glo­ry the con­clusion. no she was rather one of humble Davids daugh­ters, who would have God to wear the garland because he had won the field, Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give the praise.

Again after she had laid a while, as if she had been at rest, and as thinking she had but a short time to stay, she resolved to spend it well, and hereupon, began to instruct [Page 155]spectators in their duty, and heap up lessons which she would have by-standers learn when she is dead and gone; O Friends said she, begin be­times to look after heaven, take it from me, it is a harder mat­ter to get to heaven then probably any of you thinks of, all the days of your lives is little enough to be laid out in journey­ing to this place of happiness. Up then to this work; why should ought in the world detain you? what is all this world can give you, but va­nity as Solomon censureth it? run through all perticulars under the sun, extract the quintessence of them all, and the best that can be said of it is this, its a vanity of vanities? and why will you neglect heaven for vanity? [Page 156]see here, she that a while ago was not capable of recei­ving counsel, is now inabled to give instruction; she that not long since thought her self in hell, is now suing hard to bring others to hea­ven. O blessed alteration! even beyond expectation, and unto admiration, who hath made it! O glorious change who hath effected it! doubtless we may say with the Ps [...]lmist, this is the Lords doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

After this sickness increas­ing, and weakness incroach­ing still more and more, one askt her if she were able to lift her hand to her head, she answered, Its not much mate­rial, so long as I can lift up my heart to heaven: Oh Re­ligious [Page 157]reply, from a devout [...]oul; Oh heavenly retort, [...]o an earthly proposal; and [...]ndeed she had largly learnt [...]he Divine art of converting [...]ead into gold, I mean, of [...]rawing heavenly inferences [...]rom earthly discourses.

Next, one observing as if [...]he desired some rest, wisht [...]er to compose her self to [...]leep; but she answered, is [...]his a time to sleep? I have a great deal of business to do, [...]hat little time I have to stay [...]ere, and desired to be left alone [...] little; which when they that attended her, retired a while according to her order, she was perceived by one that peept through the Curtains to be praying, and panting after God, like the thirsty Hart after the water brooks, [Page 158]with hands and heart lift up to heaven, in such a devout and zealous manner, as if her soul had been just ready to take wing and fly to rest; this is the business that she was about, this is the work that she had to do; and whe­ther she was careful to effect it yea or no, judge ye. O all ye old men, and aged people, you that stand the very next door to death, learn of this pious president to get the business of your souls effected before your breath be stopt, and your pilgrimage be concluded: and O all ye young people, up you and be doing, heres a Lady hard at work, who is as young as your selves, she dares not take her rest, lest the clock strike, the bell ring; [Page 159]the time (allotted her, for the work) be expired, before her work be finished; and dare you say with Solomons sluggard, yet a little sleep, yet a little slumber; could ye but perswade your selves as she did, that this is the last day you have to live, as for ought you know it may be, then you would not easily be perswaded to procrastinate your repentance till to mor­row; if thou couldst perswade thy heart that this is the last meal thou shalt eat, thou wouldst not surfeit I am sure, or that this were the last suit of cloaths thou shalt wear, thou would not dare to be phantastick, thou wouldst not wast many precious hours, in propounding such fruitless queries as these, what [Page 160]shall I eat, and what shall I drink, and wherewithal shall I be cloathed? if thou couldst convince thy heart, that this may be the last Sermon that ever thou shouldst hear, thou wouldst hear it better then ever thou heardest any yet; or that this were the last time you should go to your chamber, so as to come away from thence alive, you would then say what she hath said before you, Is this a time to take rest, I have much business to do? But to come to my purpose again; ano­ther golden sentence that came from this gracious Christian; is this, when be­ing askt whether her hus­band was not a comfort to her spirit, and whether she were not loath to leave him, [Page 161] My Husband, said she, is the [...]reatest and choycest temporal [...]omfort I have in this world, [...]ut I can freely part with [...]im to have Christ; my Hus­ [...]and, he is nothing to Christ. O now see whether this be not a Saint of the right [...]tamp, whether this be not [...] true Disciple of Christ, when she forsakes Father and [...]riends, Husband, and what not to follow Christ; when [...]ll her aimes and ends are swallowed up in desires to be found in Christ?

Another dying speech of this (now living) Saint; was this, when her Husband out of that abundance of af­fection that he had for her, askt her if there were any particular instance wherein he might testifie and give a de­monstration [Page 162]of the truth of his love to her or any of her dear relations; do but name it, my dear said he, and I will infallibly performe it.

She answered, she thought of nothing in this world, she had turned her back upon it; Heres a right representative of an heir of Glory, whose thoughts spend themselves upon the inheritance above; heres a Picture of a person rightly qualified for commu­nion with God, whose eyes are dazled with celestia [...] sights, that the gilded gauds of worldly glory seem dark and duskish; whose mind is so much upon the Apples of an upper Paradice, that the painted Grapes of this lower Goshen, seem flat and tast­less; [Page 163]And now is this morti­fied Christian, doubt not got into Heaven, who had got so much of heaven into her while she was here; now is she at the Well-head where her soul drinks a full draught of what she had here but by sips and drops; now is she in possession of what she had here onely in expectation; Oh blessed soul, who would not desire to bear a part with thee, in the everlasting Halelu­ja of Jehova! Who would not thirst to be one of that Quire whereof thou art a Chorister? O sirs, let the Recognition of our deceased friends, of our Saviour, of our house and inheritance which are above, be like so many Magnets to draw our hearts from things below, [Page 164]till we can say with this Noble personage, That we have turned our backs upon the world: And no wonder she should rellish the flesh-pots of Egypt so little, while God allured her on with clusters of Grapes sent her from Canaan; no wonder she should spit out the carnal contentments of this world, which most men swallow down with much gust and greediness, while God gave her Mannah from Heaven, bread to eat which the world knew not of; for God was ever and anon dreining into her heart some drop or other of Heavens delights; so that she would say some­times, with a smiling look and chearful countenance, O that I had a tongue or breath [Page 165]to declare what comforts I find and feel within me; I see and feel things that are unut­terable, O I am ravished, I am ravished. O the Sea of delight that this sanctified soul doth now swim in, doth it not raise your hearts, sirs doth it not almost ravish you, to see your friend thus ra­vished thus transported! was ever Paul in a more heaven­ly rapture! was ever Symeon more entranced with Divine joy, when he hugd his Savi­our in his armes! Oh we may speak it when she is gone, and preach it at her Funeral, that God dealt familiarly with her.

Now the Devil envying her happiness all this while, yet shaming to shew his black and griezly hue, whiles the [Page 167]lightsome beams of Gods blessed countenance shone so powerfully upon her glad­some heart, lay like a dog under the Table snarling and mallicing her fortunate con­dition, and no sooner he perceived God to retreat and step aside a little, but he comes from behind the door, and began to tamper with her, and to tell her That all her peace she pretended to, was no more then a truce, and her safety no better then a presumptuous security; whereupon this stately Cedar began to staggar, this accom­plisht Christian began to que­stion her title to heaven, and to dispute her evidences: I am under a cloud, I am not right yet said she; I cannot but doubt yet whether my [Page 166]salvation be made sure or no, and is not he or she that doubteth damned? Where­upon she propounded this Query to her sister, the vir­tuous Lady Wivel, sitting then next her, Whether it was consistant with a Child of God, to doubt so as she did? whether doubting and beleeving were consistant? It was answered her in the affirmative; a man might doubt, and yet be a beleever, one that shall certainly be saved; well said she, you tell me so, but doth God tell me so? shew me where the Scripture saith it, for the proof of this; one Text was alledged for all, viz. Luk. 22.31. Where Peter sinking into the water, cryes out in fear, save Ma­ster or I perish; to whom [Page 168]Christ retorted this check, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt; h [...] doth not say O thou infide [...] thou unbeleever, thou tha [...] hast no faith, wherefore did [...] thou doubt, but O thou [...] little faith, plainly demonstrating, that little faith an [...] great doubts are consistant▪ But to make it more clear, w [...] will distinguish, there is [...] double douting.

1. A doubting that ariset [...] ab absentia fidei from the wan [...] of it.

2. A deficientia from a de­fect in it.

The former, that ariseth from the want of Faith, mus [...] needs exclude faith, for it is absolute infidelity, but faith [Page 169]and infidelity cannot conve­nire in uno, be consistent in one and the same Subject, but secondly that doubting that ariseth from a defect in, and not from a want of faith, may stand with faith, when it assents to the pro­mise, yet is accompanied with fears, jealousies, and suspitions, that either they do not clearly understand the promise, or presumptuously cofide in the promise, or wrongfully apply the pro­mise; such doubtings as these which arise not from the nullity, but from the impo­tency of faith, not from the Total want of it, but from some particular defect in it, these are (certainly) consist­ent, as appears from Mar. 9.24. where the poor man [Page 170]said, Lord, I beleeve, help mine unbeliefe, where he pro­fesseth his faith in these words, Lord I beleeve; and yet confesseth his unbeliefe, in these words, help mine unbeliefe; here's beliefe and unbeliefe; two contrary In­mates in one house, in one heart; whence observe, that this Christian might be a true beleever, in the midst of her unbelief, and might have the Keel of her condition steered by faith, though the sayl of her profession might be dasht upon by doubts, and driven back by disputes in her self; and indeed, that faith for me, which complaines most of the want of faith, which can weep with the one eye, and laugh with the other; Perk. the sound man feels [Page 171]many grudgings of disea­ses, whilst a dead man, per­ceives nothing that aileth him.

Now having produced some Texts of Scripture, for the better satisfaction and quiet of her tender consci­ence, she answered, Well, I dare not question the Scrip­tures; I dare not deny what God affirms; yet my doubts are not quite cured; and hereupon she composed her self to lie quiet a little, not speaking or minding what was said or done, but laid as if she had been in a deep dispute about her own condition, as if God and she had been reaso­ning together, and expostu­lating the case between them­selves, and driving the con­troversie to a conclusion, [Page 172]whereupon after her musing mind had been thus exerci­sed a little, she lookt up and said, may not I hope without presuming? see here the night almost at an end, the clouds in a manner over and gone, and the sun of hope and consolation arising the second time upon the Horizon of her heavenly soul; her faith which had like to have proved (fides in abortu) an abortive faith, miscarrying in the womb; is now (fides in partu) brought to the birth.

And now this Child of God, drawing near to her Inn, approaching near to the period of her pilgrimage, ready to bid a friendly fare­wel to her surviving specta­tors and sorrowing Relati­ons, [Page 173]had on the sudden such a flood of comfort, such an income of Divine joy, such a revelatlon of heaven in her heart, that roaming to­wards heaven with a cheerful look, with a soft sweet voyce, expressed her self thus, O joy, joy, joy, divers times together, as if she should say, Though I be not yet entered into the joyes of Heaven, yet the joys of heaven (ad modum recipientis) are entered into me; though I am not yet got in at the door, and set in the chair of State; though I am not yet with Abraham, and David and Paul, in possession of Heavens Salvation; yet as heaven was opened to bles­sed Stephen, which he was shortly to enter, so have I [Page 174]a view of what I shall after enjoy, so that I can say with Simeon, Now Lord lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation.

Pides in deliquio, fit s [...]des in t [...]y umpho.Now is her doubting tur­ned into beleiving, and her faith improved into assurance, the result whereof appears in this her tripple Triumph, Joy, Joy, Joy.

Which is nothing but a sweet sopp, or a cordial draught which God had provided for his Patient, wherewith to quicken & comfort her against her last conflict, and as a Viaticum to minister to her wants in this her long jour­ney which she was just about to take; And now having such provision made her, ha­ving such encouragement to [Page 175]commit her vessel to the mer­cy of the waters, her body to the custody of the grave, and her soul to the conduct of Angels, she raised her self (qua potuit) as Jacob did upon his staff, and breathed forth these blessed words, a little before she breathed out her last, I thirst for Christ, I hunger after a Christ, I de­sire I might be dissolved and be with Christ. And this she rei­terated, and repeated, with such an holy violence, impor­tunity, and vehemency of spirit, as if she were impati­ent of delays, and exceed­ing sick of love, and not able to contain any longer, till the windows of her body were opened, and her soul let out, till the gate of hea­ven were expanded, and she [Page 176]let in; and now is the door opened, and this choyce child of God admitted in; now are her prayers answer­ed, her desires accomplished, her attempts effected, and her coronated soul chanting forth Doxologies to God Almigh­ty, and that in such musical straines, and melodious an Harmony, as makes all Hea­ven on a flood of joyes.

In a word, Thus much may we say of her, for our Savi­our hath said it to our hands, Mat. 5. that she is blessed, Blessed be such as hunger and thirst after Righteousness.

[There's one passage more which I would not omit; when her soul was a dressing for the brightest immortali­ty, and her body in a man­ner half dead, through sence [Page 177]of that abundant peace that possessed her spirit, she burst forth into that Panegyrick of praise, and shut up her life with that Swan-like song of the Psalmist, Psal. 116.1, 2. I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voyce, and my supplications; because he hath inclined his ear unto me; therefore will I call upon him as long as I live: I confess I was not an ear witness to this particular dying speech of hers, (for I was then out of the room) but I am cre­dibly inform [...]d of the truth of this, by one who I am sure would not lye.]

Thus Christian Reader, let thy heart climb, let thy thoughts aspire after Christ, till thou canst say as David did, (for the waters of Beth­lehem) [Page 178]O that one would give me to drink of the wels of Salvation! till thou canst say with the same Author, I long O Lord for thy Salva­tion; Psal. 219.174. till thou canst say with this de­ceased Sister, I thirst for Christ, I hunger after Christ, Oh that the time of my depar­ture were near, that I might presently be with Christ.

These with many more (which I forbear to mention) were the dying speeches, the spiritual Legacyes which this holy and honorable Perso­nage left to her surviving acquaintance these were the rayes of this sparkling star, the hony drops of this ac­complisht Chymist, the fruit that grew on this heavenly Cyon, which may be sweet [Page 179]to the tast of all that knew her, and precious to the me­mory of all that were inter­ested in her; and when she had said these words, she fell asleep, just as one fals to his rest without any bodily pain or disturbance discernable; so she expired in peace, & conclu­ded her pious life with apreci­ous death, going out like a Torch or Odoriferous Taper, which gives a light while it lasteth, and leaves a sent be­hind it when its gone. Thus in her life she was many ways an honour to her Sex, and a Coppy for ordinary Chri­stians to write after, and her death matter of mourning to her Friends and Family, whose sorrow nevertheless may be abated, and our comfort promoted, by our [Page 180]well-grounded confidence, that Christ was unto her, both in life and at death advantage, which we cannot at all dis­pute or disbelieve, when we consider what a blessed effect afflictions had upon her; being like a kindly pres­sure, which squeized forth the juice of praise, and pressed out the Oyle of Patience. The wicked are like unto a loathsome stinking Puddle, which the more it is stirred, the worse it smelleth; for when they are afflicted or affronted, they express little else but railing, murmuring, and repining, [...]cut aro­ [...]ta odo­ [...]m. and in their impatiency, foam out their own shame; but as sweet spices issue out their sweet­ness most, when burnt or beaten, or as a grain of Mu­stardseed [Page 181]savoureth strongest when stampt smallest; so did this child of God, when pained with a sick body, and indisposed with a sorrowful soul, send for a sweet smel­ling savour of rich and manifold graces; her afflicti­ons being Gods wine-press, whereby the more she was pressed, the more did the liquor of grace distil from her, and the sweeter and more fragrant a savour sent she forth, to the glorificati­on of God, to the conso­lation of her self, and I hope to the edification and refor­mation of us who were eye and ear-witnssees to this Christians conscientions com­portment both to God and man.

Thus have I for her friends [Page 182]consolation, and for all our imitation, presented you with a Character of this compleat Christian: Breifly delineate­ing both the Tenour of her life, and the manner of her death, in which you have Instructions how to live, and directions how to dye. I'le say no more; T [...]e sor­row of her survivers being such, th t they w [...]re ready al­most to use that speech, utinam aut non nasce retur, aut non morer­tur, would she had never bin born, or never dyed. the sorrow of all that knew her, saith enough, commends her sufficiently; for so much had her ingenu­ous demeanour gained upon all when she lived, that you might almost as soon have seen a face without eyes, as eyes without tears when she dyed; so general was this mourning, that it reached eve­ly eye, and peirced every heart, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon, in the valley of Megiddon; neither was [Page 183]this grief a sudden short shower, which is quickly over and done, but a still rain, which (I am confident) will continue dropping, so long as some continue living; It pittieth me to consider how many of her cordial acquain­tance are at this time in Rachels posture, lamenting the death of their dear friend, and refusesing to be comfor­ted; How many are in a manner like David? lying in the dust, crying out in a most melting manner, Would God I had dyed for thee my friend! would God I had gone a share in thy sufferings, and born part of thy burden, and ransomed life with thy b [...]ood! how many are sitting like Elias under the tree, for­lorn and solitary, desireing [Page 184]rather to dye then live, that (if God see it good) they may speedily go to her, whom they cannot possibly expect to come to them! And now let our throbbing hearts here stop a while to ease them­selves, while our tears of love are ready to bedew these lines, and we with Joseph to seek a place to weep in, wail­ing our loss, since we can­not word it, and sighing forth our sorrow, when we cannot speak it.

Let us draw the curtain and retire, leaving her soul in the Armes of the Al­mighty, and her body at rest in the grave, in hopes of a happy Resurrection.